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 
 
   

I. Inside the SoCon
 
With college football having crowned champions at all levels, it’s clearly college hoops season now. And just three weeks into conference play, we’ve already seen some interesting developments. SoCon men’s basketball looks to be a very competitive league this season. Samford is the lone team that remains undefeated in league play, but the Bulldogs know they will need to continue playing well as four of their next five are on the road.
 
Most people who follow the league knew that Furman was going to be very good. I think most thought that Samford had a chance to be good as well, but when they lost seven in a row in late November and into December, some started to question if the Bulldogs would answer the bell. Well, Bucky McMillian and staff have done an outstanding job considering all the injuries they have battled through.
 
UNCG is also a team that is also playing well, especially at the defensive end. Mike Jones’s team captured one of the most impressive conference wins to date when the Spartans went to Furman and beat the Paladins inside Timmons Arena. The Spartans’ talent and ability to defend is certainly something to watch moving forward. The Chattanooga Mocs are currently 3-3 in league play, but I firmly believe Dan Earl’s group will be right there all season, especially with the play of Jake Stephens, Jamal Johnson and Dalvin White. They can climb back near the top of the standings if they can take care of business with their next three games at home.
 
But the competitive balance in the league shows that everyone is still in the mix. Western Carolina, Wofford, The Citadel and ETSU all have wins suggesting they will be a factor in the race. Mercer also has the ability to move up and VMI is simply tough inside Cameron Hall.
 
Even though we have not reached the midway point of league play, it's hard to believe we’re just over six weeks until the Ingles Southern Conference Basketball Championships in Asheville. It’s going to be interesting to see how things continue to play out. Most importantly, it’s exciting that Southern Conference men’s basketball is alive and well.
 
While it’s easy to ask questions during the season, finding the right answer is always a bit more challenging. Here are a few questions (and answers) related to SoCon basketball now that we are into league play:
 

• Why does the SoCon continue to fight for respect? Like most SoCon fans, I continue to be puzzled as the league has been good for a very long time. Yes, the league didn’t fare as well in nonconference play this season as many had hoped, but with the loss of key players as well as talented coaches, we all knew it might take some time. But if you think of the teams that have been in the league during the past five years, it’s hard to understand why the SoCon doesn’t get more love. Maybe the national games (CBS Sports Network and ESPNU) will help show the country how good the league really is

• Can Western Carolina effect the league race? Yes, without a doubt. The Catamounts are better than many think and their starting five is very talented

• Who’s competing for Player of the Year honors? There are several candidates, but as of today, Jake Stephens leads the way. The 7-0 grad transfer has been terrific thus far this season. Samford’s Logan Dye is certainly making a strong case, as well. In addition, Furman’s Jalen Slawson and Mike Bothwell are in the conversation

 

II. In the Know

Chattanooga continues to league the nation in 3-pointers made per game (11.9)

• Furman is fifth in the nation in assists per game (18.6)
• Furman is fifth in the nation in effective field goal percentage (.578)
• Chattanooga’s Jake Stephens is third in Division I in double-doubles with 11
• Chattanooga’s Dalvin White is first in Division I in assist/turnover ratio at 4.5

 

III. SoCon Trivia (True or False)
 
So, you think you know Southern Conference basketball. Here are a few true-or-false questions to test your knowledge (answers at the bottom):
 

1. Washington & Lee was an original member of the Southern Conference
2. Former Furman guard Jordan Lyons shares the SoCon and NCAA records for most 3-pointers made in a game
3. Wofford was a No. 7 seed in the 2019 NCAA tournament. This is the highest seed a SoCon team has ever received
4. Former Davidson College guard Derek Rucker hit a buzzer-beating shot in the 1986 SoCon tournament final to propel the Wildcats over Chattanooga
5. Asheville has hosted the Sothern Conference tournament more than any other city

 

IV. Young Guns
 
There are some talented first-year players in the league this year. In no order, here are some of the best freshmen to track as you watch league play:
 

1. Jackson Paveletzke (Wofford) - Currently, the best freshman in the SoCon
2. Tony Felder Jr. (VMI)
3. Asher Woods (VMI)
4. Tyler Houser (VMI)
5. Rickey Bradley Jr. (VMI)
6. Taeshaud Jackson II (VMI)
7. David Craig (Mercer)
8. Michael Zanoni (Mercer)
9. Allen Strothers (ETSU)
10. Madison Durr (The Citadel)
11. Sam Alexis (Chattanooga)
12. DJ Campbell (Western Carolina)
13. Ben VanderWal (Furman)
14. Donovan Atwell (UNCG)

