Note: The following piece was prepared by Dean Keener, who provides commentary on Southern Conference men’s basketball broadcasts.
Keener played collegiately at Davidson before embarking on a successful 20-year coaching career. He served as head coach at James Madison from 2004-08. You can follow him on twitter: @DeanKeener1
Inside SoCon Basketball: Pre-season power rankings
& Five questions that need to be answered
This is the second of a three-part series previewing Southern Conference Men’s Basketball
What a wonderful time of time of year it is in college basketball. It’s a period when coaches get to do a ton of coaching while the student-athletes are competing for a spot in the rotation. Equally important, the fans of every team have a belief that their team will compete for championships.
Even though I have Chattanooga as the favorite, I truly feel there are five or six programs that have a legitimate shot to win league titles – regular season and tournament. If we’ve learned anything the past six years, it’s to never count out a Mike Young-coached Wofford team. Just down the road from the Terriers, Furman is riding high from their end of season tournament run and look poised to continue climbing the SoCon ladder. If Steve Forbes can put all the pieces together then ETSU will be a team that can make some real noise. UNCG and Mercer have enough talent to win big games as well. And finally, don’t ever forget about Western Carolina as long as Larry Hunter is at the reins.
In this edition of The Dean’s List, we will provide you with the pre-season power rankings which will no doubt cause some discussion among SoCon fans. There are also five questions that need to be answered as we enter the new season. SoCon fans should fasten up for what should be a wonderfully wild ride that ends in Asheville on March 7 when we crown the tournament champion.
This year is especially difficult to handicap with all the coaching changes and player graduation, but here’s my take on each program in the Southern Conference as we begin the 2015-2016 season:
Pre-Season Power Rankings
1) Chattanooga
Will Wade inherited some talent two years ago, then added to it. Matt McCall will be the benefactor in his first year in the Scenic City as Chattanooga is primed for a terrific season. How quickly this group adapts to McCall’s staff and the system they employ will determine if the Mocs have a good season or a great season.
Make no mistake, Casey Jones is a star in this league. He averaged 15 points and over 8 rebounds per game last season in conference play. More impressive, he shot 52.5 percent from the field. He has a legitimate chance at Player-of-the-Year honors. He will have help on the perimeter from junior Greg Pryor, who will man the point guard position again. After struggling to shoot the ball as a freshman, Pryor really came into his own last year shooting 45 percent from the field and almost 38 percent from 3-point territory. Shooting is not a problem for senior Eric Robertson who shot almost 47 percent from beyond the arc last season! Queens University of Charlotte (Division II) transfer Tre’ McLean never quite found a rhythm last year, but should find himself in the rotation due to his ability to rebound and defend.
Upfront, the Mocs have some really good post players. It all starts with Justin Tuoyo, who is a long, athletic forward/center. The 6’10” native of Fayetteville, Georgia played one season at VCU before transferring to UTC and proved be the perfect person to protect the rim as a last line of defense for the Mocs. He led the SoCon in blocks while ranking fourth in the country at 3.3 per contest. In fact, he blocked more shots than 156 DI teams! Chuck Ester and Duke Ethridge bring different attributes, but both should factor into the rotation as well.
UT-Martin transfer Dee Oldham and Southwest Tennessee Community/College of Charleston transfer Jonathan Burroughs-Cook will be among those added to a talented roster. Oldham is a 6-4 wing. He averaged 9.1 PPG and 3.3 RPG as a sophomore at UT Martin. The 6-2 Burroughs-Cook is a very good athlete and will have two years remaining.
This is a dangerous team that should be right there at the end come tournament time in March. Developing chemistry and gaining confidence in a new system will be key for the Mocs.
2) Wofford
Losing the Player-of-the-Year (Karl Cochran) and one of the league’s most valuable players (Lee Skinner) would cause fits for most programs, especially within the Southern Conference, but not in Spartanburg where Mike Young and staff have developed a true program. Coach Young is the elder statesman in the Southern Conference having been the head coach at Wofford for 14 seasons. He also presides over the dominant team in the league the past six years as his Terriers have represented the league four times during March Madness. Simply put, the Terriers are the gold standard in the Southern Conference these days.
