Western Carolina Preview: Looking For A Championship

Each day from October 23-November 3, there will be a blogger/fan previewing their team in this space. For previous previews and the future schedule, click here.

Under eighth year head coach Larry Hunter, the Catamounts return a total of seven players from last season’s squad that won seven-straight games in making a run at the Southern Conference Basketball Championship title before falling in the thrilling double-overtime loss by 2 points to Davidson at the US Cellular Center in Asheville last March. 

All-tournament selections Trey Sumler, 6-2 / 175 (red shirt junior - guard) and Tawaski King, 6-8 / 245 (junior - post) return, as well as four of the top six leading scorers from last season return to Cullowhee, led by Sumler (13.5 points per game) and Brandon Boggs, 6-5 / 190 (junior – guard -10.0 ppg). 

Absent of any seniors on this year’s team, the large returning junior class of  Trey Sumler, Tawaski King, Brandon Boggs (guard), Preston Ross, 6-5 / 190 (forward), Tom Tankelewicz, 6-4 / 180 (forward) are both talented and athletic.  James Sinclair, 6-3 / 180 (Sophomore – guard) and Kenneth Hall, 6-7 / 210 (sophomore – forward) round out the returning seven.

New Faces

Mike Brown, 6-3 / 175 (freshman - guard) from West Charlotte HS.  Brown scored 775 points in his first three high school seasons including a career-best 512 as a junior, helped guide West Charlotte to the North Carolina 4-A State Championship with a 28-2 overall record in 2011, earning Most Valuable Player honors.

Rhett Harrelson, 5-10 / 170 (freshman – guard) from Enterprise Alabama. Finished high school career with 2,322 career points, a 16.0 point per game average. All-time leading scorer in Alabama 6-A history and 16th best in state history at all levels, ranking fourth best in career free throw percentage (87%), seventh-best in single-season free throw percentage (88%) and eighth-highest career 3-point percentage (38%), also averaging five assists and 3.5 steals per game.

Torrion Brummitt,  6-7 / 240 (freshman – forward) from Columbus, Georgia. Averaged 12.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game as a junior for the Raiders and head coach Anthony Jenkins ... As a sophomore, was named Defensive Player of the Year and team MVP.

Brandon Littlejohn, 5-11 / 175 (freshman – guard) Two-sport athlete that plays for the WCU football team and is expected to join the men's basketball squad after the season.

Justin Browning. 6-4 / 175 (freshman – forward) A two-star recruit by Rivals.com, Browning has averaged 12 points and eight rebounds per game through his first three years as a prep, adding a 1.5 assist per game and three steals per contest average and claimed the state 5-A high jump championship as a junior with a leap of 6-foot,4-inches

Josh Mendenhall (junior forward)  Sat out the 2011-12 season after transferring to Western Carolina in the fall prior to the season. Took a redshirt and enters 2012-13 as a redshirt junior with two years of eligibility.

2012-13 WCU Basketball Schedule

In the upcoming season, the Catamounts will play 13 games in the friendly confines of the Ramsey Center, where the Catamounts have an 82% winning percentage.  The 2012-13 schedule includes hosting an ESPN BracketBuster game, as well as, road trips to the likes of Tennessee, Georgetown & Illinois.

Seven 2012-13 opponents saw action in post-season play last year, five in the NCAA tournament, and one each in the NIT and College Basketball Invitational.  The Catamount non-conference schedule also includes four games against teams that make their home in Western North Carolina, including a home and home with mountain-rival UNC Asheville.

Playing in the "Mayan Division," the Catamounts open in the 2012 Cancun Challenge by visiting Wichita State (Nov. 15) and Western Kentucky (Nov. 17) on the road before traveling to Mexico for two additional games tournament. Once in Cancun, the Catamounts will play Austin Peay on Nov. 20, and will face either Howard or Gardner-Webb the following day.

"We have assembled another top-notch and challenging schedule for our players and fans," said head coach Larry Hunter, talking about the 2012-13 schedule. "The start of the year should be as exciting as any we have had in recent years. We need our students, faculty, season ticket holders, alumni and supporters to quickly get fired up about basketball because our rivalry game with UNC Asheville (Nov. 9) and home-opener two days later tip-off our season." He added, "This is a schedule that will afford our team room for growth and development as we prepare for the rigors of the Southern Conference season."

THREE QUESTIONS

1. What effect, if any, does not having any senior leadership have on the team? Can the large and talented junior class step-up and provide the leadership that  Harouna Mutombo and Keaton Cole provided for last years team?  This role will probably fall to Trey Sumler and Tawaski King.

2.  Can Hunter replace Mutombo and Cole?  Most likely Mutombo & Cole’s role on the team will be filled again by Sumler and King.  According to reports, King has made great strides in this game during the off season. The play of Sumler and King will be the key to the Catamount success this season

3. Which freshman steps up for another “freshman of the year” type season?  In the last five seasons, the Cats have produced two freshmen of the year (Mutombo & Sumler), is there another on waiting in the wings? Freshman Rhett Harrelson has the potential for an outstanding season, however the new face on the team that may make the most noise this season in the Catamount line up just may be junior transfer Josh Mendenhall.

 

Head Coach Larry Hunter is entering his eighth season guiding the Catamounts and is excited about the prospects of the upcoming season. Over the last five seasons, the Cats are 42-9 at home - an 82.4% winning percentage - including 32 of its last 39 SoCon games  Coach Hunter has succeeded in making Cullowhee one of the most difficult places in the SoCon to pick up a win by visiting teams. 

 

 "We have good basketball players in our program. Skill wise, athletically, they are very strong.” Hunter said. "We're excited to have some potential depth on our team, and hopefully it can all come together and we can play some solid basketball."  "Even though we are not exceptionally big, we have a lot of talent, experience and character on our team. It will be fun to see how it all comes together during the season," added Hunter.

 

By Jerry Love, Purple & Gold

For a full list of the SoCon message boards and bloggers, click here.

UNCG Preview: Spartans Look to Build on Success

Each day from October 23-November 3, there will be a blogger/fan previewing their team in this space. For previous previews and the future schedule, click here.

 

Last season UNCG found itself as one the biggest "feel good" stories in all of college basketball. A mid-season coaching change became the catalyst to a 7 game winning streak, a division title and a trip to the conference tournament semifinals for the first time since 2008.

 

UNCG's 11-5 finish to the season lead to the hiring of Wes Miller as full time head coach and sent a charge of excitement throughout the fan base. Now comes the hard part ... keeping the excitement going.

 

The Spartans bring in a new coaching staff that includes 3 former major college players. Mike Roberts (Indiana), Duane Simpkins (Maryland) and Jackie Manuel (UNC) all bring a wealth of playing experience to the table. Also, UNCG returns a veteran good group of players from last season's team. Four of five starters will be back, including 2012 SoCon leading scorer Trevis Simpson and one of the best 6th men in the SoCon in Derrell Armstrong. Armstrong's good play coincided with UNCG making a run through the SoCon. Those are the two guys that everyone already knows about. However, it may be just as important for the Spartans can get a healthy version of senior Brian Cole. The Spartans really lack a lot of size on this roster and it would be a big boost if Cole could come back after playing very little due to injuries in his junior season. In his first two season's in Greensboro, Cole showed good range to go along with his height. He could be able to create match up issues if he's able to contribute good minutes.

