How do you do you replace one first team all-conference player and one conference defensive player of the year, along with 51 percent of your offense?

That is big question surrounding the Binghamton men’s basketball team this season; and if this team wants to win this year, it will have to find a way to replace the contributions of Andre Heard (17.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Sebastian Hermenier (11.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg), both of who graduated in the spring.

The duo was ranked one and two in scoring and rebounding for the Bearcats last season, the most successful year for the program since joining Division I five years ago. They were 12-4 in the conference, placing second in the America East, and had a 16-13 overall record.

“We lose those guys, two great players, but we bring in four new physical, talented, gifted guys,” said head coach Al Walker, who is entering his seventh year as Bearcats head coach, “and we come back with guys who I thought were just starting to figure it out last year, who I believe are going to take a big step forward.”

The New Blood

Last season, Heard was forced to play close to 37 minutes a game while junior captain Mike Gordon, who will have a crucial role this year, was also forced to play close to 40 minutes a game due to lack of a backup.

Junior college transfer Richard Forbes will look to provide that extra spark coming off the bench to backup Gordon. Forbes should be an exciting player to watch as he is extremely quick and a solid defender who can also add some extra offense. Forbes was impressive in the Green and White scrimmage last weekend, making things happen and opening up the eyes of Walker and the crowd. And when Forbes and Gordon are in there together, it could be like watching a tennis match with the action going back and forth.

“We feel very good about our depth,” Walker said. “Our group of 12 is as talented as any group of 12 in the America East Conference and other teams on our schedule.”

The other newcomers include junior college transfer Marvin Lee and freshmen Lazar Trofunovic and Miladin (Minja) Kovacevic. While Kovacevic, a 6-foot-9 forward, still needs a little more time developing his game, Lee and Trofunovic should make immediate impacts. Lee, a 6-foot-2 guard, is an all-around physical player with great athleticism and should see significant minutes. And Trofunovic, a 6-foot-8 forward, is a physical talent who can rebound, pass and score and could possibly step up into even a starting role.

At the scrimmage on Saturday, Walker had Trofunovic in the starting five, playing the wing alongside Gordon, sophomore Ian Milne, junior Giovanni Olomo and senior Troy Hailey.

The Big Men

Despite being only 6-foot-6, Sebastian Hermenier was a force in the low post; but this year’s team is looking at a front court of 6-foot-8’ Olomo, 6-foot-8 Trofunovic and 6-foot-9 Milne with 6-foot-6 senior Duane James and 6-foot-11 sophomore Jaan Montgomery coming off the bench for extra support down low.

A key for Binghamton’s success is getting the ball down into the paint or what they like to call “the green.”

Gordon, who averaged 8.5 ppg and 4.5 apg last season, is going to be counted on to run the offense once again and knows that getting the ball down low will create a lot more open shots on the wing.

“If we get into the green, it rattles a lot of defenses,” he said. “We want to get into the green this year.”

The Key Factors

One of those players who will be waiting to catch and shoot on the wing is Hailey, the team’s returning leading scorer averaging 8.6 ppg. Not only will Hailey look to be the senior leader and provide pressure defense, but he will look to step up into a more prominent scoring role in place of Heard. While Hailey has had a strong preseason, it is important for him to stay healthy as he is close to back to 100 percent after having surgery on his foot in the middle of July.

Hailey is just one of several players that can drain the open shot; sophomore Dwayne Jackson is another. Jackson can heat up quickly from behind the arc and has always been given the freedom to take tough shots by Walker, who knows that offensive shot selection is going to be very important.

Another key factor will be Milne who really stepped his game up in the America East tournament where he averaged 10 points, 6.5 rebounds and 31.5 minutes, proving that he can produce when called upon and will have to be a major force down low on both sides of the floor. Olomo also needs to improve his post play for the team to excel as long as he stays out of foul trouble.

The Bottom Line

Even though Albany will clearly be the preseason favorite with Jamar Wilson in the backcourt, and Vermont is also returning all five starters, Walker is not worried.

“I feel we match up with Albany talent wise and Vermont’s size is intriguing, but I am a proponent for quickness over size,” he said. “And we have size plus quickness.”

The Bearcats need that quickness to get out to a fast start, something they did not do last season as they lost their first five games and were 3-9 before eventually reeling off six wins in a row to start the month of January.

But before the regular season gets underway, Binghamton will compete in a pair of exhibition games. The first will be at the Events Center tonight at 7 p.m. against Mansfield, who the Bearcats beat last year 94-71. The second will be this Saturday also at the Events Center at 1 p.m. against St. Rose, who the Bearcats narrowly beat 76-67 last season.