Life Without Pimentel: How Does the Season Change?
Jason Pimentel is out indefinitely at Longwood due to an incident reported last week. So in the spirit of moving on and with tip-off just two days away, how will this effect the Lancers?
Pimentel was expected to be a force at the four coming off the bench initially behind Damarion Geter and to compete for starting role as the season progressed. The former ODU Monarch brought athleticism and size that hadn’t been seen in Farmville in quite some time.
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The biggest effect the loss of Pimentel will have is now an area thought to be our strength, the frontcourt, is now pretty thin. Right the team is left with Geter, Lotanna Nwogbo, Victor Dorsey, and Shaq Johnson moonlighting at the four. Longwood is even more thin for the Averett and JMU games with Dorsey being out due to suspension.
For Longwood to succeed in the frontcourt they are going to need everyone mentioned before and it trickles down even farther to the guards who will be asked to play in different sets now. Most of all Victor Dorsey needs to mature quickly to hopefully give around eight minutes a night in the post. Longwood did fine against Hampden-Sydney on Saturday without Pimentel, winning the rebound margin by nine, but obviously the competition stiffens.
The move will also open up more opportunity to kick Shaq inside and likely give Ryan Badowski and Kanayo Obi-Rapu more playing time on the wing in smaller lineups. Losing Pimentel isn’t a dagger but it just makes the Lancers a little more vulnerable for the long haul.
For the long term the loss of Pimentel opens up a scholarship. Previously no scholarships were open for the Class of 2015 with Al Burge already signed on to come to Farmville next season. Coach Gee could look to strengthen the frontcourt, but that may be less of a priority with Drexel transfer Khris Lane joining the fray next season. Duquesne transfer Tra’Vaughn White is expected to be the primary ball-handler next year but he’s more of an off guard. Maybe Gee looks for someone to play behind White?
