WEF'S 09-10 BIG SOUTH BASKETBALL PREVIEW - PT 4: CCU
Posted: November 5th, 2009, 11:48 pm
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
(Last Season: 11-20 overall; 5-13 in Big South, 8th, lost in first round of Big South Tournament)
Head Coach: Cliff Ellis
Returning Players (with stats from 08-09 season):
F Joseph Harris, sr. (6-5, 180) – 15.2 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.2 bpg, 1.5 spg, 57.6 FG%, 0 made threes, 63.2 FT% - 33.0 min/game
G Mario Edwards, sr. (6-3, 210) – 9.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.5 apg, 37.9 FG%, 36.8 3PT% (49 made threes), 61.7 FT% - 27.8 min/game
G Dexter Moore, so. (6-2, 180) – 7.2 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 37.6 FG%, 33.8 3PT% (45 made threes), 56.5 FT% - 20.7 min/game
G/F Logan Johnson, sr. (6-6, 195) – 6.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.2 spg,
39.8 FG%, 26.6 3PT% (17 made threes), 69.8 FT% - 26.7 min/game
C Jon Pack, so. (6-10, 230) – 3.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 53.6 FG%, 0 made threes, 51.9 FT% - 14.1 min/game
F Sam McLaurin, fr. (6-8, 210) – 0.2 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0 made FGs, 16.7 FT% - 5.8 min/game – Played in 6 games
Players that are Gone:
F Anthony Breeze (6-5, 185) – 10.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 57.0 FG%, 0 made threes, 51.4 FT% - 23.5 min/game
G Mario Sisinni (6-0, 175) – 10.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.0 spg, 38.3 FG%, 34.2 3PT% (38 made threes), 80.3 FT% - 32.7 min/game
G Steven Sexton (6-2, 200) – 8.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 37.8 FG%, 36.1 3PT% (66 made threes), 72.5 FT% - 24.3 min/game
F Matt Brennan (6-8, 210) – 1.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 51.7 FG%, 0 made threes, 43.8 FT% - 8.5 min/game
G Darius Steger (6-1, 185) – 1.1 ppg, 0.6 rpg, 26.7 FG%, 7.1 3PT% (1 made three), 71.4 FT% - 4.7 min/game
G Marshawn Martin (5-9, 145) – 1.1 ppg, 0.6 rpg, 33.3 FG%, 30.0 3PT% (3 made threes), 0 made FTs – 3.3 min/game – Played in 12 games
F Ashton Lawrence (6-5, 210) – 1.4 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 50.0 FG%, 33.3 3PT% (1 made three), 100 FT% - 3.4 min/game – Played in 5 games
Newcomers:
F Chad Gray, jr. (6-7, 205) – Transfer from South Carolina - 07-08 stats: 2.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 50.0 FG%, 0 made threes, 70.0 FT% - 7.5 min/game
F Marcus Macellari, fr. (6-7, 240) – Redshirted in 08-09
G Kierre Greenwood, fr. (6-2, 170)
G Tre Lee, fr. (6-3, 195)
G Danny Nieman, fr. (6-2, 180)
F Chris Evans, fr. (6-7, 190)
About the Chanticleers:
After two seasons at Coastal Carolina, head coach Cliff Ellis is still trying to put his stamp on the program and create an identity for the team that has been gone since Jack Leasure graduated. Ellis had to deal with former Big South Freshman of the Year Joshua Mack leaving the program two years ago, and after last season ended, Anthony Breeze and Joseph Harris both announced they were transferring. Breeze and Harris were easily the most physical players on the roster last year and the team’s best post players, so their exit represented a big setback to the program. Ellis did get a reprieve though as Harris decided to return to Coastal before the summer was over, but the Chanticleers still have an uphill climb to get into the upper half of the standings.
