The Dean's List - Feb. 19, 2025

The Dean’s List 

February 19, 2025 

 I. Inside the SoCon

The competitive balance continues in SoCon men’s basketball.  Yes, Chattanooga is the hottest team in the league right now having won seven straight games, but as good as they have been, there is not much separation between the Mocs and several of the teams at the top.  At a quick glance, it looks like there are seven teams fighting for the top six spots but make no mistake, anything is possible.  To confirm that, in league play home teams are 35-35. 

The important thing right now is for every team to either keep or try to gather some positive momentum as they head toward the Ingles SoCon Basketball Championships which begin March 7 in Asheville.  In many ways, basketball can be a game of rhythm and pace, especially during the later stages of the regular season.  Therefore, no coaching staff or player wants to do anything to interrupt the regular flow of games, practice, skill work, film study and weight training during the remainder of the regular season.  Everyone wants to be peaking and playing their best in March. 

Who will have the momentum – mentally and physically - to win three (or four) games in Asheville?  That’s the big question right now. While most would consider Chattanooga, UNCG and Samford the favorites, if ETSU is healthy, they have enough firepower to win the tournament and don’t underestimate Wofford, Furman or VMI.  And even though Mercer and Western Carolina have had some tough luck at times, they are capable of winning multiple games in Asheville.  

Unfortunately, there’s no chance of an at-large team in the league this year which will put added pressure on every possession and every game during the tournament.  As usual, this should be a fun weekend in Asheville for the fans. But first, there are two more weeks of the regular season! 

  II. SoCon Fast Facts

• History was made during their win over Samford on February 8 as ETSU recorded its third straight crowd of over 5,000 fans inside Freedom Hall – a streak that has never happened during the Bucs' 10 seasons playing inside the venue 

• Western Carolina’s Cord Stansberry is sixth in the nation in free throw percentage at .926 

• UNCG guard Donovan Atwell is sixth in the nation in three-point field goals made with 87 

• Wofford forward Kyler Filewich is 14^th in the nation in offensive rebounds per game. He’s currently getting 3.59/game 

• ETSU forward Jaden Seymour is the only Southern Conference player to record a triple double this season 

• Chattanooga is 16^th in the nation in assists per game at 17.1.  Furman and Samford are tied for 18^th at 16.9 per game 

• UNCG is 15^th in the country in field goal percentage defense at .394 

• Samford is ninth in the nation in turnovers per game at 16.1 

• Samford is 10^th in the nation in steals with 9.6 per game 

• Chattanooga has five active players who have scored 1,000+ points in their college careers 

• Samford has reached 20 wins for the fourth consecutive season. In fact, the Bulldogs are 91-35 since the start of the 2021-2022 season 

 III. Top storylines this season in the Southern Conference 

 1. VMI – The story of the season thus far.  Andrew Wilson and staff have orchestrated a terrific turnaround.  The Keydets are a threat every night out and could make some noise in Asheville 

2. Competitive Balance – 40% of league games have been decided by 5 points or gone to overtime.  Through games of February 15, the home team is 35-35 in conference games 

3. Chattanooga – The Mocs are hot.  They’ve won seven straight, including six straight Southern Conference road games.  This ties a program record for a road winning streak in conference play.  In addition, they have climbed to No. 113 in the NET Rankings.  They’ve risen 103 spots (216) since the start of SoCon play 

4. Injuries – Injuries have played a key role with teams in recent weeks. In particular, ETSU has been without Jaden Seymour and now John Buggs III

IV. Role Players

Only five players can start a basketball game, but the good teams have guys that understand their role coming off the bench.  It’s the coaching staff’s responsibility to put players in the right roles and it’s the player’s responsibility to accept those roles. When that happens, good things follow. 

 The really good teams have role players that understand their job and embrace it - they keep the rhythm and energy of the game going when entering the game. No one in the SoCon does this better than Samford where Bucky McMillan regularly uses 10-11 players. 

As we enter the final two weeks of the regular season, guys off the bench are of critical importance.  Here are some key qualities to being a great bench / role player: 

• Be a great practice player 

• Provide great energy to the team at all times 

• Are totally into the game at all times, even before entering the game 

• Always pay close attention to the scouting report 

• Take their role very seriously 

• Love to compete and always have an edge 

• Stay in great physical condition because they will play variable minutes in each game 

• Have the ability to play and/or guard multiple positions, thus adding to their value 

• Accept their role in positive possessions played rather than minutes played 

• Value winning more than anything else 

Great role players don’t think in terms of what “they can’t do”, but rather “what they can/should do”- and they know this can change game-to-game. 

I know how much players as well as parents and others in a player’s inner circle put on starting, but it truly doesn’t matter.  If a player can fulfill the attributes listed above, they can be a valuable part to their team and effect winning every night out. 

 V. Slotting the Teams

 Teams are battling to finish in the top six.  The Citadel is the only team that we know will play on Friday in Asheville.  The final two weeks of the regular season should be lots of fun: 

Tier I  

• Chattanooga – The Mocs have won seven straight and are currently on their longest win streak since nine to open the 2020-21 season. The Mocs remain tied atop the SoCon standings with UNCG with four contests remaining on the regular season schedule.  They are healthy, they share the ball, and they make free throws when it counts. 

• Samford - Bucky McMillian can go 10-11 deep without much drop off.  Rylan Jones is their leader, while forward Jaden Brownell has been solid.  If Trey Fort found his shooting touch (career-high 36 in the win at Wofford) and Josh Holloway continues to play his role, this will be a very dangerous team in Asheville. 

• UNCG – The Spartans are solid at both ends of the floor and because of this will be one of the favorites in Asheville.  Mike Jones always has his team ready. The season finale on March 1 inside Fleming Gym against Samford looms large. 

Tier II 

• ETSU – The Bucs have been hit with the injury bug.  Quimari Peterson is playing at a high level and is certainly in the conversation for Player of the Year, but he can’t do it himself.  ETSU needs Jaden Seymour and John Buggs III to return to the lineup. If those two return, the Bucs can cut down the nets. 

• VMI – The story of the season in the SoCon are the VMI Keydets.  After winning just 3 combined league games the past two seasons, they are currently 7-7 and battling for a top six finish. They’re tough, they play hard and they are well coached. 

• Wofford – The Terriers had won three of four until losing at home to Samford.  This is a very capable bunch that has wins over UNCG, Furman and ETSU.  They can shoot threes and have Kyler Filewich inside who is a tough one-on-one match up for most teams in the league. 

• Furman - After going 12-1 in the non-conference, the Paladins have been up and down in conference play going 1-4 against Chattanooga, UNCG and Samford.  They have the talent to be very dangerous.  While just a sophomore, I still think Cooper Bowser is their X-factor.  After scoring a career-high 21 points in the win over Samford on January 29, he’s averaging just 7.6ppg during the last five games. 

• Western Carolina – The Catamounts have won two in a row and Marcus Kell is playing as well as anyone in the league the past two weeks.  A redshirt sophomore, Kell is averaging 20.3 ppg, 11 rpg, 48% 3FG over the past four games. 

• Mercer – The Bears have had a tough stretch losing five in a row.  That said, three were on the road.  If they can shoot a bit better from three and have better ball security, they have the perimeter play to beat anyone, especially in Asheville. 

• The Citadel – The Citadel is scrappy and continue to battle.  Unfortunately, they don’t have much to show for it.  They’ve lost their last two games by three points each.  The lack of a true knock down shooter as well as untimely turnovers, and missed free throws continue to plague the Bulldogs.  

Until the next “Dean’s List” on March 5, follow me on X:  @DeanKeener1