HARROGATE, Tenn. – This is part two of a three-part series previewing the 2018-19 Lincoln Memorial men's basketball season. Part two examines the forwards for the preseason No. 3 nationally ranked Railsplitters. 
 
Two of the most accomplished players in program history will no longer be anchoring the forward position for Lincoln Memorial, as the illustrious careers of All-Americans Dorian Pinson and Emanuel Terry ended when the final buzzer sounded on the 2017-18 campaign. 
 
Pinson made 124 career appearances, racking up career totals of 1,335 points, 900 rebounds, 421 assists and 180 steals during his four-year tenure to establish himself as the only member of the 1,200-point, 900-rebound, 400-assist club in program history. 
 
Terry, who has spent time with both the Denver Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers since departing LMU, compiled 1,157 career points, 854 rebounds and 228 blocks, ranking first in program history in career field-goal percentage (.704) and blocks. Last season, he was tabbed as both the SAC Player of the Year and SAC Defensive Player of the Year while also garnering the Bevo Francis Award as the top player in all of small college basketball. 
 
More importantly, Lincoln Memorial took the next step as a program once Pinson and Terry joined the team. Over the past four seasons, the Railsplitters have a combined 126-14 record with four straight 30-win seasons, a trip to the national championship and three consecutive runs to the region title game. 
 
"I don't think it's any coincidence that when they got here four years ago there were questions about whether we could get over the hump," Schertz said. "We had been No. 1 in the country, been to the NCAA tournament a bunch of times and hadn't gotten past the second round. That was kind of a hurdle. 
 
"I don't think it's coincidental that the last three years you go to the national championship game, two Finals Fours and three regional finals with those guys leading the way. They are missed not just for how good they were but for who they are and certainly the corporate knowledge and leadership that they provided." 


 
It's certainly not the first time that the Railsplitters have had to answer the questions that are brought to life by the departure of star players. That is the nature of college basketball, after all. Schertz is well-versed in the subject and knows that it isn't possible to replace players like Terry and Pinson, but it will force the Railsplitters to be different as they begin life without two staples of the last four teams.  
 
First and foremost, Lincoln Memorial will have to identify who can play the vital role of protecting the rim and scarfing up defensive rebounds – the lifeblood of LMU's defensive system. 
 
Over the past several seasons, Pinson and Terry were two of the most reliable rebounders and rim protectors in the nation. Last season, that duo combined to play nearly 1,900 minutes and averaged over 20 rebounds per game cumulatively. With Terry and Pinson leading the charge, Lincoln Memorial paced the nation in both field-goal percentage defense and defensive rebounds per game. 
 
"It puts the onus on us to really be sound, to make sure we are checking out, to make sure we are a five-man rebounding team," Schertz said.  
 
"Ultimately if we are going to be any good we are going to have to be a really sound box out team, a team that goes and rebounds collectively," he added. "Like a lot of things with this year's group, our margin for error is not as big so we have to be committed to those controllable things."
 
While Terry and Pinson swallowed up the lion's share of the forward minutes last season, the Railsplitters will likely rely on a four-man committee there this season. Three of the players in the running have spent at least two years in the Railsplitters' system in redshirt-sophomore Tionne Williams, redshirt-junior Rhondi Hackett and redshirt-senior Steven Perriere, while true freshman Diamante Brown has also put himself in the conversation. 
 
None of those four players has established himself as the star of the group, but all four will provide the Railsplitters with versatility.  
 
"It will be really matchup-based. They will all get opportunities," Schertz said. "None of them have separated themselves. I think that as a group collectively they will do enough to be serviceable." 
 
Williams is entering his third season with Lincoln Memorial, but will be making his first appearance in the Blue and Gray after redshirting the 2016-17 season and missing all last season with an injury. At 6-9, Williams is a highly-skilled option with the ability to shoot from the perimeter and protect the rim once he develops rotational awareness. 
 
Hackett is the most veteran member of the forward rotation as the Greenwood, S.C., is starting his fourth year at LMU. Last season, he made 29 appearances and shot 60 percent from the field. Like Williams, he can also benefit the Railsplitters with his rim protection and shooting potential. 
 
Perriere is also beginning year three with the Railsplitters, and Schertz acknowledged that the 6-8 forward is likely the best perimeter shooter and rebounder among the group, particularly on the offensive glass. He made 21 appearances last season and knocked down 63 percent of his shots. 
 
The lone newcomer, Brown is the most gifted physical athlete of the group, a guy that can get downhill offensively and create vertical pressure on the rim with his athleticism. 
 
All four of the Railsplitters' options at the traditional forward position brings contrasting abilities and skills. However, Lincoln Memorial needs that group to collectively find a way to fill the rebounding and defensive void left by Terry and Pinson's departure.  
 
"You need somebody to anchor your defense and protect the rim. And those guys have to do that for us to have any chance to be successful," Schertz said. "Then offensively, just do what they do well. They all bring differing skill sets to the table, but they have to anchor our defense, protect the rim, and get on the glass and rebound the ball."
 
The Railsplitters have been blessed with familiarity in the frontcourt over the past few seasons, but that is no longer that case. Instead, Lincoln Memorial will roll the dice and explore what pieces fit together on a game-by-game basis. 
 
"They are all going to play and they are all going to have to play well and do what they do well for us to be good, but that's area where there's a lot of unknown commodities," Schertz said. 
 
The third and final part of the 2018-19 men's basketball season preview will bring it all together for an overall outlook.