With Cochran and Skinner, Spencer Collins’ talents were never really celebrated as they should have been, but this season could be a different story. The senior has started all 100 games in his career at Wofford and does everything well. He is consistent at both ends of the floor and nothing should change this season. He will be one of the leaders this season for the Terriers.
In the backcourt, junior Eric Garcia is one of the toughest players in college basketball. He’s also a deadeye shooter who can run the team with focus. He had a sterling 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio last season. Junior guard Jaylen Allen is also a fine player in his own right and should see an expanded role this year. Guard Derrick Brooks had some pedestrian numbers a year ago, but had a solid offseason and looks to be the guy that can help add depth in the backcourt. Larry McKnight, Jr. took a redshirt last year and is an athletic slasher. Freshmen Fletcher Magee and Trevor Stumpe are talented enough to find their way into valuable minutes as well.
The Terriers also have sufficient options in the post. Seniors Justin Gordon and C.J. Neumann along with sophomore Cameron Jackson have played in plenty of big games. Add Evansville transfer Ryan Sawvell, a 6’8” bruiser, who was a member of the Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman team two years ago as well as 6’10” newcomer Matthew Pegram and Mike Young has plenty of possibilities up front.
While the Terriers will be the hunted and get everyone’s best shot, rest assured that Mike Young and staff will make sure everyone gets the Terriers best shot as well! As mentioned previously, the Terriers are currently the gold standard in the Southern Conference. And think about this….they were one of just seven programs in all of Division I that did not lose a player by way of transfer. This program has all the ingredients for success.
3) East Tennessee State
After a 10-year absence from the SoCon, the Bucs retuned to the league last year and did some good things but it wasn’t enough to keep Murry Bartow as head coach. Enter Steve Forbes. While those in the Tri-cities may know Forbes, they’re going to need a program in order to get to know his Bucs roster. Because of the change in leadership, there was lots of fallout.
The good news is junior AJ Merriweather along with seniors Petey McClain and Lester Wilson return to the fold. Merriweather is s 6’2” wing that averaged 10.3 ppg and just over 6 rebounds per game, which led the team. McClain is a pass-first point guard who should provide veteran leadership for the Bucs. The 6’7” Wilson has All-SoCon potential. He averaged almost 13 ppg last year and is a very capable shooter from behind the arc.
Also returning to the backcourt for the Bucs this fall will be Desonta Bradford who performed well in his first season in Johnson City. Look for his game to only improve in his second season for the Bucs. Bradford saw more and more playing time as the season progressed, and has the talent to be a game changer.
After that, the roster looks a lot different than last year as Forbes and staff found players from everywhere in a limited amount of time this spring. In the backcourt, Cincinnati transfer Ge’Lawn Guyn will challenge McClain at point. He started all 34 games two years ago for the Bearcats but took a medical redshirt last season after tearing ligaments in his right hand.
On the wing, T.J. Cromer followed assistant Brian Collins from Columbia State (Tenn.) where he earned third-team All-American honors. He is a terrific offensive player. Missouri transfer Deuce Bello is a gifted athlete and is eligible right away.
In the front court, the Bucs also have some talent with players like 7-0 Peter Jurkin and 6-7 junior Isaac Banks. Jurkin was recruited by Bartow and had to sit out last season. If healthy, he could very well be in the starting lineup. Banks started 14 of 28 games last season. Forbes also added 6-8 junior Nigel Holley from Vincennes (Ind.) Junior College and 6-7 junior Abednego Lufile Sheridan College (Wyo.).
The Bucs are a real unknown with so many new faces, but if Forbes and staff can blend the old with the new and engage the fans, the Bucs should be right there come tournament time!
