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

This is the first of a two-part preseason series on Southern Conference men’s basketball

I. Inside SoCon Basketball:
As we approach late October, it can only mean that college basketball is just days away from the opening tip. Teams have been practicing – and participating in “closed scrimmages” around the nation for several weeks. Ready or not, another hoops season is upon us! In particular, the Southern Conference stands strong and men’s basketball is collectively ready for another terrific season under the leadership of commissioner John Iamarino. 

I’ve been very fortunate to cover Southern Conference men’s basketball for the past seven years and writing The Dean’s List for six years. The Dean’s List is a column that is all about men’s basketball in the Southern Conference. Over the years, I have also touched on national topics to help provide some perspective on rules and other relevant items that affect the college game. We will look to do the same again this season to bring you a bit closer to the coaches and players.

With each new season comes the anticipation of so many things. Regardless of what has happened in the past, it’s always exciting to discuss the upcoming season. This time of year, there is always a feeling among league members that this could be a special year. Each league member has something that every coach, player and fan craves prior to that first game. Trying to determine what will potentially be the headlines and stories that guide us through the next four months is fun for everyone associated with SoCon basketball.

There is a new coach (Mark Prosser at Western Carolina) and many new players that dot the rosters of all members, in particular those of Chattanooga, Samford and ETSU. But because of the overall stability of the league, each program should be excited about the new year. UNCG and Wofford look to be in the upper tier along with ETSU as the new season begins. 

For the seventh consecutive year, the season will conclude in Asheville, North Carolina, and the U.S. Cellular Center for the 98th edition of the Ingles Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Championship presented by General Shale. I say this every year, but I don’t believe there is a better site to hold this event and I look forward to being part of the action again in March. For hoop historians, the Southern Conference tournament is the nation’s oldest postseason tournament in college basketball. 

In Part I of this preseason preview, we will cover Southern Conference basketball from A to Z as well as look at several questions that must be answered. I hope this will get you started for the new season and cause some discussion on social media. 

With that, we begin the 2018-19 Dean’s List:

II. SoCon basketball from A to Z
A. Alonso – UNCG guard Francis Alonso is one of the top long-range shooters in college basketball. Look for the senior from Spain to have his best year yet
B. Bucs – The ETSU Bucs have won 52 games the past two years and are consistently near the top of the rankings 
C. Cummings – Mercer’s Ross Cummings played like an all-league performer during the second half of last season. As the Bears’ leading returning scorer, can he play with a bullseye on his jersey? 
D. Dickey – James Dickey is primed for a terrific season. The slender UNCG forward has all the tools to be a great SoCon player
E. Earl – Dan Earl is a fine basketball coach but working at arguably the toughest job in Division I can cause lots of sleepless nights. At least he has a stable roster heading into the new season
F. Forbes – Fourth-year head coach Steve Forbes has done a masterful job. He is 76-29 and should build on that winning percentage this year in Johnson City 
G. G – The new “G” logo for UNCG is modern and sleek. AD Kim Record continues building the Spartan brand
H. Hunter – Former Western Carolina coach Larry Hunter. There was not a finer gentleman or basketball coach. This season is dedicated to a coaching legend
I. Iamarino – John Iamarino is in his 13th year as commissioner of the Southern Conference. He’s done a terrific job through realignment and all things men’s basketball
J. Jackson – Cameron Jackson is a legitimate Player of the Year candidate for the Wofford Terriers
K. Kilby – Cory Kilby needs to have a breakthrough senior season if Mercer is to play with the league’s best
L. Lyons – With the loss of all three perimeter players, Furman’s Jordan Lyons will be thrust into a major role. I think he is more than ready!
M. Magee – Fletcher Magee is the leading returning scorer in the league. He has already put up 1,807 points in three seasons. Magee is a very dangerous player!
N. Never – The Citadel Bulldogs have never participated in the NCAA tournament. Head coach Duggar Baucom may very well be the guy that gets them into March Madness
O. Opponents – Every league member has ample opportunity in the nonconference to help themselves and the league 
P. Prosser – Mark Prosser is the new coach at Western Carolina
Q. Quality – Quality coaches at every school. From top to bottom, the SoCon currently has 10 terrific coaches
R. Rafferty – Matt Rafferty is the do-it-all forward for Furman. There is really nothing he can’t do. Mostly, he is a winner! 
S. Sharkey – Samford’s Josh Sharkey. The junior from Philadelphia may be the quickest player in the league. He’s also the top returning assist man
T. Three-point shooting – Fletcher Magee, Francis Alonso, Andrew Brown, Matt Frierson, Trevor Stumpe, Nathan Hoover and Ross Cummings. I dare any conference in the country to produce better long-range shooters
U. Unknown – Samford and Chattanooga are big unknowns. The Bulldogs return only three players from last year and the Mocs just two!
V. VMI – By far the most difficult job in college basketball. Can the Keydets finally gain some momentum this season?
W. Wofford – The Terriers have all the makings of a very special season. Coach Mike Young calls this his deepest team ever
X. X-factors – Cory Kilby (Mercer), Jordan Lyons (Furman), Kaelon Harris (The Citadel) to name a few
Y. Young – Mike Young enters his 17th season as head coach of the Wofford Terriers. He is the dean of SoCon coaches
Z. Zane – Zane Najdawi. The Citadel senior does a little bit of everything for the Bulldogs