 

The Spartans added three new freshmen and two transfers to the roster for this season. However, only one of the transfers will be eligible to play this season. Arizona State transfer Kyle Cain will have to sit out due to NCAA transfer rules. Delaware graduate student transfer Kelvin McNeil (6'-8" 230 lbs) should be able to step in help right away. Injuries put McNeil behind younger players at Delaware. But with size issues in Greensboro, he should find plenty of playing time. Also, the Spartans added a late signee big man in RJ White (6'9" 280 lbs) and a Kyle Hines-esque player in Kayel Locke (6'-6" 240 lbs) to help down low. Also, all-state Ohio PG Jordan Potts joins the team. Potts spent several years dishing out assists to high school teammate Jared Sullinger. He should see plenty of playing time backing up starters Drew Parker and Korey Van Dussen.

 

This year, UNCG has dialed back the schedule quite a bit. Only 3 ACC members appear on the schedule. Instead the Spartans will play local and regional mid majors like NC A&T, East Carolina, UNCW, High Point and James Madison. Also in SoCon play, UNCG only faces south division powers Davidson and College of Charleston once apiece. All-in-all it's the type of schedule that could allow the Spartans to top the 20-win plateau for the first time since 2001-2002 (also the last time UNCG played in a postseason tournament).

 

QUESTIONS ABOUT UNCG ...

 

1. Can this team handle success?

The Spartans hadn't won many games the previous 3 seasons and weren't really expected to win many last year. All of a sudden they catch fire and now there are expectations. They are picked to win the north and contend for a postseason appearance. How will this group handle last year's success and these new expectations.

 

2. Can this team beat mid-majors on the road?

For the non-conference portion of the schedule to be considered a success, UNCG will have to win games at UNCW, High Point, James Madison and East Carolina. The schedule is set up to work out great for the team, but they will have to go into hostile gyms and get W's.

 

3. Will not having a tested big man be a problem?

With front court players like Aloysius Henry and Aaron Brackett gone, UNCG will have to depend on a combination of untested rookies, transfers and reserves to fill in the gaps. Players like (the above mentioned) Cole and Taylor Hoffer are going to have to play much greater roles for the Spartans to be successful. Any kind of foul trouble could spell disaster.

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

 

While it may be a season away from being a legitimate contender for an NCAA bid, this is an important season for UNCG. A manageable schedule and some amazing play makers could allow UNCG to push teams like Davidson and Charleston. The Spartans will have to overcome their size limitations, though. Also star players like Simpson and Armstrong are going to have to show a bit better shot selection that they did at times last season. Both are blessed with the ability to get to the basket almost at will. However, at times last season they settled for long jump shots. If they can stay healthy and efficient this could be a great year in Greensboro.

 

By Dash at UNCG Basketball Fan Blog

 

For a complete list of the bloggers/fans that participate in Scanning the SoCon, click here.

Davidson Preview- A Special Season?

Each day from October 23-November 3, there will be a blogger/fan previewing their team in this space. For previous previews and the future schedule, click here.

First, many thanks to Chattanooga Mocs fan John Roberts for hosting the Scanning the SoCon feature again. I'll be representing the Davidson angle again this season.

RETURNING PLAYERS

 

Davidson returns nearly 95% of the minutes played from last year. We say goodbye to AJ Atkinson, Frank Ben-Eze, and Will Reigel. Everyone else is back. The five starters last year (Brooks, Cohen, Cochran, Kuhlman, and Czerapowicz) averaged between 23 and 32 mpg, between 10.1 and 15.7 ppg, and they all shot at least 34% on 3-pointers. De'Mon Brooks earned one of the POY awards in the conference last year. He led the Wildcats in points, rebounds, and steals. He did that in just 22.8 mpg. As a junior this season, he'll probably be able to focus his enthusiasm a bit better and avoid some of the foul trouble that limited him last year. The other POY award went to Jake Cohen. He barely trailed Brooks in points and rebounds. He was the Southern Conference leader in blocked shots with 55. Jake played 24.8 mpg as a junior. Kuhlman and Cochran are senior guards. They led the Wildcats in mpg. Cochran played just under 30 mpg, had 10.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.6 apg, shot almost 89% at the line, and had an assist/TO ration over 2.1. Kuhlman played 31.9 mpg, scored 10.8 ppg, had 3.8 rpg, 2.9 apg, and had an assist/TO ratio of 1.86. The fifth starter last year was Chris Czerapowicz. He played 25.1 mpg, scored 10.1 ppg, and had 4.9 rpg. He had some surgery in the off-season and is expected to be at full strength soon. Clint Mann played in 31 games last year. He played his best basketball at the end of the season and is poised for a strong senior season. Tom Droney has often started for the Wildcats. He averaged 21.2 mpg last season. He is a large guard who handles the ball and rebounds well. He worked hard to improve his shooting this summer and looked very good at Davidson's recent scrimmage. Tyler Kalinoski had a solid freshman season. He played 17.4 mpg and scored 155 points. He's a well-rounded guard, posting impressive numbers of rebounds, assists, and steals. He'll give Cochran and Kuhlman another very capable backup. The other four returners are Mason Archie, Clay Tormey, Ali Mackay, and Youssef Mejri. They combined for just 77 minutes last year, but all are capable players. Ali Mackay is particularly intriguing to Davidson fans. He's 6'11, has played a good bit of international ball for Scotland and Great Britain, and has added significant muscle in his time on campus.

NEW PLAYERS

 

Davidson brings in 3 freshmen. Connor Perkey is a forward from Atlanta and son of former Wildcat Rich Perkey '80. Jake Belford is a 6'9 forward from Washington state. Jordan Barham is a 6'4 guard from Cleveland, OH. I haven't seen Belford play. We hear that he is battling tendonitis right now. I saw the other two in summer games and at the recent intrasquad scrimmage. Both will contribute. Barham looks like a potentially outstanding player. The other new player is transfer Brian Sullivan. He'll sit this season and have 3 years left. There are two other new faces on the bench. Ryan Mee has replaced Landry Kosmalski on the coaching staff. The Wildcats also have a new trainer after miracle worker Ray Beltz left to take a new job.

 

SCHEDULE

 

Last season's schedule was the 6th best in the country by non-conference strength of schedule according to Ken Pomeroy. This year looks similar. We have road games at UWM, New Mexico, Drexel, and Richmond. OOC home games are Emory, Charlotte, UNCW, a BracketBuster, and a Charlotte game hosting Duke. The Wildcats have 3 games in an early tournament in Orlando and have drawn Vanderbilt as the opening opponent. Next would be Marist or West Virginia. Gonzaga is the top team in the other bracket. There are excellent opportunities for the team to get better by the start of conference play.

