The upcoming week has the following - preseason rankings and predicted scores are from Kenpom. Most games will be on ESPN+

Week of 11/9 – 11/14:
#156 Chattanooga: Loyola Marymount #69 (66-77), UNC-Asheville #271 (77-68)
#118 Furman: North Greenville D2; Louisvlle #36 (66-77)
#126 Wofford: Bob Jones D2; Clemson #59 (64-73)
#142 ETSU: App St #171 (70-71); UT #13 (63-79)
#178 Mercer: Arkansas #15 (74-86); Winthrop #155 (73-78)
#163 UNCG: NC A&T #246 (76-74); Nrth Kentucky #129 (66-72)
#229 Citadel: Pitt #145 (73-82); Morris D2
#238 VMI: Carlow D2; Presby #266 (77-78)
#255 Samford: Maryville D2; Spring Hill D2
#311 Western Carolina: #139 Bowling Green (71-80); Wake Forest #104 (64-81)

Last week's D2 and NAIA exhibitions were:
Chattanooga over Wooster College 94-60
Mercer over Fort Valley St 93-61 (on a quick early look Gr-Tr Jalen Johnson is a long, slim 6-6 ultra athletic stud despite doing very little in 4 years at UT and Wake; JUCO Jr Shawn Walker underwhelming; James Glissom improved); video was on ESPN+
Western Carolina over NAIA Campbellsville-Harrodsburg 106-62
and ESTU over Catawba 91- 58

The big news in the first night of SoCon action: Chattanooga goes on the road and upsets Loyola Marymount 75-64!
https://gomocs.com/sports/mens-basketbal...core/12607

Marymount was rated much higher than the Pitt team that the Citadel knocked off, #69 by Kenpom going into this game compared to only #145 for Pitt, and the Mocs were an 11 point underdog.

K.C. Hankton and Silvio de Sousa got into foul trouble (Silvio played only 11 minutes, getting 5 points, 5 rebounds and 4 fouls: Calma, calma, Senhor Silvio), but guards Malachi Smith (21 points and 4 assists) and David Jean Baptiste (26 points on 5-9 from 3, 4 steals and rebounds) tore them up.

Looks like they may deserve those early 1st place SoCon rankings.

The Mercer Bears led Arkansas at Arkansas at the half: 36-28. The Razorbacks turned that around in the second stanza for a 74-61 win. That's a heck of a job by Mercer against a team rated #15 by Kenpom. My choice for third best showing of the night.
https://mercerbears.com/news/2021/11/10/...bears.aspx

2nd best was #311 Western Carolina upsetting #139 Bowling Green at home in Cullowhee in OT, 79-71. Kenpom had the Cats as a 9 point underdog, 71-80. Looks like most of us have seriously underrated Western, Kenpom included.
https://catamountsports.com/news/2021/11...green.aspx

Chattanooga, the Citadel, Western and Mercer all made strong showings for the SoCon. Great first night!

The rest of the SoCon were predictable routs on home courts against undermanned sub D1 teams.

Wofford 117-79 against Bob Jones. Good news for the Terriers was 6-7 Isaiah Soph Bigelow looking fit and energetic following last year's knee injury with some Sports Center worthy dunks, a game leading 10 rebounds and 9 points on 4-8 shooting. He's an advertisement for what you can do with a redshirt year, or 2 in his case. And big B.J. Mack looking remarkably trim and mobile at a mere 247 grabbing 12 points and 5 rebounds.
https://woffordterriers.com/news/2021/11...jones.aspx

Furman over North Greenville 118-66. 'Dins looked fit and eager - but it was North Greenville! D2 transfer Conley Garrison still needs to show that he can put up 17 points against better competition than this.
https://furmanpaladins.com/news/2021/11/...18-66.aspx

Samford over Maryville 99-78. That's closer than you might expect, but with Florida transfer Ques Glover, Loyola/Chicago transfer Cooper Kaifes with 17 points, and 4 star recruit Wesley Cardet all looking as advertised.
https://samfordsports.com/news/2021/11/9...pener.aspx

VMI crushing hapless Carlow 111-55. VMI crushing anybody would once have been news, but Dan Earl has raised the bar a bit. One expects them to now pitilessly stomp on lesser opponents.
https://vmikeydets.com/news/2021/11/9/me...arlow.aspx

