As the new college basketball season approaches, a whole new era of Seahawk basketball lingers. For the first time in his head coaching career, Seahawks’ front man Benny Moss looks over a team made up entirely of players he himself brought into the program. The final four players of the Brad Brownell era have now departed, leaving Moss the space to write his own legacy.

The big question the Seahawks will face this season is how they will be able to cope with the absence of their four graduated seniors from a year ago. T.J. Carter, Vlad Kuljanin, Daniel Fountain and Todd Hendley, who combined for nearly 75 percent of the Seahawks’ total scoring last season, have all moved on to begin professional careers in various leagues throughout Europe.

Last year’s “big four” led the Seahawks to a 20-13 overall record, the biggest turnaround in NCAA Division I in 2007-08, improving on their 7-22 mark the previous year.

With this year’s younger team, veteran experience will be at a premium, and Coach Moss will look for several players take up new positions of leadership.

Sophomores Chad Tomko and Dominique Lacy will be two players expected to take on larger roles in their second season. The duo saw the most action of any of the current Seahawks last year, featuring in all 33 contests.

Tomko, a 5-foot-11 guard from Charlotte, started every game in his first season and was named to the CAA All-Rookie team. With lightning quickness, the young guard proved to be a versatile ball handler as well as a deadly long-range shooter. Last season, Tomko ranked second on the team in 3-point field goals made, with 49, and shot 37 percent from behind the arc.

One area of interest facing Tomko and the rest of the Seahawks’ outside shooters will be the new 3-point line, which has been moved back one foot to a new distance of 20 feet, 9 inches. Tomko, however, believes the adjustment won’t be too tough.

“Last year, I didn’t shoot many shots on the line so it really doesn’t bother me,” he said.

This season, Moss will expect Tomko to take on a larger and more vocal role. “Coach wants me to be a little like T.J. (was) last year … do what he did and be more of a vocal leader,” he said.

Lacy, a 6-foot-7 forward, returns to the Seahawks’ front court after a grueling off-season filled with weights and conditioning. “I hit the weights hard and ate more like I’m supposed to, to help me keep my weight up,” he said.

In his rookie campaign, Lacy was a force off the bench playing in every game and averaging 14.7 minutes. The Seahawks’ big man provided valuable rest for starting post players and will take on a starting role this season.

The biggest addition to the Seahawks this year will be red-shirt junior guard Johnny Wolf. Wolf sat out last season after transferring from Xavier University, where he played a large part for the Musketeers in his first two seasons. As a freshman, Wolf played in 32 games, averaging 16.1 minutes. Wolf will add valuable leadership to the team as he is the only player with NCAA Tournament experience.

The team’s lone senior, 6-foot guard Marlo Davis, will also play a vital part in providing the Seahawks with much needed experience. Davis will be playing just his second season with the Seahawks after transferring from a successful stint at Lake Region State College. In his first season at UNCW, Davis took part in 14 games and averaged 5.4 minutes and 0.9 points per game.

The Seahawks will also rely on a trio of juniors who served as Moss’ first incoming class. Montez Downey, Josh Sheets and Darion Jeralds have all seen regular action in their first two years with the Seahawks.

Jeralds, a 6-foot-1 guard, saw the most action of the three last season, taking part in all 33 games. An exceptional ball handler, Jeralds served as a worthy deputy for the starting backcourt. Jeralds also lead the Seahawks’ bench in assists, dishing out 18 last season.

Sheets, a 6-foot-4 guard, is an additional threat from the outside. Of his 21 field goals made last season, 17 came from beyond the arc as he shot 42 percent from outside. Sheets took part in 31 games last season and averaged almost 11 minutes per contest.

Downey, who played in 26 games last season averaging 8.9 minutes, is officially listed as a guard; however, he has been known to drop low into the post. With his versatile 6-foot-5 frame, Downey can be utilized both inside and outside the arc. Last season, Downey connected on 13 threes and gathered 39 rebounds coming off the bench.

An extra boost for the Seahawks will come from the return of guard Darryl Felder. After a year plagued with injury, Felder has recovered and looks to play a big part this season. “I’m very ready to go. I’ve been rehabbing in the training room, getting my core together,” he said.

In his freshman campaign two years ago, Felder played in all 29 games and averaged 3.9 points per game in 17.1 minutes. Felder’s career high came in only his second collegiate appearance as he scored 15 points against Tennessee.

In addition to the team’s youth, another area of concern will be size. The Seahawks list only one center and four guards this season suggesting a fast-paced outside game; however, depth in the backcourt will flourish as the team employs nine guards.

The Seahawks will open up the season at Trask Coliseum Nov. 6 with an exhibition game against St. Andrews before the season opener at home against Appalachian State.