 

3 QUESTIONS

 

How good can this team be? The Wildcats were 25-8 last season and 19-2 against conference opponents. Beat the #4 team in the Pomeroy, lost to the #271 team. Rolled in the quarters and semis in Asheville, needed 2 OTs to seal the final. The Wildcats were #1 in the conference in scoring offense, scoring margin, FT% (and were #9 in the nation), FG%, and rebound margin. They were #3 in blocked shots and #2 in assist/turnover ratio. One guy mentions the possibility of a National Title game appearance. http://www.midmajormadness.com/college-basketball-season-preview-2012-2013/2012/10/2/3441874/mid-major-top-20-preview-davidson-wildcats That is clearly some irrational exuberance. Several national publications mention the possibility of a deep run in the Big Dance. There are whispers of an at-large bid and discussions of whether or not this team is better than the 2007-08 Wildcats. Wildcat fans need to be patient and let this team develop. They are deep, experienced, and talented. We also need to remember that the '07-08 Cats didn't win a single OOC road game until a BracketBuster throttling of Winthrop and needed two near miracles to get past Gonzaga and Georgetown. A post-season bid is expected. The Wildcats played in the NIT in 2005 and 2009, the NCAA in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2012, and the CBI in 2011. That's six real tournaments, and seven total, in the last 8 years. Every freshman who has entered Davidson since 1994 has seen the team go to the Big Dance at least once.

 

How will the Wildcats be in the post? Lindy's preseason mag says Cohen is the #8 center in the country and Brooks is the #18 power forward. They played 24.8 and 22.8 mpg respectively. Jake was #52 in the nation in fouls drawn/40 minutes. De'Mon was #89. Those are amazing numbers for guys who spend a fair amount of time on the perimeter. Jake made 87.6% of his free throws, De'Mon made 72.1% If these two guys are a little better at avoiding foul trouble and continue to shoot like that at the line, the Wildcats could be dominant in the paint. Clint Mann played his best basketball late in the season. If he continues that into his senior year, we could be special. Czerapowicz has enough size to play very effectively in the paint. Mackay, Belford, and Perkey can all contribute as well.

 

How about the backcourt? The returning players look bigger and stronger. Cochran and Kuhlman seem ready for big senior seasons. Droney and Czerapowicz are juniors now and have already developed as solid contributors. Kalinoski had a good freshman season and could see more court time, especially if his shot starts falling. Mason Archie didn't play much as a freshman. There are a number of experienced players ahead of him. But he's a talented guy who can step in to the game and play well. Freshman Jordan Barham looks like a special player. He'll find his way into the lineup. This much depth should mean fresher players and more options for the coaches.

FINAL ANALYSIS

 

 Here's what David Scott wrote in the Charlotte Observer--- “We’re very experienced, very deep – not just in playing time, but in winning and having been teammates together for a few years,” said McKillop, whose team begins practice Friday and opens the season Nov. 9 against Emory at Belk Arena. “But we’re not taking anything for granted. There are no assumptions about what we will accomplish this season.”

 

That sounds right. Barring injury, this could be a special season for Davidson. It'll definitely be interesting. And it all starts next week.

By David Sink, DavidsonCats.com

For a complete list of the bloggers/fans that participate in Scanning the SoCon, click here.

Eureka Bareika!

Martynas Bareika is currently a potential starter for the Mocs.

Eureka!

I really did not see that coming. Bareika played OK in spurts this year. Can he be a spark at the three spot? It's possible, of course.

I am really excited to see the freshman this year, and to see how Rico White, Jared Bryant and Lance Stokes have developed.

Drazen Zlovaric and Z Mason have been the players I've been most excited about seeing all along. The Z Men. Can't wait to see them on the floor at the same time.

But Bareika? Truthfully, I had kind of put him on the back burner, until this artilce from David Uchiyama.....

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/oct/25/looking-forward-Bareika-now-a-veteran-leader-at-sm/?sportscollege

Is this really what is going to happen? I'm surprised. Bareika has been around and could be good. I'm hoping he has developed as much as it appears. It's mentioned here that he's tough, and there's no doubting that. He's as tough as they come. That's great.

What am I hopeing to see out of Bareika? I'm hoping he can be a solid performer. We'll see if he turns out to be the starter. I'd be a little surprised if he was the starter by January. But you never know. Could happen. Will that be a statement about the disappointing freshman or that Bareika has come around?

I'm hoping that we'll all be saying, "Eureka!" all year long.

GO MOCS!

Samford Preview: New Faces Lead Transition Year

Each day from October 23-November 3, there will be a blogger/fan previewing their team in this space. For previous previews and the future schedule, click here.

(1)    New Faces: We got ‘em, so let’s start there.

On March 13, 2012, Jimmy Tillette was dismissed as head men’s basketball coach of the Samford Bulldogs. Gone with Tillette were the assistants and staff members who led Samford basketball, for the most part, since 1997. The program had decent success under Tillette (NCAA Tournament appearances in 1999 and 2000, 2006 OVC Tournament Finals, 229 wins) for a mid-major with little winning history (Samford has played basketball since 1901, but is 223 games below .500 when not coached by John Brady or Tillette). The program’s sad recent years never reached that previous success (the tragic death of Jim Griffin two weeks before the 2009-‘10 season, three conference moves and six losing records in ten years, 19+ losses for the last three seasons). Even so, you knew what to expect with Samford basketball: good student/citizen players, Princeton offense, matchup zone defense. No longer; Samford has even run out of Merritts—Jeffrey, the third of three brothers to play at Samford, finished his eligibility with a loss to Furman in the first round of the 2012 SoCon Tournament. The Merritt brothers started 301 combined games, scored more than 3300 total points, accounted for the University’s first All-American award, and had at least one brother on the roster every season since 2002.

On April 4, 2012, Bennie Seltzer—originally from Birmingham, most recently an assistant to Tom Crean at Indiana—was hired to replace Tillette. Seltzer hired a completely new staff, most of whom have high-major and pro credentials, including assistant coaches Scott Padgett (Kentucky, NBA), Yasir Rosemond (Oregon, international pro), and Jake Headrick (Ole Miss), and DOBO Anthony Saccoccia (Indiana, Michigan St.). Since Seltzer was hired, six new players were added to the roster. Those likely to make immediate contributions are Russell Wilson (Fr. PG, 5-11/170), a lockdown defender who was the Florida 5A Player of the Year; Clide Geffrard (Fr. F, 6-5/215), the Florida 7A Player of the Year; Jaylen Beckham (Fr. G, 6-0/160), the #11 PG in the country as a HS sophomore, but had a “well-travelled” HS career; and Tim Williams (Fr. F/C, 6-8/210), a two-sport star in HS.

(2)    Returning Players: Got a few of those too.

Samford returns approximately 50% of its scoring and rebounding, and 40% of its assists, but returns a team leader in only two categories (FT% and steals). Samford lost its two best players to graduation (Merritt) and transfer (Drew Windler, the most skilled offensive player on the team, left for Belmont). Three starters, with a combined 75 starts last season, return: Raijon Kelly (So. G, 6-4/175; 2012 SoCon All-Freshman Team), Tyler Hood (So. F, 6-6/210; 2012 SoCon All-Freshman Team), and Will Cook (Jr. G, 6-4/185). Gregg Wooten (Jr. G, 6-2/195), the presumptive starting PG before preseason practice in 2011, returns from a year-long recovery for an Achilles injury. Connor Miller (So. G, 6-3/170) showed flashes of skill after returning from a preseason knee injury, and his perfect shooting day at home against Davidson was a catalyst to the best win of his freshman season (and, frankly, the best win for Samford in five years). Brandon Hayman (So. G, 6-3/190) defends well, but is limited offensively. Hood and Kelly are the two best players on the team that anyone has seen before.