Left out #163 UNCG barely squeaking by #246 NC A&T. It's a win, but not too much to be excited about. 6-4 220 Gr-Tr De'Monte Buckingham, now on his 3rd college (dismissed from the Richmond team, transferred from Cal State Bakersfield), had to hit a couple of big 3 pointers to let the Spartans pull back from a 10 point deficit down the stretch. #129 Northern Kentucky will quickly provide a much tougher test for UNCG.
https://uncgspartans.com/news/2021/11/9/...a-a-t.aspx

Some first impressions of Furman:

At guard:

Gr Tr from Drury, 6-1 170 Conley Garrison, started at guard in a 3 guard lineup and got 22 minutes (tied for 3rd most on the team), leading the team with 6 assists and scoring 14 points on 4-9 from 3 and adding 5 rebounds. But we already knew that he could score on the D2 level – what can he do against D1?? Will he be overwhelmed by the Louisville guards? It looks like he may be a starter in a 3 guard lineup with all-conference candidates Mike Bothwell and Alex Hunter, who scored 22 points apiece in about 22 minutes apiece. If Garrison can do this against D1 competition!

Also at Guard was 1st man off the bench 6-1 165 Freshman JP Pegues, playing 20 minutes (1 of 5 guys getting from 20 to 26 minutes) second in assists with 5, scoring 10 points on 2-5 from 3 with 4 rebounds.

Garrison and Pegues are the new additions that Richey has been talking up in interviews as likely contributors.

Off the bench, long armed 6-4 210 Rs-So Marcus Foster adds length, defense and physicality to the backcourt, which is otherwise undersized except for Bothwell. He logged 18 minutes, 2 steals and 7 rebounds. But he still lacks scoring punch – 7 points on 3-9 shooting with 0-2 from 3. That will likely limit his minutes.

Falling behind in the guard competition: 6-0 173 Sr Jaylon Pugh who got 13 minutes, but not much production, 6-0 172 Jr Colin Kenney who did not play, and 6-0 170 So Joe Anderson. These guys all bring some things – they can shoot, and Anderson can pass, too. But on a guard heavy roster, there are others who can do more.

In the front court:

Richey has said that he wants 6-7 Jalen Slawson to try to take over Noah Gurley’s role, playing further out. He did demonstrate more offensive range, leading the team with 26 minutes played, scoring 19 points on 8-11 shooting with 2-4 from 3, leading the team with 8 rebounds, snagging 3 steals and 4 assists.

6-9 Soph Garret Hien also started, playing 19 minutes, scoring 9 points with 2-2 from 3, 6 rebounds, 3 assists but also 3 t.o.’s (a no-no for Richey – Slawson with 2 was the only other ‘Din with more than 1 t.o.).

6-9 225 Jr Ben Beeker also got 13 minutes in the front court, with 6 points and 3 rebounds.

6-10 Rs-So Jonny Lawrence was in street clothes. Injury? 6-10 250 freshman James Repass also did not play. Richey uses a lot of freshman year redshirts.

It appeared as if a point of emphasis in this game was taking the extra pass, and not simply trying to overpower the overmatched North Greenville team. The ‘Dins got 34 assists!!
53.6% of their shot attempts were from 3, and they made an even 50% of those, 22 of 44 from beyond the arc. Last year the 'Dins were #13 in D1 in the percentage of their shot attempts that were from 3.

Even without Mounce and Gurley, this is a familiar looking Furman team. Lots of experience (starting a Graduate, 3 Seniors and a Junior), smooth offense, aggressive defense. But what can they do against D1 competition, like, oh, say Wofford? Against whom they are 1-4 over the last 2 years?

Next up is #42 Louisville, Friday, November 12, who were a little underwhelming their first night out, dropping from #36 in Kenpom while beating #316 Southern by 12 at home, 72-60. They will tell us a lot more about the Paladins! It’s a chance for Furman to repeat the Loyola of Chicago game of 2 years ago and announce themselves on a national stage.

VMI's 111-55 win doubling up a weak Carlow team was even more impressive than the raw score indicates.

The starters played less than half of this game, getting 14 to 19 minutes each, with star All-Conference player Jake Stephens only playing 14 minutes. A lot of the damage was done by 4 freshmen and 2 sophomore subs.

6-5 185 Freshman Cooper Sisco probably had the upper classmen yelling "Hey Sisco, wait for me" (ask an old guy what that means) playing 20 minutes (yes, more than the starters) and leading the team with 16 points on 6-7 shooting and 4-4 from 3. Are they calling him the Sisco kid yet?

