- Ky McKeon

Preseason Predictions

Player of the Year: Phlandrous Fleming, Sr., Charleston Southern
Coach of the Year: Pat Kelsey, Winthrop
Newcomer of the Year: Khavon Moore, R So., USC Upstate
Freshman of the Year: D’Maurian Williams, Fr., Gardner-Webb

Tier 1

1. Winthrop

Key Returners: DJ Burns Jr., Chandler Vaudrin, Michael Anumba, Chase Claxton, Kyle Zunic, Russell Jones Jr., Charles Falden, Jamal King, Josh Corbin
Key Losses: Hunter Hale, Josh Ferguson
Key Newcomers: Adonis Arms (DII), Toneari Lane, Kelton Talford

Lineup:

Outlook: Winthrop was one of the few teams to officially punch their ticket to the Big Dance that never happened. The Eagles built on their dominant Big South regular season performance by capturing the conference tournament title, likely setting them up for a 15-seed had the event actually taken place. This team was awesome last year, which was a bit of a surprise considering the loss of three starters and the additions of a bevy of unproven players. Pat Kelsey, as he’s done time and time again, proved he was one of the top mid-major coaches in the country by leading his Eagles to their fourth top three Big South finish in the last five seasons.

Here’s a scary truth: Winthrop will be even better in 2020-21. The Eagles return two All-Conference players and lose just two key pieces from their 24-10 (15-3) squad, making them the HEAVY favorites in the Big South heading into the year.

Winthrop was the best team in the league on both ends of floor last season. Offensively, Kelsey continued playing his uptempo style, leading the Big South in average possession length. The Eagles scored by shooting threes, running in transition, and owning the offensive glass. The big man triumvirate of Josh Ferguson, DJ Burns, and Chase Claxton carried Winthrop to the best OR% in the Big South and 18th best in the country, blowing away the program’s previous high under Kelsey of 164th. Defensively, Winthrop forced turnovers, shut down the perimeter, and once again dominated the glass. The Eagles ranked 10th nationally in denying shot attempts near the rim, which combined with their focus on taking away the three, made them a hard team to score on. With similar personnel in 2020-21 the Eagles promise to perform similarly on both ends of the floor this season.

DJ Burns’s arrival to Rock Hill immediately took this team to another level. Burns was a former top 100ish 4-star recruit who committed to Tennessee coming out of HS. With that type of pedigree Winthrop had high expectations for the 6’9” big man, but he outperformed those by capturing the league’s Freshman of the Year award and earning 2nd Team All-Big South honors. Burns led the conference in usage and percentage of team shots taken when on the floor – Winthrop played through him on the block, an area where he was nearly impossible to stop.

Burns’s immense size allows him to get position on any Big South (and most Power 6) defenders, and he should once again be one of the most dominant players in the league this season. Conditioning and staying out of foul trouble could make Burns’s impact even greater this year, as the big man managed to play just a shade under 20 MPG in 2019-20.

A player who made arguably as significant an impact as Burns last season, but one who definitely flew more under the radar, is 6’7” point guard Chandler Vaudrin. Vaudrin was also a 2nd Team All-Big South honoree last year, ranking 2nd in the league in assist rate and FT rate. As he showed at Walsh University (DII) and in a January contest against Longwood, Vaudrin is a nightly triple-double threat – he’s one of those guys that just plays solidly; a guy who is a LOCK to dominate old man Y leagues for decades to come.

Winthrop is incredibly deep at the guard and wing positions this season. Junior Michael Anumba, seniors Kyle Zunic and Charles Falden, sophomores Russell Jones Jr. and Josh Corbin, and DII transfer Adonis Arms all have legit shots at starter minutes and major rotational roles. Anumba is a highly efficient wing who shot 44.1% from deep last year, and he’s a valuable perimeter defender on the other end due to his versatility. Zunic is a talented combo guard out of Australia who will continue to provide steady shooting and ball handling when called upon. Falden is a shooting wing who has connected on 42.8% of his 201 career 3PA. Jones is a backup PG who should be a starter and leader for this program next season – he’s lightning-quick and can change directions on a dime. Corbin had his 2019-20 season cut short by injury, but he’s another capable shooter when healthy.

Pat Kelsey said Adonis Arms (excellent name) might be Winthrop’s most talented player in an interview with Mike Ashley of Blue Ribbon. Watching tape on him confirms this idea. Arms is a long, athletic guard who dunks on people and cashes threes at a high rate. He averaged 20.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 3.3 APG at Northwest Nazarene two seasons ago. Freshman wing Toneari Lane, a 3-star recruit out of Georgia, will be an impact player for this program in the near future but carving out playing time this year in the crowded backcourt will be a tall task.

Up front next to Burns look for Chase Claxton, brother of former UGA baller Nic Claxton, to occupy the starting 4-spot. Claxton led the country in offensive rating last year thanks to a ridiculous 81.2% FG% (87% of his total shots came near the rim), and gets to the line with a fervor (where he unfortunately shot just 56.7% last year). He’ll be one of Winthrop’s most important defenders and glass cleaners in 2020-21. Sophomore Jamal King, senior Tom Pupavac, and freshman Kelton Talford round out the frontcourt rotation. King is the only one likely to see significant minutes; he has very good size at 6’5” 230 lbs. and can stretch the floor on offense.

Bottom Line: Winthrop should dominate the Big South this season – like only lose 0, 1, or 2 games type of dominate. Pat Kelsey has himself an experienced roster packed to the brim with talent; the Eagles should be one of the better mid-majors in all of college basketball in 2020-21.

Tier 2

2. UNC Asheville

Key Returners: Devon Baker, LJ Thorpe, Lavar Batts Jr., Tajion Jones, Coty Jude, Trent Stephney, Jamon Battle
Key Losses: Jeremy Peck, Jax Levitch
Key Newcomers: Evan Clayborne (NC Central), Silas Mason, BJ Marable, Raquan Brown (New Orleans)***

***Brown is awaiting a waiver to become immediately eligible

Lineup:

Outlook: How many times in college basketball history has a team returned all five starters from a squad that started only one lineup all season long? How many of those teams’ five returning starters all averaged double figures in scoring? I don’t know the answer to either of those questions, but I do know it’s 1) extremely rare and 2) the case at UNC Asheville this season. This is what Mike Morrell has been building towards during his young tenure at the program. He took over a GUTTED team in 2018 after Nick McDevitt left for Middle Tennessee – the Bulldogs were the youngest team in the country that season and it showed through when they sputtered to a 4-27 (2-14) record. Last year was a marked improvement; the Bulldogs jumped 45 spots in KenPom and finished with a more respectable 15-16 (8-10) record. This season expectations are high for the now-experienced Bulldogs – Morrell will start five juniors, all of whom can score the basketball.