In case you haven’t noticed, that’s not a towering rotation. It’s possible that length will be provided by Levi Barnes (Jr. C, 6-10/205), a career bit player behind Windler. Barnes has played in 17 total games over two years—never more than 19 minutes in any game—but he’s got some bounce, is a fluid athlete for someone that gangly, and is a natural shot blocker. At this point, however, his ability to compete and contribute is totally unproven.

(3)    Schedule: It’s hard.

Samford, KenPom’s #271 rated team in 2011-12, has the most difficult pre-conference schedule in the SoCon. The Bulldogs play in the mainland part of the Battle 4 Atlantis (all of the beatings, none of the Bahamas). They visit preseason #2 Louisville (2012 Pom # 15), #3 Kentucky (’12 Pom #1), #16 Memphis (’12 Pom #8), and #21 Wisconsin (’12 Pom #5). For the third year of a four year contract, they play UT-Arlington (’12 Pom #116), who has most of its roster back from a team that finished 15-1 in conference, won the Southland regular season title, and went to the NIT (before realigning to the WAC). Other pre-conference games include Florida Gulf Coast (’12 Pom #170), who some believe may challenge Mercer in the A-Sun; Bowling Green (’12 Pom #136); Sam Houston State (’12 Pom 293); and Samford’s former OVC brethren Austin Peay (’12 Pom #219) and UT-Martin (’12 Pom #334). Yes, they have scheduled only one D1 team worse than SU was last year.

 

Charleston and Citadel are Samford’s home-and-home opponents from the South Division, and they host Georgia Southern in the early SoCon game on December 1—the Eagles likely will be farther along developmentally than the Bulldogs at that point. Samford also plays at Davidson (where they have not been competitive since joining the SoCon). The Bulldogs host three North Division games when the students are out on JanTerm (Chattanooga, WCU, Appalachian St.), and their weekend road trip to the mountains is the final week of the regular season, after which they will bus back home and then turn around and bus back up to Asheville for the tournament the next week. Very unkind schedule.

 

(4)    Three Questions I Want Answered:

 

Question 1: Are we better? Samford transitions from a niche, offense-first outlook to a defense-first philosophy this year, so growing pains are expected. Having said that, you can win a lot of basketball games by defending well and creating easy buckets.

 

Question 2: Are we good? If Samford is “better,” the next question is whether they are objectively good. Not likely, but not impossible. And this must be the goal going forward.

 

Question 3: Are we competitive? The SoCon is a decent league and should be better at the top than last season, but Samford theoretically can be competitive in its division. This was an objectively bad team last year that played five freshmen heavy minutes, but was only a Karl Hess blown call away (obvious missed travel late against Greensboro) from leading the North in late February. If SU can establish an identity, improve its team defense, and create opportunities for easy buckets, then it can compete in the North. Hopefully, we can compete for a division title before such a thing no longer exists.

 

(5)    Final Analysis:

 

The pre-conference schedule will be painful. Samford will be more competitive in conference, but likely will not contend for a bye in the tournament. It’s the start of a new era in Samford basketball, and this year will be mostly transitional.

By AP from SamfordBulldogs.com

For a full list of the SoCon message boards and bloggers, click here.
 

A Different Starting Five?

Everyone has assumed ever since Dontay Hampton went down with an injury the assumption had been that three of the starting five were all but clinched. Farad Cobb would be the starting point guard. Z Mason and Drazen Zlovaric would be the starting post players. The other two spots would be up for grabs.

You know who is in a fight for the life for a starting spot? Check out David Uchiyama's article here...

Um, this is odd. I like Lance Stokes a lot, and I'm a fan of his. In fact, I like going a little big and starting him at the three spot, if he earns it.

But starting him in Mason's spot? I'm not sure what I think about that.

Stokes has impressed me a great deal over the course of last year. He did not get a ton of playing time, but he showed flashes of athleticism that rivaled anyone on the team. He also showed that he was a very good defensive player, and that he had decent shot making ability. Stokes played six minutes late against Georgia Southern last December....and scored eight points. I had this to say about Stokes in my review of the game:

Stokes came into the game when it appeared over, and suddenly, the Mocs cut the lead down sharply, and he dominated the final few minutes of the game. He played outstanding basketball. He had been coming back from an ankle sprain and looked like he may deserve to be playing consistently for the Mocs. He may need a lot more minutes.
So there you go. I said this in the Mercer preview a week later:

The intrigue may be in how much a guy like Lance Stokes plays. He was so valuable against Georgia Southern in those closing minutes as the game tightened, but then did not see action against College of Charleston. He has shown flashes, but it is a little unclear where he fits into the rotation at this point in time.

So, I am a big Stokes fan, and have wondered why he was not playing more. I wondered all year last year. I also watched Z Mason average nearly a double-double in January before dislocating his knee cap.

Why can't both guys see the floor at the same time? And maybe they will. Maybe they will see a lot of playing time together. To me, Stokes provides a opportunity to play big with him at the three spot, while you can also go small by putting Stokes at the four. Both lineups can be successful. Both lineups can produce.

Z Mason is the leader on being my favorite player this year. That can change in a heartbeat, of course. But right now, I like the slimmed down Mason look, the attitude he has apparently taken on, and the leadership role he seems to have taken. I really like what Mason brings to the table for the Mocs. Stokes is close on the "my favorite player" scale- but I just don't know that I like him starting at the four spot.

We'll see what develops. This is a very interesting story. The best news to me? That Stokes appears to be a larger part of the rotation, because I really do think Stokes has a lot to bring to the table. So, I'll try to focus on the positives to take away from this- that I'm going to be seeing more Stokes.

GO MOCS!

Furman Preview: More Experienced Paladins Look For A Big Year

Each day from October 23-November 3, there will be a blogger/fan previewing their team in this space. For previous previews and the future schedule, click here.

Returning Players:
===================
Players who started one or more games

Jordan Loyd 6-3, 190, Soph Probable starter at PG
David Brown 5-10, 170, Soph
Charlie Reddick 6-5, 185, Jr, Starter
Bryant Irwin 6-7, 220, Sr, Probable starter
Bobby Austin 6-3, 200, Sr, Starter
Dominic Early 6-5, 185, Soph
Colin Reddick 6-8, 24-, Sr, Probable starter

Other returning players:
Tyler Bisack 6-3, 185, Soph
Tyler Hunt 6-7, 232, Soph
Aaron O'Neill 6-0, 190, Soph

New faces (all Freshmen)
========================
J R Walker 5-9, 163
Stephen Croone 6-0, 170
Larry Wideman 6-4, 190
Kendrec Ferrara 6-9, 225
Keith Belfield 6-6, 205 (redshirt)
Kevin Chuisseu 6-8, 230

Schedule:
===========

Nov 10 Columba
Nov 13 Southern Wesleyan
Nov 16 Clemson
Nov 19 Brevard
Nov 25 at Mercer
Nov 28 Western Carolina
Dec 1 at Loyola (Ill)
Dec 9 Presbyterian
Dec 15 at Auburn
Dec 18 at Wake Forest
Dec 22 at Jacksonville
Dec 30 at SMU
Jan 5 at College of Charleston
Jan 12 Davidson
Jan 14 Wofford
Jan 17 at Elon
Jan 20 at UNCG
Jan 24 at Wofford
Jan 31 Georgia Southern
Feb 2 The Citadel
Feb 7 UNCG
Feb 9 Elon
Feb 11 at Appalachian State
Feb 14 at Chattanooga
Feb 16 Samford
Feb 20 at Davidson
Feb 23 at Georgia Southern
Feb 28 at The Citadel
Mar 2 College of Charleston

Three questions I want answered:
1. Will this be the year when we see a more upbeat offense where we get out and run?
2. Will the freshmen "Big Men" be able to step in and deliver quality minutes in the paint at both ends of the floor?
3. How will Colin Reddick respond to the leadership role and increased minutes expected of him?

