[BrxaParticipant]

Not the most exciting team to read about I’m sure, Vikings are a mid-major, currently competing in the Horizon league, which lost Butler last year thanks to all the realignment, and will lose Loyola (Chi.) this year and will add Oakland to the league.

Last year the Vikings finished disappointing 14-18 (5-11 in the HL), especially when considering they had 4 20 win seasons in the previous 5 years, even winning an NCAA game against Wake Forrest. Coach Gary Waters always has the team playing hard and is a great recruiter for a mid-major team. Last year they lost 4 senior starters and had only 1 senior on the team (hustling, yet limited F Kamczyc, Tim). Most of the team was comprised of freshmen and sophomores, with hope some of them would step up. The main player was supposed to be local product, sophomore PF Anton Grady, former top 100 recruit. Unfortunately Grady only played six games before being lost to knee surgery (leading the team in scoring, rebounding, blocks and steals through those games). Another big recruit was FR Junior Lomomba who broke his foot in preseason, and never found his groove averaging 5.8 ppg. Jr F Ludovic N’daye also struggled with injuries. Other players that had opportunities to step up like Marlin Mason, Sebastian Douglas and Aaron Scales failed to do so.

On the positive side PG Charlie Lee slid into the starting line up in his second year, and averaged 11.6 ppg and 4.8 apg with 40% 3p. He flamed out towards the end, but had a good year overall. Freshman SG Brynn Forbes took home Horizon League Freshman of the Year award while averaging 12.7 ppg and generally jacking up a shot every time he caught the ball.

With Lomomba and Grady healthy, and Lee and Forbes coming back CSU will have a chance to compete for the HL title. They also have G Trey Lewis from Penn State and Juco transfer C Ismaila Dauda (6-9, 250 pounds) coming in, while only Kamczyc and back up PG Josh Ivory (transfer) are leaving.

Projected Starters:
PG Charlie Lee G 5-9 160 Jr
SG Brynn Forbes G 6-3 175 So
SF Junior Lomomba G 6-5 185 So
PF Devon Long F 6-7 260 Sr
C Anton Grady F 6-8 215 Jr

Bench:
Trey Lewis G 6-2 180 So
Sebastian Douglas G 6-4 205 Jr
Marlin Mason F 6-6 210 Jr
Aaron Scales C 6-9 260 So
Ludovic N’daye F 6-9 240 Sr
Ismaila Dauda C 6-9 250 So

[ph90702]

They have some experience. Experience matters in college basketball. That’s how less talented teams are making deep runs in the tournament. That and the fact that powerhouse programs recruit one and dones.

[ph90702]

They have some experience. Experience matters in college basketball. That’s how less talented teams are making deep runs in the tournament. That and the fact that powerhouse programs recruit one and dones.

[Author]

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