CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – After the most successful season since the 2007 Southland Championship, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi basketball opens the 2016-17 campaign Saturday with an exhibition against Concordia University at 7 p.m. in the Dugan Wellness Center.
The Islanders are coming off a 25-8 campaign and a third consecutive postseason appearance under head coach
Willis Wilson.
Rashawn Thomas returns to lead the Blue and Green after earning First Team All-Southland and Defensive Player of the Year honors a season ago.
THE MATCHUP
A&M-Corpus Christi and Concordia are meeting for just the second time on the hardwood. In the only previous matchup, the Islanders matched a school record by putting up 116 points in a 116-78 victory to open the 2005-06 campaign.
INSIDE THE ISLANDERS
• Senior
Rashawn Thomas has drawn his fair share of preseason praise, being named to the All-Southland First Team while also garnering Preseason Southland Player of the Year recognition from NBC Sports.
• After having eight seniors on the roster in 2015-16, the Islanders now have six true freshman in 2016-17.
• Veterans
Cole Martinez,
Jake Kocher and
Emmanuel Toney all return to form a leadership core of four seniors alongside Thomas.
•
Rashawn Thomas is chasing a host of records in his final season. Most notably, Thomas is closing in on the all-time records in points, blocks, field goals made and rebounds.
• Junior
Ehab Amin looks to build off a strong 2015-16 when the guard averaged 8.6 points and 3.9 rebounds off the bench.
•
Joseph Kilgore also returns and figures to be a key contributor after providing 7.0 points per game off the bench a season ago.
PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATION
A year after reaching the Southland Conference Championship game, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was selected to finish third in 2016-17 by both the coaches and sport information directors. The Islanders garnered a first-place vote in each poll, coming in behind Sam Houston State and defending champion Stephen F. Austin.
CHECK ON CONCORDIA
Members of the American Southwest Conference, the Tornados finished 15-11 overall in 2015-16. Concordia returns 10 players from that squad and is picked to finish third in the ASC West this season.
• Senior Rashad Coleman is the leading returning scorer, averaging 11 points per game last year.
• Coleman was named to the All-ASC West Preseason Watch List along with junior Ben Page and sophomore Ephriam Price.
• Page averaged 9.4 points and a team-best 5.8 rebounds per game in 2015-16.
• Concordia averaged 95 points per game while allowing opponents to score 91.3 a season ago.
REGULAR SEASON OPENER
Following Saturday's exhibition, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi will open the regular season next Friday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. against Our Lady of the Lake. That game will be played at the American Bank Center.
