Well, here we are. The offseason sure went fast, didn’t it? The Quinnipiac men’s basketball team will hit the hardwood in just a matter of weeks. Quinnipiac’s brand new logos will adorn the arena and new head coach Baker Dunleavy will begin his first year at the helm.

If you couldn’t already tell, this season will be quite different from any that the program has ever faced. Everything is new.

There’s a new roster, new coach, new assistant coaches and perhaps most importantly, a new culture. Let’s break it down.

Baker Dunleavy, Basketball Life

• His father, Mike Dunleavy Sr., coached in the NBA for over 20 years and is now the head coach at Tulane.
• His brother, Mike Jr., is a free agent who has played 15 seasons in the NBA
• Was an assistant at Villanova University for seven years on Jay Wright’s staff, which compiled a 183-45 record in the last seven years.
• Handpicked Tom Pecora, Shaun Morris and Anthony Goins as his new assistant coaches.

(Very) Updated Roster

Like any new season, Quinnipiac will showcase a revamped roster. This year, though, it’s essentially an entirely new team. As a result of transfers and graduation, the program lost seven players. Seven names on this year’s rosters are members of last year’s squad, along with eight new additions.

Lost: Donovan Smith, Reggie Oilver, Mikey Dixon, Peter Kiss, Daniel Harris, Jaw’Kwan Jones, Phil Winston

Kept: Aaron Robinson, Cameron Young, Alain Chigha, Chaise Daniels, Andrew Robinson, Greg Tarca, Abdulai Bundu

Gained: Sam Donahue, Travis Atson, Matt Donahue, Isaiah Washington, Rich Kelly, Nathan Davis, Jacob Rigoni, Kevin Marfo

Dunleavy’s squad will consist of 10 guards and five forwards, identical to last year’s roster with just an extra guard. Travis Atson, a sophomore transfer from Tulsa, won’t see time this year, as he’s out with a torn ACL and lateral meniscus, per Dylan Fearon of Q30 Sports. While the injury is unfortunate, Atson wouldn’t have been able to play this season regardless due to NCAA transfer rules.

Toughest to Replace?

It goes without saying that Mikey Dixon and Peter Kiss were massive losses for the program.

The duo singlehandedly took over the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference last season, with Dixon winning MAAC Rookie of the Year and Kiss taking home unanimous MAAC All-Rookie honors.

Dixon averaged 16.5/3.7/2.3 in 31 games as a Bobcat, while Kiss compiled a line of 13.5/5.6/2.8. Dixon, in particular, scored 13 or more points in 24 of his final 26 games. Kiss, on the other hand, was one of the top playmakers on the roster, with an IQ that was developing him into a multi-faceted guard.

Notable Additions

Rich Kelly, Guard

The 6-foot-1 freshman comes to Quinnipiac from nearby Fairfield, where he played prep ball. Kelly isn’t afraid to take contested shots right in front of defenders and is an ambitious playmaker with a nice touch on the three-pointer.

Like any above average guard, Kelly has a fantastic basketball IQ, with the ability to dish out smart passes and really thread the needle in terms of helping his teammates succeed.

Perhaps most importantly, the guard plays with a sense of swagger, one that will be sorely needed on a Quinnipiac squad looking to develop a new culture. Look for him to take the reins of the starting gig at the point.

Matt Donahue, Guard

Donahue, a 6-foot-3 freshman, should become a legitimate catch and shoot weapon for the Bobcats fairly early in his collegiate career. He’ll look to become a go-to option for the three-pointer, as his instincts beyond the arc are impressive.

Quinnipiac lost four of its top five three-point shooters from last season, with Andrew Robinson the lone double-digit three-point scorer remaining. Donahue will look to fill some of the shoes that left last year, as he’ll be able to draw attention away from more mobile guards when driving into the paint.

Toughest Game on Schedule

December 28, 2017: Home vs. Monmouth

Monmouth, a perennial contender to win the MAAC, is always a difficult opponent. While this game will be in Hamden, it doesn’t make it any easier for Quinnipiac. An experienced and well-coached Hawks team will make its way to face a young, transitioning team.

While the Hawks lost Justin Robinson and Je’lon Hornbeak, who were atop the stats sheet last season, Micah Seaborn and Austin Tilghman return. Both Seaborn and Tilghman will give QU problems, as the Bobcats allowed Monmouth to drain 41 percent of its three’s last season.

The Elder Statesmen

The team will undoubtedly lean on fifth-year forward Alain Chigha to mentor its youthful roster. While the Cameroon-native has never been one to fill the stats sheet or rack up awards, he’s been a consistent presence in the locker room for a now-young Bobcats squad. He’s endured the up’s and down’s of college basketball and has gone through the process of losing a head coach he’d known for four years.

Predictions

For Quinnipiac, this year is about seeing how its new piece’s work with one another. The ceiling for this team? Well, probably somewhere around a 17-13 record. That’s assuming all the pieces come together quickly, and Dunleavy creates a winning culture right away, which is certainly far from easy for any new staff.

My guess, though, is that the team finishes just below .500 at 14-16 overall in regular season play. The loss of Mikey Dixon and Peter Kiss will be difficult to overcome in the first year of the Dunleavy era, as the team won just 10 games with the duo in Hamden. The team will go 5-7 in out of conference play and finish 9-9 in MAAC contests. Keep an eye out for both Rich Kelly and Chaise Daniels, as the pair will elevate their game.

If the year plays out to something like this, it should be considered a success, with four extra wins and improved in-conference play as positives. Either way, Dunleavy will have lots of time to craft a winning product here in Hamden.

Follow @philakre on Twitter.