[jcmanson]

We've taken a look a bit at what our team has to offer, and I think we can come to the conclusion that our success hinges on the success of our freshman. Here's a glimpse at each Big South member.

Note: Gardner Webb is a full member next year, and I didn't do any research on PC and why should I?

For a perspective on the incoming recruits rankings here are our rankings:
Carter-80
Smith-73
Curry-72
Lewis-72
Floyd-40
40 is the lowest rating given meaning there is no info on this prospect that they have looked at.



Winthrop
Winthrop is the 4 time defending Big South champion, and they proved this year that they are still the team to beat even without Greg Marshal.

• Losing:
  Gaynor, Jenkins, McCullough, Harris
  
  Returners:
  Burton, Faison, Robinson, Corbin, Buechert, Valentine
  
  Incomers:
  The incoming recruiting class has been rated in the top 50 by one publication so far.
  Reggie Middleton-PG rated 77 by ESPN
  A. Jones-SG rated 73 by ESPN
  C. Stiglbauer-C rated 73 by ESPN
  G. Gamble-SG rated 40 by ESPN
  
  I think it's easy to say the road to the championship goes through Rock Hill again next year. They will have alot of unprovens just like us and alot of the Big South, but they have alot of talent.

UNC-Asheville

• Losing:
  Garland, Smithson, Moles, James
  
  Returners:
  Kenny George (?), Reid Augst, John Williams, Sean Smith
  
  Incoming:
  M. Dickey-rated 40
  R. Jackson
  C. Stephenson
  
  Coming off their best season in the past few years, Asheville looks ro remain near the top, but I just don't see it happening with all they're losing. If George stays for his senior year, they should be middle of the pack if he is healthy. Without him, next year will be a rebuilding year.

High Point

• High Point loses conference player of the year Arizona Reid who has carried this team as far as he could for his 4 years.
  
  losing:
  Arizona Reid, Jefferson, Minnis
  
  returners:
  Eugene Harris, Cruz Daniels, Tim Burns, David Campbell
  
  incoming:
  D. Singleton-PG rated 75
  J. Iati-PG rated 73
  C. July-C rated 40
  S. Short-SF rated 40
  C. Law-SF rated 40
  
  High Point is another team that loses alot. They will be relying upon unknowns for the most part.

VMI

• Losing:
  Reggie Williams
  
  Returners:
  Holmes twins, Kenon, Bell
  
  Incoming:
  Michael Sparks-SG rated 40
  
  Losing Reggie will hurt, but how much?

Coastal

• Losing:
  Leasure, Long, Wallace, Ferguson, Richardson
  
  returners:
  Joseph Harris, Mario Sissini, Anthony Breeze, Logan Johnson, Steven Sexton
  
  Incoming:
  No incoming recruits listed
  
  Losing Jack Leasure will definitely be a setback for Coastal, but it seems I keep repeating myself.

Charleston

• Losing:
  Chris Moore
  
  Returners:
  Everyone else including FOY Jamarco Warren and Omar Carter & Giedrus Knysas
  
  Incoming:
  6-7 PF Joel Lamb rated 40
  
  Charleston is one of the few teams that don't lose a lot. They could be dangerous next year.

Radford

• Losing:
  noone
  
  Returners:
  everyone including Martell McDuffy, Amir Johnson, Kenny Thomas, Lynch-Flohr.
  
  Incoming:
  noone

Gardner Webb

• 16-16 (9-7) in A-Sun finishing tied for 5th. If you remember they did beat Kentucky in the game before we took on Kentucky earlier this year. They lost in the semi's of their conference tourney to #2 seed Jacksonville. They went 3-1 against Big South foes in 07-08. They played Radford twice, High Point and CSU at Gardner Webb, with their only loss being against Radford in double overtime on their home court.
  
