WILMINGTON, N.C. - The 59th season of intercollegiate basketball tips off Friday night for UNC Wilmington when the Seahawks tackle what Benny Moss calls "a tough task" in host Appalachian State at the Holmes Center in bucolic Boone.
The Seahawks, 7-25 one year ago, will be looking to make it two-in-a-row against the Mountaineers after edging ASU, 108-101, in a wild double overtime thriller last season at Trask Coliseum. But it won't be easy.
"They have a very good team," said Moss, who stands 34-60 in three seasons on the bench. "You start with great guard play and couple that with some good big guys. They're picked second in the North Division of the Southern Conference for a reason."
ASU closed at 13-18 in 2008-09, but returns12 lettermen and four starters for new coach Buzz Peterson. The animated Peterson makes his way back to Boone after piloting the Mountaineers to the SoCon Championship and an NCAA berth, and then bolting for Tennessee.
"We know a lot about their personnel," Moss said, "but not as much about their system under Coach Peterson. They put a lot of pressure on your transition defense. They run and shoot quick three's. They like to score points. We're not going to slow it down offensively, but do hope to guard them better in the half court than we did last year."
Senior guard Kellen Brand, who started all 31 games last year and reached double figures in 21 contests, anchors Appalachian's guard corps. He led the Mountaineers with 14.8 points per game en route to earning All-Conference honors.
Another senior, Ryann Abraham, chipped in 9.8 ppg and high-scoring junior Donald Sims poured in 13.7 ppg. Senior forward Josh Hunter, a 6-6, 245-pound specimen, collected 8.9 ppg and 7.2 rpg for the Mountaineers.
ASU is coming off a 94-81 exhibition win over Mars Hill last Friday. The slippery Sims drained his first eight shots and finished with a game-high 33 points for the Mountaineers.
UNCW also breezed through its exhibition test by blitzing North Greenville, 80-43, behind a balanced scoring attack. It was the 19th consecutive exhibition victory for the Seahawks, who haven't lost an exhibition game since 1998.
The Seahawks will be opening the season without playmaker Chad Tomko in the lineup for the first time in three years. The Charlotte waterbug had surgery last Wednesday to repair a stress fracture in his foot and he remains doubtful.
"If we have to go without Chad, this group has depth," said Moss. "We have other pieces to use. No one guy will replace him, but 14 other guys need to step up in his absence."
The game marks official debut of seven players, three freshmen and four transfers, including redshirt power forward Will Ohuaregbe and East Carolina transfer center John Fields.
"Our guys are ready to play. They've been working hard since last spring and developed a strong work ethic. We're ready to play someone else. We're going to go up there and see if we can carry over everything we've been working on."
The 8,325-seat Holmes Center will be a welcome site for the Seahawks, who have never won in Boone. The Seahawks are 0-8 in the High Country after going winless in ASU's Varsity Gymnasium. Appalachian leads the overall series, 10-8.
Moss admits the early part of the schedule is unforgiving. After making the trek to Boone, the Seahawks return overnight to get ready for a 4:30 p.m. Sunday matchup against Atlantic 10 Conference member George Washington. After that, it's three games in the Charleston Classic, beginning with a Thursday pairing against Penn State at Carolina First Arena.
"We're trying to keep our focus on one game," Moss emphasized. "Our goal is to win one game and that's Appalachian State. We're going to play a lot of guys early in the season. That will provide us with an opportunity to keep everyone fresh and develop some competition for playing time."
