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The SoCon at a glance
Bob McKillop’s Davidson team beat Elon 65-49 to win the championship in last season’s SoCon tournament.
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Published: November 14, 2008
Updated: 11/13/2008 09:00 pm
Appalachian State
• Last season's record: 18-13 (13-7 SoCon)
• Coach: Houston Fancher (124-118 in eight seasons at ASU)
• Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2000, lost to Ohio State 87-61 in first round
• Strength: A deep group of guards
• Weakness: Unproven players in frontcourt
• Best returning players: G Ryann Abraham, G Eduardo Bermudez, G Kellen Brand, G Donald Sims
• Best newcomers: F Quinche Dowdell, F Josh Hunter
• Key losses: F Jeremy Clayton, F Donte Minter
• Keys to the season: The guards are experienced, but the Mountaineers will have to have help from newcomers inside. Consistent contributions from the likes of the talented Hunter and big-man Ike Butts will be vital.
• Big games: Big games: at UNC Wilmington (Nov. 14); UNC Charlotte (Nov. 19); East Tennessee State (Dec. 13); at Kentucky (Dec. 20); at Texas (Jan. 2); Davidson (Jan. 12); Chattanooga (Jan. 15 away, Feb. 28 home); ESPN Bracketbusters (Feb. 21)
• Reasonable expectation: The Mountaineers have averaged 19 wins the last four seasons and have finished first in the SoCon's North Division the last two. That should be doable again with what Fancher calls the deepest team he has had but getting past Chattanooga in the North will be a challenge.
• Outside possibility: An NIT berth might be the best bet with Davidson still in the SoCon driver's seat.
Chattanooga
• Last season's record: 18-13 (13-7 SoCon)
• Coach: John Shulman (72-55 in 4 seasons at Chattanooga)
• Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2005, lost 70-54 to Wake Forest in the first round.
• Strengths: Six seniors, most of whom are key contributors
• Weakness: Turnover prone
• Best returning players: F Nicchaeus Doaks, F Khalil Hartwell, G Stephen McDowell
• Best newcomers: F Chris Early, F Ty Patterson
• Key losses: G Kevin Bridgewaters, F Marcus Watts
• Keys to the season: Turnovers again plagued the Mocs, last season to the tune of 17.5 a game — the most by any SoCon team. That will need to be remedied, and the defense must be shored up. Otherwise, the Mocs should have as much firepower as any other SoCon team. The explosive Doaks and sharpshooter McDowell are proven scorers. And Doaks and Hartwell helped the Mocs lead the SoCon in rebounding.
• Big games: at Tennessee (Nov. 15); at Missouri (Nov. 17); Memphis (Nov. 20); Davidson (Dec. 13 away, Jan. 28 home); at East Tennessee State (Dec. 17); at Alabama (Dec. 22); Appalachian (Jan. 15 home, Feb. 26 away)
• Reasonable expectation: The North Division title
• Outside possibility: If any SoCon team can give Davidson a run, it might be Chattanooga. It won't hurt that the SoCon Tournament returns to Chattanooga, where the Mocs won it all in 2005.
The Citadel
• Last season's record: 6-24 (1-19 SoCon)
• Coach: Ed Conroy (13-47 in 2 seasons at The Citadel)
• Last NCAA Tournament appearance: None
• Strength: Depth. Conroy has 20 players on his roster
• Weakness: The Bulldogs are still young, with seven freshman and 11 sophomores
• Best returning players: G Austin Dahn, F Demetrius Nelson, G Cameron Wells, G Zach Urbanus
• Best newcomers: G E.J. Hicks, G Bo Holston, G Cosmo Morabbi, C Matt Roberts
• Key losses: None
• Keys to the season: Conroy basically started fresh last season with 13 freshmen. Now the top nine scorers return, including playmaker Wells, last season's SoCon's freshman of the year, and top-notch shooters Dahn and Urbanus. A key for the guard-oriented Bulldogs is the return of 6-8, 250-pound Demetrius Nelson from an injury that sidelined him for all but seven games.