  Losing:
  They only lose Thomas Sanders but he led GW in scoring and rebounding at 18.1 & 10.8
  
  Returners:
  3 double figure scorers from this year-Nate Blank, Grayson Flitt, Aaron Linn
  
  Incoming:
  T. Barrett-SF rated 40
  C. Hailey-SG rated 40
  J. Henly-SF rated 75

Outside of Radford and Charleston, everyone is losing key contributors. Winthrop will have the most talent, and I think LU is right behind them in that category. The key will be who will be able to step up and fill the shoes of those that have left. It should be fun.

[Knucklehead]

Nice work Manson good stuff!

[Rocketfan]

With GW returning 3 big scorers, that experience alone considering how many teams will not have a true go to scorer could be huge. They could come in year one and make some noise. Maybe have GW next year will also add some posters to the board during basketball season.

[LUconn]

Coastal is losing 5 players and doesn't have anybody coming in next year?

Buzz was just the gift that keeps on giving.

[Sly Fox]

Coastal is bringing in a couple of 2-star high school teammates from South Florida as well as a JUCO SG and a point from Hargrave.

[jcmanson]

All of my recruiting info came from espn.com. I didn't do an in-depth research on that side. If you want to, then help yourself.

[bigsmooth]

nice work manson! thanks

[Sly Fox]

I wasn't cracking on anybody ... in fact, your original post sure looks nice.

I just wanted to clear up the question of CCU and their incoming class.

[LUconn]

It's funny that July going to HPU nets them the #1 ranked center in BSC recruiting classes. Becasue he's not thought that highly of.

[jcmanson]

I wasn't cracking on anybody ... in fact, your original post sure looks nice.

I just wanted to clear up the question of CCU and their incoming class.

No, I appreciate you doing so. Any input is appreciated. Since we are at a low major level it is hard to find recruit info except for our guys and Winthrop's.

[LUconn]

low major

this is a phrase that is gaining some steam and it annoys me to no end. Mid-major has such a vague ans subjective definition how could you add to that, low major? You'll find me yelling at the TV a lot during bracket season.

[jcmanson]

low major

this is a phrase that is gaining some steam and it annoys me to no end. Mid-major has such a vague ans subjective definition how could you add to that, low major? You'll find me yelling at the TV a lot during bracket season.

Yeah, both low and mid major annoys me, but it is what it is.

[ToTheLeft]

So then, who are the favorites for the awards next season? Since we don't have anything else to talk about...

Here are my thoughts for early Preseason Teams and POTY

1st Team
---

Jamarco Warren
Chavis Holmes
Eugene Harris
Anthony Smith
Cruz Daniels

2nd Team
---
BJ Jenkins
Corbin
Manta Ray Robinson
Anthony Breeze
Omar Carter

All Frosh
---
Seth (LU)
Middleton (WU)
S. Short (HPU)
J. Henley (GW)
Carter (LU)

POTY- Chavis Holmes
DPOTY- Manta Ray
COTY- Ritchie

Just what I think. Haha. Wayyyy too early to know anything for fun, but just for fun.

[LUconn]

COTY seemingly only goes to the team who wins the regular season. So you're implying that LU takes the league next year? That's gonna be difficult with our youth. So I guess that honor would be deserved.

[olldflame]

You are obviously not expecting Kenny George to be around, but even so I don't think there is any way Cruz Daniels is first team all conference.

The physical tools may be there, but he would need a brain and heart transplant.

[paradox]

Manson:

Three Things:

One: Curry has been rising since mid-season. An updated evaluation would have him literally rising off the charts, and clearly the top newcomer in the conference. By the way, his brother Steph got even worse treatment as a prep and he recently earned Sports Illustrated Second Team All-American honors.

Two: Floyd wasn't even evaluted, so the number next to his name is utterly meaningless. Dale Layer feels that he has truly found a diamond in the rough with this kid and views him as a big-time talent. I'll take Dale at his word, since he's put players in the NBA as recently as this past draft.

