Juniors Wayne Cooper and Ardith Wearren (yeah trying getting that one right on your first try) form as good as defensive tandem down low as there is in the conference.  Both are tremendous shot blockers (both averaged over two blocks a game) and are really good low post defenders.  Both have size and strength and can match up with anyone.  Cooper is a big guy (six ten 220) who does not take bad shots and can score a little.  He has a good little jump hook but needs to become more comfortable posting up.  He is better on the high post where he contributes with screens and nice little shovel passes.  ‘Coop’ was a huge get for this program as he was the first legitimate D-1 type player they brought to the Crescent City and he came all of the way from Georgia to play here. This was his team when the year started but he gladly accepted sharing the space down low with his sidekick in crime. They came in an proved right away they could dominate and were a primary reason this team made that final in D-2 their freshmen year.  It is much easier dominating the paint when you only have to do half the work and one thing is for sure nobody wandered into the key around these two big fellas thinking they were going to get to the hoop with being contested.  Cooper is an unassuming guy and play a bit laid back but that does mean you want to turn your head when he is around.  He sets mean screens and will knock a floater into the third row either from the strong or weak side.  He is a special talent and really had a terrific season and has one more year to prove he can play at the next level but first he has some business to take care of down on Bourbon Street.    He will pound you and loves to defend and is even a better board man that Coop.  How many guys can say that?   This kid works his butt off in practice and having to guard Cooper every day doesn’t hurt.  Or Vice Versa.  This duo are carbon copies of each other and it works.  Not they just need to become a little more consistent on the offensive end but they are the focal point of the Privateer team.  The entire scheme rotated around these two big men guarding the rim and getting the ball to their perimeter players so they could carry the work load on the offensive end.  For gosh sake’s these two were carrying the load for the Privateers on the defensive end!  This is by far the best mid-major combination of defensive big men and though they are not quite on the same level as Alcindor and Walton or Ewing and Mourning they are much closer than one might think.  Greene only has one more year left of this luxury and if they become half of the offensive juggernauts they are on defense the Privateers will be the team to beat in the Sun Belt next year! 

Greene decided to surround these two with scorers who can fill it up from the perimeter.  Good choice.  Junior Wilbur Holland switched over to point guard this season as Greene wanted the ball in this kid’s hands as much as possible.  No worries Holland has tremendous all-around skills though he definitely looks to put the ball in the hole first.  The offense of this team revolved around this terrific playmaker and scorer.  Holland is a very good penetrator who can also hit the open shot and is a natural leader.  Holland has been a main stay here since he was recruited like his buddy Mr. Cooper from Georgia.  The shot that almost went in against ODU two years ago haunts him but that does mean this cool customer is not willing to take the next shot.  Holland was the team captain this year and earned that as his teammates definitely look up Mr. Holland.  He might not have written an opus (Motown would be more his speed) but Wilbur is one maestro on the court who plays with the type of style and inventiveness few have ever done even around the Big Easy.  This six two guard from Columbus led the Privateers in scoring and assists and without question there are more # 12 royal blue jerseys at Lakeland Arena than any other number.  This lefty can flat stroke it but he can also get to the hoop and is not afraid of contact.  His impact on this program should not be overstated as he and Cooper almost singlehandedly made this team competitive and his charisma and energy fills up Lakefront Arena.  And as good as he is his best quality might be his defense.  He has tremendous hands and averaged over three steals a game and loves crowding his defender and does it non-stop barely coming off the court.  Holland is always team first and this tough kid backs down from no one.  

The key ingredient to the success of the Privateers was when Sophomore transfer Ledell Eackles became eligible.  Eackles is a local kid from Baton Rouge but went to a JC to get some seasoning (and his grades up or even any grades as he had dropped out of high school) at San Jacinto in Texas where he was absolutely unbelievable leading them to a national title.  Eackles had made a name for himself in the Juco but was eager to return home and help this team win.  And that is what he did.  With gusto!  And Relish!  Eackles gave the Privateers the kind of long distance shooting they needed to compliment Holland and McCalebb.  More importantly he was a true wing who is physical and can guard more athletic guys on the perimeter.  He can also use his six foot five 220 pound frame (at least that is what Ledell started the season at) to post up less physical wings though he would much rather shoot the J no matter what the situation. When he goes to the hoop he is almost unstoppable against less talented guards and boy can he draw some fouls.  But Ledell seems to love his new found fame (and the benefits that go with it like Bourbon Street) and knows he has become a huge crowd favorite because he can (and will) shoot the ball.  Eackles does have the propensity to take a bad shot or two (shot selection for this back court was an issue at times but at least they knew their role) but this rotund guard understands the golden rule of basketball.  You don’t score unless you actually shoot the basketball.  And this Hot Dog loving, animated shooter lives (and sometimes dies) by that creed.  And for some reason tends to miss practice and though he has the skills he seems to have to get motivated to play defense.    