4) Mercer
There is little doubt I will regret this pick come March as Bob Hoffman is an outstanding coach and has a nice core of returning players. Make no mistake; the Bears will be a factor in the Southern Conference again this season.
The loss of Ike Nwamu stings after he averaged 15.1 point per game as a junior. The All-SoCon selection graduated and transferred to UNLV this past spring. That said, the backcourt should be a strong suit for the Bears as starting guards Phillip Leonard and Jibri Bryan return for their senior seasons. Leonard led the league in assists at 4.6 per game. He started all 35 games last season and is a very solid point guard, although it would help if he could improve his shooting from behind the arc. Bryan is a true student-athlete – solid on and off the court. On it, he can do a little bit of everything and will be counted on to carry a bigger load this season. Senior Jestin Lewis will also be a major cog in the backcourt as will sophomore Jordan Strawberry who had a solid freshman campaign in Macon and will also be counted on for more minutes and productivity this season.
The Bears lost center T.J. Hallice to graduation, but add South Carolina transfer Desmond Ringer. The 6’9” forward appeared in 28 games, averaging over 10 minutes per game for the Gamecocks as a freshman two years ago, and the Bears are looking for big things from him. , Andrew Fishler is a 7’1” transfer from Gulf Coast State (Fla.) College who also redshirted last season and is a shot blocker who could cause big problems for SoCon opponents. Stephon Jelks is also a player with the upside. The 6’6” sophomore had a solid freshman year averaging over 5 points and 3 rebounds per game while shooting 52 percent from the field. Jelks may never be All-league, but he’s as valuable as anyone on the Bears roster. Freshman Cory Kilby should back up Jelks at the power forward position. Finally, Demetre Rivers could be the x-factor for the Bears. He has all the tools, including the athleticism to compete in this league. How he performs with the lights on remains to be seen.
I believe most SoCon fans had to be excited about the Bears joining the league last season as they have a real commitment to athletics. They also have a terrific fan base and home court atmosphere. In fact, they are 59-9 in Hawkins Arena during the past four seasons!
Hoffman and his staff will mold this team over the course of the season. The non-conference part of the season will be critical as they blend newcomers and returning players who have not had to be the “go-to guy.” Again, fourth is low and I could very well regret this pick come March, but the Bears must also develop chemistry and learn to defend like Hoffman’s team usually do to prove they belong at the very top.
5) Furman
Niko Medved has had one of the youngest rosters his first two seasons in Greenville. That will change this year. Medved returns just about everyone of note from last season’s squad, including senior point guard Stephen Croone, talented sophomore guards Devin Sibley and Daniel Fowler as well as junior forward Kris Acox and senior big man Kendrec Ferrara.
Croone is a two-time All-SoCon pick and ranks as the league’s leading returning scorer at 17.3 points per game. He is cat-quick and can get baseline to baseline as fast as anyone in the league. Not having to do as much last year, because of the influx of talent, helped Croone tremendously.
Sibley, the coaches’ Freshman of the Year, is a talented wing who can score the ball. Fowler can score by the jump shot or slashing to the rim. They are both tough matchups and add athleticism to the Paladin roster. They will certainly help Croone again in the backcourt.
Sophomore Geoff Beans really came on late in the season. The lefty is crafty in how he plays the game. He should continue to be a solid rotation guy. If nothing else, Kendrec Ferrara simply needs to be solid. The 6’9” senior has the ability to battle in the low post with effectiveness and also step out when needed. The player who was best in the post last season was Kris Acox. The 6’6” junior from Iceland led the Southern Conference in rebounding last year at 7.5 per game. Without a doubt, he is a real force at the power forward position.
Medved also likes his four-man recruiting class and feels are likely to see time, although with the depth of this squad, they won’t have to produce right away.
Coach Medved is excited about this season and with good reason. For the first time in many years, the Paladins are relevant and have a chance for an exciting season. This pick may also prove to be too low at seasons end.
