Oct. 14, 2008
• 2008-09 Media Guide | 2008-09 Schedule
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- With the 2008-09 Navy men's basketball team set to start practice on Friday, the Midshipmen have received considerable attention from several preseason publications as they look to build on last year's second-place finish in the Patriot League regular-season standings. The Mids are coming off a 16-14 season in 2007-08, including a 9-5 Patriot League mark, and return four starters and seven letterwinners from last year's squad.
The Mids were picked anywhere from second to sixth in the eight-team league race, with the Sporting News selecting Navy second behind American. The magazine second Chris Harris (Jr. / Mechanicsville, Va.) as a first-team all-conference selection, and wrote that Navy "was as poised as anyone to dethrone the Eagles." The publication also quoted Lange as saying, "I love our overall attitude. We are exactly where we need to be. We are a very hungry team and we aren't comfortable or satisfied."
Lindy's magazine selected Navy fourth behind American, Lehigh and Colgate. Both Harris and Kaleo Kina (Sr. / Phoenix, Ariz.) were named second-team All-Patriot League and O.J. Avworo (Soph. / Houston, Texas) was selected as the league's newcomer of the year. The magazine said, "O.J. Avworo started at point guard in his only season at the University of Idaho in 2006-07 and he must have noticed the continued improvement under Navy head coach Billy Lange. The slippery lefty will get the ball to his new three-point happy teammates in Chris Harris, Kaleo Kina and Adam Teague (Sr. / Hickory, N.C.)." The magazine also wrote that Avworo "can break down a defense as a point guard that Navy lacked last season."
Athlon Magazine selected Navy to finish sixth behind American, Lehigh, Colgate, Holy Cross and Bucknell. The magazine said, "Coach Billy Lange returns four starters, including guards Kaleo Kina and Chris Harris, who both averaged more than 14 points per game. Transfer O.J. Avworo will run the point after starting 24 games as a freshman at Idaho. Guard Romeo Garcia (Soph. / Houston, Texas) and center Mark Veazey (Soph. / Lilburn, Ga.), who each moved into the starting lineup as freshman last season, will look to boost their production at the offensive end."
The Mids will officially begin practice on Friday, Oct. 17, in preparation for their season opener on Friday, Nov. 14, at Towson, beginning at 7:00 pm. Navy's home opener will be Sunday, Nov. 16, against Howard at 1:00 pm.
Sporting News
-- Picked 2nd
-- Chris Harris (First-team All-Conference)
Lindy's
-- Picked 4th
-- Chris Harris (Second-team All-Conference)
-- Kaleo Kina (Second-team All-Conference)
-- O.J. Avworo (Newcomer of the Year)
Athlon
-- Picked 6th
# GO NAVY #
