By Andy Walter

NEWARK — There’s some good reasons to think of this as a rebuilding season.

After all, the Delaware men’s basketball team lost a big chunk from the top group of players that took the Blue Hens to the NCAA Tournament last March.

But in the era of the transfer portal, coaches can’t really think of their squads in two or three-year segments any more.

UD coach Martin Ingelsby knows he’s only guaranteed one season with this particular group.

He plans on making the most of it.

“We’re not in a position where we feel like we’re rebuilding,” said Ingelsby. “We want to be able to take a step forward from what we did last year. And I think we have the pieces to be able to do that.

“For our guys to have been able to taste a CAA championship, to be able to play in the NCAA Tournament, I think there’s a different vibe about our team — a confidence about our team — that we belong. ... We want to continue to get better. We want to do it again and we want to take a step forward.”

Right now, with the players back on campus for summer workouts, Ingelsby is starting to figure out what the Hens’ new lineup might look like.

Of the 16 players currently on the Hens’ roster, only four played significant roles for Delaware last winter.

On the other hand, three veteran transfers have joined the program and junior guard Johnny McCoy returns after missing all last season with a knee injury.

Also, one of those returning players is sophomore forward Jyare Davis, who emerged as the Hens’ top player down the stretch last season. He was named both the CAA Rookie of the Year and the MVP of the CAA Tournament.

Remember, because of an injury, Davis really only started to play major minutes for the Hens in the last few months of the season.

“What an unbelievable story,” said Ingelsby. “He goes from being really kind of a non-factor to arguably being the best player in the league.”

Ingelsby believes that Davis is just starting to show what he’s capable of.

“He’s worked really hard in the offseason on being more consistent shooting the basketball from outside,” said Ingelsby. “He’s going to be so versatile. ... He’s so gifted on the offensive end that we’ve got to be able to mix and match where we put him.”

Davis is expected to be a leader this year, too. Ingelsby said Davis, second-team All-CAA pick Jameer Nelson Jr. and Ebby Asamoah should fill the leadership roles after the graduation of seniors Kevin Anderson, Ryan Allen and Dylan Painter.

On the other hand, there are a lot of spots in the lineup that are up for grabs right now — and Ingelsby says that can be a good thing.

“We’ve got guys who are really good players who were just behind some really good players the last couple years,” said Ingelsby. “This is their turn, it’s their time. And we have more of them. We have a lot of interchangeable parts that we’re excited about.

“We’re going to have a lot of competition every day in practice. I think that will bring the best out of guys individually and our group collectively.”

Delaware’s roster isn’t the only thing that’s changed. Ingelsby also has a new assistant coach in former Pitt standout James Robinson working with the perimeter players.

And the CAA has four new members in Stony Brook, Hampton, Monmouth and North Carolina A&T. The Hens will travel to both Hampton and North Carolina A&T this season.

While the Hens’ non-conference schedule hasn’t been finalized yet, they do know they’re playing at Duke on Nov. 18.

“When I told them about that, those guys were shot through a cannon,” Ingelsby said about his players. “They were fired up about that opportunity.”

Ingelsby said he wants to see his players face tougher non-conference challenges. He knows there might some nights when the results aren’t pretty.

But, as the Hens proved last season in winning the CAA title as a fifth seed, the most important thing is playing well at the end of the year.

“We might not know who we are in October and November like we did last year,” said Ingelsby. “But I’m excited to be able to help this team evolve and grow and figure it out.

“We might get punched in the mouth a couple times in November and December. But I’m excited about who this team can become in February and March.”

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at 302-741-8227 or walter@iniusa.org.
Follow on Twitter at @DSNSports.