
1. College of Charleston Cougars
LAST SEASON: 27-9, 15-5 (Tied for 2nd in South)
COACH: Bobby Cremins, 65-37 in three seasons at C of C
KEY RETURNEES: G Andrew Goudelock, 6-2, jr. (16.7 ppg, 44 3FG pct.); G Tony White Jr., 6-0, sr. (12 ppg, 39 3FG pct.); F Jeremy Simmons, 6-8, jr. (6.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg); G Donavan Monroe, 6-2, jr. (8.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg).
IMPACT NEWCOMERS: F Casaan Breeden, 6-8, sr.; F Willis Hall, 6-6, fr.; C Rashad Wright, 6-9, fr.; G Andrew Lawrence, 6-1, fr.
NOTES: Defensive stopper Antwaine Wiggins was lost for the season with a knee injury … The Cougars were picked to finish first in the SoCon South by league coaches … The coaches also named Goudelock the preseason player of the year.
OUTLOOK: The Cougars appear poised to capitalize on the first year of the post-Stephen Curry era in the SoCon. Question marks will be in the frontcourt, with the injury to Wiggins and loss of Jermaine Johnson and Dustin Scott from last year's squad.
2. Wofford Terriers
LAST SEASON: 16-14, 12-8 (4th in SoCon South)
COACH: Mike Young, 90-116 in seven seasons at Wofford
KEY RETURNEES: G Junior Salters, 6-1, sr. (15 ppg, 3.7 rpg); G Corey Godzinski, 6-8, sr. (7 ppg, 1.9 rpg); F Noah Dahlman, 6-6, jr. (17.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg); F Tim Johnson, 6-5, jr. (10 ppg, 8.7 rpg).
IMPACT NEWCOMERS: G Jamar Diggs, 6-2, jr.; G Cameron Rundles, 6-1, jr.; F Nathan Parker, 6-5, fr.; F Domas Rinksalis, 6-8, fr.
NOTES: Wofford returns all five starters from last year's team, plus transfers from Wayne State (Diggs) and Montana (Rundles) … Salters and Dahlman were named to the preseason All-SoCon squad … Schedule includes Pittsburgh, Georgia, Illinois, South Carolina and Michigan State.
OUTLOOK: Wofford will have a veteran team, with all five starters and 11 players back from the squad that won five of its last six regular season games a year ago.
3. Davidson Wildcats
LAST SEASON: 27-8, 18-2 (1st in SoCon South)
COACH: Bob McKillop, 367-233 in 20 seasons at Davidson
KEY RETURNEES: G/F Will Archambault, 6-6, sr. (8.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg); F Steve Rossiter, 6-7, sr. (6.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg); G Bryant Barr, 6-5, sr. (7.1 ppg, 34.6 3FG pct.).
IMPACT NEWCOMERS: G J.P. Kuhlman, 6-4, fr.; G Nik Cochran, 6-3, fr.; F Jake Cohen, 6-10, fr.
NOTES: Archambault was the lone Wildcat named to the preseason All-SoCon team by league coaches … Davidson will have plenty of size with Cohen joining 6-10 Frank Ben-Eze and 6-10 Dan Nelms up front.
OUTLOOK: How will the Wildcats fare without Stephen Curry (not to mention Andrew Lovedale and Max Paulhus Gosselin)? Junior Brendan McKillop, the coach's son, will get first shot at running the point, and the Wildcats have plenty of shooters and rugged defenders.
4. The Citadel Bulldogs
LAST SEASON: 20-13, 15-5 (Tied for 2nd in SoCon South)
COACH: Ed Conroy, 33-60 in three seasons at The Citadel
KEY RETURNEES: G Cameron Wells, 6-1, jr. (15.6 ppg 4.9 rpg); G Zach Urbanus, 6-2, jr. (10 ppg, 44.1 3FG pct.); F Bryan Streeter, 6-6, jr.; (3.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg); G/F Austin Dahn, 6-4, jr. (6.8 ppg, 32.7 3FG pct.).
IMPACT NEWCOMERS: C Joe Wolfinger, 7-0, sr.; F Harrison DuPont, 6-5, fr.; F/C Tristan Tremblay, 6-7, fr..
NOTES: Wells was named to the preseason All-SoCon team by league coaches … Wolfinger is a transfer from the University of Washington … F John Brown left school in August to transfer to Roane State.
OUTLOOK: The Citadel is coming off one of the best seasons in school history, and loses only top scorer Demetrius Nelson and Brown among top contributors. How well the 7-0 Wolfinger fits in will be key for the Bulldogs.
5. Furman Paladins
LAST SEASON: 6-24, 4-16 (6th in SoCon South)
COACH: Jeff Jackson, 28-63 in four seasons at Furman
KEY RETURNEES: G Jordan Miller, 6-2, jr. (13.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg); G Justin Dehm, 6-1, jr. (9.4 ppg, 34.6 3FG pct.); F Bryson Barnes, 6-6, so. (8.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg); F Noah States, 6-8, jr. (6.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg).
IMPACT NEWCOMERS: F Amu Saaka, 6-6, jr.; G Charlie Reddick, 6-5, fr.; F Colin Reddick, 6-9, fr.
NOTES: Saaka is a transfer from South Florida who is eligible this season after sitting out last year … Charlie and Colin Reddick are twin brothers from Powder Springs, Ga. … Furman did not have a player named to the preseason All-SoCon squad.
OUTLOOK: Troubled by youth and injuries a year ago, Furman should be more competitive. A fairly friendly non-conference schedule includes games at Rice, Clemson and South Carolina.
6. Georgia Southern Eagles
LAST SEASON: 8-22, 5-15 (5th in SoCon South)
COACH: Charlton Young, first year at GSU
KEY RETURNEES: G Willie Powers, 6-2, jr. (14.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg); G Antonio Hanson, 6-2, jr. (12.4 ppg, 40.5 3FG pct.); G Ben Drayton, 5-10, so. (11.5 ppg, 48.1 3FG pct.); F Sandy Perry, 6-7, sr. (6.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg).
IMPACT NEWCOMERS: F Rory Spencer, 6-8, jr.; G Alex Coxworth, 6-2, fr.; F Cameron Baskerville, 6-7, fr.
NOTES: Young, 38 and a former GSU player, replaces Jeff Price, who resigned after 10 seasons at the helm … Young came to GSU after a four-year stint as an assistant at Georgia Tech and stops at Jacksonville, Northeastern, Chattanooga and Auburn … Powers was named preseason All-SoCon.
OUTLOOK: The Eagles have some talent in the backcourt with Powers, Hanson and Drayton, but will need junior college transfer Spencer to come through up front.
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