 

V. Social Media
 
Social media plays a huge part in college athletics. In fact, it’s taken over recruiting and plays a part in providing fans scores and updates. For the college basketball fan, here are some of my personal favorites:  
 
Twitter:

• Jon Rothstein: @JonRothstein
• Seth Davis: @sethdavishoops
• Fran Fraschilla: @franfraschilla
• Ken Pomeroy: @kenpomeroy
• Mid-Major Madness: @mid_madness
• Southern Conference: @SoConSports

 

VI. Clock Management
 
As we get into the heart of conference play, one of the most critical variables is clock management. Think for a moment, how many games are won (or lost) in the final minutes of a game?
 
Clock management involves many aspects. Thus, a coaching staff must work on the following areas during staff meetings as well as during practice time:

1. Proper Substitutions
   1. Having your best free-throw shooters and ball handlers in the game
   2. Offense / Defense – having the best unit(s) on the floor at all times

2. Who to foul
   1. This is all about scouting. It’s not just overall free-throw percentages, but what a player shoots from the line in the final three minutes

3. When to foul
   1. Having a clear philosophy about fouling / not fouling when up by three points

4. Use of timeouts
   1. Having timeouts allows coaches to provide their team instructions and / or make key substitutions

5. Player management
   1. Reviewing and practicing plays and late-game situations so that players know what to do in critical, pressure-filled conditions (especially if a coach does not have timeouts)

Practicing late-game situations is the key. Most coaches will utilize 10-15 minutes every practice to review unique situations, so their players understand what to do and when to do it. We’ve already seen several situations that suggest SoCon coaches are well prepared in these late game situations.
 

VII. Slotting the Teams
 
This is as competitive as I’ve seen the league in many years. Yes, Samford is undefeated and has shown great resiliency, but we are far from the finish line:
 
Tier I
 
Samford – The Bulldogs have gotten healthier and are back to their winning ways. Logan Dye and Jermaine Marshall are currently the best frontcourt in the SoCon. The Bulldogs now need to pack their bags as four of the next five are on the road
 
UNCG – The Spartans did what very few have been able to do, and that’s win inside Timmons Arena. Equally, important, the Spartans remain undefeated on the road in Southern Conference play with a 4-0 record. They now have a four-game homestand!
 
Furman – Even with the home loss to UNCG on Saturday, the Paladins are still one of the top teams in the SoCon. Mike Bothwell and Jalen Slawson get many of the headlines, but Marcus Foster is playing at an all-conference level. He will need to continue to do so if the Paladins want to reach their goals
 
Chattanooga - The Mocs lost a heartbreaker at Samford on Saturday. Their next three are inside McKenzie Arena and they would be well advised to take care of business at home if they want to stay within striking distance of the leaders
 
Western Carolina - The Catamounts remain in Tier I even after losing their last two. The next three loom large as they host Wofford, travel to Samford and then get another shot at The Citadel at home
 
Tier II
 
Wofford – This team continues to show resiliency. They have talent and Carson McCorkle may have found his shooting touch. If so, that simply makes the Terriers even more dangerous in league play
 
The Citadel – The Citadel is so good inside McAlister Field House and they proved it last Saturday with a key win over Western Carolina. Stephen Clark needs to continue his recent play, especially with the Bulldogs going on the road
 
Mercer – The Bears got a much-needed win at ETSU on Saturday. Greg Gary continues to tinker with the lineup, but things are looking up as Shannon Grant and James Glisson III are finally healthy. Something tells me we are going to hear from this group as we get further into conference play
 
ETSU – Surprisingly, the Bucs are 3-0 in league road games but 0-3 in league home games. Somehow, they need to change that trend, but here comes league-leading Samford
 
VMI – Andrew Wilson continues to work magic with a limited roster. Conference teams would be wise to be overprepared and ready for a battle when they visit Cameron Hall, especially when the Cadets are in attendance

 
True or False Answers

1. True (Washington & Lee was a member from 1921-1958)
2. True (Lyons made 15 3-pointers on Nov. 15, 2018, vs. North Greenville)
3. False (In 1979, App State was a No. 6 seed in the tournament. The Mountaineers lost to No. 3 LSU 71-57)
4. False (Gerry Born hit the shot to beat the Mocs)
5. True (Asheville has hosted the Southern Conference tournament a record 23 times entering this season)

 
Until the next “Dean’s List” on Feb. 1, follow me on Twitter: @DeanKeener1