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: Best Bets for 2015-2016
This is the final installment of a three-part series on SoCon Men’s Basketball
There will be no shortage of potential stars and highlights in the coming months with regards to Southern Conference men’s basketball. For that reason, it’s always exciting to watch new stars come into their own as it makes for lots of fun for the fans and creates great narratives during the season.
In the previous two editions, we’ve talked about a lot of things regarding Southern Conference basketball, but as the new hoops season rapidly approaches, one of the fun parts for me are the predictions. Remember, a season is not just about the regular season or even just the conference tournament. It’s also about the buzzer-beating games, the upsets, the heart-wrenching losses and the wild storylines that develop along the way as well as the stars that emerge.
Below are my predications that are sure to cause some serious debate among Southern Conference fans at each of the ten schools. Keep in mind, nothing is exact and there is a lot of uncertainty, especially this early in the season, but here are my “Best Bets” for the 2015-2016 season:
Best non-conference games
• November 13: Chattanooga @ Georgia
o Last season the Bulldogs destroyed the Mocs in Chattanooga. Can the Mocs get some revenge in Athens?
• November 20: Green Bay @ ETSU
o 6:00am tip local time for ESPN. Think Freedom Hall will be rockin’?
• December 12 Western Carolina @ Davidson
o Although no longer conference foes; this is a battle the Catamounts would like to win
• December 14: Coastal Carolina @ Wofford
o Top teams from their respective conferences – and within the Palmetto State
• December 15: Tennessee Tech @ Chattanooga
o An under-the-radar game, but one of those games the Southern Conference needs to win in order to help its conference RPI. The matchup inside (Justin Tuoyo vs. Charles Jackson) will be worth the price of admission
• December 15: Mercer @ Auburn
o Bruce Pearl is starting to stockpile talent at Auburn, but I’m not sure there is enough yet to just show up and beat people. I think the Bears can take this one
• December 18: South Alabama @ Samford
o Good home game for the Bulldogs. The Jaguars are improving, but this would be a solid win for the league against a Sun Belt opponent
• December 19: UNCG @ Elon
o Good rivalry game for both. This is another one of those games the SoCon needs to win in order to boost its RPI
• December 31: Wofford @ Harvard
o Even though Harvard will be a bit down, this is a huge opportunity for the Terriers. What a way to celebrate New Year’s!
Best conference games
• January 11: Chattanooga @ Wofford
o Both the Mocs and Terriers figure to battle for SoCon supremacy. This figures to be a war early in the conference season
• February 4: Wofford at Chattanooga
o Take Two. Potentially the top two teams in the league battle again. This time at The Roundhouse
• February 11: Mercer @ Wofford
o Mercer traveled well to Spartanburg last year and I would expect the same again this season
• February 20: ETSU @ Mercer
o This is the second year in a row the Bucs will invade Hawkins Arena on Senior Day. Expect a sellout crowd and high emotions
• February 20: Furman @ Wofford
o The final regular season home game for Spencer Collins. More importantly, this game may actually mean something to both programs late in the season
• February 27: Wofford @ ETSU
o Senior Day for the Bucs. And there might just be implications for both teams in the final regular season game for both
• February 28: Mercer @ UNCG
o All or nothing. This game may have huge implications for tournament seeding or mean absolutely nothing
The Best…
• Best perimeter scorer
o Casey Jones - Chattanooga
• Best low post scorer
o Kayel Locke - UINCG
• Best passer
o Phillip Leonard - Mercer
• Best shooter
o Eric Robertson – Chattanooga
• Best rebounder(s)
o Kris Acox – Furman
o A.J. Merriweather - ETSU
• Best shot blocker
o Justin Tuoyo – Chattanooga
• Best defender
o Justin Tuoyo - Chattanooga
• Most versatile
o A.J. Merriweather – ETSU
• Most efficient
o Casey Jones - Chattanooga
• Best in the clutch
o Spencer Collins - Wofford
• Best speed
o Stephen Croone – Furman
• Best motor
o Eric Garcia - Wofford
• Best potential X-factor
o Demetre Rivers – Mercer
• Best Frontcourt
o Chattanooga
o UNCG
• Best Backcourt
o Chattanooga
o Furman
Player most likely to…
• Lead the league in scoring
o Stephen Croone - Furman
• Lead the league in rebounding
o RJ White - UNCG
• Lead the league in assists
o Phillip Leonard - Mercer
• Lead the league in shots per minute
o Mike Brown – Western Carolina
• Have a breakout year
o Justin Gordon – Wofford
• Record a triple double
o Casey Jones - Chattanooga
• Score 40 points in a game
o Stephen Croone – Furman
SoCon “Super Six”
The league lost several good players from a year ago, but don’t worry there is always another wave of talent and this year is no different in the conference. Again this season, it looks like the league will be dominated by guards.