• Big games: at VCU (Nov. 18); vs. Iowa (Nov. 20); Charleston Southern (Nov. 25); at Michigan State (Dec. 17); at South Carolina (Dec. 20); College of Charleston (Jan. 24 home, Feb. 14 away)
• Reasonable expectation: To be much improved. Not only because the Bulldogs won just six games last season, but because they now have some experienced personnel.
• Outside possibility: Still a team of the future, the Bulldogs could at least rise to the status of being a team that SoCon opponents are leery of.
College of Charleston
• Last season's record: 16-17 (9-11 SoCon)
• Coach: Bobby Cremins (38-28 in 2 seasons at Charleston)
• Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 1999, lost 62-53 to Tulsa in first round.
• Strength: Experience, which was last season's weakness
• Weakness: Free-throw shooting
• Best returning players: G Andrew Goudelock, F Jermaine Johnson, F Dustin Scott, G Tony White Jr.
• Best newcomer: G Quasim Pugh
• Key losses: None
• Keys to the season: The Cougars return their top seven scorers from last season and are one of the few SoCon teams returning a starting point guard. White, along with Goudelock, Johnson and Scott, were all double-figures scorers last season. Johnson, a 6-7, 250-pound senior, averaged 8.5 rebounds a game.
• Big games: Charleston Classic (Nov. 14-16); South Carolina (Nov. 28); at Winthrop (Dec. 22); Davidson (Dec. 29 home, Feb. 7 away); at North Carolina (Jan. 7)
• Reasonable expectation: An exciting brand of basketball in a new 5,300-seat arena.
• Outside possibility: The Cougars figure to be Davidson's top challenger in the South Division. If they avoid the up-and-down pattern of last season, maybe they'll have something for the Wildcats
Davidson
• Last season's record: 29-7 (20-0 SoCon)
• Coach: Bob McKillop (340-225 19 seasons at Davidson)
• Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2008, defeated Gonzaga 82-76, Georgetown 74-70 and Wisconsin 73-56, lost To Kansas 59-57 in Midwest Regional final.
• Strength: Stephen Curry
• Weakness: Not having Jason Richards
• Best returning players: G Curry, F Andrew Lovedale
• Best newcomers: F Frank Ben-Eze
• Key losses: F Boris Meno, G Jason Richards, F Thomas Sander
• Keys to the season: Much has been made of Curry's move to point guard, but that shouldn't alter his production. The leadership of Richards will be missed, however. How the Wildcats, ranked No. 20 in preseason polls, handle sky-rocketing expectations is a key. Lovedale will be counted on heavily inside with the loss of frontcourt personnel.
• Big games: NIT Tip-Off Tournament (Nov. 24-28); N.C. State (Dec. 6); West Virginia (Dec. 9); Chattanooga (Dec. 13); Purdue (Dec. 20); at Duke (Jan. 7); ESPN Bracketbusters (Feb. 20)
• Reasonable expectation: Another NCAA Tournament berth. Unless the Wildcats stumble significantly in the regular season, they might not even have to win the SoCon Tournament to get a berth.
• Outside possibility: Who would have thought that the Wildcats, or any SoCon team, could come so stunningly close to making the Final Four? They came within a final shot of bouncing Kansas, the eventual national champion. So, anything is possible, including another deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
Elon
• Last season's record: 14-19 (9-11 SoCon)
• Coach: Ernie Nestor (56-97 in 5 seasons at Elon)
• Last NCAA Tournament appearance: None
• Strength: Defense
• Weakness: Guards with minimal experience
• Best returning players: F Ola Atoyebi, G Brett James
• Best newcomers: G Josh Bonney, G Drew Spradlin
• Key losses: G Brian Waters, G Montell Watson
• Keys to the season: The Phoenix allowed just 63 points a game last season but scored only 65. Nestor said that his team must be able to consistently score more points, and an emphasis will be to score more inside. Atoyebi, who averaged 12.1 points and 6.3 rebounds, should help in that regard and complement the versatile James, who was a key to last season's run to the SoCon Tournament final.