Final analysis:
I expect us to step up the pace on offense this year. Despite losing 66 (of 155) starts, the team talent level is expected to be bigger, faster, and better shooters. While freshmen are always unproven, I expect to get lots of quality minutes in the paint from the new group, and contribution from the smaller players also. Bobby Austin, back for a sixth season (TWO full years out with back injuries) is an athletic and savvy backcourt presence. Charlie Reddick should improve on his emergence as a key player/shooter last year. A big factor will be the play of Charlie's twin brother, Colin, as he is now the most experienced post player on the team. Big and talented, he will have to adjust to the load of additional minutes and the team's dependence on him as a defensive/rebounding force. Jordan Loyd got a lot of experience at point guard last year, emerging as the starter in the second half; he will now need to lead the show, with capable backup from David Brown, a legacy who performed very well when injuries to the first two point guards haunted us last year. Rounding out the probable starters is Bryant Irwin, a transfer who will be a force from the perimeter after struggling a bit with his shot in some games last year. An athletic and rangy Dominic Early will contribute big minutes and could press for a starting job. Coach Jackson said over the weekend that freshman Larry Wideman is the best shooter he has had in his time at Furman. He should get substantial playing time.

http://mocsmania.blogspot.com/2012/10/scanning-socon-participants.html

Hawg- poster on Furman message board
 

Elon Preview: Wading Through Decency, Phoenix Look to Hit Pinnacle in 2012-13

Under fourth year coach Matt Matheny, the Elon Phoenix has steadily improved, by the record anyways. Elon was 9-23 in 2009-2010, 14-17 in 2010-11, and 15-16 in 2011-12.

 

All of this while watching Matheny's alma mater and former employer Davidson College walk away with success year after year, the Phoenix has floundered in decency. There have been great players and great games, but nothing has been able to stick, no real success has stuck. In this past year, the Phoenix had a shot to win a North Division title, but finished one game behind UNC-Greensboro.

 

But this year may be Elon’s greatest opportunity to make it to the Southern Conference Tournament finals since 2008, the penultimate season under former head coach Ernie Nestor. No pieces from that team remain, other than assistant coach Monty Sanders, who was a player on that 2008 squad. The players Phoenix fans will bank on to lead the maroon and gold to the proverbial promised land of the NCAA Tournament are a dangerous quartet of juniors and a silky smooth sophomore.

 

The real starting five from 2011-2012 remains intact. Now-graduated guard Drew Spradlin (9.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg in 2011-2012) started 27 of Elon’s 31 games, but now-sophomore guard Austin Hamilton (9.2 ppg, 2.8 apg) was really starting by the end of the season as Spradlin sputtered a bit.

 

The other four are led by guard Jack Isenbarger (14.5 ppg, 2.7 apg), a coaches All-SoCon selection last year despite missing two early games and being limited with a shoulder injury all season. The sharp-shooting guard from Zionsville, Ind., was eighth in the SoCon in scoring, sixth  in three-point field goal percentage (39.9%) and third in free-throw percentage (87.1%). He was a big part of the Phoenix’s season-ending push for the North Division crown, notching double-digit scoring in 14 of Elon’s last 15 games.

Isenbarger is aided down low by forward Lucas Troutman (12.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg), who finished tied for 14th in the SoCon in scoring and provides the biggest threat in the post for Elon. Guard Sebastian Koch (8.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg) provides another sharp shot from beyond the arc (35.4% success rate from three-point range), while forward Ryley Beaumont (7.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg) provides some gut and strength at the power forward spot.

 

Hamilton had a stellar, All-SoCon freshman year that was hampered by a bout with mononucleosis and a wrist injury that required surgery in the offseason. If healthy, look for him to be a crucial part of the Elon offensive game.

 

Key faces off the bench are Bonney, junior forward Eghoesa Edomwonyi and senior forward Roger Dugas. Bonney struggled during the regular season (1.5 ppg in 8.2 mpg), but averaged 6.5 points and 3.5 assists in increased minutes during the SoCon Tournament when Hamilton was limited due to his wrist injury. If he can continue that taut play and limit his turnovers, he will be getting significant minutes off the bench and Matheny will have the ability to rotate those guards to perfection. Edomwonyi (2.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg in 10.3 mpg), a former Rice transfer, and Dugas (1.2 ppg, 1.1 rpg in 5 mpg) will need to be huge off the bench to relieve Troutman and Beaumont, especially considering the loss of sixth man forward Brett Ervin (4.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg in 13.4 mpg) to a non-basketball transfer.

 

Sophomore guard Kevin Blake (1.5 ppg, 1.3 rpg in 8.8 mpg) and sophomore forward Ryan Winters (1.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg in 6.2 mpg in 14 games) will need to provide a few solid minutes per game.

 

Four new freshmen populate the roster as newcomers. Guard Tanner Samson comes highly touted from Winters’ alma mater Regis Jesuit High School in Littleton, Colo. (also Olympic swimmer Missy Franklin’s high school), while center Tony Sabato provides a bit of height in the post. Guard Sam Hershberger and forward Wes Brewer are walk-ons.

 

Elon’s schedule this year features a number of Ivy League teams (four) and a few other big games. The first is Nov. 10 against Butler University in Indianapolis as part of the EA Sports Maui Invitational Opening Games. This match against the recent two-time national runners-up is the highlight of the season, as well as the four games Elon will host as part of the inaugural Maui Invitational Regional Games at Alumni Gym in Elon. The Phoenix will take on Colgate University and either Florida Atlantic University or Coppin State University Nov. 17-18.

 

With Elon’s 58-53 of the University of South Carolina last November still exciting the maroon and gold fan base, the Phoenix takes on the Gamecocks again Nov. 21 in Columbia as part of Frank Martin’s first season in South Carolina. Other non-conference highlights include visiting Virginia Military Institute Nov. 24 and Duke University Dec. 20.

 

Key Southern Conference games include a Nov. 28 opener at Georgia Southern University and the final two match-ups of the season, both at home, against Davidson Feb. 27 and UNCG March 2.

 

As with any team, there are several questions surrounding the Phoenix. Let’s look at three:

1)  How will the Phoenix rebound from numerous injuries going into the season?: Hamilton, Isenbarger, Winters and Blake all missed time in 2011-2012 due to injury. All four should be healthy to start the season, but will those injuries prohibit strong play, especially from Hamilton and Isenbarger, the starting backcourt? Bouncing off that...

2)  Will the bench step up?: The bench was clutch last season, with Ervin, Spradlin, Hamilton and Isenbarger providing key minutes off the bench whenever they did not start. But with none of those four sitting on the sidelines to start the game this season, Dugas, Edomwonyi and Bonney will need to produce scoring and rebounding, a big weakness of this team last year.

