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The SoCon at a glance
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Published: November 6, 2009
Appalachian State
• Last season's record: 13-18 (9-11 SoCon, tied 3rd North Division)
• Coach: Buzz Peterson (79-39 in four seasons at Appalachian, 201-134 in 11 seasons overall)
• Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2000, lost to Ohio State 87-61.
• Strengths: Experience, rebounding
• Weakness: Turnovers
• Best returning players: G Ryann Abraham, G Kellen Brand, C Ike Butts, F Josh Hunter, G Donald Sims
• Best newcomer: F Nathan Healy
• Key losses: None
• Keys to the season: Reducing turnovers is essential, and improving on defense will help.
• Big games: UNC Wilmington (Nov. 6); at East Tennessee State (Nov. 14); at Arkansas (Nov. 20), at Louisville (Nov. 23), Davidson (Jan. 9, away; Feb. 11, home), Western Carolina (Jan. 23, home; Feb. 6, away), at College of Charleston (Feb. 17)
• Reasonable expectation: Peterson's return seems to be well accepted, and the Mountaineers have the experience to make a run in the SoCon if they get a handle on the turnover problem.
• Outside possibility: SoCon title.
College of Charleston
• Last season's record: 27-9 (15-5 SoCon, tied 2nd South Division)
• Coach: Bobby Cremins (65-37 in three seasons at Charleston, 519-344 in 28 seasons overall)
• Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1999, lost to Tulsa 62-53.
• Strengths: Scoring, more veterans
• Weakness: Defense
• Best returning players: G Andrew Goudelock, F Jeremy Simmons, G Tony White Jr.
• Best newcomers: F Casaan Breeden, F Willis Hall
• Key losses: F Jermaine Johnson, F Dustin Scott, F Antwaine Wiggins
• Keys to the season: The Cougars can score, and they have four sophomores who played a lot last season. Sharp-shooting Goudelock and White are 1,000-point scorers. Defense will be the key.
• Big games: at Clemson (Dec. 19); at Tennessee (Dec. 27); North Carolina (Jan. 4); The Citadel (Feb. 9)
• Reasonable expectation: Winning the SoCon's South Division.
• Outside possibility: The Cougars haven't been to the NCAA Tournament since 1999, and Cremins hasn't been since 1996. This could be the year that changes.
Chattanooga
• Last season's record: 18-7 (11-9 SoCon, tied 1st North)
• Coach: John Shulman (90-72 in five seasons at Chattanooga)
• Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2009, lost to Connecticut 103-47.
• Strengths: The Mocs might have as much or more talent than they had last season, but new players must learn the system.
• Weakness: Inexperience.
• Best returning players: G Ricky Taylor, G Ty Patterson
• Best newcomers: G Keegan Bell, G Troy Cage, C DeAntre Jefferson, F Ridge McKeither, G Josh Odom
• Key losses: F Nicchaeus Doaks, F Kevin Goffney, F Kahlil Hartwell, G Stephen McDowell, G Keyron Sheard
• Keys to the season: Rebuilding in a hurry. The Mocs lost their entire starting lineup from last season's SoCon title team. Bell, a transfer from Vanderbilt, is a welcomed point guard, and junior-college transfers will help.
• Big games: East Tennessee State (Nov. 17); at Missouri (Nov. 24); Elon (Dec. 5); Georgia Tech (Dec. 14)
• Reasonable expectation: Not to go from first to last in the SoCon's North Division.
• Outside possibility: Another winning season.
The Citadel
• Last season's record: 20-13 (15-5 SoCon, tied 2nd South)
• Coach: Ed Conroy (33-60 in three seasons at The Citadel, 54-88 in six seasons overall)
• Last NCAA Tournament bid: None
• Strengths: Depth, experience, guards.
• Weakness: Proven inside presence, although the addition of 7-0 transfer Joe Wolfinger of Washington will help.
• Best returning players: G Austin Dahn, G Zach Urbanus, G Cameron Wells
• Best newcomers: C Joe Wolfinger
• Key losses: F John Brown, F Demetrius Nelson
• Keys to the season: The Bulldogs, who had 13 freshmen two seasons ago, grew up last season. The bar has been set high coming off the second 20-win season in school history. The challenge will be to follow up.