5-11 Freshman Brennan Watkins "only" played 13 minutes, but filled them with 12 points on 4-6 from 3.

Quick 5-10 155 Brooklyn freshman Honor Huff also played 20 minutes, getting 4 assists and 9 points on 3-5 from 3.

And 6-10 260 Aussie freshman Lewis Rowe led the team with 21 minutes, getting only 5 points on 2-6 (0-3 from 3), but also leading the team with 9 rebounds and 9 assists.

6-8 214 Sophomore Sam Wolfe added 7 points and 5 rebounds in 12 minutes, and 6-9 230 Soph D.J. Nussbaum pitched in 3.

So a solid team effort against weak opposition. They'll be tested better tomorrow (Friday, November 12) on the road at D1 Presbyterian, where Kenpom has them as a two point underdog, 71-73.

Samford beat D2 Spring Hill at home by 17, 86-69, on Thursday night. That's the second home win against D2 competition (the first was by 21 over Maryville). That's not the kind of pasting that other SoCon teams have been putting on sub D1 competition. Spring Hill was ranked 7th and dead last in the West Division by the Coaches of the D2 SIAC conference. But they are wins.

6-8 225 Akron transfer Jermaine Marshall had his way in the middle, posting 16 points (1-3 from 3; 6-8 from 2), 10 rebounds and 4 steals. He's a 3rd year Soph with a JUCO year at Florida Southwestern as well as the year at Akron. Spring Hill had no one to match up against him.

Samford is playing without their top returning scorer from last year, 10 ppg 6-5 Soph A.J. Staton-McCray, who has been injured. They are being led by 4 transfers (Marshall, Ques Glover from Florida with 12 points, 4 assists, 4 t.o's and 6 rebounds; Jaden Campbell, 6-5 Soph from Florida Southwestern CC with 10 points, 3 rebounds; and Cooper Kaifes, Rs-So from Loyola of Chicago who had an off night with 3 points on 1-7 shooting and 3 rebounds; along with 4 star Freshman 6-6 210 Wesley Cardet with 14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals and 8 turnovers). Sounds like a helter-skelter game with tons of turnovers on both sides.

Top returnee for Samford was Jaron Rillie with 10 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals and 0 t.o.'s. For the second game Logan Dye did not play. 6-11 Jacob Tryon got 2 points, 4 rebounds and 3 blocks. This is mostly a new team thus far, with a handful of returnees (Rillie, Tryon and to a lesser extent Quinn Richey, Richardson Maitre and Marcellus Vail) playing roles. Coach Bucky has played 17 different guys in the first 2 games, and lists 20 on the roster.

Samford's first real test will come Monday, November 15, going on the road against San Francisco, rated #32 by Kenpom. The Bulldogs will be 22 point underdogs there.

The Citadel stomped NAIA Morris College by 41 points, 108-67, being just as focused, and no more merciful, than they were against a dysfunctional Pitt.

They were merciful in one sense - in the last 8 minutes they played nothing but the end of the bench. Everybody on the roster scored except substitute point guard Jerry Higgins, who spent most of his time setting up others, getting 5 assists in 10 minutes.

Freshman Jason Roche 'cooled off' after his 8-14 from 3, 27 point explosion in 37 minutes against Pitt, going a 'mere' 4-9 for 21 points in 28 minutes today. This is the most promising SoCon shooter since, dare I say it, Fletcher Magee. He's very different than Fletcher, though. None of the funky array of off-balance, falling out of bounds heaves that were Magee's trademark. Just non stop hustle to get open, and a silky smooth catch and shoot. Despite his slim build, the 6-5 180 Roche, who shows little evidence of knowing the way to the weight room, also got a game high 9 rebounds and 3 steals to go with 5 rebounds and 0 steals against Pitt. Duggar Baucom is no dummy. He's already installed Roche as the number 1 guy in minutes played for The Citadel in only his first 2 college games. That's on a team with the Coaches' pre season pick for POY, Hayden Brown. Brown led the SoCon last year with over 10 rebounds per game. Right now he's only 1 rebound ahead of Roche for the lead on his own team, 15 to 14.

The Citadel will get a better test on Monday, November 15, on the road against Presbyterian. Then will be served up another sub D1 appetizer in the form of Carver College, delivered to their door. Before finally winding up as a putative pre Thanksgiving hors d'oeuvres themselves, served up at Cameron Center for the mighty Duke Blue Devils on Monday, Nov 22. They might, just might, have a chance to make a game of it. Probably not, but one can dream.

