Wheeling University defied expectations last season when its men’s team finished fifth in the regular season standings. This came after the Cardinals were picked to finish last in the conference.
The team had a talented but new coach hired relatively late, and the team was coming off a sub-500 record and next-to-last finish in 2018-19.
Expectations were understandably low.
And while statistics seldom tell the entire story, a quick look at the conference’s team numbers shows what kept Wheeling not only competitive, but successful, all season long.
In a word? Defense.
The Cardinals finished third in the conference in both points allowed per game at 74.7 and defensive field goal percentage at .449.
Wheeling also finished third in rebounding margin at +2.4. Only Charleston and West Liberty finished better.
But there were also some glaring areas of deficiency, namely perimeter shooting.
Wheeling shot a respectable 46.5 percent from the field, a middle of the pack figure for the conference.
But looking only at 3-pointers, the Cardinals shot only 32 percent from range and finished dead last in total 3s made (149, 5.5 per game). For comparison purposes, West Liberty was the top 3-point shooting team by percentage (41.3), Glenville State in total number (364, 12.6).
This is a conference where West Liberty averages 102.4 points per game, and the top five 3-point shooting teams are also the top five scoring teams. Being middling at best as a team from deep isn’t going to get it done.
Shooters Needed
Wheeling top perimeter threat, by percentage, was Emmanuel Ansong. He transferred to Wisconsin Green Bay to follow former Coach Will Ryan.
Jay Gentry and Jarrett Haines both return, with Gentry hitting 36 and Haines 33 a season ago. Neither hit last season at better than a 34 percent clip. Conversely, West Liberty had nine players hit 35 percent or better, including six greater than 40 percent.
Newly hired head coach Chris Richardson found himself in a similar situation to Ryan. Late hire (this time in July and not June) and needing to fill out the recruiting roster.
Finding shooters was priority No. 1 for Richardson.
Junior Transfers Jordan Beale (6-2, Louisburg College) and Jaylan Hewitt (6-5, Tohono O’odham) should help out in that department.
Beale, who redshirted at fellow MEC-member Concord before transferring to Louisburg, averaged 13.1 last season while hitting 34 percent in making 63 triples. Hewitt connected on 34 but shot nearly 40 percent.
“I feel like in particular Jaylan Hewitt and Jordan Beale can make shots,” Richardson said. “Not a lot of the guys we have here I believe are better shooters than maybe what their percentages may indicate.
“They ran hot and cold throughout the year, but that is definitely an area we have to improve upon.
“There are two parts to that, improving the roster and improving the skill sets and abilities of the guys already on the roster. We will be better.”
While D.J. Jenkins, another fellow junior transfer, is a 6-7 forward, Richardson did note he has a perimeter stroke as well. Jenkins shot 39 percent, making 16 as a sophomore.
“He can make plays on both ends of the floor in the front court, but can also stretch the floor with his ability to shoot the 3,” Richardson said.
Can Never Have Too Many Playmakers
Richardson also snagged a couple players who can make things happen with the ball in their hands.
Whether that is getting others involved or working the dribble to attack the basket or create their own shot opportunities, these two are certainly capable.
And bonus for the folks back home, one is a returning area native in former Wheeling Central standout Brent Price.
Price (6-2, Jr.) spent the last two seasons at Harcum College. He is joined by fellow junior George Taylor III (6-2), who last played at Montreat College.
In Price’s case, Richardson always kept an eye on him, even during high school. In addition to his abilities, Price knows how to win.
“He’s a playmaker and a great athlete who had an incredible high school career, winning over 100 games,” Richardson said. “We’re excited to have him.
“His (college) stats don’t jump off the page, but I talked to their staff. They played a lot of guys. But when it came down to crunch time, and he needed guys on the floor at the end of tight games, Brent was always there.”
Taylor could help out on the perimeter as well as he holds the single-season 3-point record at the Combine Academy.
Adding to the Defense
This recruiting class wasn’t all about offense, and Richardson may have found himself a gem in 6-7 junior transfer Dayne Allen.
It would be wrong to call Allen a defensive specialist, as he has a varied offensive skill set that allows him to use his quickness and leaping ability in the paint, or to hit from mid-range.
Allen scored 219 points while shooting 54 percent from the field as a sophomore. He also led the team in rebounds 315, and blocked shots 78. Wheeling had 87 blocks as a team last season.
But Allen is a superb rim protector and shot blocker with the opportunity to make a major and immediate impact for the Cardinals.
“The way he rebounds and blocks shots, he just has a nose for the ball,” Richardson said. “He’s got a very unique backstory in how he’s gotten to where he is now, and he plays like a guy who really appreciates the opportunity to play basketball.
“He’s improved his skill level and his strength in the weight room.”
Allen, who is a native of St. Catherine, Jamaica, actually took a season off to focus on his studies and finish his associate degree.
Richardson noticed he came to campus visibly stronger and ready to play.
The Newbies
You can’t call the final two recruits greenhorns as neither is a stranger to success on a basketball court. But, in terms of this recruiting class, being the only two freshmen, they are the newbies to the college game.
One is Trey Stoffer, a 6-4 guard from Ridgewood High School, who is no stranger to the teams of the Mountain East. His father, Todd, played at West Liberty. His brother Tanner golfed for the Hilltoppers.
Both freshmen, along with Jenkins, were already on board thanks to Ryan when Richardson came aboard. One thing is for certain, his new coach is glad he opted to wear Red and White instead of Black and Gold.
“We’re excited to have him at Wheeling,” Richardson said. “He had a great high school career in Ohio, and he has a very bright future in our program.”
Andrew Taylor hails from Texas by way originally of South Carolina. So Wheeling isn’t quite as far as it would be for a native Texan.
But the 6-5 guard was a multi-sport athlete at J.J. Pearce High School, also excelling at football and track and field.
A skilled wing and an aggressive finisher at the basket, Richardson believes Taylor’s best basketball is ahead of him now that he can concentrate on one sport.
“Now that he’s concentrating on basketball, the sky could be the limit,” Richardson said.