While it’s not easy selecting players for a pre-season all-conference team, these guys are simply some of the best the Southern Conference has to offer this season:
Spencer Collins (Wofford) – 6’3” 185, Guard/Forward, Senior
Collins is a coach’s dream as he does everything in an unassuming way, never seems to get rattled, and yet always gets the job done. And for that, he is a big reason for the Terriers’ success the past two years.
He has started 100 consecutive games and for good reason. He has the ability to carry his team for stretches and is also a solid defender! If the Terriers are going to challenge for the title again this year, Collins will need a solid senior season.
Stephen Croone (Furman) – 6’2” 185, Guard, Senior
Stephen Croone is one of the quickest players in college basketball. He can get from baseline to baseline as fast as anyone. He is the leading returning scorer in the SoCon and while he will probably score at a good clip again this season, his value may lie in his ability to distribute the ball now that he has a solid supporting cast.
If Croone can have a good year, I think the Paladins can compete with anyone in the SoCon. In fact, he may have a great year and his numbers may go down. That’s a good thing for the Paladins as he has a good bit of talent around him going into his final campaign.
Casey Jones (Chattanooga) – 6’5” 200, Forward, Senior
Jones is the most efficient player in the league. He also possesses as much talent as anyone in the Southern Conference. Last season, Jones averaged over 12 points and 6 rebounds per game while shooting 54.5 percent from the floor. He is also self-aware of his game, taking only two 3-pointers all season.
He can play multiple positions, but is best at the wing. Even on a team loaded with talent, he should be the Mocs “go-to” guy during Matt McCall’s first season in Chattanooga.
Mike Brown (Western Carolina) – 6’0” 172, Guard, Senior
Mike Brown came into his own as a junior and even bigger things are expected during his final campaign in Cullowhee. He is the model for hard work. While he arrived at Western as a talented player, he has gotten better each year through hard work and determination.
Brown averaged 13.8 ppg and 6.3 rpg as a junior and looks primed to step in for the departed James Sinclair. Brown and his fellow seniors will determine if the Catamounts have a successful season.
A.J. Merriweather (ETSU) – 6’2” 195, Guard, Junior
Merriweather does a little bit of everything, but what he does really well is rebound the ball. In fact, he may be one of the best rebounding guards in college basketball. Last season he led the Bucs at 6.1 rpg.
One of the most versatile players in the Southern Conference, Merriweather can play multiple positions at both ends of the court as he is also an outstanding defender. While it’s hard to say if his numbers will grow much this season in a new system, one thing is for sure and that is Merriweather will give Coach Forbes and his staff 100% at all times.
Justin Tuoyo (Chattanooga) – 6’10” 220, Forward/Center, Junior
Without question he is the most dominant big man in the Southern Conference. Tuoyo made an immediate impact on the league last season as he led the SoCon in blocked shots and ranked fourth nationally. He was just three blocks from setting a new single-season league record. My guess is he will shatter the record set by Kyle Hines (UNCG) this season.