3)  Will Elon finally beat Davidson?: One basketball player said the team hates Davidson because they’re always good. The last time Elon defeated Davidson was March 5, 2010, in the Southern Conference Tournament. Bob McKillop’s squad dealt the Phoenix two crucial blows last season: a 66-45 win Feb. 23 to end Elon’s hopes of a North Division championship and an 83-67 victory March 4 to knock the maroon and gold out of the SoCon Tournament. Matheny may still be lingering in McKillop’s shadow. And Elon’s Feb. 27 match-up with the Wildcats in Alumni Gym may be a crucial game in order to help the Phoenix notch a division championship this season.

 

The answers to these questions will begin to take shape Nov. 10 against Butler. Phoenix fans and SoCon watchers throughout the country will want to see if Elon can escape the prison of adequacy the program has been wading through the last few years. In the last year, players and coaches have worn shirts that say “Elevate Elon,” a motto used in an attempt to motivate a program status change. The win over South Carolina was huge; it got Elon on SportsCenter’s top ten the day after. Progress has been made, and Elon’s inclusion in the EA Sports Maui Invitational is a bit indicative.

 

But really, it comes down to the results on the court and the answers to those three questions. Elon has the talent to make it to the NCAA Tournament this season. But they find themselves in a tough conference where there’s realistically one bid.

 

And honestly, it’s not that far out of reach.

http://mocsmania.blogspot.com/2012/10/scanning-socon-participants.html

Zachary Horner- Sports Editor, The Pendulum

From October 23-November 3, each day there will be a preview of a SoCon team written by one of their fans/bloggers. Tomorrow- Furman.

Z Mason Demands Respect

Maybe I'm reading too much into some of Z Mason's comments. Maybe not. Go check out the whole article from David Uchiyama and the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Go ahead. I'll wait....

....
....
....

Got it? Great.

The most interesting part to me was the following:

Mason provided some instruction before the first official practice of the season. The junior called all the guys together — including two practice-only players — for a brief meeting without the coaches.

“I told them that we have to put the past behind us,” Mason said. “All of us older guys should be setting examples for the younger guys.

“I wanted to start the season off on a good hand, and I wanted to give everybody words of encouragement and that our destiny is in our hands.”

Maybe I'm totally reading too much into Z Mason's comments from the article, but I have to say that I am thoroughly impressed by Mason. He went ahead and called a players-only meeting. Before the first practice. He told them that it was time to go out and do what they have to do. They have to take their destiny into their own hands.

Believe it or not, even I felt like going out and running a wind sprint or two after reading it. And considering how long it's been since I've run a wind sprint, that's something.

He's calling out the "older" guys (like co-captain sophomore Rico White- just mention him because it's funny to list him as an older guy) to get over last year and put it behind them. He wants all the freshman to realize that what happened last year has no impact on them. All that matters is what they do from this point forward.

It sounds like Z is stepping up to the plate as a captain and declaring that it's time for this team to move forward. He is not just asking them to do it. He's demanding it. Z is a former football player- when he speaks, he people listen. He demands respect. If he demands respect, he can be a legitimate star for this program. He seems to have the talent and the mentality to get there. Mason is one of the Mocs biggest hopes this year. And I love the attitude he shows off in this article. It means nothing but good things as things move forward.

"Our destiny is in our hands." It sure is.

Scanning the SoCon Participants

Here is a list of links to the sites that each of the participants in Scanning the SoCon and all the SoCon Previews represent. Where available, a name or screen name is provided. Visit the SoCon blogs and message boards. It's nice to visit the links- the bloggers love to have their stuff read (I can speak from experience on this front). So visit them.

Chattanooga- Mocs Mania JohnMoc
ETSU- Buccaneer Nation swvabucsfan
Furman- The UFFP Message Board SoConJohn
Mercer- MU Bear Down  beardownmu
Samford- Samford Bulldogs Message Board Cujo
The Citadel- The Sports Arsenal- Sandlapper Spike
UNC-Greensboro- Spartan Fans Nation DashSpartan
VMI- Running the Block Shelton Moss
Western Carolina- Purple & Gold  Jerry Love
Wofford- Talkin Terriers Harrison Hudson

SoCon Stuff

Let's face it- if you're on this page, you probably follow the SoCon. If you follow the SoCon, you know that there isn't just a world of information about the conference out there. Sure, it is infinitely easier to follow than it was, say, ten years ago. If you want to go back further, it is truly remarkable how far we have come in our ability to follow other SoCon schools than our own. But it is still severely lacking when compared to other conferences, whether we are talking about the obvious ones like the SEC or the ACC, or "mid-majors" like the CAA or the Atlantic 10. The coverage is just not there.

Last year, me along with three other fans from around the SoCon started something we called Scanning the SoCon. It came out every Sunday during the season, and there were power rankings and we wrote about our individual teams and wrote about stories from around the conference. It was a lot of fun, and I think it provided some more insight into the SoCon, and gave SoCon fans something else to look forward to.

This year, we're going a step further. A representative from each school in the SoCon has been asked to participate in the Scanning the SoCons this year. Each week, all of us will vote on power rankings, and will vote on the Game of the Week, and then a set of at least four people per week will answer a set of questions. This will still come out on Sunday afternoon/evening, just like last year. It will give even more insight into the SoCon, and get even more perspectives.

Also new this year, each representative is writing a preview of their team. So over the twelve days beginning Tuesday, October 23 through Saturday, November 3, there will be a preview per day of each SoCon team. On Sunday, November 4, our first Scanning the SoCon will be published, and will feature all twelve writers and their predictions for the year of the SoCon. So, the next thirteen days will provide as in-depth of a SoCon preview as you can get in one place. It should be fantastic. I'm really excited about it.

Last year, I wrote a daily post in the morning Monday-Friday about the SoCon and the games and players. Look for more of the same this year. That won't change.

Last year, also, something I was really excited about, was that I got thanks to some other bloggers from around the SCon, some very interesting posts about their coaching changes. When Bobby Cremins stepped down and when Jim Dement was let go by UNCG, the bloggers from those schools stepped up and provided some really great insight into what had happened. If something happens in the SoCon this year that is that newsworthy, I'll try to get together with them again to provide more interesting insight.

I'm really excited about the coming season and think that there is a whole lot that can happen. We're creating a big of a blogosphere of SoCon fans, and that is very exciting to me, and hopefully to all the fans of SoCon teams. This ought to be a great year and I'm really looking forward to it. I hope you'll join us for the ride.

The Most Important Time.....

Four games. Seven days.

And it all starts only 29 days from now.

Southeast Missouri, Louisiana Tech, and Troy come to McKenzie on November 18-20. The Mocs go to Kennesaw State on November 24. In-between is Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

To put it lightly, it's the most important week of Chattanooga basketball in the 2012-13. I hate to overstate this, but there's no way to overstate it, really. The Mocs will almost certainly be 1-1 heading into that week, with a win over Tennessee Temple and a loss to Kansas. But those four games will tell us everything about where the Mocs are at.

If the Mocs find themselves 5-1 after those six games, the Mocs will be on their way to a very successful year, more than likley. If they are 4-2, they are probably upper half of the SoCon, but not top level. If they are 3-3, they are probably right around the middle of the SoCon. If they are 2-4, they are probably the lower half of the SoCon.  If they are 1-5, they are probably one of the worst teams in the SoCon.