Now, before we all get too excited on Asheville’s potential this season, let’s throw a little cold water on the fire. Yes, this team returns all five starters from last year. Yes, all of those players score over 10.0 PPG. However, this was still a bad basketball team in 2019-20. UNCA ranked 302nd in KenPom’s overall metrics and finished just 8-10 in the worst iteration of the Big South in recent memory. To boot, there may not have been a worse interior defensive squad in the country last season – the Bulldogs ranked 350th in eFG% and allowed the 2nd highest rate of attempts near the rim. Morrell starts four guards and a forward who has no interest in banging in the paint – if UNCA doesn’t turn a team over early in the shot clock, that team is usually going to score. So while the Bulldogs may be one of the more exciting mid-major teams to watch on offense, that doesn’t mean we should expect them to compete in the same stratosphere as Winthrop.

Indeed offense is going to be what wins UNCA ball games this year. Every player in the starting five can shoot the three and all four guards can score off the bounce. Expect a ball screen-heavy attack once again in the halfcourt and a prioritization of running in transition, particularly off steals.

Defensively, Morrell’s goal is to turn teams over, something Asheville did at the best rate in the Big South and 25th best rate in the country last season. The Bulldogs extend pressure the length of the floor and look to trap once the ball crosses the timeline.

This gamble can result in a lot of buckets going the opposite way, but it’s also susceptible to being burned often by good ball handlers and smart-passing teams. Once the ball crossed the three-point arc last season, resistance was essentially nada.

Morrell clearly had size on his mind when recruiting this offseason. He added NC Central transfer Evan Clayborne to sure-up the frontline immediately and freshmen Silas Mason and BJ Marable, two high-upside forwards. Clayborne may not start for the Bulldogs, but he will be an integral part of their rotation – he adds muscle to the frontcourt and will be the team’s lone true rim runner this season. Mason is an athletic, lanky 3-star wing out of North Carolina. He could see time right away in 2020-21 but will absolutely be a factor for this program in the long-term.  Marable is a well-regarded recruit out of Tennessee; he adds even more size and athleticism to the frontline.

UNCA’s star-studded four guard lineup features Devon Baker, LJ Thorpe, Lavar Batts Jr., and Tajion Jones. Baker is the returning leading scorer and a 2nd Team All-Big South honoree last season. Morrell moved Baker off the ball last year presumably to better showcase his scoring ability, allowing Baker to work off the catch and in spot-up situations. Baker will remain a high usage scorer in the Asheville attack – he especially excels off ball screens where he scored 1.007 PPP last year (94th percentile nationally, per Synergy) and in isolation where he’s able to cook just about anyone off the bounce.

Thorpe was an Honorable Mention All-Big South member last season and the 5th highest used player in the league. He does a bit of everything for the Bulldogs including scoring, rebounding, and dishing out assists. Thorpe plays the de facto 4 in Morrell’s lineups due to his size and strength and was the only Bulldog to consistently post-up last season. Like several others on the roster Thorpe vastly improved his outside shooting last year, taking a dreadful 27% clip from his freshman season to a robust 39% in 2019-20.

Batts handled the lion’s share of point guard duties last season and should again in 2020-21. He’s a gifted slasher on offense and one of the league’s best pilferers, ranking 2nd in the Big South in steal rate last season. Jones was the team leader in minutes last season and functions as a long-ball gunner on offense. He led the Big South in 3P% last year shooting a scorching 46.5% from deep.

Coty Jude is the 5th returning starter and lone forward of the bunch. He doesn’t really rebound or block shots, but he does shoot the crap out of the ball. On 329 career attempts Jude is a sizzling 38.9% from three.

Returners Trent Stephney and Jamon Battle will be two of the first players off the bench this season. Stephney is a quick ball handler and a sticky defender in search of a more efficient season in his second year in Asheville. Battle will serve as wing and forward depth; he’s a pretty good shot blocker and rebounder despite standing just 6’5”.  

Bottom Line: It’s easy to see all the returners on UNCA’s roster page and get carried away. This team will 100% be better than last season and perhaps even finish as high as 2nd in the Big South. However, paint defense is still going to be a major issue for this squad and could hold them back from realizing their substantial potential.

3. Gardner-Webb

Key Returners: Jaheam Cornwall, Ludovic Dufeal, Kareem Reid, Lance Terry
Key Losses: Jose Perez, Nate Johnson, Eric Jamison, Christian Turner, Justin Jenkins
Key Newcomers: Jacob Falko (JUCO), Christian Alexander (JUCO), D’Maurian Williams, Anthony Selden (Redshirt), Mick Lynott (Redshirt), Sammy Itodo (Redshirt), Tyrone Simios-Primerano, Jordan Sears, Jamaine Mann

Lineup:

Outlook: Tim Craft is nothing if not consistent. In his seven-season tenure at the helm of Gardner-Webb Craft has never finished worse than 9-9 nor better than 11-7 in the Big South. Players come and go, opponents ebb and flow, but Tim Craft stays the course. GWU was all over the place in 2019-20, acting like a legit Big South contender one night and a conference bottom feeder the next. In the non-con slate GWU took down Northern Colorado on a neutral and nearly upended South Carolina on the road… then they lost at Kennesaw State, one of the worst teams in the country, by 24. Similarly, in conference play GWU nearly swept title winners Radford and Winthrop… but they were also swept by Presbyterian. The Runnin’ Bulldogs lost their two best players in Jose Perez and Nate Johnson to the Big East this offseason, but don’t even think about betting against Craft to finish below .500 in Big South play.

Only four players who saw the floor last season return, two of which were regular starters and one of which was a top-five freshman in the conference in 2019-20. Point guard Jaheam Cornwall will ascend to undisputed alpha status in his senior season fresh off an Honorable Mention All-Big South nod. Cornwall vastly improved from his sophomore season, buckling down on past turnover woes and shooting a scorching 45.4% from outside the arc. He’ll be GWU’s primary ball handler and likely leading scorer this season and should be a lock to grace the All-Conference squad at year end.

Frontcourt returners Ludovic Dufeal and Kareem Reid will team up to form arguably the most intimidating defensive frontline in the Big South. Dufeal is a skinny, mobile big who ranked 1st in the league in block rate (16th nationally) and 2nd in OR%. The talented junior is excellent rolling off ball screens and even extended his game past the three-point line last season. Reid was a Big South All-Freshman honoree last season, and all signs point to him breaking out in a big way in 2020-21. Like Dufeal, Reid is an excellent shot blocker and rebounder – he’s a long, strong post more married to the lane offensively than Dufeal. It’s unclear if Craft will actually play the pair together – per Hoop Lens he only did so on 87 possessions last season and were results were… not great. The Dogs were awful on both ends of the floor when Reid and Dufeal ran together, though the sample size was quite small. Dufeal is mobile enough to guard stretch forwards in the Big South, so the pairing could work from that perspective; and, one would think GWU would simply own the glass and paint on both ends of the court.