6) Western Carolina
Larry Hunter continues to crank out competitive teams in one of the most difficult jobs in the league. Last season, the Catamounts lost as much firepower as anyone in the league, yet found a way to get to .500 in league play and be very competitive in the conference tournament yet again.
Gone is go-to player James Sinclair, yet another 1,000 point scorer for Western. He played in two Southern Conference tournament championship games and will be a big loss. Kenneth Hall, a solid defender is also gone as is Tucker Thompson, a 6’10’ big man who showed promise as a freshman.
But there is still a solid core of returning players for Coach Hunter. Seniors Mike Brown, Rhett Harrelson, Torrion Brummitt and Justin Browning are all capable players in their own right. Brown has the ability to be an all-conference performer and Harrleson is a gifted shooter who has learned to man the point guard slot in fine fashion.
In the frontcourt, Torrion Brummitt averaged 11.2 points per game to go along with 6.3 rebounds. He needs to improve on his turnovers. If he does that, there is no doubt he has the ability to be a real force in the low post in league play. Justin Browning can be a match-up problem with his ability to slash to the basket and is also a solid defender. Redshirt sophomore center Charlendez Brooks will also be counted on to help at both ends of the floor.
Finally, the Catamounts need to get back to protecting home court. The Ramsey Center was always a tough out for opponents under Hunter until last season where they went just 7-5. Still, their record at the Ramsey Center under Hunter is impressive. Overall, Western Carolina is a sterling 93-37 (.728) at home in ten seasons with Hunter in charge.
The senior class is the key this season for the Catamounts, but that’s been the case the past few years, so I’m thinking any issues won’t be a big problem, especially with Hunter at the controls.
7) UNCG
Wes Miller enters his fifth season at the helm and while he received a vote of confidence and a contract extension in the offseason, this year is critical for the Spartans. They have talent, but will they stay healthy and develop the chemistry necessary to become a top tier team in the SoCon? Miller believes they will and is excited about the season. For many reasons, they are one of my dark horse programs in a league with so many unknowns.
The team was dealt a blow when junior Tevon Saddler decided to leave the program in November. He was a third team All-SoCon selection last season, but had the potential for more. Senior Kayel Locke started all 33 games a year ago. He’s a strong lefty that knows how to gain position on the block, score or get to the free throw line. At 6’5”, he’s a bit undersized as a power forward, but is still ultra-effective. Also up front, redshirt junior RJ White is 6’8” 280. He teams with Locke to form one of the best frontcourts in the league. He averaged 11.8 points and 6.9 rebounds last season. He also ranked second in the league in field goal percentage at 55.8 percent. Center Jordy Kuiper is also a very capable frontcourt player. He was just coming into his own last season when he broke his wrist at VMI in early February.
No doubt, there is talent up front for the Spartans. Yet the key may very well rest in its point guard play. Diante Baldwin may be the hardest working player on the Spartans roster and will need to have a solid junior campaign at the point for the Spartans to achieve their goals. Guards Marvin Smith and Clay Byrd should also see their minute’s increase with the loss of long range bomber Nicholas Paulos to graduation.
Miller and staff signed a very solid class which was considered one of the best in the league. The newcomers to watch are guard Demetrius Troy from Raleigh and Spanish-born guard Francisco Alonso. These two should find their way into the rotation.
I think the Spartans will have one of the top frontcourts in the league. They just need to make sure they use it to their advantage. If they can get solid point guard play and keep their turnovers to a minimum, they have a chance to be a top team in the Southern Conference this season. They have another challenging non-conference schedule (three ACC games on the road in addition to rivalry games against Elon, High Point and NC A&T), so don’t expect a gaudy record in the early going. That said, Spartan fans should look forward to watching this team progress once conference plays begins and be in position to contend for championships.
8) Samford
Scott Padgett’s first season as head coach was difficult as he dealt with player defections and a lack of true chemistry, but by all accounts he did a fine job.
In his second season at the helm, Padgett will look to build around a core of four seniors and one of the top sophomores in the Southern Conference.
