FARMVILLE, Va. – Monday night, the 2024-25 basketball season begins. The 2024-25 Lancers will take on a 31-game slate with plenty of high-level opponents and big-time matchups, and, in the process, create a new chance to add their names in the Longwood basketball annals.
 
Those annals include two trips to the NCAA National Tournament, two Big South Championships in three seasons, and back-to-back-to-back 20-win seasons over the past few seasons.
 
Fortunately for Longwood, the team returns a strong nucleus along with bringing in a wealth of talented newcomers to compete in a Big South that is as competitive, if not more so, than ever under seventh-year head coach Griff Aldrich.
 
"The offseason has been a busy year for Longwood, probably like most programs in the country, with roster turnover and reconstruction," said Aldrich. "That's been no different for us. One of the special things for us is the return of Michael Christmas, Elijah Tucker, Emanuel Richards. Those three in particular are going to provide a strong nucleus and core for us along with Johan Nziemi and Jaylen Benard."
 
The common goal always relates back to the team and the identity established by Aldrich during his tenure.
 
"I would hope our identity is always fairly consistent, which is we want to be tough, disciplined, consistent, selfless and connected," said Aldrich. "We really pride ourselves on being a tough and disciplined team that competes at a high level. With so many new guys, you are trying to not only teach those standards but then try to instill those and build those habits from a broad cross section of players in a really short period of time. The foundation of any success we've had over the years has been able to try to hold true to those standards. We're a work in progress."
 
The team's identity and core values have led to success even as the Big South has elevated its level. In the advanced analytics rankings, four teams rank inside the top 200 of Kenpom in the preseason, and the depth of talent across the league is as good as it has ever been.
 
"I think that the competition level is a sign that the conference is building up to be something big," said Christmas at the Big South's annual media day. "The conference has built up a great reputation of having good players coming in to this conference and being successful and being on successful teams as well. I like the competition. It makes it fun for me to play in this conference."
 
Christmas is being counted on to provide leadership, and he, Tucker and Nziemi, along with Trey Hicks, provide experience and continuity in the frontcourt.
 
"I feel good about the squad this year," said Christmas. "We have a lot of talent coming in, and we have a lot of talent coming back too. I'm excited to see how this team goes through the season and see how the team develops."
 
Christmas, a Big South All-Tournament Team selection a year ago, served as a multi-level scorer who has continually grown more and more comfortable in his four years at Longwood. Last season, he was incredibly consistent, scoring in double figures 22 times and averaging 11.3 points per game. He also was a voracious rebounder who helped the Lancers dominate the glass on both ends of the floor.
 
Tucker and Nziemi both spent time at the five, with Tucker starting the final 10 games of the season. The vocal redshirt-junior scored in double figures nine times. Nziemi, a senior, served as an efficient and physical finisher as well on the interior, and Aldrich noted how both players seem comfortable in year two in the Lancer system. Hicks, too, provides another returning interior option with size and athleticism.
 
On the wing, Richards came on down the stretch and earned a spot on the Big South All-Freshman Team at season's end. A stout defender at the point of attack, he averaged 4.5 points per game while also setting a physical tone on defense at 6'4, 228.
 
Aldrich also noted that Benard, a rangy guard from Houston, and Leo Nordberg, a sophomore guard from Finland, also are much more comfortable than the same point a season ago.
 
For newcomers, it is all about building consistency.
 
"For them, it is more flashes of brilliance with a fair amount of inconsistency at this point," said Aldrich. "Which is very typical for first year players in our program. The goal is that those flashes of brilliance become sustained, and the inconsistency is lessened day by day."
 
The lone frontcourt addition, Precious Idiaru, is acclimating to the system and to being a full-time player, adjusting to the Longwood system and style after redshirting last season at UMKC.
 
The other newcomers provide a guard depth and talent pool that feels bottomless, with a wealth of athleticism, shot making, playmaking and creativity that is a luxury. As always, defense remains a big part of the core even amid the offensive weapons that can be called on.
 
"Our offense is probably a little bit ahead of our defense," said Aldrich at the Big South Media Day. "We are not cohesive quite yet in being able to read, number one, where [we need to be]. The building blocks are individually, you have to know what you are supposed to do. Where am I supposed to be on the court? How am I supposed to guard the ball? Where am I supposed to be in the gaps? What are the ball screen defense coverages, where am I supposed to be there? You are very self-focused on what you are supposed to do. Once you figure that out, then you start getting connected to your other teammates. That process is ongoing. We have the potential to be a really good defensive team."
 
Colby Garland, Kyrell Luc and Angelo Brizzi form a trio of playmaking guards with a heady mix of moxie and aggressiveness.
 
Garland, a transfer from Drake who earned All-Bench Team honors as one of the top reserves in the Missouri Valley Conference last year, always seems to make the right plays. He brings a great read and feel for the game, and he has the tools to be a great on ball defender.
 
Luc brings top-shelf athleticism and speed, and he has the potential to be an explosive point guard while also hounding opposing ball handlers on the other end of the floor.
 
Brizzi has fit like a glove with the team culture, and he is a physical guard. Much like the other newcomers, once he starts to connect on everything, he can have a significant impact.
 
Off the ball, DJ Jefferson has, potentially, the highest ceiling on the team. The former Top 100 recruit spent two seasons at Tennessee, but didn't crack the rotation. He is working out the kinks as he adapts to Longwood's culture and system, but his ceiling feels almost limitless when he plays at his peak.
 
KJ McClurg, a consensus Division II All-American, has been banged up in the offseason and is working his way back. McClurg was a knockdown shooter a season ago with California (Pennsylvania) while earning his All-American honors, and he has been working his way into form after battling an injury through much of the offseason.
 
Dom Payne, Stark Jones and Kris Mickens round out the guard group, and the coaching staff is excited to have them continue to help build the team culture.
 
"The main focus for us will always be a staff and a program that is always focused on the development and transformation of our players," Aldrich said. "The standard for us needs to be—and I know this is going to sound like coach speak—it is going to be for us to be the best that we can be…I really want our staff and our program to keep at the forefront the growth and development of our guys."
 
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