Lance Terry is GWU’s fourth key returner, a former 3-star recruit who missed the second half of last year due to a foot injury. Terry will compete for a starting spot with a slew of talented newcomers. JUCO transfer Jacob Falko and freshman D’Maurian Williams appear to be in line for starting gigs at some point this year. Falko was an NJCAA DII 1st Team All-American and a 43% three-point shooter last season – he’s a sneaky athlete and can run the point in a pinch. Williams hails from Putnam Science Academy, the prep school that gave GWU Reid, Cornwall, and Perez. Williams is an aggressive, long wing who can handle the ball – he ranked 2nd on Putnam in scoring, a team that featured a ridiculous 12 DI players.

Freshmen point guards Mick Lynott and Jordan Sears could also garner serious consideration for major minutes. Lynott redshirted last year with injury; he’s a strong and athletic guard with a nice-looking jumper. Sears appears to be the point guard of the future at GWU; he’s tough and can stop on a dime in traffic.

Battling for minutes on the wing will be freshmen Jamaine Mann, Anthony Selden, and Tyrone Simios-Primerano. Mann is a multi-positional 3-star recruit who already has the requisite size and strength to compete at the DI level. His ability to shoot and mix it up in the paint will give the Bulldogs a very versatile presence on the floor. Selden is Wayne Selden’s kid brother, a prototypical wing at 6’6” who will add even more athleticism and versatility to the lineup. Simios-Primerano, an Australian import, likely doesn’t see much action in his first season in Boiling Springs.

Flanking Reid and Dufeal in the frontcourt will be JUCO transfer Christian Alexander and redshirt freshman Sammy Itodo. Alexander likely sees significant minutes with his physicality and rebounding chops. Itodo will be yet another prominent shot-blocker at Craft’s disposal – the Nigerian native has a ridiculous 7’3” wingspan despite standing “just” 6’8”.

GWU ranked in the top four on both offense and defense in the Big South last season. Offensively this should remain a perimeter-oriented team that relies on shooting to score the majority of its buckets. However, given the departure of Perez and Johnson, among others, expect to see the offense go through the likes of Dufeal and Reid a little more this season. Defensively this team should be better than ever. Nobody is scoring in the paint with Craft’s twin towers lurking – last season GWU led the Big South in block rate, eFG% allowed, and 2P% allowed; the Dogs also ranked 30th nationally in FGA% allowed near the rim, per Hoop-Math.

Bottom Line: Jose Perez’s departure should not be a concern. He was clearly a dysfunctional locker room presence and the Dogs went 7-3 down the stretch after he left the team. The lack of returners is a bit of a concern, but Cornwall shores up the most important position on the floor and Craft’s big man duo is among the best in the league. Craft has recruited admirably during his time at Gardner-Webb and this year’s class is no different – the Dogs are talented and deep and more than capable of competing for a top three Big South finish.

4. Campbell

Key Returners: Cedric Henderson Jr., Jordan Whitfield, Joshua Lusane, Jesus Carralero, Milos Stajcic, Messiah Thompson, Austin McCullough, Ricky Clemons
Key Losses: Ja’Cor Nelson, Cory Gensler, Trey Spencer, LaDarius Knight
Key Newcomers: Dray Burton, PJ Carter, Gediminas Mokseckas, Laurynas Vaistaras, Duane Moss (Chattanooga)

Lineup:

Outlook: We expected life to be hard for the Fighting Camels after the legendary Chris Clemons said his farewells, but Campbell wasn’t nearly as bad as its 6-12 Big South record suggested. Per KenPom, Campbell was actually the 4th best team in the league, and road wins against Ohio and Coastal Carolina en route to a 9-3 non-con performance seems to back up that sentiment. The Camels were victims of a little bad luck during conference play and were just 1-4 in BSC games decided by five points or less. This season will be interesting – Campbell loses three regular starters to graduation, but Kevin McGeehan started 11 different players throughout the 2019-20 campaign. He’ll have an experienced crop of players returning to go along with a solid incoming class.

Campbell’s adjusted offensive efficiency ranking dropped from 101st at the end of Clemons’s senior year to a lowly 275th last season. Too many turnovers, an inability to get to the free throw line, and a lack of rebounding presence tanked what was otherwise a very good shooting squad. Campbell was very reliant on the three-point line last year ranking 4th in the league in 3PA rate and 2nd in 3P%. Also, in true McGeehan fashion, ball movement reigned supreme over the offense – McGeehan’s Camels always rank among the nation’s best in assist rate; drive-and-kick and hitting the roll man off ball screens are featured heavily in his motion attack.

I’d bet several real dollars Campbell’s offense improves in 2020-21 – perhaps dramatically so. Cory Gensler was the only truly efficient offensive player the Camels lost this offseason, and losing an inefficient ball dominant lead guard in Ja’Cor Nelson is a blessing in disguise. High-scoring wings Cedric Henderson Jr. and Jordan Whitfield will be key cogs in the Camel attack this season. Henderson especially should see a major uptick in usage – he was very efficient last season after coming over from JUCO, knocking down 43.7% of his 3PA and ranking 15th in the country in TS%.

Henderson is also arguably Campbell’s best perimeter defender; he racks up steals and blocks from the wing position and can guard multiple spots when called upon. Whitfield can run some point, but he’s better off the ball where he can take advantage of his gorgeous outside stroke. He ranked 3rd in the Big South in 3P% (45.6%) last season and 1st in FT%. Gensler and Nelson’s departures should result in a bigger role for him offensively.

McGeehan has some question marks at the point guard spot, but sophomore Messiah Thompson, a 5’8” dynamo, proved he could protect the rock in spot minutes last season. Thompson is a capable table setter and adds even more shooting to the lineup when on the floor. If he’s not the answer at point, freshman Dray Burton could be. Burton is an excellent shooter and scorer, evidenced by his 32.1 PPG average in high school.

Off-ball minutes behind Whitfield and Henderson will be occupied by senior Austin McCullough and a combination of junior Ricky Clemons (no relation to Chris – well his Dad’s name is Chris, but he’s not related to “THE” Chris) and freshmen PJ Carter and Gediminas Mokseckas. McCullough began his career at Cal and shot a sizzling 46.2% from behind the arc in Big South play last year. He’ll be the first off the bench in the backcourt and could even see some starts this season. Clemons is a former walk-on who can provide steady minutes when needed. Carter is a skinny wing with a good handle, but he still seems a bit raw for immediate game action. Mokseckas is a skilled wing out of Lithuania who does seem ready for the DI level.  

Campbell’s returning frontcourt is one of the main reasons I’m pretty excited about this team. McGeehan has at his disposal two rising sophomores in Joshua Lusane and Jesus Carralero that are set to take MAJOR jumps this season. Lusane took over starting duties from Milos Stajcic at the end of the year and averaged 7.0 PPG / 7.6 RPG / 4.1 APG / 1.6 BPG over Campbell’s final seven contests. He can stretch the floor from the 5-spot, pull down boards at a high level, and protect the rim. Perhaps the most impressive stat of Lusane’s freshman season, though, was that he led the Camels in assist rate.

