Samford Basketball Season Preview: Part I
As rapper Eminem put it, “Guess who’s back, back again? Shady’s back, tell a friend.” Well go tell a friend, Samford basketball is back.
Last season was one for the record books for head coach Bucky McMillan and company. The program had their first ever outright Southern Conference championship, SoCon Tournament championship, and the first NCAA Tournament berth since 2000.
Samford reached its highest NET ranking and KenPom ranking in school history. The Bulldogs finished with a 29-6 record and a 15-3 conference record. That includes being undefeated at home and a 17-game winning streak which was the best in the country at one point.
Samford captured the hearts of America last season, almost coming back from a 23-point, second half deficit over powerhouse Kansas in the NCAA Tournament. Some would argue they were one play or maybe one call away from beating four seeded Kansas.
I still have not re-watched the Kansas game in full and maybe never will…yes the block was clean.
If there was someone who had not heard of Samford University or Samford basketball, well they for sure do now. After the game, Kansas head coach Bill Self said, “That’s my first experience with Bucky Ball and I would just as soon not play against it for a while.”
Riley Allenspach in the NCAA Tournament
Bucky Ball played as one of the fastest teams in the country last season. Samford was sixth in the country in average possession length and eight in adjusted tempo per KenPom. They also finished fourth in three point percentage behind Kentucky, Purdue, and Dayton.
The Bulldogs finished 13th in the country in Rim & 3 rate per ShotQuality which ranks the percentage of your possessions that resulted in a three pointer or a shot at the rim. On the defensive end, Samford was first in the SoCon in turnover percentage and 15th nationally.
Samford ranked highly nationally in other categories also. They were fifth in the country in scoring offense with averaging 86.5 points per game. They were 6th in bench points per game, 8th in effective field goal percentage per KenPom, and 7th in fast break points.
Last year was incredible but now it’s on to the fifth season in Bucky McMillan’s tenure. Roster turnover has become the norm in this era of college basketball and Samford is no exception.
Samford just returns one starter from last year’s record breaking team in Rylan Jones. Jermaine Marshall and Jaden Campbell have graduated, both are now playing overseas. Achor Achor entered the transfer portal on the very last day and is now at Kansas State. AJ Staton-McCray is now at Miami and Dallas Graziani Marfo’d back to Nova Southeastern (D2).
Garrett Hicks and Nathan Johnson exhausted their collegiate eligibility along with preferred walk-on Chandler Leopard. Hicks is also playing overseas like Marshall and Campbell. Reserve big man Zach Loveday transferred also and is now at the University of Charleston (D2).
McMillan’s staff went hard at work in the transfer portal bringing in six scholarship transfers and one preferred walk-on transfer. That does not include two new true freshmen. All in all, Samford added nine new players to this roster.
The transfer portal class included two SEC transfers in Mississippi State G Trey Fort and Vanderbilt G Isaiah West who both started multiple games last season. The highlight of this class is Tulane transfer F Collin Holloway who is on the Preseason All-SoCon team.
Former Wagner G Julian Brown, University of Illinois-Chicago F Jaden Brownell, Utah Tech F Hamed “Larry” Olayinka, and Birmingham Southern C Brody Davis round out the transfer portal class.
Samford’s staff made it known that with the early transfer portal additions, they were valuing big time experience and are getting that especially with Fort, West, and Collin Holloway.
The Bulldogs have two true freshmen this season in G Zion Wilburn and F Caleb Harrison.
The returners also include C Riley Allenspach, G Josh Holloway, G Lukas Walls, and G Brody Boyer. Boyer missed all of last season with a knee injury.
This team has the pieces to get back to the Big Dance. A reigning champion has not repeated in the Southern Conference since 2015, so it will not be easy, especially in an improved league. Here are my projected starters.
Projected Starters
G - Rylan Jones
2023-2024 stats: 26.3 MPG, 9.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, 43% FG, 37% 3P
Jones is back for his sixth year of college basketball after being granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA. Samford head coach Bucky McMillan is sure glad Jones is back as the process to gaining Jones another year started back in October of 2023. On the court, Jones provides that veteran leadership that Samford needs as Jones is the only returning starter. He was great at facilitating the offense last season and finished 11th in the country in assist/turnover ratio.
The 2024 SoCon Newcomer of the Year may have to look for his shot more this season and certainly has that capability. That is after a season with 15 games scoring in double figures. Bucky McMillan said Jones is one of the “most valuable players in the league and one of the smartest players to ever play in this league.”
G - Isaiah West
2023-2024 stats (Vanderbilt): 12.0 MPG, 2.8 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 43% FG, 33% 3P
The former four-star recruit and number one player in the state of Tennessee by ESPN comes to Homewood after a season at Vanderbilt. West made nine starts under Jerry Stackhouse last season. His season-high in points was 12 twice and provides even more athleticism to an athletic roster. West can also shoot it from the outside and also can attack the rim and finish with his 41-inch vertical. West has three years of eligibility remaining.
G - Trey Fort
2023-2024 stats (Mississippi State): 11.3 MPG, 5.0 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 38% FG, 35% 3P
Fort is another former SEC guard in Homewood this season. Fort made 20 appearances for the Bulldogs and started the first seven games before an injury. He scored 21 points in the season opener against Arizona State. Fort is extremely athletic and possesses a 46-inch vertical. Before Miss State, Fort averaged 20+ points at both of his JUCO stops and is a perfect fit for what McMilan wants to do offensively.
Look for him to fill the role left by Jaden Campbell and has the potential to be the X-factor for Samford this season. He might be my favorite player to watch by season’s end and has the potential to be on the All-SoCon Team.
F - Collin Holloway
2023-2024 stats (Tulane): 29.2 MPG, 12.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.4 APG, 50% FG, 34% 3P
Holloway was the first addition to the transfer portal class and probably the biggest get. He brings a lot of starting experience after starting all 30 games last season. Holloway also made 20 starts in two seasons at Georgetown. Look for Holloway to fill the role left by Jermaine Marshall and will be asked to do it all on the floor for this group.
We asked Bucky McMillan about what Holloway brings. “He is going to take on the Jermaine Marshall mindset which is that every rebound is mine. Every crunch situation, I want this ball in my hands to get to the free throw line and make decisions.”
Collin Holloway at Tulane last season
C - Riley Allenspach
2023-2024 stats: 12.3 MPG, 5.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 54% FG, 33% 3P
Allenspach is back for his sophomore season after playing behind Achor Achor last year. He played his best overall game of the year against Kansas in the NCAA Tournament finishing with 15 points on a perfect 4-4 from three-point range. There is no deferring to someone like Achor for Allenspach this season, he needs to take that next step, especially on the defensive end.
McMillan mentioned to the media about Allenspach’s attention to detail about getting stronger this offseason and knowing that he needs to step up a season earlier than expected with Achor’s departure.
Later this week in part two, we will discuss the reserves and the schedule.
