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LOCATION: Radford, VA
CONFERENCE: Big South
LAST SEASON: 20-8 (.714)
CONFERENCE RECORD: 8-2 (2nd)
STARTERS LOST/RETURNING: 1/4
NICKNAME: Highlanders
COLORS: Red, White & Blue
HOMECOURT: Dedmon Center (5,000)
COACH: Dr. Ron Bradley (Eastern Nazarene '74)
record at school 141-88 (8 years)
career record 237-139 (13 years)
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ASSISTANTS: Chris Hawkins (Radford '92)
Bill Lilly (Glenville State '82)
Stephen Barber (Radford '92)
TEAM WINS: (last 5 years) 16-14-15-20-20
RPI (last 5 years) 195-236-182-170-187
1998-99 FINISH: Lost in conference final.
ESPN.com Clubhouse
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Radford's basketball program has consistently ranked at or near the top of the Big South Conference during the last decade. The Highlanders have won 20 games in each of the last two seasons and recorded winning records in each of the last nine seasons. But this year's Radford team the final one of the 20th century may be the deepest and most talented in school history. The Highlanders, trying to become the first team in Big South history to reach three consecutive tournament championship games, return eight players who averaged 17 minutes or more per game last season. Two of those are among the top five players in the league 6-10 senior center Ryan Charles (15.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 22 blocked shots) and 6-0 senior point guard Rian Everett (10.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 78 assists, 51 steals). The only tricky part would seem to be if coach Ron Bradley can find the right combinations, but it's a problem he doesn't mind having. "We're prepared to play different lineups throughout the year," Bradley said. "We can play with a big lineup or a small lineup, but you still have to find the major way you want to play. It will be important that we do that during the early part of our season."
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Blue Ribbon Analysis |
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BACKCOURT B+ BENCH/DEPTH A
FRONTCOURT A INTANGIBLES B
Although not a fan of the football-like tactics that have found their way into college basketball, coach Ron Bradley said his Highlanders will do their share of bumping and grinding. The biggest reason is that he thinks they now have the athletes to play that way. "I still don't like the clutch and grab style everybody's going to, but we will play more physical," said Bradley, mindful that his club allowed opponents to shoot .475 percent from the field last season. All the pieces for a championship run would seem to be in place. Ryan Charles, assuming he stays healthy, will be the most dominant scorer in the league, and some of Radford's younger post players will be a year better and wiser. The Highlanders have the guards to get Charles the ball and take the pressure off him with their outside shooting. The depth is there, and so is Bradley's coaching savvy. The tough part will be weathering the early part of the schedule. Radford plays 10 of its first 11 games away from home. But talent usually prevails, which makes the Highlanders a favorite to win the conference title and go back to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in the last three years. |
Radford, which lost to Winthrop in the tournament championship game a year ago, is hoping for better results in the health department. The Highlanders were plagued with injuries most of last season. None was any more damaging than the knee injury to Charles, who once again will be the most polished low-post scorer in the league. He averaged in the 25-point range during Radford's first seven games and looked unstoppable. A knee injury sidelined him for nine games, and he never completely regained his old form. "Ryan is up to 235 pounds now and is as skilled an offensive player as you're going to find in the Big South," Bradley said. "I think he's good enough that he could catch the ball on the perimeter and score." Everett was hampered by a shoulder injury last season and missed four conference games. Mike Hornbuckle, a 6-1 sophomore guard, missed the first eight games with a broken foot. Hornbuckle (2.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 47 assists) will compete for the other starting guard job opposite Everett. Even with the injuries last season, the Highlanders managed to win 13 straight games at one point. Different players were forced to step up from the shadows, which should only help this season. The frontcourt is especially imposing. While Charles is more of a scorer, 7-0 sophomore center Andrey Savtchenko (6.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 12 blocked shots) offers more of a physical presence inside. He has bulked up to 265 pounds. When Charles was out last season, Savtchenko averaged 14 points and nearly eight rebounds. Bradley said he needs to do a better job of playing alongside Charles this season. Nosa Obasuyi, a 6-10 sophomore center, was playing his first season of organized basketball in the United States last season. Obasuyi (1.3 ppg, 1.6 rpg) is the most athletic of the Highlanders' post players. Junior center Lee Klag redshirted last season with an ankle injury. The 6-11 Klag (5.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg) transferred from Gogebic (Mich.) Community College. Starting forwards Correy Watkins (6.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 29 steals, 23 blocks) and Jason Williams (9.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 68 assists, 39 steals) both return. They could form the most athletic forward combo in the league. Watkins, a 6-7 sophomore, isn't an overly physical player, but he is extremely quick off the floor and creates matchup problems for other teams. He played power forward last season, primarily because of injuries, but could play either forward spot this season. "He has a great feel for the game and is an outstanding rebounder," Bradley said. "He gets his hands on everything." Williams, a 6-6 junior, is considered the most athletic player in school history. He had a breakout season a year ago and blossomed down the stretch. Williams, adept at creating his own shot, is the only pure small forward the Highlanders have. He runs as well as most guards. Providing depth at the forward position will be 6-5 junior Jamar Betz (7.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 38 steals). Betz's forte is offensive rebounding. He had only four more defensive rebounds than offensive rebounds last season. He's an instant spark off the bench. In the backcourt, Everett will again quarterback the club. He isn't the flashiest player in the league, but is the emotional stabilizer for the Highlanders. Look for him to score a little more this season. He made 38 three-point shots a year ago, and that figure could go up. "Everything you can say good about a point guard you can say about Rian Everett," said Bradley, noting that Radford is 37-19 over the course of Everett's career when he starts. If Hornbuckle doesn't win the other guard job, 6-1 junior Lamar King (7.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 81 assists, 51 steals) probably will. King led the team in assists and steals last season and filled in at the point when Everett was injured. Hornbuckle has a chance to be a great shooter. He is already a tenacious defender. The threesome of Everett, King and Hornbuckle are interchangeable at either guard spot. Also back is 6-3 senior Jon Belt, who started as a sophomore. He dislocated his shoulder, though, and has never quite been the same. Belt (6.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 35 assists) is more of a slasher from the wing than he is a lead guard. Byron Hall, a 6-0 junior, will try to earn a few minutes in the backcourt. Hall (1.2 ppg) needs to improve his quickness and defense. Bradley will welcome two freshman guards. One of those, 6-3 Raymond "Peanut" Arrington, was with Radford for half the season last year after coming over from Fork Union (Va.) Military School. He opted to redshirt and still has four years of eligibility remaining. Arrington, a former two-time Virginia Group AA Player of the Year, should be one of the better freshmen in the league. He could see time at either guard spot. The Highlanders were also able to pick up 6-1 freshman guard Camara Mintz of Riverdale Baptist High in Washington D.C. Several larger schools were recruiting Mintz, but backed away because of a snag with the NCAA clearing house. Bradley thinks Mintz is talented enough to challenge for playing time at both guard positions.
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