The Bulldogs backcourt will be their strength. Darius Jones-Gibson was the team’s leading scorer after transferring from Barton Community College in Kansas. He should be primed for a terrific senior season. Christen Cunningham was quite possibly the best freshman in the league last year. He was the Freshmen of the Week five times and will man the point guard slot again this year. Senior Marcus Johnson can play either guard position and will be counted on to log major minutes. Another senior, Jamal Shabazz, will slide to his natural positon of small forward after having to play more power forward last season due to depth problems. He and the Bulldogs should benefit from this move.
Upfront, Padgett was able to recruit Iman Johnson, a 6’5” power forward from UMES. He will have one year of eligibility and will contribute from day one. Sophomore forward/center Alex Peters will also factor in as he plays as hard as any player in the league.
Three freshman recruits as well as Gerald Smith, who medically redshirted last season as a first year player, will all be counted on to help. Dakota Quinn, a 6’9” forward from Davidson Academy in Nashville, Tennessee and Wyatt Walker, also a 6’9” forward from Florida seem to be the most likely to see immediate playing time.
Quinn has a chance to be really good. He was a two-sport star in high school and averaged 18 points and over 14 rebounds per game as a senior. The staff is really high on him. Walker was named the Prep Hoops Florida Class 3A Player of the Year in 2015 and is also expected to help in the front court right away. 6’7” Matt Rose is the third freshman and is known as a terrific scorer from all over the floor. He too should battle for playing time.
While the Bulldogs may not challenge for the top spot in the league standings, Padgett certainly has the program headed in the right direction. They will make some noise this year and will cause problems for every opponent that visit the Pete Hanna Center.
9) VMI
The high-scoring Keydets are a thing of the past. Enter new coach Dan Earl. That said, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Earl was a terrific college player and has learned from one of the best in Ed DeChillis, so the opinion by most is that Earl will do a fine job as a head coach. The problem is he’s working at one of the hardest jobs in all of college basketball.
In the backcourt, VMI does have some options. Senior Tim Marshall was a part time starter last season and can really shoot the ball. Junior Julian Eleby can also score as is evidenced by his 43 point outburst at Western Carolina last season. But the key may be the return of QJ Peterson. The junior took a medical furlough during the second half of last season. He’s a prolific scorer. Assuming he is back to form, the Keydets backcourt has some real firepower.
In the frontcourt, seniors Phillip Anglade and Jordan Weethee have experience and will be counted on for leadership and scoring. Anglade is listed at 6’5”, but was second in the league in blocked shots and will be asked to protect the rim again this season. Junior Trey Chapman has started games during his time in Lexington and will need to help up front. Junior Chris Hinton and sophomore Fred Iuafemi also figure to help in the post.
The freshman class includes point guard Adrian Rich, guard Austin Vereen and forward D’Andre Mahaffey. All three will have a chance to prove they belong in the rotation.
Fans in Lexington will see a much different pace than they have been accustom to the past decade. How that equates in the win column remains to be seen. Regardless, Earl and staff are excited to be in charge and will have the players focused at the defensive end.
10) The Citadel
Like VMI, The Citadel is one of the most difficult jobs in all of college basketball. But Duggar Baucom was more than ready for a new, be it similar, challenge when he packed his bags in Lexington and headed to Charleston, S.C. this past spring.
Baucom is committed to bringing his run and gun style to the Low Country. And be assured that because of this style of play, the Bulldogs will be a threat every night. It’s simply so different than any other style, opponents have a difficult time preparing, especially on short prep time during league play.
Even though The Citadel returns just five players from a year ago, there is some talent on the Bulldogs roster. Junior forward Brian White and junior guard Warren Sledge are experienced and more importantly, talented enough to play successfully in Baucom’s up tempo style. White will have the freedom to shoot trail threes this season and will help stretch the defense. Sledge has a two-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio during his career and will be counted on to continue making good decisions in a 100 possession game.