Junior Xavier ‘Butch’ Webster is quite the unique story because he was the first true star to ever play for the Privateers way back when they were still LSUNO.  Webster is an incredible scorer who came into this season as the go to guy for the Privateers down in the paint.  Though he is talented especially offensively Greene saw that at six four he was having problems matching up with the big boys of the Sun Belt up.  An injury opened up the door for Greene to try several guys out. Webster accepted his role as a sub and gave solid production as their instant offense off the bench.  If Webster was six seven he would have a chance at the pros but he is not and with this team moving up with the Big Dogs he is kind of the man without a position.  Still, he will play and he will score and will try and transition to the wing which with limited ballhandling skills will be difficult.  But remember this is the same kid who Notre Dame recruited and Florida State wanted and who Ron Greene built his program around so Mr. Webster has something going on!  Joining Webster as key contributors off the bench are Sophomores Ronnie Grandison, Mark Pettway and Oscar Taylor.  Grandison is a transfer and became eligible about the same time as Eackles.  He is a grinder under the hoop who fights for boards and sets solid screens.  He can score some and has a nice touch but his game is in the trenches which makes him a perfect bench player behind the two monsters underneath. At six eight and 215 Grandison can go out to the perimeter and help out defensively and does have range up to about 18 feet but offense is not his forte. Grandison surpassed Webster as the first man off the bench down the stretch because of his solid defense at two positions and his willingness to be a role player.  He also loves this game and understands it well.  Pettaway is an offensive presence who can score underneath.   Him and Taylor seemed to be sympatico on the JV team and got a unique call-up for a few games together with the injury and eligibility issues.  They played well and though they got sent back showed enough to be in major consideration for minutes.  Junior Mel Henderson began the season as a starter up front but he like Webster had to accept a bench role which he shined in.  He is lunch pail guy and does not mind doing the dirty work.  Still, Henderson got passed up on the depth chart once Grandison got his legs and by the end of the year was barely playing.  Sophomore Mike Edwards gave Greene another wing who could really get to the hoop and had some size behind Eackles.  Edwards is 6’5 but plays bigger and had some big games the second half of the year after also starting on JV.  He is not a three point shooter but is athletic and a solid defender. He is nowhere as talented as Eackles (who is) but gave Greene some options off the bench. Sophomore Gabe Corchiani is a true point guard who started the year getting some big minutes but settled into a deep bench role as the talent got eligible.  Corchiani is the best passer on the team but is limited athletically.  Junior Nate Mills was also in the mix at point guard but is more of a combo guard. He actually started early on Eackles became eligible and played a lot of minutes.  He can do a bit of everything so is a good bench player.  Fellow junior ran the JV squad at point but has to be in the mix this year. Sophomore John Harris was in the mix backing up on the post but he too lost his role when Grandison became eligible.  Harris green but has size at 6’8 but looks destined for the JV.  

The New Orleans Privateers have made the transition from Division Two to One much easier than most other teams.  When you are a powerhouse at D-2 and all your key players from those glory days are still around it makes it much easier to hang with the Big Dogs.  Coach Ron Greene has went the transfer route to compliment a solid nucleus.  He emphasizes defense but has a group of back court players who can flat light it up.  The Big Easy loves this team and they showed they belong with the big boys of the Sun Belt.  With everyone coming back this program is ready to take on the world.  And they have the talent and work ethic to get the job done.  The roles on this team are firm and the philosophy is set.  Rely on the two tremendous big men to stop the other team from even thinking about going into the paint and then run and gun with a terrific trio of perimeter players.  Even the bench is set and there is solid depth up and down the roster that has formed a perfect hierarchy.  No matter what happens they will be ready and even the mighty Hilltoppers better be ready next season as the Privateers want to put New Orleans on the basketball map.   The Crescent City has been through too much recently and they need this team to be good as the Saints can only do so much of revitalizing this city.  And if this team plays as good as expected and they do get to the next level Bourbon Street will have much more to party in February and March besides just that silly little Mardi Gras thing!