SoCon Monster Game of the Week: College of Charleston at Elon

This is as interesting as it comes.

On the day after College of Charleston announced their plans to leave the SoCon for the Colonial Athletic Association next fall, they play a huge conference road game. If this was a game against a team that played in front of a larger crowd (not that there are many in the SoCon these days), this might turn into a very hostile environment.

As it is, the teams that currently sit second and third in the Scanning the SoCon Power Rankings are battling. This is a hugely important game for both the Cougars and the Phoenix. The Phoenix already beat Georgia Southern in SoCon play on Wednesday. The Cougars have not played a conference game yet.

That's another part of why this is so important. If Elon wins this game, they will be off to a 2-0 start in the SoCon, and on their way to being considered a serious contender for a bye in the tournament. Charleston would not be left scrambling, but they would have a few more questions.

The Cougars are relying heavily on point guard Andrew Lawrence. He started off last year red hot and then cooled off as the season went on. This year so far, battling back from injury, he is leading the team in scoring with 14.6 points per game. He is averaging 4.4 assists per game and 4.2 rebounds per game. He is shooting nearly 49% from the field, 40% from three point range, and 88.5% from the free throw line. He is the Cougars best player.

Trent Wiedeman is also battling back from injury. He is coming around too. He is averaging 11.7 poins per game and 4.7 rebounds per game. He is making 51.6% of his shots. Wiedeman has potential to be one of the top players in the whole SoCon. He is one of the better big men. Anthony Stitt is also averaging 11.5 points per game.

Adjehi Baru is one of the most hyped Cougar players. He has improved drastically since last year. He is averaging nine rebounds per game. He is also averaging 7.3 points per game. He is a solid defender, and a developing offensive player.

Opponents are shooting under 28% from three point range against the Cougars, and the Cougars are outrebounding their opponents by nearly seven per game. They also only allow opponents to shoot 40% from the floor.

Elon is not a big team, and has been outrebounded by four per game this year. Lucas Troutman is averaging 15.0 points per game and six rebounds per game. He is shooting over 51% from the floor. Troutman has also come up with nineteen blocks on the year. He has been a special player for the Phoenix throughout his time there.

Jack Isenbarger is averaging 14.4 points per game. He leads the team in minutes. He too has been a special player for the Phoenix. Isenbarger and Troutman are the two leaders on this club, and names that everyone that follows the SoCon closely knows.

Sebastian Koch is averaging 8.3 points per game. He is shooting 55.2% from three point range, making 16 of 29 from long range this year. He is also averaging 4.7 rebounds per game. He is a very important player. Ryley Beaumont is averaging 4.9 rebounds per game while scoring 9.3 points per game. Austin Hamilton is averaging 9.9 points per game.

LEAD PIPE LOCK PREDICTIONS THAT ARE SURE TO GO WRONG

--The Cougars will outrebound the Phoenix. The Cougars are a very good rebounding team and the Phoenix are not.
--The Phoenix will play with an edge at home against a team that is leaving the conference.
--Wiedeman and Lawrence vs. Troutman and Isenbarger is one of the best two on two battles in the conference, and will not disappoint.
--Elon 68, College of Charleston 65. The Phoenix, in front of their home crowd, will never be more ready to come up with a statement win. Yes, South Carolina was a good win. The Phoenix really want this one. This is the game they will be fired up for. Koch makes a couple of huge shots and leads the Phoenix to the win.