• Big games: at West Virginia (Nov. 24); Michigan State (Dec. 7); at Texas A&M (Dec. 19); College of Charleston (Jan. 9, home; Feb. 8, away)
• Reasonable expectation: To be a contender in the SoCon's South Division.
• Outside possibility: Another 20-win season.
Davidson
• Last season's record: 27-8 (18-2 SoCon, 1st South)
• Coach: Bob McKillop (367-233 in 20 seasons at Davidson)
• Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2008, lost to Kansas 59-57 in Midwest Regional final
• Strengths: Shooting ability of all five starters, mobility of big men
• Weakness: The absence of All-America Stephen Curry
• Best returning players: G Will Archambault, G Bryant Barr, F Steve Rossiter
• Best newcomers: G J.P. Kuhlman, F Jake Cohen
• Key losses: G Curry, F Andrew Lovedale, F Max Paulhus Gosselin
• Keys to the season: Curry has moved on to the NBA, to the delight of every coach in the SoCon except McKillop. How good the Wildcats will be with a relatively unknown lineup is a mystery, but one that McKillop will enjoy seeing unfold.
• Big games: at Butler (Nov. 14); at The Citadel (Dec. 3); at College of Charleston (Dec. 5); at Gonzaga (Dec. 12)
• Reasonable expectation: To stay in contention in the South Division
• Outside possibility: A trip to a postseason tournament would be a surprise this time around.
Elon
• Last season's record: 11-20 (7-13 SoCon, 5th North)
• Coach: Matt Matheny (first season)
• Last NCAA Tournament bid: None
• Strengths: Three guards return, all of whom saw significant playing time.
• Weakness: Lack of a proven inside presence.
• Best returning players: G Josh Bonney, G Devan Carter, G Chris Long
• Best newcomers: F Roger Dugas
• Key losses: F Ola Atoyebi, G Brett James
• Keys to the season: The Phoenix has a new coach in Matheny, a long-time assistant at Davidson. How quickly players adapt to his system could be a key.
• Big games: UNC Charlotte (Nov. 16); UNC Wilmington (Nov. 29); at Samford (Dec. 3); at Wake Forest (Dec. 13); at N.C. State (Dec. 17)
• Reasonable expectation: Win home games. The Phoenix has had a winning record at Alumni Gym in each of the last two seasons, despite losing records overall.
• Outside possibility: To contend in the North Division.
Furman
• Last season's record: 6-24 (4-16 SoCon, 6th South)
• Coach: Jeff Jackson (28-63 in three seasons at Furman, 49-123 in six seasons overall)
• Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1980, lost to Tennessee 80-69.
• Strengths: All five starters return.
• Weaknesses: Consistent play at point guard, scoring threat inside.
• Best returning players: F Bryson Barnes, G Justin Dehm, G Jordan Miller
• Best newcomers: F Amu Saaka, C Colin Reddick
• Key losses: None
• Keys to the season: The Paladins will be more athletic, and Miller is a solid player, but steadier play at point guard is a must for improvement.
• Big games: at Clemson (Dec. 13); at South Carolina (Dec. 21)
• Reasonable expectation: To win more than six games this season, and win a game on the road -- something that didn't happen last season.
• Outside possibility: Climbing out of the South Division cellar.
Georgia Southern
• Last season's record: 8-22 (5-15 SoCon, 5th South)
• Coach: Charlton Young (first season)
• Last NCAA Tournament bid: None
• Strengths: Experience at guard, perimeter shooting
• Weakness: No true center
• Best returning players: G Ben Drayton, G Antonio Hanson, G Willie Powers, F Tyler Troupe
• Best newcomers: F Cameron Baskerville, F Rory Spencer
• Key losses: F Julian Allen
• Keys to the season: Young, a former Georgia Southern player and assistant coach at Georgia Tech, will focus on improving the defense. The Eagles can score -- all four returning starters averaged in double figures last season.
• Big games: at South Carolina (Nov. 16); at Florida (Nov. 18); at College of Charleston (Dec. 3); at The Citadel (Dec. 5); at N.C. State (Dec. 12); at Auburn (Jan. 2)
• Reasonable expectation: The Eagles dropped from 20 wins to eight last season and should improve on that.
• Outside possibility: An upper-half finish in the South Division is a nice goal.
