Things got worse for the UMBC Retrievers Monday afternoon as the team, already off to an 0-5 to start the season, lost it's star player in point guard Chris De La Rosa. Details are unknown, but an official release from the University indicates it's a family-related issue.

The guard was an All America East Conference 2nd Team selection last season after averaging 15.5 points and 6 assists per game. He had played in just one game this season, scoring 17 points and dishing out 10 assists in a loss to Virginia Military Institute. UMBC, despite their record, had been playing decent basketball, certainly better than Binghamton and Hartford, the two teams they were predicted to contend with in the bottom third of the conference. This loss could bring them back down to the Bearcats and Hawks level, making for an interesting battle to stay out of the dreaded play-in game.

Unranked wishes the best of luck to Chris with whatever his future holds (overseas playing career?).

For being a tiny league, the America East is not without its share of drama. Could-have-been elite center Kyrie Sutton was dismissed only a few days before the season, effectively marking the end of the fraudulent Bingo-Braudus era. Will Brown is in the year of his contract. Tommy Brenton is ready to commit anything short of murder to win basketball games after sitting out for a full year. 

But the most interesting might be how come Chris De La Rosa, super talented, super numbers, isn't a winner. Is it all a lack of talent? Why doesn't his team rally around him? Why isn't the defense better? Where is the leadership from what is supposed to be a 1st teamer -- and maybe POY candidate?

Last Season: 5-25, 4-12, got stomped by Binghamton in the play-in round of AE Tournament 91-65 (ouch). 

Head Coach: Randy Monroe

Key Losses: Justin Fry, Travis King, Laurence Jolicoeur 

Newcomers: Will Wise, Joey Getz, Nate Basalyga, Jordan Wejnert, Chandler Thomas, Jarrel Lane

Projected Line-up:

G: Chris De La Rosa, Sr.

G: Joey Getz, Fr.

F: Chase Plummer, So.

F: Nate Basalyga, Fr.

Bench: Brian Neller, Jr. Jamar Wertz, So. Jake Wasco, Sr.

A Look Back:

There isn't much any UMBC wants to remember and there's nothing in particular I'd like to rehash (except for that 2nd half collapse that allowed UAlbany to make a ferocious comeback. Thanks for that).

Jamar W: 

Always going out of our way to reference Jamar Wilson! More after the jump!

Continue reading this post »