This is the third in a series of four posts on the Bobcat men’s basketball team, discussing the past season and a look ahead to next season. Part 1 Season Wrap up, Part 2 Look ahead: Big men, Part 3 Look Ahead: Wing players and Part 4 Look Ahead: Recruits.

Look at the Wings

With pretty much everyone back at the 1, 2, and 3 positions the ‘Cats should be loaded. I do not see much of a change in the starting line-up, at these positions, with Navarre at the point, Bynum at the shooting guard and Rush at the small forward. The real competition will come for playing minutes behind the starters. Danny Piepoli will need to fight the challenge of Austin Brown who has really come on strong at the end of the season, at the small forward and shooting guard spot. Piepoli can be instant offence from the perimeter, but Brown has a nice combination of inside out side game plus might be the best defender among the guards. Current redshirt Larry Swan will be eligible next year and should provide some additional depth at the shooting guard and some at the point. Swan has decent athleticism and is a very dangerous 3 point shooter so he should be able to create a role for himself off the bench. The one question march will be at the point guard. James Hennessy has once again had some knee issues that limited his availability at the end of the season. I have heard that he may be considering hanging up his sneakers. While Rush can play the point guard spot when pushed, and redshirt point Trevor Hopkins will be coming off a redshirt year, look for the coaches to recruit another piont guard, if Hennessy does decide to hang it up.