McGeehan had endless praise for Carralero in Mike Ashley’s Blue Ribbon write-up. The 6’8” Spaniard is a versatile player who runs the floor, shoots from the outside, and even handles the ball at the top of the key. It wouldn’t shock me to see Carralero’s name on an All-Conference squad at season’s end.

Stajcic will likely remain in his off-the-bench role behind Lusane and Carralero. He brings value as a floor spacer on offense, but he isn’t in the same stratosphere as the pair of sophomores on the defensive end. Chattanooga transfer Duane Moss has potential to assume a key role off the pine, but he’s managed to play only nine games during his collegiate career due to injuries. Lithuanian freshman forward Laurynas Vaistaras has a college-ready frame and brings with him good experience at the international level.

Defensively expect the Camels to be similar to their 2019-20 selves. Campbell ranked 5th in the Big South in Adj. DE, allowing the lowest 3PA rate and assist rate in the league. McGeehan will continue to implement his full-court pressure scheme, an extended man that either picks up at the baseline or a three-quarter that looks to trap at half-court. Nelson and Gensler were two of Campbell’s stickiest perimeter defenders, so their absence hurts, but increased playing time and experience for Lusane and Carralero should help mitigate that and bolster a formerly weaker frontcourt.

Bottom Line: Campbell has a shot to surprise people this season. McGeehan has himself a reliable scoring leader in Henderson, a team full of knock-down perimeter shooters, and two forwards ready to make huge sophomore leaps.

5. Charleston Southern

Key Returners: Phlandrous Fleming Jr., Ty Jones, Travis Anderson, Deyontae Buskey, Sadarius Bowser, Malik Battle, Sean Price, Terence Porter Jr.
Key Losses: Dontrell Shuler, Duncan LeXander, Nate Louis
Key Newcomers: Emorie Knox, Ja’Quavian Florence, Melvin Edwards Jr.

Lineup:

Outlook: Chuck South was one of the more inconsistent teams in the country last season. The Bucs were a massive disappointment from an analytical standpoint, finishing 318th overall in KenPom after beginning the year 210th. Injuries and other personnel issues certainly played a factor in this underachievement, but it was an underachievement, nonetheless. In the non-conference portion of the schedule CSU lost games by 44, 29, 48, and 35 points but also upset Missouri on the road. In Big South play CSU took Radford to the wire on the road and upended GWU on their home floor but also got swept by Longwood and beat by Presbyterian. CSU’s overall KenPom finish was the second worst of Barclay Radebaugh’s 15-year tenure. With a substantial amount of his minutes returning, including this season’s presumed Big South Player of the Year, CSU hopes to bounce back in a major way.

This preview could really just be 1,000 words on Phlandrous Fleming Jr., CSU’s do-everything wing and the (hardly) arguable best player in the league. Fleming was the BSC’s DPOY last year and earned 1st Team All-Conference honors after leading the league in rebounding and ranking 1st in DR%, 3rd in usage, 5th in assist rate, and 7th in block rate.

In Lebron-esque fashion, Fleming led the Bucs in scoring, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks – he oftentimes brought the ball up the floor and initiated offense, and also posted on the block whenever he felt like it.  

The one area of Fleming’s game that doesn’t seem to be blossoming is his outside shooting. From freshman to junior year Fleming’s 3P% has decreased from 37.4% to 30.3% to 25.9% last season – that needs to improve this season for CSU to really make a run up the Big South standings. Fleming is the rare mid-major star that has stayed at his original school all four years; he’ll be a force to be reckoned with in 2020-21.

Fleming dictates what CSU does on offense. Radebaugh runs a pick-n-roll heavy scheme, and his team last year was extremely jump-shot reliant. Per Hoop-Math CSU ranked 57th in percentage of team shots taken from three, 43rd from two-point jumpers, and 350th from near the rim. The Bucs lived and died by jump-shooting last season. Fleming has two capable shooters flanking him in the backcourt this season in Travis Anderson and Deontaye Buskey. Anderson was a Big South All-Freshman Team honoree and a 38.1% three-point shooter as a redshirt freshman. He’ll continue to play mostly off the ball and function as a deadly spot-up threat. Buskey is the “point guard” even though Fleming has the ball in his hands most of the time. He’s improved his efficiency in each of his three collegiate seasons and is a reliable secondary scorer for CSU. Defensively, Buskey is a menace on the ball with his length, ranking 7th in the Big South in steal rate last year.

Look for Ty Jones and Sadarius Bowser to man the starting forward spots this season after Duncan LeXander’s later offseason transfer. Jones is a BEEFY 6’6” 250-pound forward who is the all-time leader in FT% in CSU history (that’s wild for a big man). Jones started showing off his range last season, canning 14/33 of his 3PA in 2019-20 – his versatility on the offensive end allows him to take advantage of mismatches when the opposing team is laser-focused on Fleming. Curiously Jones isn’t a great rebounder for somebody his size, but he is a fantastic roll-man off ball screens. Bowser will need to be a rim protector for the Bucs this season – he didn’t show much interior resistance in limited minutes as a sophomore, but he has the length and size to be a factor on this end in 2020-21.

Radebaugh’s four returning role players include Malik Battle, Sean Price, Terence Porter Jr., and Jamir Moore. Battle shot well in sparse playing time last year and will provide depth in the backcourt this season. Price (back) and Porter (MCL tear) both had their seasons cut short by injury last year – Price can run point off the pine while Porter brings skill and length to the frontcourt. Moore is a combo forward who missed all of last season due to injury.

Three freshmen join the fold this season, all of whom promise to be impactful players at some point during their stay at CSU. Emorie Knox is a high-level athlete at the point guard position and a surefire future starter. Ja’Quavian Florence brings size to the perimeter and promises to contribute on both ends of the floor down the road. Melvin Edwards Jr. could occupy frontcourt minutes immediately with his length, athleticism, and smooth jumper.

Bottom Line: There’s no excuse for CSU this season. Radebaugh has the best player in the Big South on his roster and SEVEN other players returning with starting experience. This should be one of his deeper teams at the helm of CSU and also one of his most experienced.

