GETTING INSIDE

For Nicholls State, no seniors is either bad or good news.

Bad, because it means duplicating a rare 20-victory season without the most veteran of veterans will be an uphill climb. Good, because the Colonels have the players in place for success beyond 2009-2010.

Either way, J.P. Piper’s mostly undersized squad should again make a run in the SLC East after last season’s runner-up finish behind Stephen F. Austin, which has more new moving parts than returning ones.

Nicholls State said goodbye to two starters but returns three more and eight lettermen in all. Despite a cluster of newcomers, Piper believes the roster could be deeper than last season’s team that won 12 games in SLC play.

Outside shooting is a clear strength, and the roster lists no centers. There is an affinity for Australians. Nicholls State has three of them, all 6-6 or taller.

Swingman Anatoly Bose, a 6-6 Sydney native, leads a contingent of long-range bombers. He hit 42 percent from three-point range last season and shot a decent 46 percent overall.

Versatile sophomore Fred Hunter (6-5, 240), last year’s SLC freshman of the year, shot 56 percent overall and led Nicholls in offensive rebounds with 52 while playing all over the floor.

Guard Kellan Carter, more regular-sized at his position at 6-0 and 180, finished in the top 20 in D-I in steals per game at 2.4.

Nicholls State might not pass many pre-game eyeball tests, but you know what they say about looks.

NOTES, QUOTES

• Nicholls State had only its second 20-win season since moving to Division I in 1980-81. The other time was 1994-95.

• Nicholls State brings two Aussies off the bench in its frontcourt, Dominic Friend (6-7, 250) and Cameron McCallum (6-8, 240). Possible starter Friend averaged 22.4 minutes; McCallum was more a spot player.

• Among returning players, F Anatoly Bose was second in the SLC in minutes per game at 33.4.

Last Year:   20-11 overall, 12-4, second in the SLC East.

Head Coach:   J.P. Piper (career 53-93); sixth year at Nicholls State.

Quote To Note:   “They understand that as good as last year was, we still came up short of our ultimate goal to play in the NCAA Tournament. I don’t think we’re satisfied.”—Coach J.P. Piper.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Scouting The Newcomers:   New Orleans native Maurice Foster (6-4, 220) transferred from North Dakota State College of Science, where his 15.9 points per game helped spark a 31-4 season. Transfer G Kenny Franklin (Jacksonville College) was the career scoring leader (2,204 points) at prep football juggernaut Shreveport Evangel Christian. Freshman G Bryan Hammond scored 16.1 points per game at New Orleans St. Augustine.

Key Early-season Games:   At Duquesne (preseason NIT), Houston, LSU and New Mexico; vs. Miami (Ohio) and La. Tech at Albuquerque; Great Alaska Shootout: vs. Alaska-Anchorage (D-II finalist in 2008) and Washington State. The Colonels open SLC play Jan. 9 against Northwestern State.

Program Direction:   Coach J.P. Piper is guardedly optimistic. He has a young club, but an odd mix of player shapes, sizes and skills. Nicholls has a good window to make a run at a league title and NCAA berth. The core of last season’s team that won 20 games remains, but building on it long-term remains to be seen.

Probable Starting Lineup:   GF Anatoly Bose, F-G Fred Hunter, G Kellan Carter, F Maurice Foster, F Dominic Friend.

Roster Report:  

• Former Mississippi State student assistant Bill Begley, was added to the full-time staff.

• Nicholls State spends time recruiting in central California; three players from Fresno are listed on the roster.

• Reserve G Chris Iles played in 31 games and should appear often after scoring an average of 3.5 points in nearly 16 minutes per game.