- November 1st, 2007, 7:17 pm
#123657
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
(Last Season: 15-15; 7-7, 4th in Big South; Lost in First Round of Big South Tournament; RPI - 269)
Head Coach: Cliff Ellis (first season at CCU)
Players that are Returning:
G Jack Leasure, Sr. (6’3”, 185 lbs) – 15.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.5 spg, 37.2 3PT%, 84.1 FT%
G Joshua Mack, So. (5’11”, 185 lbs) - 12.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.5 spg, 37.2 3PT%, 82.3 FT%
F Joseph Harris, Jr. (6’5”, 180 lbs) – 8.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.4 spg, 1.3 bpg, 58.0 FG%
G Everage Richardson, Sr. (6’3”, 185 lbs) – 7.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.2 spg, 46.2 FG%
G Steven Sexton, Jr. (6’2”, 200 lbs) – 3.3 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 89.7 FT%
G Mario Sisinni, Jr. (6’0”, 175 lbs) – 2.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg
G/F Logan Johnson, So. (6’6”, 195 lbs) – 2.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 46.7 FG%
F Matt Brennan, Jr. (6’8”, 210 lbs) – 2.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 60.0 FG%
F Phil Wallace, Sr. (6’5”, 225 lbs) – Played in 3 games, 2.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg
F Chad Ferguson, Sr. (6’8”, 220 lbs) – 1.5 ppg, 1.2 rpg
G David Long, Sr. (6’5”, 180 lbs) – Played in 9 games, 1.4 ppg, .9 rpg
F Ashton Lawrence, Jr. (6’5”, 210 lbs) – Played in 5 games, .8 ppg, 1.4 rpg
Players that are Gone:
F Moses Sonko (6’5”, 210 lbs) – 15.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.4 spg, 56.0 FG%, 35.3 3PT%, 74.5 FT%
F Randon Cavette (6’6”, 225 lbs) - Played in 18 games, 3.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 75.0 FG%
F Adrian Gross (6’6”, 245 lbs) – 2.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg
New Players:
C Derek Gillam, Jr. (6'11", 225 lbs) - Brunswick Community Coll.
C Jon Pack, Fr. (6'10", 230 lbs) - East Paulding HS, Dallas, GA
F Anthony Breeze, Fr. (6'5", 185 lbs) - Greenville HS, Greenville, SC
C Bryant Wallace, Fr. (6'8", 270 lbs) - The Miller School, Richmond, VA
The Buzz Peterson era did not last long, as Michael Jordan's ex-roommate left Conway after two seasons to take a job with the Charlotte Bobcats. Taking his spot is another high-profile head coach, Cliff Ellis, who has seen success in the past at both Clemson and Auburn. He inherits a team that only loses one impact player from last year (Moses Sonko), and returns a starting backcourt that includes Jack Leasure (a former conference player of the year and freshman of the year) and Joshua Mack (last season's Big South Freshman of the Year). All of the returnees have led to some high hopes in Conway, but the loss of Sonko along with another coaching change could lead to some difficulties for the Chants this season.
The backcourt of Leasure and Mack is definitely the strength of this team. Leasure slipped a bit last year, but he is still one of the best shooters in the conference and is the leader of the squad. Mack had an excellent debut season at the point guard spot, and is a versatile scorer. Everage Richardson will likely start as a third guard/small forward. He gives Coastal a slashing scorer and athletic presence in the backcourt. Mario Sisinni and Steven Sexton have been with the program for a couple of years and will provide some depth, though both will struggle to get many minutes behind the the other three guards.
Moses Sonko was a reliable scorer and gave the Chants a post presence the last couple of years. With him no longer in the lineup, Coastal will be looking for a scoring threat inside. Joseph Harris can play both forward spots (depending on if Ellis wants to play big or small), and though he isn't tall, he plays much bigger than he looks. He's a very good rebounder and has turned into an offensive threat, though most of his points come from put-backs. Harris is the only sure thing up front, though. Logan Johnson, Matt Brennan, and Chad Ferguson are all returnees, and each should see some time with Johnson having the most potential to shinee, but they are going to all get pushed by a couple of newcomers. Anthony Breeze follows in the tradition of the undersized Chanticleer frontcourt player, and he should make an immediate impact at either forward spot. Jon Pack brings some height to the lineup and looks to have a good shot at getting alot of minutes at the center spot. Bryant Wallace brings a big body and Derek Gillam brings alot of height to the roster, but both look to be projects.
So with alot of returnees, it may seem strange that I pick Coastal to finish in the bottom half of the standings, especially with Leasure and Mack in the lineup. But the veterans are now playing for their third different coach. And while Ellis is a good coach and will likely see some success in Conway, it is difficult for players to keep having to go through regime changes. Also, they do not seem to have anyone that can fill Sonko's void, and it could put alot of pressure on Leasure and Mack to produce. If I'm wrong about one team this year, it will probably be Coastal, but I have a hunch that they'll dip a bit this year.
