Team preview: Radford

Blue Ribbon Illustrated previews the 2005-06 college basketball season, exclusively on Insider.

Updated: October 18, 2005, 12:13 PM ET
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(Information in this team report is as of October 1.)

COACH AND PROGRAM

Radford underwent a few changes in the off-season, players and assistant coaches coming and going. Fourth-year coach Byron Samuels hopes the transition also signals a change in the Highlanders' recent fortunes.

Radford has suffered four consecutive losing seasons, a first in Highlander history, and this is obviously a big season under the famous air-supported Dedmon Center roof.

"The pieces haven't come together like we would have liked the last two years, but I feel good about this team," Samuels said. "Maybe we've had to go through some tough times to get to the good stuff."

Radford was 12-16 overall and 7-9 in conference play for a second consecutive year. By season's end, Samuels was down to 10 scholarship players after three key contributors were suspended by the coach for violations of team rules. The undermanned Highlanders were 2-5 after the suspensions and were particularly inconsistent offensively.


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