6. Radford

Key Returners: Lewis Djonkam, Chyree Walker, Josiah Jeffers, Quinton Morton-Robertson
Key Losses: Carlik Jones, Travis Fields, Devine Eke, Devonnte Holland, Donald Hicks, Cle’von Greene, Devin Hutchinson, Leroy Butts
Key Newcomers: Dante Moses (JUCO), Jamal Burke (JUCO), Dravon Mangum (Charlotte), Fah’Mir Ali, Keishon Porter, Xavier Lipscomb, Joshua Walker, Bryan Hart (DII), Jordan Hemphill (DII)

Lineup:

Outlook: If you’ve followed us closely over the last couple years, you’ve heard us talk about the “program bump”, a concept that boils down to no matter how many players some programs or coaches lose they will still be pretty good the following year. Mike Jones will put that theory to the test in 2020-21. On one hand you have a coach in Jones who has enjoyed consistent success at Radford – the Highlanders are a perennial Big South contender and consistently within the nation’s top 200-250 teams – on the other you have a 2020-21 version of Radford that loses all five starters from its BSC championship squad including POY Carlik Jones.

Radford will be completely reliant on unproven former role players and newcomers, but that doesn’t mean the Highlanders are destined to finish near the bottom of the league. Jones has recruited well over the years – both from the HS ranks and the transfer wire – so he should have the requisite talent to still compete in the Big South. Perhaps the most intriguing young talent on Jones’s squad this season is 5’8” point guard Quinton Morton-Robertson, a local high school legend who will finally get his chance to shine outside of Carlik Jones and Travis Fields’s shadows. QMR has “breakout city” written all over him – he’s a very quick lead guard with sticky hands defensively and a smooth outside shot.

Offense is going to look different in Radford this season without Carlik Jones – he ranked in the top 35 in the country in usage and was one of the best pure scorers in college basketball. Mike Jones has shown a knack for playing to his personnel over the years rather than forcing players to fit a system; while this year’s squad may not be as potent offensively as the past two Radford iterations, it should still be a force to be reckoned with within the conference – shooting and ball movement, in particular, likely become higher priorities.

On the other side of the ball is where the Highlanders can really make some strides. This will be a better defensive team than last season. Radford ranked 4th in the Big South in adjusted defensive efficiency but 272nd overall, Jones’s worst mark since 2014. Two highly versatile wings in Chyree Walker and Davon Mangum will play large roles in Radford’s improvement defensively. Both players can defend multiple spots on the floor, and both are long, athletic forwards. Walker is more of a slasher offensively, as well as a useful glass crasher, while Mangum, a Charlotte transfer, is more of a floor stretcher.

Starting 2-guard duties will likely go to returning junior Josiah Jeffers or JUCO transfer Dante Moses. Jeffers didn’t see many reps last season, but he did shoot 35.3% from deep, the third-best mark on the team. Moses is a top 125 JUCO prospect, a combo guard who projects as an impactful two-way player who can handle the ball and disrupt opposing teams on the other end with his athleticism.

A slew of newcomers will round out the backcourt / wing rotation. Freshmen Fah’Mir Ali, Keishon Porter, and Xavier Lipscomb could all play crucial roles in their first season in Radford. Ali is a compact PG who plays in control and low to the ground; he’ll add steady ball handling and shooting behind QMR. Porter is an extremely athletic and extremely long wing – he has a college ready body and a gross-looking side-spin jump shot that somehow goes in. Lipscomb, a player with two DI college names, is a broad-shouldered lead guard sure to see the floor in some capacity this season. DII transfers Bryan Hart, a point guard who can set the table and shoot from the outside, and Jordan Hemphill, a versatile wing, will add depth to Jones’s backcourt.

Former VCU Ram Lewis Djonkam is a sure bet to start at center all season after starting five games as a sophomore last year. Djonkam is a viable paint defender and offensive rebounder, but his finishing on the block could use some work. JUCO transfer Jamal Burke figures to be Djonkam’s primary backup and minutes contender – he’ll also be a defensive and rebounding boost with his length. Freshman Joshua Walker will assume a deeper role down the pine in his first season.

Bottom Line: Radford will take a step back this season, but this is still a team capable of making noise in the Big South. Mike Jones is a proven coach who has plenty of burgeoning (if unproven) talent at his disposal with which to remain competitive in the middle-to-upper half of the conference standings.

7. USC Upstate

Key Returners: Everette Hammond, Tommy Bruner, Bryson Mozone, Nevin Zink, Dalvin White, Brandon Martin, Cartier Jernigan, Josh Aldrich, Khydarius Smith, Mysta Goodloe, Jatayveous Watson
Key Losses: Thomas Booker
Key Newcomers: Khavon Moore (Clemson), Quentin Hodge

Lineup:

Outlook: USC Upstate might have finished near the bottom of the country in KenPom last year, but the Spartans were much improved from an ugly 2018-19 season. Dave Dickerson led his squad to a six-win Big South improvement and now looks to build on that start in his third season at the helm. Dickerson coached Tulane for five seasons before joining Thad Matta’s staff at Ohio State for eight more – he’s an experienced coach who promises to lift this program back to conference competitiveness.

Upstate returns basically everyone from the 5th youngest team in the country a season ago. The Spartans relied heavily on freshmen and sophomores last year and that oftentimes resulted in inefficiencies on both ends of the floor. Upstate ranked 9th in the Big South in adjusted offensive efficiency and 8th in adjusted defensive efficiency, failing to build consistencies throughout conference play. On offense, Dickerson runs a ball screen-heavy attack that features his talented guard playmakers. His team attacks the rim in an effort to get easy looks near the cup or earn trips to the free throw line – shooting was a struggle all season long in 2019-20. Defensively, Upstate was mainly hurt on the interior, both on the glass and stopping penetration. The Spartans did a pretty good job of deterring outside shooters in Big South play, but they were a sieve in the paint. Increased experience and the addition of two promising newcomers should help Upstate improve on both ends of the floor.

Dickerson’s newcomers, Khavon Moore and Quentin Hodge, should both immediately assume large roles in the lineup. Moore was a top 50 recruit coming out of high school and began his collegiate career at Texas Tech prior to transferring to Clemson. With the Tigers, Moore’s career never quite got off the ground, but he did start four games and showed flashes of his burgeoning potential.

At Upstate Moore could be one of the best players in the Big South this season. He is a very versatile player who can have a profound impact on both ends. Hodge is a talented combo guard and the only freshman on the Dickerson’s roster. He’s a high-level scorer and was a well-regarded HS recruit in the state of South Carolina.

Upstate should have one of the better backcourts in the league, led by the talented triumvirate of Everette Hammond, Tommy Bruner, and Dalvin White. Hammond was a minutes workhorse last season, a high-usage wing who got to the free throw line at a high rate and provided consistent scoring for the Spartans on a nightly basis. Hammond’s shooting numbers are due for some positive correction this season, as he ranked 2nd in the Big South in FT% last year but made only 29.1% of his three-pointers. In 2018-19 Hammond connected on 36.8% of his three-ball tries. Bruner earned Big South All-Freshman honors after setting the school’s DI freshman scoring record. He’s a combo guard who also promises to improve his outside shooting clip.

