The Seahawks meet the Patriots in an exhibition game on Thursday night

UNCW (0-0) vs. Francis Marion (0-0)

7 p.m. | Trask Coliseum | FloSports | Listen 

We’re almost there.

It’s not quite the real thing, but it’ll be the closest thing to a normal basketball game in Trask Coliseum we’ve seen in more than 600 days, as the Seahawks play host to Francis Marion in an exhibition matchup on Thursday night.

Much has changed since UNCW last walked off the floor in March, with only four players returning from a group that went 7-10 last season, with 10 newcomers joining the program over the spring and summer.

Here’s what to watch for as everyone — coaches, fans and players — tries to feel things out against the Division II-Patriots.

If you plan to watch the game, be sure to use this link to sign up for FloSports at the discounted rate of $7.99/month or $95.88/year for CAA fans.

Nice to Meet You

Thanks to new NCAA rules, Coach Takayo Siddle was able to give his roster a complete makeover during the offseason, adding seven players with Division I experience via the transfer portal and bringing in three freshman via old-fashioned recruiting.

Those 10 newcomers join four players who have established themselves in major roles throughout their time at UNCW.

Listen to our season preview episode of Perchcast with guest Brian Mull here

The biggest storyline of all Thursday night will be finding out exactly how Siddle and his staff put together lineups, which roles particular players fit into and whose skills are the most complimentary for one another.

That’s not to say that everyone’s minutes will exactly mirror what they’ll see in Tuesday night’s regular-season opener at Illinois State, but for at least the first half, it’s likely the Hawks will run something close to their normal rotation.

We’ll certainly be taking note of not only who’s playing, but which guys are spending the most time together on the court and which lineups are the most effective.

Bountiful Big Men

Well, maybe bountiful is an overstatement, but the Hawks certainly have tons more size than last season.

When it comes to big men, the conversation starts with graduate transfer James Baker Jr., who quickly established himself as a leader after his arrival, following four years at Morehead State, where he helped the Eagles to an OVC title last season.

The 6-7, 205-pound Baker has 120 games under his belt, and given his length and strength, fits the prototype for UNCW needs as a big man capable of operating in pick and roll situations, rebounding and running and doing all of the dirty work in the paint.

Baker’s lineup fit will be either as the five (center) in a small, fast lineup or as the four (power forward) in a bigger lineup.

So, in the case of Baker sliding over to the four, who mans the five slot for the Seahawks?

It seems the 6-9, 230-pound Amari Kelly, who began his career at Duquesne, has done plenty to impress Siddle, with the coach calling him the biggest surprise on the roster since his arrival.

Expect to see Baker or Kelly on the floor as the lone big man at times, and at others, expect to see them in the lineup together.

Junior Khadim Samb (6-7, 200) and freshman Khamari McGriff (6-8, 175) are next up in the four/five slots, while freshman Trazarien White (6-6, 180) will likely see minutes at the four, too.

Not so Shy

What a relief it is to have Shykeim Phillips healthy and ready to run the team.

A member of the CAA’s All-Rookie team as a freshman, Phillips missed all but two games last season due to a leg injury, meaning Mike Okauru had to spend the entire season playing out of position and taking away an excellent on-ball defender.

Healthy and ready to go this season, Phillips makes life easier in every way — organizing the offense and setting up teammates for easy buckets, while his defense means a little less help and ball-watching on the other end.

Read all of Siddle’s quotes from the first radio show of the season

“He’s a key, key part to what we’re doing — maybe an X-Factor,” Siddle said. “(He’s) a guy that we have to have out on the court and keeps everybody calm, can get us in our offense, anchors our defense, is talking a lot more and taking a on a leadership role this year.”

Last year’s experience will certainly be valuable, as the Seahawks know they can count on Okauru in a pinch, but take note of how different things look when Phillips is on the bench.

Thomas Tough

Although UNCW played in a closed, control scrimmage over the weekend at Hampton, this will be another step up for the three guys on the roster without Division I experience in McGriff, White and Jamarii Thomas.