Three: Winthrop returns no one of consequence next season. They have four very good seniors this year, and after that, major question marks and major holes to fill. They are in total rebuild mode after this season. History really means nothing here, especially without Greg Marshall. If anything, LU hold the clear upper hand, with Smith as the best returning player in the conference, according to McKay---and four known quality players in Jenkins, Ohman, Baker, and Anderson---not to mention a very promising incoming class. There's really no reason, at this stage, not to expect a championship next season.

[LUconn]

ha. You go right ahead and expect that.

[jmdickens]

I expect a 20 win season and a conference championship.....

[RagingTireFire]

Hear, hear! Along with the above, I expect flying monkeys to manifest themselves from my rectal cavity...again.

It's nice to have expectations that aren't based on past performance or real evidence of any kind. It makes me feel special.

[jcmanson]

Manson:

Three Things:

One: Curry has been rising since mid-season. An updated evaluation would have him literally rising off the charts, and clearly the top newcomer in the conference. By the way, his brother Steph got even worse treatment as a prep and he recently earned Sports Illustrated Second Team All-American honors.

I was simply going off of the rankings on espn.com as I stated several times in this thread. Of course they are not the end all be all, it was just a starting point.

Two: Floyd wasn't even evaluted, so the number next to his name is utterly meaningless. Dale Layer feels that he has truly found a diamond in the rough with this kid and views him as a big-time talent. I'll take Dale at his word, since he's put players in the NBA as recently as this past draft.

You must not have seen this from my first post:

40 is the lowest rating given meaning there is no info on this prospect that they have looked at.

I have been very high on Floyd this entire time, go back at look at some of my posts.

Three: Winthrop returns no one of consequence next season. They have four very good seniors this year, and after that, major question marks and major holes to fill. They are in total rebuild mode after this season. History really means nothing here, especially without Greg Marshall. If anything, LU hold the clear upper hand, with Smith as the best returning player in the conference, according to McKay---and four known quality players in Jenkins, Ohman, Baker, and Anderson---not to mention a very promising incoming class. There's really no reason, at this stage, not to expect a championship next season.

Yes, they are in total rebuild mode next year, but so is 6/9 of the BS teams. I was among the many that said this year that the championship path did not go through Rock Hill. Guess what, it did. Until someone proves otherwise, that is the case in this conference.

I hope like crap that we win the championship next year, and I think we can. But that's quite a statement to say this early in the offseason. I'm not claiming that we will the championship next year, yet.

[olldflame]

Winning 20 games next year is very do-able. It's only 4 more than we won this year.

As far as winning the BSC is concerned; I'll start thinking about that when we prove we can beat Winthrop.

We have played them 9 times in the past 4 years and won once, and I don't even consider that so much a win for LU, because that night Larry Blair put a bad team on his back and pretty much beat them single-handed. Then Winthrop turned around a few nights later in the tourney and stomped a mud-hole in us.

[ToTheLeft]

You are obviously not expecting Kenny George to be around, but even so I don't think there is any way Cruz Daniels is first team all conference.

The physical tools may be there, but he would need a brain and heart transplant.

Yes, I am expecting KG to not be there.

[jmdickens]

LU Additions: Lewis, Curry, Smith, McMasters, Floyd, Jackson, Stephene, and hopefully Guede if we can get him here and possibly 1 more:shock:

LU loses: Ace, TeeJay, Nate Campbell, Armon Jones, Russell Monroe, Justin Holland, Rell Porter, and Oz

Returning: Anthony Smith, BJ Jenkins, Jeremy Anderson, and Kyle Ohman

Walkons: none needed....Kyle will have a scholarship too

20 wins, and a BSC Championship trophy

[olldflame]

OK, I'll bite. Who is Guede?

[Sly Fox]

The much discussed Paul Guede ... we've talked extensively about him in the past.

I'm still getting confirmation on the surprise. Obviously I have unique sources for confirmation on him.