Friday, Nov. 13, 2009

Big South Men's basketball capsules

Charleston Southern

Coach | Barclay Radebaugh, fifth season (40-78 at CSU; 61-86 overall in five years).

Last season | 9-20 overall, 4-14 in the Big South to finish tied for ninth.

Key losses | F Omar Carter (13.3 points, 7.9 rebounds), G Tovi Bailey (5.9 points, 2.7 assists)

Key newcomers | F Kenny Mitchell (6-foot-7), F Zimmy Nwogbo (6-7), G Stanley Honorat (6-3), F Tom Tankelewicz (6-5)

Outlook | The Buccaneers were picked to finish ninth in the preseason Big South poll. Carter (Appalachian State) and Bailey (Lander), both starters, transferred in the offseason. That leaves junior guard Jamarco Warren, a preseason all-conference selection, to carry the load. He averaged 17.8 points per game last season. Radebaugh put his team through an intense offseason workout program, geared toward developing fitness and toughness among a team he expects to improve.

Gardner-Webb

Coach | Rick Scruggs, 15th season (191-197 at GWU; 369-312 overall).

Last season | 13-17 overall, 9-9 in the Big South to finish tied for fifth.

Key losses | G Aaron Linn (14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds), F Nate Blank (9.1 points)

Key newcomers | G Thomas Staton (6-6), F Stefon Johnson (6-6), G Brian McNair (6-0), F Keith Manley (6-6)

Outlook | The Bulldogs, picked to finish fourth, are led by senior guard Grayson Flittner, who returns after an injury-plagued junior season. Flittner, an excellent shooter, was injured in the preseason and then again at Coastal Carolina in January. The Bulldogs then lost seven of their last 10 games. Forward Joshua Henley (6.8 points, 10.3 rebounds) is expected to have a big season after leading all Division I freshmen in rebounding last season.

High Point

Coach | Scott Cherry, first season (0-0 at HPU; 0-0 overall).

Last season | 9-21 overall, 4-14 in the Big South to finish tied for last.

Key losses | F Steadman Short (6.9 points, 5.9 rebounds)

Key newcomers | G Joe Stroman (6-1), F Corey Law (6-6), G Jairus Simms (6-1)

Outlook | The Panthers are projected to finish sixth in the Big South. They return preseason all-conference guard Nick Barbour, a sophomore who averaged 14.2 points a season ago. He started the final 12 games of the season, scoring 21.4 points per outing over that span. The Panthers return the bulk of their lineup from last season, including senior guard Eugene Harris (12 points) and forward Cruz Daniels (7.7 points, 8.1 rebounds). Guard David Singleton averaged 4.8 assists as a freshman.

Liberty

Coach | Dale Layer, first season (0-0 at LU; 270-193 overall in 16 years).

Last season | 22-11 overall, 12-6 in the Big South to finish third.

Key losses | G Seth Curry (20.2 points), G Anthony Smith (17.6 points), G Brolin Floyd (6 points, 4.7 rebounds)

Key newcomers | F Antwan Burrus (6-6), G Evan Gordon (6-2), F Patrick Konan (6-5), C Carter McMasters (6-11), G Chris Perez (6-4), C Joel Vander Pol (6-10)

Outlook | The Flames were picked to finish seventh in the preseason. The transfers of freshmen Curry, who landed at Duke, and Floyd really hurt for the Flames. Then coach Ritchie McKay left the program to join Tony Bennett's staff at Virginia. Layer returns regular starters Kyle Ohman and Jesse Sanders, who combined for more than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game last season.

Presbyterian

Coach | Gregg Nibert, 21st season (344-248 at PC; 344-248 overall in 20 years).

Last season | 12-17 overall, 9-9 in the Big South to finish tied for fifth.