(11-12-2021 01:48 PM)swvabucsfan Wrote:  Freshman Jason Roche 'cooled off' after his 8-14 from 3, 27 point explosion in 37 minutes against Pitt, going a 'mere' 4-9 for 21 points in 28 minutes today. This is the most promising SoCon shooter since, dare I say it, Fletcher Magee. He's very different than Fletcher, though. None of the funky array of off-balance, falling out of bounds heaves that were Magee's trademark. Just non stop hustle to get open, and a silky smooth catch and shoot. Despite his slim build, the 6-5 180 Roche, who shows little evidence of knowing the way to the weight room, also got a game high 9 rebounds and 3 steals to go with 5 rebounds and 0 steals against Pitt. Duggar Baucom is no dummy. He's already installed Roche as the number 1 guy in minutes played for The Citadel in only his first 2 college games.

According to Verbal Commits, Jason Roche had only one D1 offer, which was The Citadel. Amazing how this guy went unnoticed by other D1 programs.

If I understood the announcers correctly, they said something about Covid eliminating part (or all???) of his senior year. I think that Baucom is supposed to have recruited him in a Zoom call without ever having seen him play in person.

I'd really like to hear the wisecracking Duggar tell that one himself!!!!

Duggar unveiled another promising freshman today, 6-3 180 Brock Wakefield who got 16 minutes to score 13 points on 2-5 from 3 and 3-3 from 2, and pull down 6 rebounds and hand out 2 assists, but 3 t.o.'s. On media day Duggar called him a multi-sport star, playing football and boasting a 90 mph fastball, and said he was "the best athlete all summer". He didn't get to see action against Pitt, but certainly showed promise against Morris.

Skinny 6-8 200 scrapper Stephen Clark also looks much improved - last year he averaged 5.9 ppg making 2-12 from 3 all year, and 4.6 rebounds. So far this year he averages 6.5 rebounds (6 against Pitt, 7 against Morris) and 10 ppg (6 and 14) on 2-4 from 3. Great outside shooting opens things up for guys in the middle. Hayden Brown got 19 points and 7 rebounds against Pitt, and 10 points and 7 rebounds in only 20 minutes against Morris.
https://citadelsports.com/sports/mens-ba...score/9119
https://citadelsports.com/sidearmstats/m...;team=home

Even as 'knobs' at the Citadel, life must look pretty good to basketball playing freshmen right now.

Regarding Furman - the Paladins set records for threes made and taken and assists. Crisp, unselfish passing and good shotmaking. The previous threes record was also set against NGU when Lyons set an individual NCAA record for threes made.

Slawson was gpod in his new role. Great shooting from Bothwell and Hunter. Hein hit more threes than all of last year. Lawrence has a bad back but is expected back soon. Kenney is going go redshirt with a bad knee. Richey wants to redshirt most freshmen but hasn't made a final decision.

I think Repass, the 6'10" 250lb. Floridian. would be valuable at the low post and the two Ohio recruits are athletes with size for the wings but Richey may want to wait. The current line-up is OK against most SoCon teams. We will see how it matches Louisville,and UNC, etc.

What a night in the SoCon!! Heartbreak and Hallelujahs.

The heartbreak - Bucs lose a one possession, down to the wire game at App State, 67-69, almost exactly as Kenpom predicted, but by by 2 points instead of by 1. Great effort, Bucs! Got to shake it off, and look to UT in less than 48 hours on Sunday!

The hallelujahs - Furman, with everybody that counts wearing 4 fouls apiece and absolutely no bench, goes into an overtime against Louisville that they cannot possibly win in such a precarious state... and cruises away for an 80-72 "laugher". What a game!

The heartbreak - VMI loses by a single point on the road at favored Presbyterian, 73-72, in a game that they 'coulda, shoulda' pulled out.

The hallelujahs - UNCG pulls one out 70-69 over Northern Kentucky with De'monte Buckingham grabbing the rebound of a Baz Leyte miss and putting it back in at the 21 second mark. The second time already this season that Buckingham pulls one out for the Spartans.

The heartbreak - in a close, very physical game at Clemson, Wofford loses as Clemson puts on a 7-0 run to close out what had been a one point game 76-68.

