The Jordan Howard era at the University of Central Arkansas has ended.
Now what?
"You'd think we would be a little bit worried about the season and how we're going to go forward," UCA men's basketball Coach Russ Pennell said. "But we have some really good young players. We've recruited well. Our recruiting class was ranked as high as 96th in the country. Top 100 just never happens in the Southland."
Howard's departure means the Bears will be without the country's third-leading scorer who was responsible for 25.3 points per game in 2017-18, the school's best Division I season to date at 18-17.
UCA landed in the Southland Conference Tournament for a second consecutive season and defeated Seattle University in the College Basketball Invitational to claim its first postseason victory at the D-I level.
Without Howard -- who was drafted by the Golden State Warriors' G-League affliate, Santa Cruz, in October -- the Bears have plenty to figure out before their season-opener Tuesday at Missouri.
"It's been a really good fall," Pennell said. "We're going to have to figure out who's going to do what. My biggest issue is figuring out who's going to play, but I think that sometimes takes care of itself. You find out who kind of plays well when the lights get bright."
UCA, which was predicted to finish eighth in the Southland this season, has four other Power 5 road trips on its 2018-19 slate: Louisville, Oklahoma State, Indiana and Pittsburgh. It also has a trip set for New Mexico.
The Bears' season is expected to be much different than the last. Opponents will no longer deploy defenses fully committed to quieting just Howard.
And UCA's offense will not be the same. This season, there's an emphasis on conducting more of its offense from inside-out, using the low post more because its size and skill has improved.
Sophomore center Hayden Koval, 7-0, 220 pounds, has put on muscle, Pennell said. The addition of freshman power forward SK Shittu (6-9) from a 2017-18 season spent as a redshirt will deepen UCA's interior options and open up the rest of the floor.
"Last year, we went inside a little bit to Hayden, but we really didn't feel like as a freshman that he had the strength and the stamina to be a 25- or 30-touch-per-game guy," Pennell said. "Now that he's bulked up a little bit, and when you add SK to the mix, who's a really good low-post player, we can get baskets inside that we've had trouble getting in the past here."
Howard contributed 880 of UCA's 2819 points last season. Thirty percent of UCA's points (858) last season came via 286 made three-pointers.
The Bears were the Southland's only team with more than 800 three-point attempts last season.
"That's where the shift will be," Pennell said. "You'll still us still run, still play fast. But the ball's going to the paint prior to getting shot. Those guys are really good passers, beside scorers, and I think that really enhances what we're doing."
UCA men’s schedule
DATE OPPONENT TIME/RESULT
Nov. 6 at Missouri 7 p.m.
Nov. 8 Hendrix 7 p.m.
Nov. 12 Univ. of the Ozarks 7 p.m.
Nov. 15 at Pittsburgh 6 p.m.
Nov. 18 at Troy 2 p.m.
Nov. 24 at Saint Louis 3 p.m.
Nov. 28 UALR 7 p.m.
Dec. 5 at Louisville 6 p.m.
Dec. 8 at UALR 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 16 at New Mexico 3 p.m.
Dec. 19 at Indiana 7 p.m.
Dec. 21 at Oklahoma State noon
Dec. 30 Lyon College 4 p.m.
Jan. 2 at TAMU-Corpus Christi*7p.m.
Jan. 5 at SE Louisiana* 4 p.m.
Jan. 9 Sam Houston State* 7 p.m.
Jan. 12 Lamar* 3:30 p.m.
Jan. 16 at Incarnate Word* 7 p.m.
Jan. 19 Nicholls State* 4 p.m.
Jan. 23 New Orleans* 7 p.m.
Jan. 26 at Abilene Christian*3:30 p.m.
Jan. 30 at Stephen F. Austin*6:30 p.m.
Feb. 2 NW (La.) State* 4 p.m.
Feb. 9 SE Louisiana* 4 p.m.
Feb. 13 Houston Baptist* 7 p.m.
Feb. 20 at McNeese State* 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 23 at Nicholls State* 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 27 Stephen F. Austin* 7 p.m.
Mar. 2 Abilene Christian* 4 p.m.
Mar. 6 at Sam Houston St.*6:30 p.m.
Mar. 9 at NW (La.) State* 3 p.m.
Mar. 13-16 at SLC Tournament, Katy, Texas
*Southland Conference game
Sports on 11/02/2018