Key losses | F Bryan Bostic, F Travis Sligh, C Al'Lonzo Coleman, G Pierre Miller, G Josh Johnson

Key newcomers | G Travis Smith (6-3), F Ryan Hargrave (6-6), G Khalid Mutakabbir (6-4), F Jake Troyli (6-9), G Zach Faircloth (6-2), F Jay Reynolds (6-10)

Outlook | The Blue Hose, picked to finish last, play perhaps the Big South's toughest non-conference schedule with the league's most inexperienced lineup. All five starters from last season will not suit up this year. Bostic and Sligh graduated, while Coleman, Miller and Johnson will redshirt in order to make a run at the NCAA tournament down the road in their senior seasons. The Blue Hose will feature six freshmen, two sophomores and one junior this season.

Radford

Coach | Brad Greenberg, third season (31-32 at RU; 31-32 overall in two years).

Last season | 21-12 overall, 15-3 in the Big South to finish first.

Key losses | G Kenny Thomas (14.7 points)

Key newcomers | G Evan Faulkner (6-1), G Görkem Sönmez (6-5), F Tommy Spagnolo (6-7), G Michael Wooten (6-2), G Blake Smith (6-4), F Jamal Curry (6-8), F Tolga Cerrah (6-9)

Outlook | The Highlanders, the league's representative at the 2009 NCAA tournament, is an overwhelming favorite to repeat this season. Radford features 6-11 center Art Parakhouski, the reigning conference Player of the Year, who averaged 16.2 points and 11.2 points per game last season. Fellow senior Joey Lynch-Flohr, a 6-8 forward, was also a preseason all-conference selection after averaging 13.7 points and 5.9 rebounds last season.

UNC Asheville

Coach | Eddie Biedenbach, 14th season (191-202 at UNCA; 210-253 overall in 16 years).

Last season | 15-16 overall, 10-8 in the Big South to finish fourth.

Key losses | F Reid Augst (15.4 points), F Jason Ridenhour (5.2 points, 3.5 rebounds)

Key newcomers | G Jaron Lane (6-4), G Josh Seligson (6-2), G Madison Davis (5-10), G Austin Alecxih (6-5), F Terrence Turner (6-5), C D.J. Cunningham (6-10), F Jeremy Harn (6-8)

Outlook | The Bulldogs, who were picked second in the preseason poll, return three starters from a team that many believed overachieved last season. Replacing Augst, the team's leading scorer, won't be easy, but Biedenbach believes senior guard Sean Smith (10.8 points) is capable of taking on a larger scoring role. Sophomore guard Matt Dickey (10.9 points) and forward John Williams (12.9 points, 6.6 rebounds) proved their value a year ago.

VMI

Coach | Duggar Baucom, fifth season (59-62 at VMI; 96-81 overall in six years).

Last season | 24-8 overall, 13-5 in the Big South to finish second.

Key losses | G/F Travis Holmes (19.1 points, 6.1 rebounds), G/F Chavis Holmes (22 points, 4.6 rebounds)

Key newcomers | F Stan Okoye (6-5), G Joe Carr (6-3), F Nick Gore (6-6),

Outlook | The Keydets, picked to finish fifth, lost about 50 points per game with the graduation of the Holmes twins and Willie Bell. Guard Austin Kenon was third on the team in scoring at 16.3 per game, and forward Ron Burks started every game a season ago. There is little starting experience behind them, because five players accounted for all but six starts a season ago, meaning Baucom's fun-and-gun game plan may be a work in progress.

Winthrop

Coach | Randy Peele, third season (33-31 at WU; 79-100 overall in six years).

Last season | 11-19 overall, 9-9 in the Big South to finish tied for fifth.

Key losses | F/G Cameron Stanley (8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds)

Key newcomers | G Gideon Gamble (6-7), G Taylor Dunn (6-2), G Reggie King (6-2), G Robbie Dreher (6-4), C Julius Francis (6-11)

Outlook | Winthrop is picked to finish third and was the only team other than Radford to receive a first-place vote. The Eagles were relatively young last season and return six of their top seven scorers. Scoring was the problem last year, however. No player on the roster averaged double figures, though 6-7 forward Charles Corbin (9.5 points, 5.8 rebounds) is expected to fill a bigger role.