The 2023-24 DII males’s basketball season is roughly a month away. The final time we noticed a DII males’s basketball sport, Nova Southeastern defeated West Liberty,111-101, in one of many extra memorable championship video games within the 50 years of Division II sports activities. Nonetheless, most of the gamers liable for that historic output have moved on, leaving many inquiries to be answered.
2023 RECAP: Nova Southeastern wins title in record-setting style
Whereas there are a lot of questions left to be answered within the coming weeks main as much as the season — just like the preseason Energy 10 rankings and Bevo Francis watchlist — listed here are a couple of that soar out instantly:
1. Can the Sharks repeat?
Head coach Jim Crutchfield, one of many winningest coaches in DII males’s basketball historical past, lastly bought to hoist a nationwide championship trophy in 2023. His reward? Eight of that squad, together with all the beginning 5, is gone.
Of the six gamers returning, solely Ryan Davis and Shane Hunter appeared within the championship sport. Davis truly put up stable numbers in restricted minutes, contributing 5 factors and 7 rebounds, so we all know he can play when it issues. We additionally know Crutchfield has been teaching since 2004 and over that span, his groups have made eight DII Males’s Elite Eight appearances whereas being among the many three highest-scoring groups in DII yearly. The Sharks did deliver some fascinating transfers which have DII expertise, so it’ll simply be a matter of how shortly they modify to the excessive tempo of the Crutchfield assault. Maintain your eyes on Isaiah “Ike” Fuller, who transferred in from UMSL and could possibly be one of many high scorers in DII in Crutchfield’s high-powered system. As Crutchfield informed me, “We introduced in gamers that we predict may be efficient in our system. The general thought is that we’ve a system that supersedes particular person expertise.”
Another groups that may expertise lots of turnover and must reply some questions:
- Black Hills State: Again-to-back DII Elite Eight runs have been good, however what does this system appear like with out Joel Scott, one of many premier scorers within the land?
- Indiana (PA): There was extra turnover with the Crimson Hawks than they’ve had in a very long time, however with Ethan Porterfield and a few expertise, plus a trio of fascinating transfers, can