The return of Harris does help give the Chants one of the best returning players in the Big South. Last season, he supplemented his already established rebounding and defensive strengths with a solid offensive game, which forced opponents to account for him when Coastal had the ball (when that was not the case during his first two seasons). His blue-collar mentality will now be complimented by the athleticism and play-making ability of Chad Gray, a transfer from South Carolina. Gray never got much of a chance to play with the Gamecocks, but the Chanticleers are hoping he can be a dynamic player in the frontcourt that can score both inside and out. The Harris/Gray combo will be expected to carry much of the load for Coastal as there really is not another proven weapon in the frontcourt (especially given that Gray has yet to truly prove himself either). Sophomore Jon Pack returns at center, but he needs to improve a bit on both ends of the court to be a major contributor. Freshmen Sam McLaurin, Marcus Macellari, and Chris Evans are also options in the frontcourt. McLaurin and Macellari both redshirted last year, with McLaurin playing a few games before getting sidelined with an injury. All three of the freshmen forwards are expected to see the floor, with McLaurin and Evans the most likely to be the primary options behind Harris and Gray.
Seniors Mario Edwards and Logan Johnson will join sophomore Dexter Moore as the returning cast of backcourt weapons for the Chanticleers. Edwards will get a chance to be the starting point guard (after filling in at that position at times last season). He is more of a natural shooting guard, so he brings a scorer’s mentality to the point guard spot. Edwards will be challenged at that position by freshmen Kierre Greenwood and Danny Nieman, with Greenwood being the more likely freshman to push Edwards for the starting role. Another freshman that will battle for playing time in the backcourt is Tre Lee. Lee and Moore will get a large share of the minutes at the shooting guard spot. Moore had an up and down freshman year, but came on strong toward the end of the season and had a handful of explosive scoring nights. Lee is a talented freshman that will get a large share of minutes somewhere on the floor. Johnson is a fifth-year senior and is capable of filling several roles for Coastal. He can play either shooting guard or small forward and has good court vision and awareness.
There are a handful of potential scorers on the Chanticleer roster, but aside from Harris, there is a lack of proven rebounders, and there are definite question-marks at the point guard spot. While some of the newcomers may help in those areas, there seem to be enough holes and unknowns that make it difficult to expect Coastal Carolina to be a contender this season.
My Prediction:
16-15 overall, 8-10 in conference – 7th place finish – lose in first round of Big South Tournament
(Last Season: 11-20 overall; 5-13 in Big South, 8th, lost in first round of Big South Tournament)
Head Coach: Cliff Ellis
Returning Players (with stats from 08-09 season):
F Joseph Harris, sr. (6-5, 180) – 15.2 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.2 bpg, 1.5 spg, 57.6 FG%, 0 made threes, 63.2 FT% - 33.0 min/game
G Mario Edwards, sr. (6-3, 210) – 9.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.5 apg, 37.9 FG%, 36.8 3PT% (49 made threes), 61.7 FT% - 27.8 min/game
G Dexter Moore, so. (6-2, 180) – 7.2 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 37.6 FG%, 33.8 3PT% (45 made threes), 56.5 FT% - 20.7 min/game
G/F Logan Johnson, sr. (6-6, 195) – 6.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.2 spg,
39.8 FG%, 26.6 3PT% (17 made threes), 69.8 FT% - 26.7 min/game
C Jon Pack, so. (6-10, 230) – 3.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 53.6 FG%, 0 made threes, 51.9 FT% - 14.1 min/game
F Sam McLaurin, fr. (6-8, 210) – 0.2 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0 made FGs, 16.7 FT% - 5.8 min/game – Played in 6 games
Players that are Gone:
F Anthony Breeze (6-5, 185) – 10.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 57.0 FG%, 0 made threes, 51.4 FT% - 23.5 min/game
G Mario Sisinni (6-0, 175) – 10.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.0 spg, 38.3 FG%, 34.2 3PT% (38 made threes), 80.3 FT% - 32.7 min/game
G Steven Sexton (6-2, 200) – 8.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 37.8 FG%, 36.1 3PT% (66 made threes), 72.5 FT% - 24.3 min/game
F Matt Brennan (6-8, 210) – 1.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 51.7 FG%, 0 made threes, 43.8 FT% - 8.5 min/game
