UMBC Basketball Season Preview
Dec 22, 2012; Rosemont, IL, USA; DePaul Blue Demons guard Brandon Young (20) shoots the ball over UMBC Retrievers forward Malik Garner (33) during the second half at Allstate Arena. DePaul defeats UMDC 69-61. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Back to the Baltimore area we head as The Baltimore Wire’s college basketball preview tour continues. Now it is on to the Arbutus area and the UMBC basketball program.
Last year the Retrievers increased their win total from the previous season. That sounds good until you realize that going from eight victories to nine is not too much of an increase. Aki Thomas enters his third year as head coach of the team and certainly hopes to add some more wins to that total.
This upcoming year looks to be another tough road for the team.
Rodney Elliott (15 ppg, 3.6 apg) is a returning starter who appears to be the linchpin for the team’s success this year. Malik Garner (6 ppg) and Devarick Houston (4.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg) look to be other scoring threats for the Retrievers.
UMBC has been picked to finish seventh out of the nine team America East Conference.
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UMBC begins their season on the road at Akron on November 14. Other road games at Loyola and Minnesota look to be difficult before they get back home on November 25 against Howard. Early December games at George Washington and Iowa could also be a bit of a struggle for the team.
UMBC should see some TV time this year as part of the yet unannounced America East deal with ESPN. The February 11 and February 21 home games with Stony Brook and Maine look likely to be on ESPN3.
My prediction: 10-10 before the America East Tournament