• Big games: at West Virginia (Nov. 15); at Virginia Tech (Nov. 26); at Maryland (Dec. 30); Navy (Jan. 5); ESPN Bracketbusters (Feb. 21); Davidson (March 2)
• Reasonable expectation: The Phoenix seem to have enough overall experience to challenge in the North Division.
• Outside possibility: The Phoenix doubled its win total last season and closed with a flurry. Confidence gained from that run could help navigate a stretch of three straight road games in the meat of the SoCon schedule in January. If not, Elon knows how to make a tournament run.
Furman
• Last season's record: 7-23 (6-14 SoCon)
• Coach: Jeff Jackson (22-39 in 2 seasons at Furman)
• Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 1980, lost to Tennessee 80-69 in first round
• Strengths: Four returning starters
• Weakness: Still a very young team
• Best returning players: G Justin Dehm, F Alex Opacic
• Best newcomers: F Neil Duval, F Brandon Sebirumbi, F Chris Toler
• Key loss: F George Brozos
• Keys to the season: The Paladins must improve in several areas. They ranked last in the SoCon in scoring last season, averaging 61 points a game; they ranked last in rebounding margin; and opponents shot 50 percent against them. Alex Opacic, a 6-10, 230-pound forward, and Justin Dehm, who averaged 10.4 points as a freshman, will have to carry much of the load.
• Big games: at Notre Dame (Nov. 30); at South Carolina (Dec. 5); at Vanderbilt (Dec. 22)
• Reasonable expectation: After winning just seven games last season, Furman has improvement well within reach. But the Paladins will have to do it with six freshman and six sophomores.
• Outside possibility: The best bet is to stay ahead of The Citadel and out of the South Division cellar.
Georgia Southern
• Last season's record: 20-12 (13-7 SoCon)
• Coach: Jeff Price (157-111 at Georgia Southern)
• Last NCAA Tournament appearance: None
• Strength: Addition of junior-college transfers
• Weakness: Unproven frontcourt
• Best returning players: G Julian Allen, G Anthony Marshall, G Willie Powers
• Best newcomers: G Antonio Hanson, F Sandy Perry, F Tyler Troupe
• Key losses: F Matt Fields, G Dwayne Foreman, F Louis Graham
• Keys to the season: The Eagles are coming off a 20-win season, but they took big hits with the loss of the explosive Graham, all-time assists leader Foreman and strong rebounder Fields. Three junior-college transfers will be counted on heavily, including new point guard Hanson. The Eagles also will need a big season from Powers, their top returning scorer.
• Big games: vs. Houston (Nov. 10); at Florida (Dec. 22); ESPN Bracketbusters (Feb. 21)
• Reasonable expectation: Georgia Southern should finish in the upper half of the South Division, but getting ahead of Davidson and Charleston isn't likely.
• Outside possibility: The Eagles add new pieces and finally put it all together at tournament time.
UNC Greensboro
• Last season's record: 19-12 (12-8 SoCon)
• Coach: Mike Dement (102-101 in 7 seasons at UNCG, over two stretches)
• Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2001, lost to Stanford 89-60 in first round
• Strength: Perimeter shooters
• Weakness: Unproven interior
• Best returning players: G Mikko Koivisto, F Ben Stywall, G Kendall Toney
• Best newcomers: : F Elhanan Bone, F Damian Eargle
• Key losses: : F Kyle Hines, G Dwayne Johnson, F Kevin Oleksiak
• Keys to the season: Getting solid play inside to take the pressure off perimeter shooters. Replacing Hines will be tough. He ranked second in the SoCon in scoring (19.2 ppg) and led in rebounding (9.1) and blocked shots (3.1). A new point guard also will have to emerge as a leader on a team with no seniors.
• Big games: at UNC Charlotte (Nov. 14); at N.C. State (Nov. 30); at East Carolina (Dec. 13); at Princeton (Jan. 3); Davidson (Feb. 5 at the Greensboro Coliseum)
• Reasonable expectation: If a junior-led team can jell, the Spartans potentially have enough of a mix of experience and new talent to be a threat in the North Division.
