ETSU lost Jordan McCullum for the season before its trip to Arizona St. He averaged 8.3 points on 53.3% shooting last season.
The Bucs have to replace that scoring against a frontcourt that added Ben Defty. He blocked 57 shots in 33 games at Boston University last season.
ETSU's guards also face Emmanuel Innocenti, who held New Mexico's Jake Hall to 1-for-10 shooting in the first half of the exhibition.
Under 144.5 also rests on Randy Bennett's preference for a slower game. His final Saint Mary's team ranked 310th in adjusted tempo last season, and ETSU ranked 251st.
Paulius Murauskas and Dillan Shaw followed Bennett from Saint Mary's.