White is perhaps overlooked due to scoring just 6.5 PPG last season, but rest assured he’s one of Upstate’s most important players in 2020-21. He’s one of the main reasons the Spartans ranked highly in ball security, ranking 9th in the league in assist rate and 21st in TO rate. White also ranked 2nd in the Big South in 3P% in conference play, knocking down 46.2% of his 52 3PA last season.

Bryson Mozone, Cartier Jernigan, and Mysta Goodloe will all be in the mix for backcourt minutes along with the aforementioned Hodge. Mozone was the team’s best outside shooter last year, the only Spartan to shoot over 34% from deep across the entire season. Jernigan is White’s primary backup, though Bruner is perfectly capable of running the offense in his stead. The 6’1” Jernigan needs to improve his turnover issues and shooting numbers from a tough freshman season. Likewise, fellow sophomore Goodloe was incredibly inefficient as a rookie in 2019-20. He’s a unique player for the Spartans, as he’s one of the team’s better rebounders despite standing 6’4” and being listed as a guard.

Nevin Zink likely starts at center this season alongside Moore in the frontcourt. Zink is a decent rebounder and decent shot blocker, but a very good finisher in the paint. Juniors Brandon Martin and Josh Aldrich and sophomores Khydarius Smith and Jatayveous Watson round out a crowded frontcourt rotation. Aldrich has a ton of defensive potential with his length and mobility; Watson is probably the team’s best shot-blocker.

Bottom Line: USC Upstate should improve this season, the question will be to what degree. KenPom has the Spartans taking nearly a 100-spot jump in the national rankings, which is absolutely possible if the young talent matures quickly and Khavon Moore lives up to his impressive pedigree. Dickerson appears to be the right man for the job in Spartanburg – he has a good shot to lead his squad to its first upper-half conference finish in its young Big South history.

Tier 3

8. High Point

Key Returners: John-Michael Wright, Eric Coleman Jr., Rob Peterson III, Caden Sanchez, Bryant Randleman, Denny Slay II, Emmanuel Izunabor
Key Losses: Jamal Wright, Curtis Holland III, Cliff Thomas  
Key Newcomers: Lydell Elmore (DII), Bryson Childress, Jaden House, Zack Austin, Alex Holt, Ahmil Flowers

Lineup:

Outlook: Tubby Smith’s High Point Panthers were one of the youngest teams in the country last season, a key reason he found his program at the bottom of the Big South standings when all was said and done. After a strong first season at HPU, Tubby’s Panthers tanked in the national rankings finishing a woeful 341st per the almighty KenPom. This season promises to be better – High Point returns all five starters (exclusive of Curtis Holland) and are led by one of the best guards in the Big South.

HPU’s offense was very inefficient last season; the Panthers ranked dead last in the Big South in eFG%, forcing them to rely heavily on the offensive glass and the free throw line to score points. Tubby’s teams throughout his entire coaching career have been dominant on the offensive glass, so this trend likely continues in 2020-21 – he’ll have a cadre of capable big men at his disposal to throw at the boards. Shooting improvement might come with age – four key players are now sophomores this season, and two more enter their junior year. Experience matters in college basketball, especially at the mid-to-low major level – a more poised Panther squad should result in a better offensive Panther squad.

High Point was also a disaster on the defensive end. Unlike at his previous stops, Tubby doesn’t have the luxury of having top-tier athletic talent at his disposal, so his ball-line defensive principles don’t work quite as well as they did at higher levels. Ball-line defense is similar to the pack-line (though not quite as “lax” on the perimeter) in that it’s designed to take away layups and force contested perimeter shots. HPU certainly allowed plenty of perimeter shots last year, the problem is opposing teams hit those shots at a very high clip (38.7% in conference play, the highest among all Big South squads). That stat is likely due for some regression – Tubby’s Panthers were the Big South’s BEST defensive team in 2018-19, so we should expect a more competent defensive unit in 2020-21.

Offense will be paced by stud sophomore guard John-Michael Wright, an Honorable Mention All-Big South and All-Freshman Team member last season. Wright will play both on and off the ball and rarely leave the court; he’s an extremely talented player, a gifted scorer, and good outside shooter. Look for him to blossom in his second season.

Sophomore guard Bryant Randleman and senior guard Denny Slay II will each get cracks at the point position this season. Randleman was pretty inefficient offensively his FR year, but he did rank 6th in the Big South in steal rate on the other end. Slay II will be counted on to provide veteran leadership and shooting. He knocked down 37.5% of his three-ball tries last season.

Don’t be surprised to see one of Tubby’s freshmen crack the HPU backcourt rotation this year. Ahmil Flowers has “future Big South star” written all over him and will almost assuredly see starting opportunities in his first collegiate season. He’s very athletic and can score in a multitude of ways. Jaden House will be another high-scoring athletic option Tubby can turn to off the pine, as will 5’8” PG Bryson Childress, a super quick lead guard with an even quicker shooting release.

Tubby has frontcourt depth for days in 2020-21 with Eric Coleman Jr., Rob Peterson III, and Caden Sanchez all looking to reprise starting roles and the addition of a handful of newcomers. Coleman is a stretchy forward who is better than his freshman season suggests. His ability to shoot, score off the bounce, and score on the block could make him a tough matchup for opposing Big South forwards this year. Peterson III will play on the wing – he’s a strong rebounder on both ends and functions mostly as a slasher offensively, ranking 5th in the league in FT rate last season. Sanchez is HPU’s best post scorer, a big 6’8” forward who ranked 3rd in the Big South in OR% and 2nd in block rate on the other end of the floor.

DII transfer Lydell Elmore and sophomore Emmanuel Izunabor will see the lion’s share of backup frontcourt minutes. Elmore will be a boost to HPU’s post scoring and rebounding, and brings with him four years of collegiate experience. Izunabor posted sky-high rebounding and block rates when he saw the floor as a freshman – he’ll contribute in those two areas once again but won’t offer anything additional on the offensive end. Freshman forward Alex Holt could see immediate minutes as well, he averaged a ridiculous 17.7 RPG in high school and is just a colossal human at 6’8” 250 lbs. Fellow freshman Zack Austin, a very long and very athletic undersized 4, should be a contributor on the defensive end once he fully recovers from a hand injury suffered this summer.

Bottom Line: High Point is older and more athletic this season and due for some serious positive shooting regression on both ends of the floor. This team should be capable of competing in the middle of a crowded Big South, though challenging near the top is a bridge (or two) too far.

9. Hampton

Key Returners: Davion Warren, Edward Oliver-Hampton, Russell Dean, Chris Shelton
Key Losses: Jermaine Marrow, Ben Stanley, Greg Heckstall, Dondre Griffin, Amir Smith
Key Newcomers: Marquis Godwin (Old Dominion), Dajour Dickens (Old Dominion), Najee Thomas (JUCO), Amir Nesbitt

Lineup:

Outlook: Hampton enters its third season in the Big South fresh off a surprise conference championship appearance in which the Pirates came within eight points of punching a bid to the non-existent 2020 NCAA Tournament. Underachievement defined the Pirates’ season, as they fell 138 spots in KenPom from a stellar 2018-19 season despite having two of the best scorers in the entire country. Jermaine Marrow and Ben Stanley are now gone, as are two other starters in Greg Heckstell and Dondre Griffin. 12-year head coach Ed Joyner Jr. is left with a handful of unproven returning players and a couple of promising impact newcomers.

