In the end, the Hornets finished 4-14 in the first season of the “Mo” Williams era, and there’s a lot to discuss, but there are a few key points to keep in mind as the offseason gets underway.
First, Brandon Battle, Kevion Stewart and DJ Heath were key contributors to ASU’s success last season. Stewart was one of our more consistent outside shooters, Heath was the primary ball handler and facilitator as the starting point guard, and Battle dominated the glass and was a presence inside the paint.
The issue that the Hornets now face is that all three of those players may be gone before next season, as all three young men are seniors who may graduate or have no more years of eligibility remaining. With a young team and a young coach that’s still finding its rhythm, losing that leadership will be a tough adjustment going into the offseason and next season.
While Battle and Heath will likely be moving on, a lot of the roster will be suiting up for Mo Williams in the fall. Kenny Strawbridge, who finished fourth in the SWAC in rebounding, will return; Jordan O’Neal, who was second in blocks before a season-ending ankle injury, should be ready to go next season; Jordan Cousin, who ended the season with a couple strong performances, will aim to capitalize moving forward.
The frontcourt got ASU through a lot of games, but the backcourt, highlighted by the sharpshooting LaTrell Tate and California freshman DJ Jackson, should take a step forward in the one of the only weaknesses in the Hornets’ game (ASU only shot 38% from the floor and 31% from deep).
With everything we learned about during this season, there is one thing that remains a mystery: Trace Young. The highly-touted recruit who gained notoriety by choosing an HBCU over other schools, did not play last season. The six-foot eight-inch forward was a huge missing piece from the rotation, as his absence made the team very guard-heavy and forced Mo Williams to play smaller lineups.
Watching him sitting on the sideline led many to wonder what was keeping him outside the uniform, but it’s more than likely whatever issue will be resolved before next season, and his ability to play inside and out will provide some much - needed versatility on offense, not to mention his size will give an option to Mo Williams to play bigger lineups.
We saw the potential of this program last season, so it’s exciting to see how Williams and Co. build on the first season to be a contender in the SWAC and beyond. ASU men’s basketball had the luxury of dominant individual play and execution in all levels of the game. The team has what it needs to be successful, it now becomes about making the most of it.