Let’s set the record straight: Everyone knew Tulane University would win this matchup. All that mattered in this game was to put the offseason practices and training to the test in order to help evaluate where the team currently is. 

The Wave ended up winning comfortably, with a score of 86-66 against Spring Hill College, even after resting the starters for the final 10 minutes of this preseason tune-up. Junior forward Gregg Glenn III led the way with 20 points on 8-for-15 shooting while also grabbing eight rebounds. He also notched two 3-pointers in his 24-minute body of work.  

Georgetown University transfer and starting point guard Rowan Brumbaugh captained the offensive attack by leading the team in minutes, assists and plus/minus. While he isn’t the flashiest or most dynamic player, his feel for the game is evident; he is great in tight spaces with an innate ability to find open teammates. He also finished the contest with 11 points. 

After a disappointing 2023-24 campaign, head coach Ron Hunter completely retooled the Tulane roster. Based on the first 40 minutes of action, one word describes what he focused on: athleticism. Almost everyone on the team is an above-the-rim player, which poses a major threat both offensively and defensively. The only downside is that players can become overzealous. The first 10 minutes of the game were incredibly sloppy for the Wave, as players tripped all over each other. Once they cleaned it up, though, they were able to give Spring Hill fits on both ends of the floor.  

The only negative of this game was the inability to secure defensive rebounds. Tulane only finished with four more rebounds than Spring Hill and one fewer defensive rebound. The Wave were significantly taller and more athletic at every position than Spring Hill. Yet, they squandered so many fastbreak opportunities by failing to crash the defensive glass and get in transition.  

That said, Tulane looks like an entirely different team from last year. As long as everyone stays healthy, they will have an opportunity to make some serious noise in the American Athletic Conference, especially after the 2023 Final Four team, Florida Atlantic University, lost their head coach and a handful of impactful players. It’s only a matter of time before we see what will happen.