Scanning the SoCon- Week Twelve

Each week, twelve bloggers/message boarders (one representing each team) all will vote on a Game of the Week and Power Rankings. At least four will answer a series of questions on their team and around the SoCon. Don't forget to check back Monday through Friday to read Daily Dribbles from around the SoCon here on MocsMania. Also, don’t forget to play SoCon Pick ‘Em!

CONTRIBUTORS

 Appalachian State- Yosef's Cabin T-Dog
Chattanooga- Mocs Mania- JohnMoc
College of Charleston- King Kresse CougarSurf11
Davidson- Davidson Cats Message Board David Sink
Elon- Elon Pendulum Student Newspaper- Zachary Horner
Furman- The UFFP Message Board- SoConJohn
Georgia Southern- GSU Fans Message Board half-n-half
Samford- Samford Bulldogs Message Board AP
The Citadel- The Sports Arsenal- Sandlapper Spike
UNC-Greensboro- UNCG Basketball Fan DashSpartan
Western Carolina- Purple & Gold Jerry Love
Wofford- Terrier Fans Message Board

SCHEDULE

Sunday

Furman at UNCG

Thursday
Furman at Wofford
Georgia Southern at Appalachian State
Samford at UNCG
Chattanooga at Elon
Davidson at Western Carolina
The Citadel at College of Charleston

Saturday

Elon at The Citadel
Davidson at Appalachian State
Georgia Southern at Western Carolina
College of Charleston at Wofford

POWER RANKINGS

1) Davidson 132 (11)
2) College of Charleston 113
3) Elon 110
4) Samford 98
5) Western Carolina 93
6) Appalachian State 66
7) Chattanooga 62
8) Georgia Southern 58
9) Wofford 48
10) UNCG 41
11) Furman 24
12) The Citadel 13

GAME OF THE WEEK

Davidson at Western Carolina- 5 votes

Others Receiving Votes:  Samford at UNCG (2), Davidson at Appalachian State (1), Georgia Southern at Western Carolina (1), Chattanooga at Elon (1), Georgia Southern at Appalachian State (1)

QUESTIONS

Sum up your team since the last time you wrote.

Appalachian State- Much, much better, but still not there yet. After going on a five-game winning streak which included two huge back-to-back wins at home versus Elon and UNCG, the Apps headed west. On Saturday, everything was going well as ASU was up 60-42 with eight minutes left. Then everything fell apart. It was like the team reverted to last year and wound up losing in overtime. Then to make it worse, the Apps lost in Birmingham to Samford two days later in a game they never lead, but had so many chances to. So we're at the point that people were excited and now they're mad. It's better than indifference, but with Davidson twice, GSU twice, CofC and Western in the next three weeks, this is the big test of this team's mettle.

Chattanooga- The Mocs made an incredible comeback against Appalachian State on Thursday, but then fell to Western Carolina on Saturday evening. The Mocs are 3-3 in SoCon play, but have not made it yet. They need to keep on improving. It has been a slow process of improving, but the Mocs are getting close to being a pretty good team.

College of Charleston- Since the last time I wrote the Cougars have been the model of inconstancy in early SoCon play. The defense and rebounding always seem to be there but, based on whether or not the offense shows up, the Cougars can struggle to put teams away. In games against Samford and Georgia Southern the Cougars had a lead late only to cough it up with careless turnovers and other mental lapses. Meanwhile against Chattanooga the Cougar offense exploded for 86 points in a victory. Until the team increases their field goal percentage, cuts down on the turnovers or makes more free throws they will struggle to outscore their opponents. Which is a shame because the defense is playing great.

UNCG- UNCG is a team searching for an identity & leadership. It's also a team that's just looking to get healthy. So far this year, UNCG has had at least 3 different starters (Simpson, Van Dussen, Williams) miss games due to injuries sustained during practice. Currently, Korey Van Dussen (broken wrist) and RJ White (shoulder) are missing extended time with injuries. This week, Trevis Simpson went down with a concussion right before a crucial trip up the mountain to play App State and WCU. Now the Spartans are having to play catch up in the SoCon North race. However, UNCG now finds itself at home for 5 straight games. The first of which saw the Spartans absolutely crush Wofford. If they can get by Furman this afternoon, UNCG will then have 3 straight home North Division games that could help them catch back up quickly.

Which team do you think has been the biggest surprise this year?  

Appalachian State- UNCG. Returning all-SoCon player, fresh new coach that reeled off a North Division title last year and have struggled mightily. Simpson isn't the same player he was before his recent injuries and the loss of Van Dussen hurts even more. Miller is going to have to reinvigorate this team as they're one of the most physical bunches in the SoCon and have the raw ability to contend.

College of Charleston- Definitely Samford. Young team, new coach - I don't think anybody expected them to be atop the North division and looking so sharp in conference play already. Tim Williams is going to be one of the SoCon's best all-around players for some time and Raijon Kelly gives them a threat on the perimeter to balance things out. In the remainder of SoCon play they have their only meeting with Davidson and a pair of games with Elon (probably their biggest threat in the North). We'll see if the Bulldogs can keep it up.

UNCG- Right now, UNCG has been a huge under performing team. I did not quite drink all of the kool-aid that everyone else did about the Spartans, but I didn't expect a 4-12 start. I figured they could at least be .500 by now and looking to make a run in the SoCon.

Western Carolina- Samford.

It's the SoCon Championship Game. Your team is down one point with six seconds left. You can have any one player in the SoCon take the final shot. Who do you want taking the shot?

Appalachian State- De'Mon Brooks from Davidson because he'll get position down low and even if he elbows the guy, Teddy Valentine will swallow the whistle and he'll get the uncontested lay up.

College of Charleston- Andrew Lawrence. You may think I'm just biased but it's only because he's delivered so many times for the Cougars in late game situations the last few years. He's the perfect player to have the ball in the final seconds because he can make a jumper all the way out to NBA three point range, he's strong enough to draw/finish through contact at the rim or he can distribute for an open look. Absolutely the player I'd trust with any game on the line.

Davidson- Nik Cochran. He isn't the tallest, the fastest, the strongest, or the most explosive. But he'll make the play that is needed. He'll get fouled at the buzzer like at Chattanooga. He'll make the fade-away dagger 3 like he did at Kansas. He'll snatch victory from the jaws of defeat like he did at Richmond this year, scoring the Wildcats' final 9 points. The guy is just a winner.

Furman- De’Mon Brooks, Davidson.

UNCG- Easy ... Trevis Simpson. All day. Every day.

Western Carolina- WCU’s Trey Sumler.

Which team has been the most pleasant surprise in the early part of the SoCon schedule?

Appalachian State- Samford. Tim Williams had led a team that has gone from the Princeton offense to a much more fun team to watch. Whether they will hold on is to be seen, but they have the tools to do it.

College of Charleston- Not a specific team but I like to see the whole North Division much more competitive this season. From top to bottom all the teams are very solid. The year after the SoCon switches the tournament bye rules around and we might have multiple teams from the North not playing in the first round in Asheville.

Furman- Samford has been the most surprising team through the early SoCon slate in my book.

UNCG- Samford. I really think that not having all-world whiner Jimmy Tillette not on their bench any more has made a big difference. Teams feed off their coaches. Tillette did nothing but whine and complain. Their new coach seems to have instilled confidence and a winning attitude. I also think the schedule has been favorable early for the Bulldogs.

Western Carolina- I’d also have to go with Samford here as well.  New coach, young team, no seniors, now leading the North Division and on a 4 game win streak.