These games tell us where the Mocs are. They have to know that already. Those four games are the defining moments of the early season. It doesn't help that three of them are on three back-to-back-to-back nights in early November. How will the Mocs fare in that situation? It's a great test for a young team because they will need to perform well in a similar situation in March if they are to get to the NCAA Tournament.

It's awfully early in the season to have a defining stretch, but it looms. It sits out there, making it's presence felt strongly. There's no doubt that fan anticipation will be built upon what happens in those four games. If the Mocs find themselves 5-1 after those six games, you can count on McKenzie having a little bit of extra vibe in it when the Mocs take on Davidson and Eastern Kentucky the following two Saturdays. If they lose, the negative feelings from last year will linger on, and make the faithful feel not quite so faithful.

The fans want to put last year in the past. This is a golden opportunity to do that. It's going to be a lot of fun. I can't wait for it to get started.

GO MOCS!

So- what did it all mean?

OK- now for something a little bit different.

The College of Charleston made a decision on Friday at their Board of Trustees meeting.

Or did they?

Very confusing.

From Andy Katz:

The College of Charleston Board of Trustees voted 12-5 to accept an invitation to join the Colonial Athletic Association, the school said Friday.

The board gave President George Benson permission to start contract negotiations with the CAA.

The Cougars are expected to leave for the 2013-14 season but would face a $600,000 exit fee for leaving with less than two years' notice.

So Charleston is going to start negotiating with the CAA. Or they've been given permission to start negotiating. What happened here? I thought this had already been negotiated more or less.

It's a little strange, especially since we all thought that Charleston had basically negotiated this all out with the CAA long before now.

Regardless, it certainly appears that the Cougars are going to the CAA, and that Davidson is not going with them. The Cougars will more than likely be going to the CAA in 2013-14. They will be allowed to compete in the SoCon Tournament this year.

Is this good news for the SoCon? Not particular. They help the conference RPI. Whoever replaces them (ETSU, Coastal Carolina, South Carolina State, UNCW) are not going to be as good as CofC.

That being said, if CofC does not want to be in the SoCon, they should leave. I don't want them to be in the SoCon if they don't want to be here. And they don't want to be here. At least it has seemed that way for a while. So I say, see you later!

It has good things and bad things for the SoCon. It's unfortunate that one of the better basketball schools is leaving, but the SoCon will survive.

It makes this year that much more interesting with the Cougars. They are going to be trying to finally win the SoCon Tournament again. Can they finally get one on their way out the door?

The Recruiting Trail.....

Three seniors have committed to come play for the Mocs next year.

Yes, we know that in each of the last two year's, recruits have not made it to campus- Xavian Rimmer and Manny Ochenje two years ago, and Joshu'a Warren this year.

So, this may not be the time to take this too seriously. They have not even signed yet officially. We may be overreacting to everything.

But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited about these commitments.

Jonathan Stark

The first one to commit was Jonathan Stark. He is somewhere right around 6-0 feet tall. (Many places list him as shorter, but I have seen him listed at six feet, so we'll go with that.) He is considered one of the best point guards in all of Memphis. Reportedly, he had offers from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, TCU, George Mason, Lipscomb, Western Kentucky and Long Island. Arkansas and Tennessee also showed some early interest, but backed off. When watching a video of him on YouTube, you can see that he's got a decent first step into the lane, and that he has some range on his jumper- all the way out into three point range. He also has some jumping ability, and some hang time. Reports are that at the Next Level Tournament in Dallas in 2012, he averaged a double-double in assists and points. He is athletic. Will he push Cobb for a starting point guard spot? We'll know more after seeing Cobb play against D1 competition. We'll know even more once Stark gets onto campus and plays against D1 competition.  At this point, Stark looks like a very capable point guard and someone the Mocs should be excited about.

Christian Kennedy

The next two both have committed just this week, and were huge finds for the the Mocs. Kennedy is 6-10, 200 pounds. He is a tall man. He needs to add a little bulk, probably, but he's tall. And you can't coach tall. He's rated as a 3 star player by 247sports. He is also rated an 84 out of 100 by 247sports. He is not rated at this point by many other sites. I checked ESPN, Rivals, and Scout, but did not see a rating. He had offers from Furman, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Presbyterian, and possibly Auburn. He does not seem to be a big scorer, but he is a big body, with (based on his statistics) very strong defensive ability. He is a rebounder and a shot blocker. Can he score? I guess we'll have to wait and see about his offensive ability, but there's no doubt this guy will have a big time impact on the Mocs.

TJ Williams

His recruiting has been anything but normal, but Williams has committed to the Mocs. He first committed back in August after just one conversation with Coach Shulman and having never visited campus. He visited campus and very quickly recommitted to the Mocs. He is 6-8 and tweeted out that he was joining the Mocs on Wednesday. He is a very good big man, and will do a lot of good work on the post for the Mocs once he gets to campus. He is a two star recruit on ESPN and a three star recruit on Scout. Williams is probably the stud of the class at this point. If you combine him with Kennedy, they have a potent inside presence coming to the program next year. That's really good news for a team that has Z Mason and Drazen Zlovaric who are the two starters in the post and are a junior and a senior.

The last recruit for next year? Looks like it could be Joshu'a Warren resigning. Warren has said previously that he's interested in returning to the Mocs. We'll have to see if that holds true or not.

Right now, this class looks pretty solid for the Mocs. Coach Shulman and company have done a good job getting this group together to this point. Let's hope they all sign in the early signing period and then all make it into school by next fall.

GO MOCS!

SoCon Preview 2012-13

October 23- Elon
October 24- Furman
October 25- Samford
October 26- Davidson
October 27- UNCG
October 28- Western Carolina
October 29- Wofford
October 30- Appalachian State
October 31- The Citadel
November 1- Georgia Southern
November 2- College of Charleston
November 3- Chattanooga
November 4- SoCon Bloggers Scanning the SoCon Season Preview

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Relief

Oh those crazy Mocs!

After last season, when it seemed like the Mocs couldn't hold a lead or win a close game to save their lives, the Mocs are due for some breaks this year.

Of course, they may not come. The Mocs are so much younger than they were a year ago, that there is a lot of thought that they will really struggle this year. They won't even be able to keep it close.

Count me among those that is more optimistic than that.

Last year's team was senior laden before the season- with Omar Wattad, Keegan Bell, Ricky Taylor, Chris Early, and Jahmal Burroughs on the roster, this team should have known how to win. The problem? It all started with a team that looked out of it at times, and appeared to not always do what Coach Shulman asked them to do. Then came Chris Early getting suspended and later booted from the team for his Twitter problems. That really changed the entire look of the season. Burroughs took his place....and Burroughs was great, the heart and soul of the team in a lot of ways, but the team needed more production from the other seniors, who sometimes insisted on firing threes instead of pounding the ball inside.

So, yes, there were problems with the club last year. Between chemistry and a bit of panic that sunk in as the dreary season wore on, the team just wasn't right.

This year's team may have many of those same problems. Who is to say that Cobb, Robertson, McGhee, and Jones won't insist on jacking up threes instead of getting the ball inside to Zlovaric and Mason? Who is to say Lance Stokes, Jared Bryant and Rico White won't carry over some of the attitude from last year?  What about Dontay Hampton's injury? Will that break this team?

