Team preview: Hofstra

Blue Ribbon Illustrated previews the 2004-05 college basketball season, exclusively on Insider.

Updated: October 20, 2004, 4:57 PM ET
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COACH AND PROGRAM

Hofstra coach Tom Pecora knew that there would be challenges when he took over for Jay Wright (now at Villanova) as the Pride's head coach back in 2001-02.

In addition to replacing the popular Wright, Pecora's squad would be moving from the America East into the much tougher Colonial Athletic Association in his first season -- without seven key seniors from the team (most notably, current NBA player Speedy Claxton) that won 26 games and owned the America East.

As if that one-two punch wasn't difficult enough, Hofstra's was bitten -- make that devoured -- by the injury bug. Last season, Hofstra players missed a combined 78 games with starters Wendell Gibson and Carlos Rivera both suffering season-ending knee injuries within a week of each other.


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