The Progress of UNH Basketball

It stands to reason that if UNH ever expects to land upper-echelon recruits (and frankly, upper-echelon would be two and, gasp, three star guys), they are going to have to make some noise with the one-star guys they are currently getting. I think that the 2006-2007 recruiting class is a definite step in that direction, as it looks like they found some guys who can really perform. Granted, they aren't going to hit with all of them, as Jude Roybal looks like he is not doing particularly much right now, but I think they have gotten some four year players who really have a chance to escalate this team in the America East, both now and in the future.

The guy at the forefront of that movement is clearly Radar Onguetou. He's very undersized for his power-forward skillset (6'5'', 215 lbs), but he's now averaging 3.5PPG and 3.1 RPG in just 14.7 MPG. The rebound numbers are particularly impressive, and while I'll admit those numbers look paltry, take a look a little bit closer. In his last three games, Radar is averaging a little more than 27.3 minutes, 6.3 points and 7.3 rebounds a game. As a freshman, given those minutes, that's pretty impressive. UNH can only expect growth out of him, and in a conference sparse with low-post talent, even a guy like Radar is bound to have some low post success. He's a welcome change from the principally perimeter bigs like Christenson and Janev. Not surprisingly, UNH has played it's best basketball of the season in the last few games.

Another guy I like who doesn't have such statistical success of late is Sam Herrick, a 6'11'' freshman center. I won't lie that my principal fascination with him is that he is the first big player UNH has had in my four years of following the team. He hit his first free-throw of the SEASON (I believe he was 0 for 12 before that), but in all seriousness, if you take a look at the last three games (the first time he has really received significant minutes), he is averaging 6 PPG. Again, while that's not earth-shattering, it's a real boost to have a freshman with some talent and height.

Dan McGeary is also worth mentioning. Yet another freshmen in a class I'm probably pimping far more than is worthy, this kid is a real threat off the bench. He's not really a point-guard, which poses a problem with Jermaine Anderson leaving next season (and perhaps that is when Roybal steps up), but he can really shoot it. He's hit the freshman wall from playing so much, but he really opened the season on fire, and with more consistent minutes, I think he'll be a very useful part next season.

It's also important to mention that Mike Christensen and Tyrece Gibbs will be back next season as well. Gibbs is emerging as a stud, hitting almost 40% of his threes, grabbing nearly 5 boards and scoring nearly 10 a game. He's really been good of late. Christensen has been hurt, but he's a dynamic outside player and can really get to the basket. I also like Seth Price to possibly emerge next season. He's a talent 6'7 Freshman PF who should get more time next season given his height. The future is bright, but I wouldn't give up on this season just yet, either. At 4-3 in the AE with a tough loss to Vermont, this team is definitely in the race. Great job by Coach Herrion in just two years to get this team back a bit from the depths of obscurity.