The lone senior is 6’5” guard/forward Quinton Marshall. The super athletic Marshall should flourish at the small forward position in Baucom’s system. Junior Tom Koopman still needs to get stronger, but runs the floor and may start at the center position. Sophomore Tim Broom didn’t make a field goal during his freshman campaign but word is he has made great strides and could really help the Bulldogs at point guard.
The most interesting roster moves in the off season were bringing in two graduate transfers. Derrick Henry graduated from Winthrop and will help immediately. He was the Eagles leading scorer as a junior and is a natural leader. The other transfer is 5’9” guard PJ Boutte by way of the University of Detroit and most recently, IUPUI. Like Henry, he will provide valuable leadership, experience and scoring during Baucom’s first season.
It can’t be overstated that the pace at which The Citadel will play is unlike any other in college basketball. For that, the Bulldogs will probably win some games they shouldn’t this season. For fans, it will be fun to watch, but for opposing coaches it’s a nightmare preparing for a team that aims to average 90 points and attempt over 30 three-point attempts per game.
Five Questions That Need To Be Answered
1. Can Chattanooga handle the high expectations placed before them?
This will be very interesting to watch. I have a hunch that Matt McCall will be just fine after spending time training under one of the all-time best in Billy Donovan. Certainly, they will need to stay healthy and catch a few breaks along the way, but the Mocs are my favorite as we enter the new season.
2. Will Wofford remain relevant?
The Terriers lost Player of the Year Karl Cochran as well as Lee Skinner, but the answer is a resounding YES! Nothing in this league is ever a given, especially in a year where there seems to be a decent amount of competitive depth, but Wofford has an established program that doesn’t rebuild, they simply reload. It won’t be as easy for the Terriers this year, but they’re still one of my favorites to reach the Southern Conference tournament finals in March. The combination of coaching, talent, chemistry and the ability to defend is simply too much to bet against.
3. What about all the coaching changes?
Four of the 10 league members changed coaches in the off season. It’s hard to say at this point what the returns on each will be, but it will be fun to watch each program evolve. ETSU turned to Steve Forbes. Chattanooga lost up-and-comer Will Wade to VCU and chose to go with another talented young coach in Matt McCall. VMI lost Duggar Baucom to league member Citadel and then turned to Navy assistant Dan Earl.
4. Who will be the sleeper?
This is always a difficult question during a pre-season preview. There are several choices, but I’m going with Mercer. The Bears lost a ton of talent, including Darious Moten and All-SoCon guard Ike Nwamu, but it would be unwise to bet against a Bob Hoffman-coached team. The veteran head coach is simply one of the best in college basketball and gets as much out of his players as anyone. Jibri Bryan will be one of the leaders for the Bears this year and Phillip Leonard will be counted on for his experience in the backcourt, but the key for Mercer may well ride on the development of sophomores Stephon Jelks and Jordan Strawberry.
5. Can the league get some quality wins in the non-conference?
This is always a relevant question as we enter a new season. Last season, the SoCon got a few good wins (Wofford at NC State), but simply could not get enough quality non-conference wins needed to elevate the conference RPI into the teens. Therefore, it was determined to be a one-bid league before conference play kicked in January 1.
After reducing the number of non-Division I games from the ‘13-‘14 season to last year, league members are again playing too many of these games in my considered opinion. No doubt, each program wants home games and having one or two non D-I opponents (that you don’t have to return the game) helps, but these simply don’t help the image (or RPI) of the league. Sure, perception is everything in recruiting, therefore I know coaches struggle with accumulating wins vs. having a “good, solid” schedule, but beating opponents from peer conferences is the key. That said, league members are playing enough games against teams from the Ohio Valley, Colonial and other peer institutions. But they need to knock of a few from the Power 5 along the way as well!
Next edition: Part III of my pre-season preview will include my “Best Bets” for the upcoming season in the Southern Conference:
Follow me throughout the year on twitter: @DeanKeener1