Preseason Preview: Charleston Southern

(Photo by Ryan Messier/Paint Touches)

The first official practices of the 18-19 college basketball season are in the books and Paint Touches is celebrating by counting down every Marquette opponent from worst to first. Each preview will contain a look at how the opponent did last season, who they lose, who they gain, reasonable expectations for their season, and our own prediction of how their matchup(s) with Marquette will go. This series will start with the most under of underdogs and progress all the way up to most unbeatable of opponents. We will be releasing one a day ending the day before Marquette’s exhibition with Carroll. That’s right, when this series ends, Marquette basketball will finally be here.

Team: Charleston Southern Buccaneers
17-18 Record: 15-16 (9-9 Big South)
Postseason?: Nada
17-18 KenPom: 246
Date: November 27, 2018
Location: Fiserv Forum
Coach: Barclay Radebaugh (14th season)
Projected KenPom Range: 225-275
Projected Conference Finish: 5/11 in the Big South

Departures from 17-18
Cortez Mitchell: Starting PG: 22.7 mpg, 9.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.0 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.1 bpg, 1.5 tpg, .452 FG%, .255 3P% (Graduated)
Javis Howard: Starting C: 20.2 mpg, 5.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 0.5 apg, 0.4 spg, 0.2 bpg, 1.0 tpg, .511 FG%, .273 3P% (Graduated)
Jordan Jones: 3rd Man off the Bench: 15.6 mpg, 5.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.2 apg, 0.3 spg, 1.2 bpg, 1.2 tpg, .735 FG%, .000 3P% (Transferred to Marist)
Jamaal David: 4th Man off the Bench: 14.9 mpg, 3.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.2 apg, 0.3 spg, 0.3 bpg, 1.5 tpg, .407 FG%, .345 3P% (Transferred to Washburn)
Jamar Martin: 6th Man off the Bench: 7.8 mpg, 1.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.7 apg, 0.2 spg, 0.2 bpg, 0.4 tpg, .311 FG%, .136 3P% (Graduated)
JC Calvin: Benchwarmer: Appeared in 9 games (Graduated)
Abdul Sarki: Benchwarmer: Appeared in 6 games (Grad transferred to Coker)
Jamal Thomas: Benchwarmer: Appeared in 10 games (Graduated)
Alex Stewart: Benchwarmer: Appeared in 2 games (Left team for personal reasons)
34% of scoring, 42% of rebounding, 36% of assists, 27% of steals, 55% of blocks, 17% of 3PM

Arrivals:
Nate Louis: JUCO PG from South Georgia State College
Travis Anderson: 2-star PG, unranked by major recruiting services
Duncan LeXander: 2-star SF, unranked by major recruiting services
Timmy Sellers: 2-star PF, unranked by major recruiting services
Sadarius Bowser: 2-star C, unranked by major recruiting services
Dontrell Shuler: 2-star PG, unranked by major recruiting services
Jamir Moore: 2-star SF, unranked by major recruiting services
Brian Camacho: Walk-on PG

Probable Starters:
PG: Nate Louis: 5’11” 165 lb JR PG: 34.4 mpg, 17.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 6.1 apg, 2.2 spg, 0.0 bpg, 2.3 tpg, .410 FG%, .428 3P% (for JUCO South Georgia State College)
SG: Christian Keeling: 6’4” 175 lb JR: 33.6 mpg, 17.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.3 spg, 0.4 bpg, 2.4 tpg, .426 FG%, .315 3P%
SF: Phlandrous Fleming Jr: 6’4” 195 lb SO: 28.0 mpg, 10.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.4 bpg, 1.4 tpg, .417 FG%, .364 3P%
PF: Travis McConico: 6’6” 200 lb SR: 25.2 mpg, 10.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.3 bpg, 1.3 tpg, .438 FG%, .389 3P%
C: Ty Jones: 6’6” 215 lb SO: 19.0 mpg, 6.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.5 spg, 0.2 bpg, 1.6 tpg, .510 FG%, .182 3P%

Probable Bench:
Deontaye Buskey: 6’1” 160 lb SO PG
Sean Price: 6’5” 200 lb SO SF
Travis Anderson II: 6’0” 175 lb FR PG
Duncan LeXander: 6’8” 205 lb FR SF
Timmy Sellers: 6’8” 220 lb FR PF
Sadarius Bowser: 6’9” 220 lb FR C

Probable Benchwarmers:
Jamir Moore: 6’5” 180 lb FR SF
Dontrell Shuler: 6’2” 180 lb FR PG
Nathan Payne: 6’4” 180 lb SO SF
Brian Camacho: 6’0” 160 lb FR PG

Notes:
• Charleston Southern is a pretty garden variety buy game. They aren’t from the dregs of Division One but they aren’t likely to put up too much of a fight. Last season, the Buccaneers appeared to be heading for a disaster of a season. After winning their first conference game, they proceeded to drop six in a row, all but one of which was by double digits. A switch flipped for them and they finished the regular season 8-3 which allowed them to finish in the top half of their conference. From that team, they lose two starters, though they were the two weakest members of that starting group. With their best players returning, a large recruiting class incoming, and a lot of top teams in the Big South set to fall, Charleston Southern has a solid chance to finish near the top of their conference.
• The Bucs are led by a do it all rising junior. Chistian Keeling put up massive numbers from his first day on campus. Last season he led Charleston Southern in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and was second in blocks. Being a step above his teammates, he always has the defense’s full attention. He’s not the most efficient in the half court and his jumpshot accuracy leaves a lot to be desired. He is an abnormally athletic player with an elite ability to put the ball on the floor and score. He loves to take defenders one on one and he usually comes away on top. Where he truly shines is in transition when he is allowed to take full advantage of his athletic gifts. His weakness is on the defensive end. He is opportunistic but struggles to keep quicker guards in front of him.
• Coach Radebaugh pulled a minor coup when he landed JUCO product Nate Louis. Louis was the floor general for South Georgia State College. While not one of the traditional JUCO powerhouses, they did finish the season ranked in the top 30 programs in the NJCAA. His 6.1 assist per game was top 25 in the JUCO ranks. Combine this with his 17.7 points, 2.2 steals, 5.0 rebounds (at 5’11”), and 42% 3P shooting and you have a JUCO prospect who is set to be a star at the Division One level. His presence will allow Keeling to stay at his more natural position off the ball and should increase his efficiency.
• While Charleston Southern features one of the better low major backcourts in the country, they have a huge (or tiny depending on how you look at it) problem in the frontcourt. Their roster only features three players taller than 6’6” to go along with only three players bigger than 205 lbs. Height and weight aren’t everything in a post player but they sure are helpful. Of the limited forwards that they have, three of them are true freshmen who were all rated as 2-star prospects. Unless one of that trio really outplays their ranking, the Buccaneers are going to be starting 6’6” Travis McConico and 6’6” Ty Jones in the post. They have the offensive firepower in the backcourt to compete, but their frontcourt will get destroyed by bigger teams. Expect Ed Morrow and Theo John to have field days.

Prediction:
• Nothing too exciting here. Marquette slowly builds its lead from the opening bell. Every time the Buccaneers score, Marquette answers with four or five of their own. Ends in a 20-25 point victory.