By Dave Johnson
W&M Athletics
 
In Dane Fischer's first season as head coach, William & Mary had one of the nation's best post combinations in 6-foot-10 Nathan Knight and 7-footer Andy Van Vliet. With the addition of graduate transfers Bryce Barnes and Tyler Hamilton, the Tribe started four seniors and a junior in the starting lineup.
 
Going into Fischer's second season, W&M has only two players taller than 6-7, neither of whom played much last year. Guard Luke Loewe, the aforementioned junior in last season's first five, is now the only scholarship senior.
 
To say the Tribe will be a direct contrast to last season — in terms size, experience, and likely style of play — would be a safe prediction.
 
"We're going to have probably as different a look as we could with our groups," said Fischer, the reigning CAA Coach of the Year. "We've gone from having some of the biggest lineups in the country, certainly in the frontcourt, to having some of the smallest.
 
"And we're certainly going to have a younger look to us. We're going to see a considerable amount of playing time from freshmen. It's going to be a totally different look for us, and it'll be fun to build with this group."
 
Fischer, whose debut team finished 21-11 and finished second in the CAA, must press on without perhaps the best player in program history. Knight, who signed a two-way NBA contract with the Atlanta Hawks, averaged 20.7 points and 10.5 rebounds a game last season. His 23 double-doubles were second nationally. Two of the Tribe's wins were decided on his baskets in the final two seconds.
 
Van Vliet, who transferred from Wisconsin, made an immediate impact by averaging 13.2 points and 8.7 rebounds a game. Grad transfers Bryce Barnes (Milwaukee) and Tyler Hamilton (Penn) were steady performers.
 
The lone returning starter, Loewe was arguably the CAA's most improved player last season. He bumped his scoring average from 3.9 points a game as a sophomore to 10.7 as a junior.
 
Loewe had several big offensive performances. None was bigger than his 27-point afternoon on 10-of-11 shooting (6-of-7 from the arc) in late-season win at James Madison. He also made the CAA's All-Defensive team.
 
"He had such a great year in terms of consistency," Fischer said. "The thing about Luke's game is, he really makes the right play almost every time. Because of that, he's probably not going to be the guy who scores 20 points a game. I'd guess he'll get more uptick in his scoring because he's probably going to get a few more opportunities.
 
"Obviously, we're going to continue to rely on him on the offensive end. And defensively is where he really separates himself from other players with his desire."
 
After Loewe, the veterans are juniors Thornton Scott (7.3 ppg, 4.4 apg), Quinn Blair (4.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and Mehkel Harvey (1.2 ppg, 1.3 rpg) and sophomores Miguel Ayesa (4.6 ppg, 41 3-pointers) and Rainers Hermanovskis (1.2 ppg).
 
Fischer expects incoming freshmen Jake Milkereit ("he makes plays with the ball in his hands"), Yuri Covington ("a really dynamic guard") and Connor Kochera ("a do-everything wing") to have substantial roles this season. The same goes for Ben Wight, a freshman who redshirted last season, and Thatcher Stone, who played in eight games in his first year.
 
"I think we're more spreadout talent wise across our roster, and I definitely think we'll be playing more guys," Loewe said. "That's something that's definitely up to the coaches, but all of the guys are putting in a lot of work and are very good players capable of being on the floor.
 
"There will be some new faces on our team that will surprise some people with the talent they have and all the intangibles they can bring to the floor. And some guys who didn't play as much last year are going to play a key role this year."
 
The tallest players are Wight and Harvey at 6-foot-9. Wight isn't much of a banger at 205 pounds but has plenty of athleticism. Harvey played only 38 minutes last season, but he's the team's most experienced big man.
 
Unless you count Blair, who often plays bigger than his 6-7, 225-pound frame. Don't be surprised to see the Tribe occasionally go with a four-guard, Blair-in-the-post lineup.
 
"Quinn had a really good second half of the year especially and really settled into his role," Fischer said. "He has the ability to shoot the ball from 3. He's really driving the ball and getting himself to the foul line, which is something we're going to need with Nathan's departure."
 
With so much emphasis on getting the ball to Knight in the post last season, the Tribe averaged only 7.5 3-pointers a game, its fewest since 2011-12. But with 11 of the roster's 14 players 6-foot-6 or smaller, that's likely to change.
 
"Given the makeup of this team," Fischer said, "I would guess we'll take a lot of them this year."
 
A year ago, the Tribe was picked seventh in the CAA's preseason poll. You know the rest of the story: W&M stunned all by winning 21 games and finishing second in the conference.
 
But with Knight and three other seniors gone, the Tribe was picked 10th (last) in this year's poll. Time will tell if the Tribe can pull another surprise.
 
"We certainly have some guys who can play," Fischer said. "The difference is that we're on a much younger side this year than we were last year, and we obviously don't have a dominant player like Nathan. I really like the talent level we have.
 
"The guys who have played at this level need to be able to take their game up one more level. They need to be guys who can consistently play well. Everybody at this level can usually make a play. It's who can do it on a consistent basis, and that's something we're going to be looking for."