III. Five questions that need to be answered
1. Biggest storyline in the SoCon – Part A (Shooting)?
I’m biased, but I don’t believe there is a Division I conference that returns better perimeter shooters. Think about this: The Southern Conference boasts Fletcher Magee, Ross Cummings, Andrew Brown, Trevor Stumpe, Nathan Hoover and Francis Alonso. Each shot over 40 percent from behind the arc last season. And it’s my opinion Matt Frierson (.363) is as good as anyone when left open. Add Zane Najdawi, who shot 48 percent from 3-point range in conference play, as well as Western Carolina’s Matt Halvorsen and the SoCon has the best collection of shooters in college basketball.

2. Biggest storyline in the SoCon – Part B (Uncertainty)?
Uncertainty in the middle of the pack is a major storyline as the season begins. We know that Wofford and UNCG return several good players and should be at the top of the standings throughout the year. But with all the changes at Samford and Chattanooga in addition to the new faces at ETSU, Mercer and Western Carolina, it’s hard to project the standings in the preseason.

3. What can the league do to make some noise on a national stage?
It’s very simple; the league needs quality nonconference wins. The league also needs some of its talented players and teams to make some noise on the national level. For the past three years, the SoCon has been very close to being a top-15 league but must do more if it wants to get there. League members need quality nonconference wins and a few spots on Top 10 highlights in November and December. If you recall, Wofford’s win at No. 5 North Carolina last season provided tons of publicity for the Terriers as well as the league.

Regardless of what team you cheer for, if you’re a SoCon fan, then you need to cheer for Wofford when it plays North Carolina at home on national television as well as games at Stanford, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Kansas and Mississippi State. The same when UNCG plays at LSU and Kentucky. ETSU will have chances when playing at Creighton, Georgia Southern and Illinois. Even its game at Georgia State on opening night is important for comparison to the Sun Belt. Mercer gets its chance with road games at UAB, NC State and Florida as well as a neutral game in Atlanta against Ivy League favorite Harvard. In a span of eight days, Furman goes to Final Four participants Loyola-Chicago and Villanova, but games against Elon and UNCW are also important. It’s games like these that can catapult the league on the national level. The major problem is most of these games are on the road, not in the friendly confines of Southern Conference venues. Regardless, everyone has ample opportunities.

4. Can UNCG repeat as the hunted?
While the Spartans have been good the past few years, they’ve had the luxury of flying a bit under the radar. Wofford, ETSU and even Mercer have been getting the most attention. After winning a school-record 27 games and advancing to the NCAA tournament last year, they are no longer the hunter, but the hunted.

Wes Miller and staff should be able to handle (and temper) the expectations, but with the loss of emotional leader Jordy Kuiper as well as Marvin Smith, new players will need to step up on and off the court. If the Spartans can get everyone to buy in to their roles and collectively defend at a high level, they should have another record-setting season.

5. Who will be the sleeper?
This is always a difficult question during a preseason preview. That is especially true this year in the SoCon with so much uncertainty. There are several choices, but I’m going with The Citadel, who have some great firepower and finally some veteran players. The Bulldogs also play an unconventional style that’s hard to prepare for at both ends of the court and that should help with experienced talent.

Duggar Baucom is a terrific coach and will always get the most out of his troops. With seniors Zane Najdawi, Matt Frierson and Quayson Williams as well as graduate transfers Lew Stallworth and Conner Kern, the Bulldogs have experience and talented depth. Along with Kaelon Harris and Hayden Brown, this team can make some real noise come conference play!

Next edition: Part II of my preseason preview will include my “Best Bets” for the upcoming season in the Southern Conference and will be posted Tuesday, Oct. 30.