• Outside possibility: The Spartans could struggle if they don't develop an inside presence to offset the loss of Hines.
Samford
• Last season's record: 14-16 (10-10 Ohio Valley Conference)
• Coach: Jimmy Tillette (179-145 in 11 seasons at Samford)
• Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2000, lost to Syracuse 79-65 in first round
• Strength: Defense
• Weakness: Lack of proven scorers
• Best returning players: G Josh Bedwell, G Trey Montgomery, G Curtis West
• Best newcomer: G Jeffrey Merritt
• Key losses: G Joe Ross Merritt, C Travis Peterson
• Keys to the season: Tillette said that there will be learning curve for his team as it makes a transition from the OVC to the SoCon. The Bulldogs, who run a slow-paced Princeton offense, will return eight lettermen but have just one senior. Montgomery, who averaged 10 points, is the only returning double-figures scorer. Bedwell hit 46 percent from 3-point range as a freshman.
• Big games: at Belmont (Nov. 14); at Ohio State (Nov. 29); at St. Louis (Dec. 13); at Davidson (Jan. 3); Furman (Jan. 8)
• Reasonable expectation: The Bulldogs won 53 games in five seasons in the OVC, so the program isn't a slouch. But an upper-half finish in the North Division might be a tall order the first time through the SoCon.
• Outside possibility: That the Bulldogs won't get lost in their inaugural SoCon tour, visiting 10 venues new to them. "Everything will be a challenge, from the best place to stay, the best place to eat and where the locker room is," Tillette said. "We don't have a clue."
Western Carolina
• Last season's record: 10-21 (6-14 SoCon)
• Coach: Larry Hunter (34-58 in 3 seasons at WCU)
• Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 1996, lost to Purdue 73-71 in first round
• Strength: Numbers. The Catamounts finally have some depth
• Weakness: The program hasn't had a winning season since 1996-97.
• Best returning players: G Brandon Giles, F Jake Robinson, G Brigham Waginger
• Best newcomers: G Greg Avery, G Joey Parker, F Kendall Russell
• Key losses: None that were essential
• Keys to the season: The Catamounts finished the season with just seven players but have added 10 newcomers. How quickly they come along will be a key, along with the fact that the Catamounts must shoot better than last seasons 40-percent average that ranked last in the SoCon.
• Big games: Great Alaska Shootout (Nov. 26-29); at Marquette (Dec. 19); five SoCon games — including four on the road — in 10-day stretch in January.
• Reasonable expectation: If the Catamounts stay healthy and develop chemistry, scorers Giles and Robinson are in place to make things tough on opponents.
• Outside possibility: The Catamounts might be the biggest unknown in the North Division. Some sort of upward surprise isn't out of the question.
Wofford
• Last season's record: 16-16 (8-12 SoCon)
• Coach: Mike Young (74-103 6 seasons at Wofford)
• Last NCAA Tournament appearance: None
• Strength: Depth
• Weakness: Interior size
• Best returning players: F Noah Dahlman, G Junior Salters
• Best newcomer: G Kevin Giltner
• Key losses: G Drew Gibson, G Shane Nichols
• Keys to the season: The Terriers will have to find a way to offset inferior size inside and find some scoring punch with the loss of veteran guards Gibson and Nichols. Salters, who averaged 9.6 points, is the top returning scorer. Dahlman, a 6-6 forward, averaged 6.3 rebounds and shot 61 percent from the field last season.
• Big games: at Dayton (Nov. 16); at Clemson (Nov. 19); at Air Force (Nov. 23); at Georgia (Dec. 20); at Navy (Jan. 2); at South Carolina (Jan. 5)
• Reasonable expectation: To be road-weary by mid-January. Nine of the Terriers' first 12 games are away.
• Outside possibility: Don't expect much this season, but the Terriers probably will return four starters next season and will add two transfers who aren't yet eligible — Cameron Rundles, the Big Sky freshman of the year at Montana, and guard Jamar Diggs, the Northern Sun newcomer of the year at Wayne State.
— compiled by Tommy Bowman
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