Both LoVett and Ponds were unanimous All-Freshmen team picks, along with Baldwin and Patton. LoVett and Ponds basically carried the team this year, playing far better than anyone could have expected for freshmen. Yes, there are things that both can improve at, but they were freshmen thrust into starring roles for a very flawed team in the Big East. You get better by keeping your best players, adding more good players, and having everyone mature and improve.
We need both LoVett and Ponds next season, along with Simon and Clark--I expect that Clark's character and toughness will be a huge addition-- and whatever grad transfer(s) we can add. In addition, Owens, Yakwe, and Williams need to improve and get stronger, Freudenberg has to look as though he can contribute on a Big East team, and everyone else who returns has to be better and play harder more consistently. Competition for playing time is a good thing, and it's fine for a team to have role players that fill a need, like a Mussini.
In year 3, we move to the top four in the Big East and are an NCAA bubble team.