Tuoyo is also a solid offense player. He averaged just over 10 points per game last year while shooting almost 54 percent from the field. On a team loaded with talent, he is as valuable as any the Mocs have on the roster.
Others considered: Jibri Bryan (Mercer), Christen Cunningham (Samford), Eric Garcia (Wofford), Devon Sibley (Furman), RJ White (UNCG), Lester Wilson (ETSU)
SoCon "Off-Broadway"
I love compiling this annual list of the most indispensable players in the Southern Conference.
Please note that these are not necessarily the best players in the league. And generally these guys don’t get a ton of the headlines, but they are vitally important to the success of their team:
Julian Eleby (VMI)
When Eleby dropped 43 against Western Carolina last season, he caught the attention of many, yet he’s still not a guy that most SoCon fans would consider an All-league performer.
Eleby may not put as many points on the board this season, but make no mistake, he will just as valuable for Dan Earl and the Keydets.
Eric Garcia (Wofford)
There is little doubt that Garcia is the toughest player in the Southern Conference. He is also one of the most valuable. Eric is a terrific shooter, yet as unselfish as anyone in the league. He does everything a coach asks for – he plays hard, he defends, he makes the extra pass and is a solid teammate. Without him, Wofford has a hard time winning the big games.
Greg Pryor (Chattanooga)
Pryor was probably the most improved player in the league a year ago. If he can improve as much in his junior season, lookout. Pryor shot 38 percent from behind the arc as a sophomore. More importantly, Pryor is tough, driven and loves to compete.
On a team with lots of talent, Pryor may not always get the headlines, but make no mistake he is a valuable as anyone on the Mocs roster.
Brian White (The Citadel)
White made an immediate impact as a freshman at The Citadel when he was named to the All-freshman team. While he had a solid sophomore campaign, he will need to make a big jump in the fast-paced system the Bulldogs are now going to employ under Duggar Baucom. He certainly has the ability and all reports out of Charleston suggest White is set for a huge junior season.
Seniors that need to step up
This is not necessarily a list of the best seniors or even the most indispensable. This is simply a list of seniors that possess everything necessary to make an impact this year. However, if they don’t excel, it could put major pressure on others in order for their respective programs to do well:
Torrion Brummitt (Western Carolina)
All four seniors at Western need good senior seasons, but Brummitt needs to be solid from start to finish if the Catamounts are going to be a factor in the league race. Brummitt must assert himself in the frontcourt as he is the only Catamount with a ton of experience. He is a true center and loves to mix it up down low which is a rarity these days in college basketball. If Western is going to have a good year, he needs to do all the little things (defend, rebound, effect shots) that help a team win.
Kendrec Ferrara (Furman)
Kendrec Ferrara has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his career, but he’s also lacked consistency. During the past two off seasons, he has dedicated himself to weight loss though work in the weight room and a better diet. This should help him over the course of a long season. The Paladins need a strong season from the senior to make the jump into the top tier and may just get it.
Darius Jones-Gibson (Samford)
Jones-Gibson led the Bulldogs in scoring last season and will be counted on for even bigger things this season. Word out of the Samford camp is he worked hard on his perimeter shooting and has become a real threat from deep. That’s good news for Bulldog fans.
Tim Marshall (VMI)
Marshall is changing styles of play, but not items of importance as a leader of the Keydets. Marshall has proven he can play at the Division I level, but now he needs to be a leader – on and off the court – for first-year head coach Dan Earl.
Petey McClain (ETSU)
Let’s be clear, Petey McClain is not a scorer, but he is a valuable member of the Bucs at the point guard position. With all the change at ETSU, McClain needs to be a calming influence, especially during the early going.
I hope this series has filled your need for all things SoCon basketball. It’s always fun putting this three-part series this together, but now it’s time for the real action to start. I can’t wait for a new season in Southern Conference basketball!
I look forward to seeing everyone on the road during a Southern Conference game soon. Follow me throughout the year on twitter: @DeanKeener1.