And more heartbreak, Wake Forest, up only 2 at the half, beats Western Carolina 87-75.

Any wonder that it's tough for SoCon teams to schedule good games early season?

(11-12-2021 09:51 PM)swvabucsfan Wrote:  The hallelujahs - Furman, with everybody that counts wearing 4 fouls apiece and absolutely no bench, goes into an overtime against Louisville that they cannot possibly win in such a precarious state... and cruises away for an 80-72 "laugher". What a game!

Furple shot 43% from deep - compared to 27% for the 'ville. A difference of 15 points. Annnnd...........they outrebounded them by 3. Bothwell went off (30), and apparently he was penetrating and they couldn't stop him.

(11-12-2021 09:51 PM)swvabucsfan Wrote:  The heartbreak - in a close, very physical game at Clemson, Wofford loses as Clemson puts on a 7-0 run to close out what had been a one point game 76-68.

Conversely...............the Woofers only shot 22% (from deep) - ~half Clemson's 43%. A difference of 12 points.

(11-12-2021 06:01 PM)FUATT Wrote:  Regarding Furman - the Paladins set records for threes made and taken and assists. Crisp, unselfish passing and good shotmaking. The previous threes record was also set against NGU when Lyons set an individual NCAA record for threes made.

Slawson was gpod in his new role. Great shooting from Bothwell and Hunter. Hein hit more threes than all of last year. Lawrence has a bad back but is expected back soon. Kenney is going go redshirt with a bad knee. Richey wants to redshirt most freshmen but hasn't made a final decision.

I think Repass, the 6'10" 250lb. Floridian. would be valuable at the low post and the two Ohio recruits are athletes with size for the wings but Richey may want to wait. The current line-up is OK against most SoCon teams. We will see how it matches Louisville,and UNC, etc.

Glad you're contributing a little info on Furman. Good to see you back and congratulations on a remarkable win against Louisville. I was sure that they'd never get through an overtime against big, physical, deep Louisville with Bothwell, Slawson and Hien all carrying 4 fouls!

(11-12-2021 10:02 PM)posterformerlyknownasthedoctor Wrote:  

(11-12-2021 09:51 PM)swvabucsfan Wrote:  The heartbreak - in a close, very physical game at Clemson, Wofford loses as Clemson puts on a 7-0 run to close out what had been a one point game 76-68.

Conversely...............the Woofers only shot 22% (from deep) - ~half Clemson's 43%. A difference of 12 points.

yeah, and the Bucs fall in love with the 3 and keep cranking them up while going 3-14 in the second half, while forgetting to take it inside where the Brewers can both elevate and score over people. Loved winning the turnover battle with only 7 and hanging 12 on a team known for winning the t.o. game. They are bigger and more physical than advertised - guys like Gregory and Lewis are carrying 15 to 30 pounds more than listed. Their coach comes from a Wofford program that usually puffs up size in the roster listing - but these guys are hiding how big and strong they are. No wonder they win the rebound battle.
I liked more than I disliked about the ETSU game, we looked really good for long stretches, better than I expected. That made it harder to lose this one. App State is one of the most experienced teams around, returning guys who played some 92% of last year's minutes. They are playing with a coach who's been working with them for several years, and they know the system and how to win with it.

Right now the Bucs have got to forgot this one and focus on UT-Knoxville, coming up in 36 hours.

Well, you could watch Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma and Ohio State winnow through another group of pretenders on the way to yet another playoff confrontation.

Or, much better, you could watch the best Buc football team in years square off against a seemingly weaker WCU in Cullowhee.

But if you prefer SoCon basketball, you can find out a lot more about the Mercer Bears on ESPN+ at 2:00 pm as they face off on the road against a good Winthrop team. The Bears looked pretty good battling Arkansas tough, and some folks put them in the thick of the SoCon fight. A top notch point guard in Neftali Alvarez, a versatile big in Felipe Haase, an improved Senior PF in James Glisson, two new athletic 6-6 wings in well-traveled 4* Gr-Tr Jalen Johnson and JUCO Jr Shawn Walker, and a good guard off the bench in Kamar Robertson. What's not to like?

Kenpom has it 75-71, Winthrop. But there is a lot of spread in how different people are evaluating Mercer. This will be a good early test.

Pat Good with a nice game and clutch shots for the Eagles tonight. Happy for him! If NCAA scheduling was like the NFL scheduling, we'd be playing Winthrop this year in a "revenge" game