My Prediction:
11-17 overall, 5-9 in the Big South; Sixth place finish; Will be eliminated in first round of Big South Tournament
(Last Season: 15-15; 7-7, 4th in Big South; Lost in First Round of Big South Tournament; RPI - 269)
Head Coach: Cliff Ellis (first season at CCU)
Players that are Returning:
G Jack Leasure, Sr. (6’3”, 185 lbs) – 15.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.5 spg, 37.2 3PT%, 84.1 FT%
G Joshua Mack, So. (5’11”, 185 lbs) - 12.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.5 spg, 37.2 3PT%, 82.3 FT%
F Joseph Harris, Jr. (6’5”, 180 lbs) – 8.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.4 spg, 1.3 bpg, 58.0 FG%
G Everage Richardson, Sr. (6’3”, 185 lbs) – 7.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.2 spg, 46.2 FG%
G Steven Sexton, Jr. (6’2”, 200 lbs) – 3.3 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 89.7 FT%
G Mario Sisinni, Jr. (6’0”, 175 lbs) – 2.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg
G/F Logan Johnson, So. (6’6”, 195 lbs) – 2.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 46.7 FG%
F Matt Brennan, Jr. (6’8”, 210 lbs) – 2.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 60.0 FG%
F Phil Wallace, Sr. (6’5”, 225 lbs) – Played in 3 games, 2.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg
F Chad Ferguson, Sr. (6’8”, 220 lbs) – 1.5 ppg, 1.2 rpg
G David Long, Sr. (6’5”, 180 lbs) – Played in 9 games, 1.4 ppg, .9 rpg
F Ashton Lawrence, Jr. (6’5”, 210 lbs) – Played in 5 games, .8 ppg, 1.4 rpg
Players that are Gone:
F Moses Sonko (6’5”, 210 lbs) – 15.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.4 spg, 56.0 FG%, 35.3 3PT%, 74.5 FT%
F Randon Cavette (6’6”, 225 lbs) - Played in 18 games, 3.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 75.0 FG%
F Adrian Gross (6’6”, 245 lbs) – 2.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg
New Players:
C Derek Gillam, Jr. (6'11", 225 lbs) - Brunswick Community Coll.
C Jon Pack, Fr. (6'10", 230 lbs) - East Paulding HS, Dallas, GA
F Anthony Breeze, Fr. (6'5", 185 lbs) - Greenville HS, Greenville, SC
C Bryant Wallace, Fr. (6'8", 270 lbs) - The Miller School, Richmond, VA
The Buzz Peterson era did not last long, as Michael Jordan's ex-roommate left Conway after two seasons to take a job with the Charlotte Bobcats. Taking his spot is another high-profile head coach, Cliff Ellis, who has seen success in the past at both Clemson and Auburn. He inherits a team that only loses one impact player from last year (Moses Sonko), and returns a starting backcourt that includes Jack Leasure (a former conference player of the year and freshman of the year) and Joshua Mack (last season's Big South Freshman of the Year). All of the returnees have led to some high hopes in Conway, but the loss of Sonko along with another coaching change could lead to some difficulties for the Chants this season.
The backcourt of Leasure and Mack is definitely the strength of this team. Leasure slipped a bit last year, but he is still one of the best shooters in the conference and is the leader of the squad. Mack had an excellent debut season at the point guard spot, and is a versatile scorer. Everage Richardson will likely start as a third guard/small forward. He gives Coastal a slashing scorer and athletic presence in the backcourt. Mario Sisinni and Steven Sexton have been with the program for a couple of years and will provide some depth, though both will struggle to get many minutes behind the the other three guards.
Moses Sonko was a reliable scorer and gave the Chants a post presence the last couple of years. With him no longer in the lineup, Coastal will be looking for a scoring threat inside. Joseph Harris can play both forward spots (depending on if Ellis wants to play big or small), and though he isn't tall, he plays much bigger than he looks. He's a very good rebounder and has turned into an offensive threat, though most of his points come from put-backs. Harris is the only sure thing up front, though. Logan Johnson, Matt Brennan, and Chad Ferguson are all returnees, and each should see some time with Johnson having the most potential to shinee, but they are going to all get pushed by a couple of newcomers. Anthony Breeze follows in the tradition of the undersized Chanticleer frontcourt player, and he should make an immediate impact at either forward spot. Jon Pack brings some height to the lineup and looks to have a good shot at getting alot of minutes at the center spot. Bryant Wallace brings a big body and Derek Gillam brings alot of height to the roster, but both look to be projects.
So with alot of returnees, it may seem strange that I pick Coastal to finish in the bottom half of the standings, especially with Leasure and Mack in the lineup. But the veterans are now playing for their third different coach. And while Ellis is a good coach and will likely see some success in Conway, it is difficult for players to keep having to go through regime changes. Also, they do not seem to have anyone that can fill Sonko's void, and it could put alot of pressure on Leasure and Mack to produce. If I'm wrong about one team this year, it will probably be Coastal, but I have a hunch that they'll dip a bit this year.
My Prediction:
11-17 overall, 5-9 in the Big South; Sixth place finish; Will be eliminated in first round of Big South Tournament
--Fumble (1961-2009), RIP
- By LU Armchair coach