The Ospreys seemed to plateau a bit this past season after 2 years of big improvement. Mercer, USCU and FGCU stepped on past them. UNF never really found a strong replacement for graduated point guard Haugabrouck (Will Wilson didn’t do the job). They hope that freshman Ray Rodriguez will fill that gap this year. UNF brings back everybody but role players Jimmy Williams and Matt Sauey, and will have a senior laden team with experienced scorers Jerron Granberry and Parker Smith, and with inside players Andy Diaz, and David Jeune joined by Junior Travis Wallace. Williams had the muscle and athleticism to give them a change of pace penetrator, and he will be missed. They do get some extra length in highly touted 6’8” 195 FR guard Beau Beech, 6’8” 190 Fr Demarcus Daniels and 6’7” 180 Fr. Cameron Naylor. A short front line has given them matchup problems against Mercer. If senior leadership counts for something, these guys should be better.
When Matt Driscoll signed on as coach of UNF before the 2009-2010 season, he faced a terrible team and almost no time to recruit a new class – yet he brought in Andy Diaz, Jerron Granberry, David Jeune, and JUCO transfer Brad Haugabrook and made UNF competitive in one of the best turnarounds in D1 basketball. The remains of that class (Diaz, Granberry & Jeune) are seniors this year, along with later acquired transfer Parker Smith. It is the last hurrah for a group that helped turn things around for UNF. If this group does not make a mark this year – next year may be a rebuilding year for the Ospreys.
Gunners Parker Smith and Granberry are great weapons come tournament time when the game slows down, collars tighten and points are hard to come by.
When Matt Driscoll signed on as coach of UNF before the 2009-2010 season, he faced a terrible team and almost no time to recruit a new class – yet he brought in Andy Diaz, Jerron Granberry, David Jeune, and JUCO transfer Brad Haugabrook and made UNF competitive in one of the best turnarounds in D1 basketball. The remains of that class (Diaz, Granberry & Jeune) are seniors this year, along with later acquired transfer Parker Smith. It is the last hurrah for a group that helped turn things around for UNF. If this group does not make a mark this year – next year may be a rebuilding year for the Ospreys.
Gunners Parker Smith and Granberry are great weapons come tournament time when the game slows down, collars tighten and points are hard to come by.