It should come as no shock that Hampton was excellent on the offensive end last season. Marrow and Stanley led the Pirates to the Big South’s 3rd best adjusted offensive efficiency, good for the 135th overall mark on the national level. A Joyner-coached team had never ranked higher than 243rd in offense prior to 2018, per KenPom, but scoring has come easy the past two years for Hampton. Without Marrow and Stanley in the mix, it’s a near certainty the Pirates fall back down the offensive rankings. KenPom’s preseason rankings has them 312th in offense, but it’s unlikely the Pirates fall quite that far. This year’s squad will likely be more shooting-focused, as the primary perimeter rotation is stacked with capable marksmen. Last season’s bunch was laser-focused on rim attack. As has been the case for every Joyner-coached squad, running in transition will continue to be a priority on the offensive end.

Defense held the Pirates back last season. Hampton was the worst defensive team in the conference and a bottom-ten defensive team in the country in 2019-20. The Pirates didn’t force turnovers, they didn’t rebound, and they showed a general lack of interest in stopping anybody on this end. Joyner has historically had relatively strong defensive squads – his Pirates will need to vastly improve on this end to be competitive within the Big South due to the departures of Marrow and Stanley.

Three returners seem poised to lock down starting spots early in the season. Davion Warren is Hampton’s returning leading scorer; he’s a do-everything wing who ranked 10th in the league in OR%, DR%, and FT rate, and 6th in 3P% last year. Warren’s usage should skyrocket this season, enough for him to warrant All-Conference buzz. Joining Warren in the backcourt is Russell “Deuce” Dean, Marrow’s likely successor at the point guard position. Dean is a pass-first lead guard with good size at 6’4” 200 lbs. Offensively he’s all drive, all the time, attempting just two threes during his freshman campaign. Up front, the aptly named Edward Oliver-Hampton should start at the 4 – he’s a “garbage man” of sorts, a player who hits the glass with a fury but one who lacks refined offensive skills.

Rounding out Joyner’s returners are Chris Shelton, Saheem Anthony, and Daniel Banister. Shelton and Anthony are shooters – Shelton knocked down 41.7% of his 24 3PA as a freshman while all 24 of Anthony’s junior-year FGA came from behind the arc. Banister is more of a defensive player by reputation, but he was an impressive 5/10 from downtown in limited minutes. Joyner has a short bench this season so all three returning wings could play a role in the 2020-21 rotation.

Four newcomers will be counted on to produce right away. Old Dominion transfers Marquis Godwin and Dajour Dickens promise to be two of Hampton’s most impactful players. Both players were regular starters for the Monarchs last year prior to transferring at semester. Godwin brings shooting and scoring to the fold and should start once he’s given the green light to play. Dickens ranked 8th in the country in block rate two years ago and would have ranked similarly in 2019-20 had he played the entire season. The skinny 7-footer is an intimidating rim protector whose presence will make scoring mighty difficult for opposing Big South teams. JUCO transfer Najee Thomas will also bolster Hampton’s size up front; he’s an athletic forward who can run the floor and be a force in the paint on both ends. Freshman guard Amir Nesbitt is an athletic, tough scorer who could see starting duties in his first collegiate season.

Bottom Line: It’s not easy losing two transcendent scorers like Marrow and Stanley. Hampton might struggle early finding its offensive identity, and it will definitely cough the rock up at a higher rate sans Marrow. Defensively, there’s nowhere to go but up for a program historically strong on this end of the floor. Expect to see a tougher defensive Hampton squad than we did last season, one that finishes closer to the middle of the pack in the Big South’s adjusted efficiency ranks versus the absolute cellar.

10. Longwood

Key Returners: Juan Munoz, DeShaun Wade, Christian Wilson, Heru Bligen, Leslie Nkereuwem, Abraham Deng
Key Losses: JaShaun Smith, Shabooty Phillips, Jordan Cintron, Jaylon Wilson, Sean Flood
Key Newcomers: Zac Watson (UC Riverside), Jermaine Drewey (JUCO), Jesper Granlund, Justin Hill, Nate Lliteras (Redshirt), Bennett Mohn (Redshirt)

Lineup:

Outlook: Griff Aldrich has been a godsend to the Longwood program. Two years ago the former Tony Shaver student / CFO / UMBC assistant led the Lancers to their best KenPom finish in school history, and last season he led Longwood to its most Big South wins ever (joined the league in 2013). This is a hard program to even be decent at, let alone compete in the middle of a league. What Aldrich has done in two years is nothing short of impressive.

Longwood was still not a great team last year from a macro perspective despite its 9-9 4th place BSC finish. The Lancers ranked 319th in KenPom while playing one of the softest schedules in the country. This year the Lancers will do battle without three of their key starters from 2019-20: JaShaun Smith and Shabooty Phillips graduated, and Jordan Cintron transferred to Niagara. Griff does return arguably his best player in point guard Juan Munoz, Longwood’s leader in scoring and assists last season, as well as three other players looking to make significant leaps in production. Margins are tight in the Big South this year after Winthrop, so it’s entirely possible Longwood competes for a middle-of-the-pack once again in 2020-21.

The Lancers were a tale of teams on either end of the floor. Offensively, Longwood sucked out loud – they were the worst offensive team in the Big South and one of the worst in the country primarily due to anemic shooting numbers inside the arc, turnovers, and an inability to finish at the rim. The Lancers were so bad in those areas that it hardly even mattered that the three-point line was the main and most important form of their scoring in 2019-20. Longwood ranked 9th in the country in 3PA rate (1st in the Big South) and 6th in the country in percentage of total points scored from behind the arc. Aldrich likes his team to spread the floor offensively, play four shooters at one time, and play off drive-and-kicks. This team might improve a little bit in 2020-21 on this end, but it’s hard to believe it’s by a significant margin.

Defense was a different story – Longwood was very good on this end of the court, ranking 2nd in the Big South in adjusted efficiency paced by its 3rd-best DR% and TO%. Aldrich clamped down on transition opportunities and locked down post-ups – his athletic bunch made it difficult for opponents to score on the run or near the bucket. Three-point land was the main killer of Longwood’s defense, but overall this team was rock solid. Smith and Cintron were good defenders, but there’s reason to believe the Lancers can be just as good on this end of the floor in 2020-21 with their numerous athletic and switchable bodies.