G Darius Steger (6-1, 185) – 1.1 ppg, 0.6 rpg, 26.7 FG%, 7.1 3PT% (1 made three), 71.4 FT% - 4.7 min/game
G Marshawn Martin (5-9, 145) – 1.1 ppg, 0.6 rpg, 33.3 FG%, 30.0 3PT% (3 made threes), 0 made FTs – 3.3 min/game – Played in 12 games
F Ashton Lawrence (6-5, 210) – 1.4 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 50.0 FG%, 33.3 3PT% (1 made three), 100 FT% - 3.4 min/game – Played in 5 games
Newcomers:
F Chad Gray, jr. (6-7, 205) – Transfer from South Carolina - 07-08 stats: 2.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 50.0 FG%, 0 made threes, 70.0 FT% - 7.5 min/game
F Marcus Macellari, fr. (6-7, 240) – Redshirted in 08-09
G Kierre Greenwood, fr. (6-2, 170)
G Tre Lee, fr. (6-3, 195)
G Danny Nieman, fr. (6-2, 180)
F Chris Evans, fr. (6-7, 190)
About the Chanticleers:
After two seasons at Coastal Carolina, head coach Cliff Ellis is still trying to put his stamp on the program and create an identity for the team that has been gone since Jack Leasure graduated. Ellis had to deal with former Big South Freshman of the Year Joshua Mack leaving the program two years ago, and after last season ended, Anthony Breeze and Joseph Harris both announced they were transferring. Breeze and Harris were easily the most physical players on the roster last year and the team’s best post players, so their exit represented a big setback to the program. Ellis did get a reprieve though as Harris decided to return to Coastal before the summer was over, but the Chanticleers still have an uphill climb to get into the upper half of the standings.
The return of Harris does help give the Chants one of the best returning players in the Big South. Last season, he supplemented his already established rebounding and defensive strengths with a solid offensive game, which forced opponents to account for him when Coastal had the ball (when that was not the case during his first two seasons). His blue-collar mentality will now be complimented by the athleticism and play-making ability of Chad Gray, a transfer from South Carolina. Gray never got much of a chance to play with the Gamecocks, but the Chanticleers are hoping he can be a dynamic player in the frontcourt that can score both inside and out. The Harris/Gray combo will be expected to carry much of the load for Coastal as there really is not another proven weapon in the frontcourt (especially given that Gray has yet to truly prove himself either). Sophomore Jon Pack returns at center, but he needs to improve a bit on both ends of the court to be a major contributor. Freshmen Sam McLaurin, Marcus Macellari, and Chris Evans are also options in the frontcourt. McLaurin and Macellari both redshirted last year, with McLaurin playing a few games before getting sidelined with an injury. All three of the freshmen forwards are expected to see the floor, with McLaurin and Evans the most likely to be the primary options behind Harris and Gray.
Seniors Mario Edwards and Logan Johnson will join sophomore Dexter Moore as the returning cast of backcourt weapons for the Chanticleers. Edwards will get a chance to be the starting point guard (after filling in at that position at times last season). He is more of a natural shooting guard, so he brings a scorer’s mentality to the point guard spot. Edwards will be challenged at that position by freshmen Kierre Greenwood and Danny Nieman, with Greenwood being the more likely freshman to push Edwards for the starting role. Another freshman that will battle for playing time in the backcourt is Tre Lee. Lee and Moore will get a large share of the minutes at the shooting guard spot. Moore had an up and down freshman year, but came on strong toward the end of the season and had a handful of explosive scoring nights. Lee is a talented freshman that will get a large share of minutes somewhere on the floor. Johnson is a fifth-year senior and is capable of filling several roles for Coastal. He can play either shooting guard or small forward and has good court vision and awareness.
There are a handful of potential scorers on the Chanticleer roster, but aside from Harris, there is a lack of proven rebounders, and there are definite question-marks at the point guard spot. While some of the newcomers may help in those areas, there seem to be enough holes and unknowns that make it difficult to expect Coastal Carolina to be a contender this season.
My Prediction:
16-15 overall, 8-10 in conference – 7th place finish – lose in first round of Big South Tournament
