2024 Preview
Superlatives:
Best Overall Team: ETSU
Best Overall Player: Donovan Atwell, UNCG
Best Shooter: Donovan Atwell, UNCG
Best Defenseman: Quimari Peterson, ETSU
Sleeper Team (Conference): UNCG
Sleeper Team (March): ETSU
chattanooga Guard Honor Huff; Chattanooga Athletics
1. East Tennessee State Buccaneers
2023 Record: 19-16
A surprise run to the conference championship game put a cap on breakout first year under coach Brooks Savage. Back from that team are three solid starters, including the dynamic backcourt duo of Jaden Seymour (14.7) and Quimari Peterson (13.5) and integral rebounder Karon Boyd. The portal was used to beef up the frontcourt, which spearheaded the best rebounding attack in the SoCon last year but lost both of its starters — welcome VCU big Roosevelt Wheeler and OTE center Brandon Crawford.
ETSU carries one of the best overall rosters in the SoCon and laced that with many players with vital experience at the D-I level. The backcourt is one of the most explosive in the conference, and if the frontcourt grows into its body, the Buccaneers can very well find themselves playing in March.
2. Wofford Terriers
2023 Record: 17-15
With so much returning talent and experience back for the Terriers, its hard to not vault Wofford within the top three of the preseason rankings. There will be four senior starters and many upperclassmen coming off the bench for coach Dwight Perry, including scoring threat Corey Tripp and silky smooth shooter Dillon Bailey in the backcourt. Returning post player Kyler Filewich provides experience down low and will be the offense’s smoking gun if the Terriers succeed.
Wofford will need to improve on its offensive turnover numbers in 2024 to find success. One of the best shooting teams in the SoCon lost many opportunities, including many in a conference tournament loss to Chattanooga, that ended up tanking its overall record. Getting the ball into the hands of proven playmakers should be at the top of a short list for Perry.
3. Samford Bulldogs
2023 Record: 29-6
The Bulldogs fell to Kansas in a 4 seed-13 seed NCAAT game after its comeback fell just short at the buzzer, ending one of the most historically successful seasons in Samford history. Gone from last year’s squad are all five starters and a handful of key reserves, forcing coach Bucky McMillan to start over after a 29-win 2023. McMillan did well in the portal, bringing in key SEC-transfers Trey Fort III (Miss. State) and Isaiah West (Vanderbilt) as well as Tulane lead man Collin Holloway to pilot the offense.
Patching together the heartbreak of a NCAAT loss is like taking up a habit after a breakup to distract yourself — its a huge gamble. In the high-flying, rim-running tempo instituted by McMillan, transfers may take some time to adjust, which is why the cohesion between such a diverse group is vital in the off season. There is incontestable talent on the roster, its just a matter of the Bulldogs’ ability to put it all together.
4. Chattanooga Mocs
2023 Record: 21-12
One of the most powerful teams in the SoCon over the last decade, the Mocs look to rebound from a disappointing end to 2023. The good news for the Mocs: all-conference selection Honor Huff is back to man the point and other pieces return in the backcourt capable of taking pressure off the junior phenom. Guard Trey Bonham returns after averaging 16 points per game and will look to complement Huff. Down low, the Mocs are relatively unproven but will rely on a bevy of transfers to improve a lackluster rebounding attack from a year ago.
Chattanooga can play fast or slow, which is a double edged sword at times that creates unnecessary turnovers. Finding its true identity offensively will be priority for third year man Dan Earl, who has done a remarkable job keeping the Mocs sustained atop the SoCon.
5. Furman Paladins
2023 Record: 17-16
After its miracle win over Virginia in 2022, the Paladins regressed to one game above .500 in 2023 and lost leading scorer and all-league selection JP Pegues to Auburn as well as the hardy Marcus Foster to Xavier. High-efficiency three point shooter PJay Smith Jr. is back and welcomes the addition of near-40% three ball shooter Jalen Sullinger from Kent State. There are a pair of returning forwards in Tyrese Hughey and Garrett Hien to look forward to, but there is a clear void down low. Finding a regular starter will be key.
The Paladins were a solid offensive outfit last season but struggled with shooting consistencies from behind the arc in particular. Furman sported one of the better defensive attacks in the SoCon last year and will look to lean on the unit until the offense comes together.
6. Western Carolina Wildcats
2023 Record: 22-10
After building up the program for the past handful of seasons, head coach Justin Gray left for Coastal Carolina and with him went four starters and a good chunk of the reserves. There are some returners like Bernard Pelote that can score down low, but the team will mostly be made up of newcomers that came along with new head man Tim Craft. One of those newcomers is former Princeton sniper Vernon Collins. With such an inexperienced team, expect WCU to struggle early but find its stride later in the year.
7. North Carolina Greensboro Knights
2023 Record: 21-11
Despite losing three vital pieces via the portal and graduation, the Knights return a strong nucleus headlined by one of the nation’s best shooters and mid-major players Donovan Atwell. Atwell averaged 11.2 points per game last season on 42% from three and will be the catalyst of the offense. Jalen Breath is another piece primed for a breakout season on the wing. The Knights will rely on a bevy of inexperienced but talented reserves to breathe live back into a team that fell flat at the end of 2023.
8. Mercer Bears
2023 Record: 16-17
After averaging 4.3 rebounds per night last season, lone returnee Jah Quinones must now evolve as a scorer to lead a Bears team in need of a stabilizing presence with the hire of new coach Ryan Ridder. High-upside shooter Jah Nze comes over from three-point bastion North Florida to float around the wing, and Campbell transfer Laurynas Vaistaras will step into a lead role early. Look for the Bears to rely more on a deep-focused offensive attack predicated on the three ball.
9. VMI Keydets
2023 Record: 4-28
Sporting one of the nation’s worst win-loss records in 2023 sank third year head coach Andrew Wilson’s overall record to 11-53. All five starters departed via graduation or through the portal, which leaves the Keydets with an empty slate on both sides of the ball. There are few returning reserves with meaningful minutes, with many early contributors likely being additions from the portal. Keep an eye on Indiana State transfer Augustinas Kiudulas.
10. Citadel Bulldogs
2023 Record: 11-21
Four starters were lost and well over half of its 2023 production is gone with them for The Citadel. With little returning experience for the Bulldogs, testing the waters in the frontcourt will be a priority early with many exceptional athletes rostered down low. Finding an identity on defense will be crucial, as The Citadel has sported one of the worst attacks in the SoCon for a handful of seasons.