Eastern Kentucky Colonels Preview 2021-22

Eastern Kentucky Colonels Preview 2020-21

Back in the aftermath of World War II, several area schools came together (EKU, Western Kentucky, Morehead State, Murray State, Evansville, and Louisville) to found the OVC in 1948. With the recent exodus of OVC teams to the A-Sun and MVC, the old conference is on life support, but brighter days are ahead for the likes of the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, who are set to begin their first season as a member of the A-Sun. As the Colonels enter a new chapter in their sports history, the 41-year-old Georgetown, KY native Head Coach A.W. Hamilton looks to bring their exciting up-tempo style of play to a conference historically dominated by slow-it-down coaches who emphasize milking the shot clock for all it’s worth. For reference, last season EKU ranked second in the country in tempo (possessions per game), while the A-Sun’s defending champion Liberty Flames ranked…338th. 

The program’s final season in the OVC was its best in quite some time: the Colonels finished 22-7, good enough for the best winning percentage of any school in the commonwealth, and the best winning percentage for any EKU team since the 1964-65 season. Now entering his fourth year as head coach of the Kerns, the former Hargrave Military Academy coach looks to build on last season’s success without some of the key cogs responsible for it. As a result of last season’s success, each half of EKU’s two-headed monster both up-transferred, with Tre King heading to Georgetown and Wendell Green to Auburn. Such is life for the modern mid-major.

Luckily, the Colonels have more than enough talent—returning and new alike—to compete for an A-Sun crown this season. Running the point in Richmond will be a familiar face in 6-2 senior scoring machine Jomaru Brown. Despite sitting out last season due to injury, Brown made a name for himself in 2019-20 as a human microwave. He scored a career-high 41 points in a tough loss to Western Kentucky:

Two seasons ago, Brown netted upward of 18 points per game, albeit on mediocre efficiency (38% from the field). However, his efficiency should improve this season given the number of competent scorers surrounding him on the wings and down low. That is not to mention his new backcourt running mate, redshirt senior guard Braxton Beverly. It is a long overdue homecoming for Beverly, who has already established himself as somewhat of a hoops legend in eastern Kentucky, as a product of Perry County Central HS in Hazard. The undersized sharpshooter spent his first four seasons at North Carolina State, where he eventually broke into the starting rotation thanks to his long-range shooting ability and ball-handling skills. For EKU, Beverly introduces another veteran presence to the fold. He could be this team’s brightest star, and you will be hard-pressed to find a more formidable backcourt in the A-Sun. 

It also helps that Beverly, coming from Kevin Keatts-coached NC State, is already familiar with a full-court press defensive scheme, as his new coach Hamilton loves to apply full-court pressure early and often. Last season, the Colonels led the nation in steals. When they’re not dashing to the rim off forced turnovers, Hamilton will instruct his shooters to let it fly from distance. Hamilton’s coaching style paired with such a strong starting backcourt should ultimately sustain a very potent high-scoring offense.

Another athletic perimeter defender will start on the wing: 6-5 redshirt sophomore Curt Lewis out of Valley High School in Louisville. Lewis is also a very capable shooter, as he knocked down 35% of his shots from deep a season ago en route to posting 11 points per game. Spotting up on the opposite wing will be former Scott County HS (Georgetown, KY) standout 6-7 Michael Moreno. Although Beverly may have a case, Moreno is by and away the best and most consistent distance shooter for the Colonels. Moreno netted 10 points per game on a blistering 46% (64 for 140) from deep last season, including a 29-point outing with six made threes against Morehead State.

In addition, EKU’s post play will be bolstered by 6-9 Marshall transfer redshirt senior big man Jannsen Williams. Williams is a rim-runner who posted 9 points and 4 rebounds per game for the Thundering Herd last season. Yet the strongest part of his game is his shot-blocking ability, which will add another element to the Colonels’ plan of attacking off forced turnovers. Williams is joined by another Marshall transfer in 6-10 redshirt senior Iran Bennett, who should also see considerable run. Marshall Head Coach Dan D’Antoni must hate EKU. Former JUCO All-American forward Michael Wardy will also compete for playing time as a mobile big.

Coach Hamilton’s basketball teams tend to looks just as much like track teams, so it is no wonder that he runs a deep rotation in order to keep his players fresh. Senior guard Cooper Robb, another Scott County HS product, is a defensive savant off the bench. The team’s best perimeter defender, Robb likely retains his role as sixth man. The rotation will be rounded out by Wichita State transfer guard Tevin Wade (who is a bit of a question mark due to his limited playing time there), plus returning forwards Devontae Blanton and Tariq Baloqun.

Some non-conference games to watch include the Colonels’ opener at Milwaukee, as well as matchups at West Virginia and Western Kentucky. The real challenge for the Colonels this season will be adjusting to a new conference. Hamilton’s scouts will certainly have their hands full, as Muhlenberg County, KY native Coach Ray Harper and his Jacksonville State Gamecocks were the only other former OVC team to make the jump to the A-Sun. These two teams, as well as Liberty, Lipscomb, and Bellarmine look to be a cut above the rest of the conference. There is a strong chance the Colonels qualify for their first NCAAT bid since 2013-14 this season, especially if their conference foes are unable to adjust to EKU’s indefatigable pace of play.