Personally, I think that the freshman show a lot of promise. Maybe it is drinking this water here in Kentucky, where I live, but I think the freshman can be successful if put in the right situations. Do I have confidence in this team? More than you might think. The closer I get to the season, the more I think that the Mocs will be able to survive this year and finish in the top half of the conference. I think the youthful attitude will take over the team, and if the guys from last year don't get on board, there are (mostly) people to replace them. (Sorry Bryant, Zlovaric, and Mason- there doesn't seem to be much room for you three to get a break....unless we want to go back to the days of starting Sam Watson and Drew Baker- which if those two are both starting would not spell good news for the Mocs situation this year.)

I know- I'm drinking the kool-aid. I'm excited about the season. I'm excited to see the young guys. Last year was a drag to watch, because everyone was leaving after the year and there was the sense that the whole thing was slipping away. This year, there will be hope for better days in the future, even if there are lots of losses along the way. This year will be so much more enjoyable just for that reason. I can't tell you the relief that I feel just from that alone. It will be so nice to just sit back and enjoy the year and the process a little bit more. Yes, I know there will be a lot of debate on the Mocs message board throughout the year about job security and things of the like. I find myself unconcerned about those discussions. Why? Because it's not my decision, it will take care of itself one way or the other, and this year ought to be a process that will be fun to watch.

What a relief.

SoCon Monster Game of the Week

Week One: Western Carolina at UNC-Asheville
Announce   Preview   Review
Week Two:   Davidson at New Mexico
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Week Three:   Announce   Preview   Review
Week Four:   Announce   Preview   Review
Week Five:   Announce   Preview   Review
Week Six:  Announce   Preview   Review
Week Seven:   Announce   Preview   Review
Week Eight:   Announce   Preview   Review
Week Nine:   Announce   Preview   Review
Week Ten:   Announce   Preview   Review
Week Eleven:   Announce   Preview   Review
Week Twelve:   Announce   Preview   Review
Week Thirteen:   Announce   Preview   Review
Week Fourteen:   Announce   Preview   Review
Week Fifteen:   Announce   Preview   Review
Week Sixteen:   Announce   Preview   Review
Week Seventeen:   Announce   Preview   Review

Scanning the SoCon

November 4
November 11
November 18
November 25
December 2
December 9
December 16
December 23
December 30
January 6
January 13
January 20
January 27
February 3
February 10
February 17
February 24
March 3

New Faces

There are five true freshman on the roster. Five.

And with Dontay Hampton out, it makes it almost impossible to believe that one will not be starting at least, and there could be as many three in the starting lineup.

What is this- Kentucky? This is bizarro world. It's hard to even imagine that three freshman could start- yet here we are.

The Mocs will start Farad Cobb at point guard, almost guaranteed. Without Hampton, it's hard to figure out who else would start at point guard. Cobb was the prize recruit in the recruiting class, beating out College of Charleston for his services. He is 6-0 tall, and is going to be a very exciting player throughout the season.

His back-up at point guard? Could it be freshman walk-on Alex Bran? Bran is from Memphis and has some talent- though he is a walk-on for a reason. Bran might just be the back-up to Cobb with Hampton out. Bran decided to walk-on shortly after Hampton's injury was announced. He is probably OK, but you never want to go into a season with your back-up point guard being a walk-on freshman. (Then again, Rico White or one of the other freshman may get be the back-up.)

Eric Robertson is the freshman I am next most excited about. Robertson has a real shot to be the back-up point guard as well, though I think it's more likely that he will be playing the two guard, possibly even starting there. He is a very good shooter, but also has some athleticism. It should be interesting to see if Robertson or Rico White is the starter at the two guard spot. Both guys will see plenty of minutes until Hampton comes back in late December/early January. After that, who knows- but they'll likely still see plenty.

Gee McGhee is one of the potential breakout players of the freshman class. He is 6-5 and 200 pounds. Shulman has been praising him as one of the team's vocal leaders of the offseason workouts. McGhee was recruited by Murray State. He appears to have a good mid-range game. Can start at one of the wings? Lance Stokes might be the most likely player to start at that spot at the moment, although McGhee, Jones (below), Robertson, and White could be there, too. If McGhee is as tough as he looks, and as much of a vocal leader as it looks like he could be, the Mocs may have found one of their starters. He could play a little point guard in a pinch.

Casey Jones is 6-5, and is very athletic. He can go down low, or shoot from the outside. He's been one of the big surprises of the preseason camp as well. Jones could be a starter as well. He has some game down low. If he can add a little bit of muscle to his body, he will be solid down there. But more than likely, he is going to wind up at the wing spot battling with McGhee and the rest for a starting spot.

It really should be an interesting couple of weeks, and I'm actually really looking forward to the Tennessee Temple game. Not only will that be a chance for the Mocs to start 1-0 and be above .500 (thus making me feel warm and happy all over), but it will also be a chance to get a really good look at this team. When they go to to Kansas, that will be another opportunity to see how the young guys hold up under pressure. Finally, the three homes games of the CBE Classic against Louisiana Tech, Troy, and Southeast Missouri will tell us a lot about how far this team has to come. The freshman will know a lot more about themselves at that point.

GO MOCS!

And So It Begins.....

Welcome back, basketball!

You're an old friend that I have been missing.

Yes, I know that I abandoned you after last year. I needed some time away. Some time to think. Some time to analyze my feelings. I had had so much upset caused by the disaster that was the Mocs 2011-12 basketball season. Lots of losses. Lots of CLOSE losses. Lots of hopes being gotten up only to be dashed.

Not to mention, I had been writing on the internet (between my football stuff I do elsewhere and this blog) for seven months on a daily basis. It made me tired. I needed some time away from writing. Some time to spend with my growing family. Some time to read books (hard to believe, but I went back and read a bunch of young adult books I had never read- Harry Potter, Hunger Games, The Hobbit).

So I returned to covering football on a smaller scale in August. And it felt good. I have debated whether or not to return quite as hard to covering you on this blog. But I have slowly been wanting to. Then I would feel the feeling wane a bit. But then it would come back stronger than ever.

The problem is, dear friend, that writing about you can be so exhausting. After spending hours dedicated to listening to/watching/attending a game, it is hard to then return and cover it in earnest.

This year may be even more difficult, as my wife is expecting another child to come our way in January. So how am I supposed to devote my time to you right in the heart of conference play...and yet take away time?

Well, I guess we'll worry about that when we get there, won't we? We'll get there eventually. We aren't there yet.

A season if full of ups and downs. There are ebbs and flows. I eagerly look forward to all of them.

Let's talk briefly about the Mocs. I'd like it if you would smile kindly on them. Please. This year. Since you clearly did not last year.

But this year, there is youthful exuberance that comes from never having ever played a college game. And there is youthful hope. Farad Cobb is almost guaranteed a starting spot at point guard. As a true freshman.  Eric Robertson and Gee McGhee also could find their way into the starting lineup at various points. Also true freshman. What is this- Kentucky?

How about the Z Men in the frontcourt- Drazen Zlovaric and Z Mason? Possibly the best frontcourt in the entire SoCon. They will be the solid points on this team. If Cobb can get them the ball and if there can be any three point shooting, then the Z Men should excel.

Lots of ifs. Lots of buts. Going to Kansas in the second game is going to hurt people.

There is some excitement. I'm beginning to feel it.

Yes, basketball. You're back. Welcome back, old friend! I'm glad you're here again. I've missed you.