Munoz will be Longwood’s leader after turning in a solid sophomore season. He was one of just two Lancers to post an O-rating above 100.0 and ranked 5th in the league in steal rate on the other end of the floor. The 6’0” guard excels off ball screens and could potentially evolve into one of the better playmakers in the Big South this season.

He’ll be flanked by former ECU transfer DeShaun Wade and a combination of sophomore Heru Bligen, freshman Justin Hill, and JUCO transfer Jermaine Drewey. Wade shot the ball well from deep last season, but he was atrocious inside the arc and near the rim – he had one of those rare shooting lines where his 3P% was better than his 2P%. Wade was also extremely inconsistent last year – one game he was excellent, the next he was awful. That will need to change in 2020-21. Bligen could blossom in his second season; he’s solid both offensively and defensively, able to do multiple things on both ends of the floor. Hill is a future star, full stop. He was a top-25 recruit from the state of Texas (aka huge get for a program like Longwood) and is one of the most athletic players on the roster. If Aldrich goes small, Hill could start alongside Munoz and Wade – he’s a strong, quick driver with the ball in his hands and promises to lead this team for years to come. Drewey brings athleticism and shooting to the fold; he played a key role for one of the best JUCO programs in the country last season.

Aldrich’s wing rotation will feature Christian Wilson, Nate Lliteras, and Jesper Granlund. Wilson was Longwood’s top sub last season and likely starts at the 4 in 2020-21. He’ll need to improve on a 28.3% three-point clip (113 attempts – yikes), but he’s one of the Lancers’ most versatile defenders. Lliteras, a big wing and knockdown shooter, took a redshirt year last season, but Aldrich is very high on him as a contributor in 2020-21. Likewise, Finnish import Granlund brings scoring and shooting to the table. Former walk-on Bennett Mohn will provide depth deeper down the pine.

6’7” sophomore Leslie Nkereuwem should start at the 5 this season. He’s a raw but athletic prospect who posted a sky-high offensive rebounding rate and solid block rate in 2019-20. Nkereuwem is arguably Longwood’s most important defender, able to guard multiple spots and control the paint despite being a tad undersized. UC Riverside transfer Zac Watson will compete for starts and minutes in the frontcourt; he started 22 games for the Highlanders in 2018-19 but fell out of the rotation as a sophomore. He adds more of a post-scoring touch to the lineup. Abraham Deng somehow started 12 games for this team last year despite doing nothing of consequence besides grab the occasional board. He’ll be behind Watson this season, as will 6’10” senior Ilija Stefanovic.

Bottom Line: Longwood’s program is in safe hands with Griff Aldrich, but the Lancers lack the talent to project them landing higher than the bottom tier in these preseason standings.

11. Presbyterian

Key Returners: Michael Isler, Zeb Graham, Owen McCormack, Sean Jenkins
Key Losses: Cory Hightower, Chris Martin, Kody Shubert, JC Younger, Ben Drake, CJ Melton
Key Newcomers: Will Ferguson (JUCO), Rayshon Harrison, Kobe Stewart, Giancarlo Sanchez, Kirshon Thrash, Ambaka Le Gregam

Lineup:

Outlook: 35-year old head coach Quinton Ferrell embarks on his second season at the helm of the fantastically named Blue Hose of Presbyterian. Ferrell took over for basketball wizard Dustin Kerns who skipped town for App State after leading Presbyterian to the program’s only DI winning season in its history. Ferrell played for PC back before it transitioned to Division I and then bounced around benches, most recently serving under Earl Grant at Charleston for the five seasons prior to 2019-20. He faces an uphill battle in 2020-21 – the Blue Hose will be one of the country’s youngest teams, featuring nine underclassmen among their 10 eligible scholarship players.

Four of PC’s top five scorers depart from last season, two of whom were only sophomores. The Blue Hose were actually respectable on this end in 2019-20, ranking 6th in the Big South in adjusted efficiency driven by the league’s highest FT rate and an ability to get the ball near the bucket. Presbyterian ranked 31st nationally in FGA near the rim, but outside shooting was poor, as was ball security – no team in the Big South turned the ball over at a higher rate than the Hose last season. Rim attack will still be the main priority of this offense in 2020-21, as will post-ups and pick-n-roll action. Ferrell has an athletic roster featuring a bevy of tough, physical players.

Defense doesn’t have much room to fall – the Hose were the nation’s 341st “best” defensive team in 2020-21 per KenPom, a consequence of limited rim resistance and an inability to bother outside shooters. Ferrell likes to extend pressure throughout the entire floor – his Hose pressed at a top 30 rate in 2019-20 and should do so once again this season. Ferrell’s freshmen wings offer plenty of length on the perimeter, so there’s reason to believe the Hose can improve on this end in 2020-21; however, the overall youth of this roster is a concern.

Presbyterian’s hopes this season lie in the hands of a bunch of sophomores and freshmen. Returning leading scorer Michael Isler will lead the charge; he’s listed as a guard on the PC roster but plays much more like a power forward. Isler shot just 10 threes in 2019-20 and ranked 3rd in the Big South in FT rate and 6th in 2PFG% - he’s a tough, long, and athletic player who can score in the post or off the bounce. He’ll pair with one of Owen McCormack or Will Ferguson in the starting frontcourt. McCormack is a stretch forward who Ferrell appears to be quite high on as a potential offensive fulcrum. Ferguson is the lone eligible upperclassman on the roster, a JUCO transfer who brings with him a reputation as a mobile, athletic post-man.

Sophomore PG Zeb Graham should key the offense the season; he ranked 8th in the Big South in assist rate last year but also turned the ball over way too much. He’ll look to improve his shooting splits across the board and continue to provide sticky on-ball defense on the other end of the floor. Fellow sophomore Sean Jenkins will serve as a spot-up threat on the wing – he nailed 37.3% of his 3PA last season.

Ferrell’s five freshmen all have opportunities for meaningful minutes in 2020-21. Rayshon Harrison seems the most likely to make an immediate impact – he’s an athletic wing who can flat-out score. There may not be a more versatile offensive player on this roster than Harrison. Kobe Stewart, a lanky lefty wing, will also add shooting and scoring with his 6’6” frame. In the frontcourt, look for both Giancarlo Sanchez and Kirshon Thrash to see floor time at some point this year. Sanchez is an inside-out big man, a skilled forward who can stretch the floor. Thrash is an undersized forward at just 6’3”; he’s incredibly tough and does a little bit of everything when on the court. Backing up Graham at point will be 6’4” freshman Ambaka Le Gregam. His length, athleticism, and ability to speed past opponents in the open floor make him an intriguing prospect and a candidate to start right at some point in 2020-21.

Bottom Line: Presbyterian won’t be competing for a league title in 2020-21 – heck, they might not even compete for a top 8 Big South finish. But Ferrell has laid the building blocks of success for this program – he has a promising group of underclassmen who should develop into productive players down the road, that is if they don’t transfer first.