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
The Dean’s List
January 20, 2016
I. Inside the SoCon
The Southern Conference is enjoying one of its most competitive seasons in recent memory. I continue to be impressed with the work John Iamarino and staff did when five institutions left the conference beginning in 2013. Many thought it would lead to the demise of the league in men’s basketball. Yet, three southern schools replaced them which made for a nice 10-team league. ETSU and Mercer were terrific last year and have been fantastic in the early going this season and while VMI is still installing a new system, they will be a tough out, especially at home as we enter the heart of conference play.
The league also has its best collection of coaches in some time. The four elder statesmen (by age) - Larry Hunter, Bob Hoffman, Duggar Baucom and Mike Young - have combined for 1,525 wins! And think about what some of the other coaches will do moving forward. This group is talented and also have future head coaches on their staffs like Dustin Kearns (Wofford), Daniel Willis (Citadel), Doug Esleeck (Mercer), Bob Richey (Furman), Anquell McCollum (WCU) and Chris Krieder (VMI) to name a few.
Before we get to the good stuff, let me say that it's crowded at the top of the league standings and I'm of the opinion it will be like this throughout conference play. I truly believe three and maybe four losses will win the regular season title. With league play already closing in on the halfway mark, it will be interesting to see how things play out; but most importantly it’s exciting to know that Southern Conference basketball is alive and well.
II. Impact of Transfers
Unfortunately, transferring has become a way of life in college basketball the past few years. This past off-season was no different and while the league lost its share of players, Southern Conferences coaches also recruited their share of talented recruits. This includes junior college and 4-year transfers as well as graduate students. Some of the top transfers in the SoCon this season are:
1. T.J. Cromer (ETSU) - The junior college transfer followed ETSU assistant Brian Collins from Columbia State College and has been terrific. He can really score the ball
2. Ge'Lawn Guyn (ETSU) – The transfer from the University of Cincinnati has also been great for new coach Steve Forbes and leads the Bucs in scoring
3. P. J. Boutte (Citadel) - The graduate student was good at Detroit and IUPUI and has been solid for the Bulldogs. He leads the league in assists
4. Derrick Henry (Citadel) - Another graduate student for Duggar Baucom by way of Winthrop leads the Bulldogs in scoring at over 17 points per game
5. Iman Johnson (Samford) – A graduate transfer from UMES after also spending time at Tiffin University in Ohio has been really good in Scott Padgett's up tempo system
6. Desmond Ringer (Mercer) – The transfer from South Carolina has been solid in the middle for the Bears showing improvement since the beginning of the year. This is just what they needed with the loss of T.J. Hallice
7. Ryan Sawvell (Wofford) – The transfer from Evansville sat out last season and has been more than solid for the Terriers. I love the bounce and activity in his game
III. Like a Swiss Army Knife, these guys do a little bit of everything
1. Stephen Jelks (Mercer) - Possibly the league MVP as we approach the halfway point of the season. Jelks leads the league in rebounding and is 16th in scoring. He also plays with a ton of energy and passion. This on a very talented team
2. Mike Brown (Western Carolina) – Like Jelks, Brown can really score and rebound. He also defends while playing a ton of minutes
3. Justin Browning (Western Carolina) – Browning leads the league in steals and ranks among the top 10 in blocks, rebounding and field goal percentage
4. Greg Pryor (Chattanooga) – What doesn’t Pryor do? He leads the Mocs in scoring (with Casey Jones out), assists and steals and is a pretty good defender to boot
5. Diante Baldwin (UNCG) – The same can be said for Baldwin…what doesn’t he do for the Spartans? He ranks near the top of the league in assists and minutes played while averaging over 10 ppg and almost five rebounds per game. Not bad for a point guard
IV. Home Sweet Home
It’s hard winning on the road in college basketball. Period! To confirm this, SoCon teams are currently 60-15 at home, including 19-8 in league games. There are a ton of factors that go into this, but I wanted to share my thoughts on the top home courts in the Southern Conference:
1. Hawkins Arena – Mercer University has been a great addition to the SoCon and one of the reasons is Hawkins Arena. It’s a great place to watch a game and can get really loud. Did you happen to see 4,502 in there last weekend against Wofford? Wow!
2. McKenzie Arena – The Roundhouse can be a very nice home court for the Mocs. And with all the winning the past few years, I expect their crowds to continue to grow.
3. Benjamin Johnson Arena – Very soon, the Terriers will have the newest and nicest arena in the league. The Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium will replace Benjamin Johnson in 2017. Until then, Benjo will have to make do
4. Ramsey Center – An oasis in the mountains. The Catamounts have been very good at home during the Larry Hunter era
5. Freedom Hall – An older, off-campus arena, but the ETSU athletic department has done a nice job making this “home” for the Bucs
6. Pete Hanna Center – Possibly the second nicest arena in the Southern Conference. As the Bulldogs get better, this will be a tough out for visiting teams
7. Cameron Hall – The Keydets home court is a nice, cozy venue that can get plenty loud when the cadets are in the house!
8. Greensboro Coliseum – Clearly the largest venue in the league. It’s a really nice arena with all the amenities, but it’s off campus and that presents a challenge.
9. McAlister Field House – Originally constructed in 1939, the joint has seen several renovations and additions including a new scoreboard prior to last season. Like VMI, it can be a nice home court when the corps of cadets show up
10. Timmons Arena – The Paladins athletic department has done a nice job of making this place look and feel like a basketball arena, but it still has a ways to go. That said, the Paladins beat a very good Chattanooga team here because of talent
V. SoCon Ladder
Things continue to be defined and refined on a weekly basis. No doubt, this Ladder may very well look different in early February.
1. Chattanooga – The Mocs fell to an inspired (and improved) Furman team but quickly righted things by running off three more conference wins to remain at the top of the league standings. Greg Pryor is playing at a very high level and Justin Tuoyo is a defensive stopper, but Tre’ Mclean and Dee Oldham are also playing big roles
2. Mercer – Bob Hoffman has quickly established the Bears as one of the teams to beat in the Southern Conference. Their fan base is also challenging for tops in the league! After what I witnessed last Saturday in their overtime win against Wofford, I feel confident they will remain near the top of the ladder during the regular season
3. Wofford – The Terriers continue to get everyone’s best shot. Even in defeat against Mercer, they showed me toughness and a grit that proves they will be right there come March
4. ETSU – The Bucs finally stumbled against Chattanooga, but have proven they will be a very tough out. As we near the halfway mark of league play I like what I see from Steve Forbes and crew
5. Furman – Niko Medved’s group continues to show really positives signs. I like this Paladin group moving forward
6. Western Carolina – The Catamounts are 7-1 inside the Ramsey Center this year and need to take care of business this weekend (Citadel and Mercer) as they will then go on the road for their next four
7. UNCG – The Spartans got a much needed win against VMI last Sunday. I still believe this group will make some noise before it’s all said and done. Why? They’re too big and too talented
8. Samford – The Bulldogs have fallen back a bit but remember this is only year two for Scott Padgett. Learning how to win is the final (and most difficult) step he needs to get this group to acquire
9. The Citadel – The Bulldogs finally got a conference win but with six of their next nine on the road, they will need to play some good basketball the next few weeks
10. VMI – The Keydets have stumbled lately but still remain a very dangerous team. Their next three are at home and my guess is they get at least one if not more
Until the next “Dean’s List” on February 3, follow me on twitter: @DeanKeener1