Today we begin our Big South basketball preview with a look at the South Division.
Saah Nimley
1. Charleston Southern
Last Season: 19-13 (12-4), 1st in South, 1st round NIT
Top Losses: Mathiang Muo (6’5″ F, 11.2 points, 5.1 rebounds), Jeremy Sexton (6’2″ G, 9.9 points, 2.7 rebounds)
Top Returners: Saah Nimley (5’8″ G, 15.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists), Arlon Harper (6’1″ G, 15.3 points, 4.4 rebounds)
Outlook: The Buccaneers will be the hands-on favorite in the South division. Saah Nimley and Arlon Harper combine for one of the best backcourts in the conference. Can Barclay Radebaugh finally have Charleston Southern cutting down the nets in Myrtle Beach in March?
2. Gardner-Webb
Last Season: 21-13 (11-5), 2nd in South, 1st round CIT
Top Losses: Tashan Newsome (6’3″ G, 14.1 points, 5.1 rebounds), Kevin Hartley (6’6″ F, 9.6 points, 6.4 rebounds)
Top Returners: Dante Harper (6’6″ G/F, 12.7 points, 4.9 rebounds)
Outlook: The biggest news out of Boiling Springs this offseason, is obviously head coach Chris Holtmann bolting to become an assistant at Butler. The Runnin’ Bulldogs tabbed East Carolina assistant Tim Craft as their new coach. With Holtmann, Gardner-Webb would have been picked to contend with Charleston Southern at the top of the division. Without him, there will likely be some rebuilding.
Coastal head coach Cliff Ellis
3. Coastal Carolina
Last Season: 14-15 (9-7), 4th in South
Top Losses: Anthony Raffa (6’1″ G, 19.1 points, 3.6 rebounds), Kierre Greenwood (6’2″ PG, 12.9 points, 4.1 assists)
Top Returners: Warren Gillis (6’3″ G, 10.5 points, 4.0 rebounds)
Outlook: Hard to expect the Chanticleers to improve on their 2012-13 season after losing 2 senior guards the quality of Raffa & Greenwood. Of course, you never know what tricks are up Cliff Ellis’ sleeve.
4. Winthrop
Last Season: 14-17 (6-10), 5th in South
Top Losses: Gideon Gamble (6’7″ G/F, 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds)
Top Returners: Derrick Henry (6’3″ G, 11.4 points, 2.6 rebounds), Joab Jerome (6’5″ F, 10.7 points, 4.9 rebounds), Andre Smith (5’10” PG, 9.1 points, 2.9 rebounds)
Outlook: Under 2nd year Head Coach Pat Kelsey, the Eagles are slowly but surely improving. Look for Winthrop to take another step forward this season.
5. UNC Asheville
Last Season: 16-16 (10-6), 3rd in South
Top Losses: Jeremy Atkinson (6’4″ F, 17.8 points, 7.1 rebounds), Keith Hornsby (6’4″ G, 15.0 points, 4.2 rebounds)
Top Returners: Trent Meyer (6’3″ G, 9.7 points, 3.9 assists), D.J. Cunningham (6’10” C, 7.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.0 blocks)
Outlook: Tough offseason in Asheville. Long time head coach Eddie Biedenbach leaves to become an assistant at UNC Wilmington. Keith Hornsby, who was set to be the Bulldogs’ leader, transferred to LSU. New head coach Nick McDevitt, who was an assistant under Biedenbach, will have a tough go of it in his first season.
6. Presbyterian
Keith Hornsby transferred to LSU this offseason
Last Season: 8-24 (4-12), 6th in South
Top Losses: Khalid Mutakabbir (6’4″ G, 15.7 points, 3.1 rebounds), Joshua Clyburn (6’8″ F, 10.0 points, 5.8 rebounds)
Top Returners: Jordan Downing (6’5″ G, 12.8 points, 3.8 rebounds)
Outlook: Regardless of the talent on the roster, the Blue Hose always find a way to finish in the cellar. Head coach Gregg Nibbert will face the season without some of his top performers from a year ago including Mutakabbir and Clyburn.
With 2 new head coaches and plenty of quality losses, there are a lot of question marks in the heading into the season in the South Division. The teams from 2-5 are pretty much interchangeable.
Be on the lookout for several other previews over the next several weeks as we countdown to tipoff November 8th when the Flames take on Randolph College.