UNC Greensboro
• Last season's record: 5-25 (4-16 SoCon, 6th North)
• Coach: Mike Dement (107-126 in eight seasons at UNCG, 312-313 in 22 seasons overall)
• Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2001, lost to Stanford 89-60.
• Strengths: UNC Greensboro should be better at point guard with Brandon Evans, who sat out last season after transferring from East Carolina.
• Weaknesses: Little proven scoring, having a schedule not conducive for a team that struggled last season.
• Best returning players: G Mikko Koivisto, F Ben Stywall
• Best newcomers: G Kyle Randall, G Korey Van Dussen
• Key loss: F Damian Eargle
• Keys to the season: Not becoming overwhelmed by a brutal early-season schedule that includes six games against ACC teams. Four of those will be at the Greensboro Coliseum, where the Spartans will play all home games this season.
• Big games: at Duke (Nov. 13); at Virginia Tech (Nov. 17); Clemson (Nov. 20); East Carolina (Nov. 28); College of Charleston (Dec. 7); Princeton (Dec. 13); Wake Forest (Dec. 28); N.C. State (Dec. 31); Maryland (Jan. 3)
• Reasonable expectation: To be battle-tested by the time the bulk of SoCon games begin in January.
• Outside possibility: A climb out of the North Division basement.
Samford
• Last season's record: 16-16 (9-11 SoCon, tied 3rd North)
• Coach: Jimmy Tillette (195-161 in 12 seasons at Samford)
• Last NCAA Tournament bid: 2000, lost to Syracuse 79-65.
• Strengths: Defense, 3-point shooting
• Weaknesses: Rebounding, lack of physical size
• Best returning players: G Josh Bedwell, G Josh Davis, F Bryan Friday, C Andy King, G Trey Montgomery
• Best newcomers: G Greg Wooten
• Key losses: G Curtis West
• Keys to the season: The Bulldogs weren't bad in their first season in the SoCon, and the return of four starters from a deliberate-style team that allowed just 62 points a game bodes well for this season. Montgomery, Davis and King all finished in the top six in 3-point percentage in the SoCon last season.
• Big games: at UAB (Nov. 15); at Texas A&M (Nov. 20); at Texas Tech (Nov. 28); Elon (Dec. 3); at Alabama (Dec. 16)
• Reasonable expectation: Challenge for the North Division title.
• Outside possibility: A 20-win season.
Western Carolina
• Last season's record: 16-15 (11-9 in SoCon, tied 1st North)
• Coach: Larry Hunter (50-73 in four seasons at WCU, 559-297 in 29 seasons overall)
• Last NCAA Tournament bid: 1996, lost to Purdue 73-71.
• Strengths: Scoring ability, depth
• Weaknesses: Size, tough early-season schedule
• Best returning players: G Brandon Giles, G Harouna Mutombo, G Brigham Waginger
• Best newcomers: F Anthony Phillip, G Mike Williams
• Key losses: G Greg Avery
• Keys to the season: The Catamounts were a relatively young team last season, but finishing in a tie with Chattanooga for first place in the North, along with more experience and increased depth, should be a springboard for a promising season.
• Big games: at Texas (Nov. 18); Wofford (Dec. 2); at Louisville (Dec. 12); at Clemson (Dec. 22); Appalachian (Jan. 23, away; Feb. 6, home)
• Reasonable expectation: Contend in the North Division.
• Outside possibility: With all five starters back and depth added, a SoCon title isn't out of the question.
Wofford
• Last season's record: 16-14 (12-8 SoCon, 4th South)
• Coach: Mike Young (90-116 in seven seasons at Wofford)
• Last NCAA Tournament bid: None
• Strengths: The Terriers will be a veteran team, and they are extremely deep at guard.
• Weakness: Lack of a true center.
• Best returning players: F Noah Dahlman, F Tim Johnson, G Junior Salters
• Best newcomers: G Jamar Diggs, F Domas Rinksalis, G Cameron Rundles
• Key losses: None
• Keys to the season: New additions should bolster the Terriers, who are deeper than ever and have a proven scorer in Dahlman (17.8 ppg)
• Big games: at Michigan State (Dec. 4); South Carolina (Dec. 19); at College of Charleston (Jan. 22)
• Reasonable expectation: With five starters back from a team that won 12 conference games (enough to have won the North Division title), a serious run at a SoCon championship is a possibility.
• Outside possibility: First NCAA Tournament berth.
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