Copyright Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
Coming off an Eastern College Athletic Conference tourney championship last March and a summer trip to Europe, Virginia Wesleyan has plenty of returning talent as it looks to get back to the NCAA Division III men’s tournament. Coach Dave Macedo, who has averaged more than 20 victories per year over 25 seasons, enjoys bringing back the great majority of a team that played excellent defense. “With juniors and seniors, Division III is staying the course,” he said. “You get to a build a program and not just a team year to year. You get to build meaningful relationships.” The Marlins bring back plenty of experienced contributors, a fact reflected by their No. 14 national ranking by d3hoops.com. They include: 6-foot-2 graduate student Omari DeVeaux (14.5 points, 3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game), 6-6 senior Amari Moorer (12.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.6 spg), 6-3 junior Paul Anderson (7.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.5 spg), 5-11 senior Khai Seargeant (12 ppg, 2.8 rpg), 6-3 sophomore Demeir Pollard (5.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg), 6-4 senior Jeremiah Boateng (2.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and 6-4 senior TJ East (3.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg). The roster features five freshmen. Macedo said among them, 6-7 Kellam High graduate JT Ellis and 6-4 Tykie Jones “have been able to get in the mix.” In Portugal, where the VWU men’s basketball program took its first overseas trip, the Marlins saw six cities and played a pair of exhibition games, and the pace has been brisk since school started. “I’ve really enjoyed the group. They get me, they really enjoy each other and they’ve built a great culture,” Macedo said. “(Our goals are) not beating ourselves and being able to do the little things better than the elite teams. Our schedule’s loaded. We’re going to have to be really good out of the gate.” VWU was one of the nation’s defensive leaders last season, giving up just 59.8 points and 39.8% field-goal shooting. If such numbers repeat, that’s a good sign for the Marlins. “I think our defense is probably a little ahead of our offense,” Macedo said. “I think we’ve got a lot of two-way players. … We’ve got to do a better job of executing and taking care of the ball and valuing every possession.” The Old Dominion Athletic Conference almost always produces multiple NCAA bids, given how challenging it is. The Marlins hope the NCAA Power Index, which is the key factor in choosing the tournament field, reflects that. “Every game is so important, every game weighs in,” Macedo said. The new NPI, that’s why we schedule the way do.” Virginia Wesleyan men at a glance Last year: 22-7, 12-4 Old Dominion Athletic Conference, missed NCAA Division III Tournament but went 3-0 to win ECAC Championship tourney Coach: Dave Macedo (510-191 in 25 seasons) Season opener: Nov. 7 vs. Keene State, 5 p.m. ODAC predicted order of finish, as selected by coaches: TBA Schedule November: 7: Keene State (at TowneBank Tipoff Tournament), 5 p.m.; 8: Wisconsin-La Crosse or Hampden-Sydney, 2 or 4 p.m. (at TowneBank Tipoff Tournament); 12: vs. Apprentice, 7 p.m.; 25: vs. Regent, 7 p.m.; 29: vs. Pfeiffer (at CNU Holiday INNvitational), 2 p.m.; 30: vs. Dickinson (at CNU Holiday INNvitational), 2 p.m. December: 3: Eastern Mennonite, 5 p.m.; 6: Randolph, 2 p.m.; 16: at Christopher Newport, 7 p.m.; 30: at Mary Washington, 4 p.m. January: 3: vs. Franklin & Marshall, 3 p.m.; 7: at Washington and Lee, 7 p.m.; 10: at Averett, 2 p.m.; 14: vs. Lynchburg, 7 p.m.; 17: vs. Roanoke, 2 p.m.; 21: vs. Randolph-Macon, 5 p.m.; 24: at Eastern Mennonite, 2 p.m.; 28: at Hampden-Sydney, 7 p.m; 31: Guilford, 2 p.m. February: 4: vs. Shenandoah, 6 p.m.; 7: at Randolph, 2 p.m.; 11: at Bridgewater, 5 p.m; 14: Washington and Lee, 2 p.m.; 18: at Randolph-Macon, 5 p.m.; 21: at Lynchburg, 2 p.m.; 24: ODAC quarterfinal (at four highest seeds), TBA; 27: ODAC semifinal (at Salem Civic Center), TBA; 28: ODAC final (at Salem Civic Center), TBA.