Of those three, expect to see Thomas, a 6-0, 185 pound point guard, get his fair share of playing time.

Part of two state championship teams in high school, Thomas has a strong, compact frame and brings the kind of charisma and natural leadership skills you want in a lead guard.

Equally adept as a scorer and distributor in at the Burlington School, those skills might or might not immediately translate — you never know with freshmen — to the college game. One thing that will certainly translate, however, is his tenacious approach to the game.

In whatever minutes he gets as the backup point guard on Thursday, Thomas will play hard, be tough and show some emotion.

Wing Men

One benefit of this system is the number of interchangeable and complimentary players on the wing.

Okauru, Jaylen Sims and Jamahri Harvey are all back from last season, while Alec Oglesby and Jaylen Fornes arrive via the transfer portal.

Every one of those guys will fit into the rotation one way or another, although Okauru is likely the player who ends up with the biggest role and most minutes.

So, who brings what to the table? That’s something that will obviously work itself out over time, but as of now, here’s how we understand their skills:

• In addition to being the best defender among the wing rotation, Okauru is also likely to put up the best rebounding numbers. He’s proven himself plenty capable of putting up 20 points on any given night, and thanks to playing the point last season, has a better sense of running the offense. Siddle also believes his time training with the Nigerian national team exposed him to the physicality and effort required to play pro ball.

• Sims, fully healthy, can be a dynamic — but somewhat streaky — scorer. The challenge for him is expanding his game to contribute in other areas.

• Last season, Harvey showed the makings of a future glue-guy: someone who plays hard, defends well on the wing, moves the ball and has the capability of creating his own shot. After shooting 36 percent from he field and 3-point range last season, Harvey should be able to bump those percentages up a little and become a more efficient scorer. Improving as a rebounder might be the key in carving out a bigger role.

• Hey, remember Fornes? During his first run at UNCW, he was an exciting young guard who could fill it up from deep. Back in Wilmington after two seasons at Nicholls State, Fornes can definitely still shoot it, hitting 39 percent from beyond the arc last season. Injuries have cost him a little athleticism, but now, he makes up for that with veteran savvy and leadership.

• Siddle wants his team to shoot (and make) a lot of 3-pointers, and Oglesby is the best candidate to do that after hitting 43.3 percent of his attempts last year at Cleveland State. Asked who Oglesby might compare to from his first tenure, Siddle said he’s a mix of Ambrose Mosley (shooting ability) and Chris Flemmings (embracing the big moment).

Welcome back!

It’s been exactly 614 days since Trask felt anything close to normal, with 3,144 fans coming out for a loss to Delaware on Feb. 29, 2020.

No one expects a packed house to watch an exhibition game vs. a Division II opponent, but will students and the season-ticket holders take advantage of the opportunity to finally see Seahawk hoops again?

Last season wasn’t fun for anyone, and a big reason for that was trying to play meaningful basketball games in an empty building with little noise aside from coaches and a few family members.

It’s been a tough run for UNCW over the past several seasons, so it will take time to rebuild attendance, but hopefully, fans will turn up and show their appreciation for everything these kids have been through over the past few seasons.

Tip-Ins

• The Seahawks open the regular season on Tuesday night at Illinois State (8 p.m., ESPN+) before returning to Wilmington for Friday’s home opener vs. Guilford.

• Sims (17.8 points) led the Seahawks in scoring last season, while Mike Okauru (14.2 points) was third on the team.

• Fornes averaged 7.1 points over 88 appearances (44 starts) at UNCW from 2016-19, winning one CAA title.

• Francis Marion went 3-11 in its COVID-shortened 2021 season and returns just one of its top five scorers.

• UNCW is 4-0 all-time vs. Francis Marion, winning three regular-season meetings and one exhibition game, on Nov. 1, 2006.

• The Seahawks last played an exhibition game on Nov. 2, 2018, when Fornes scored 16 points in an 80-52 victory over William Peace.

• UNCW has averaged 90.8 points in its last eight exhibition games.