College of Charleston Cougars
Overall Rank: #119
Conference Rank: #2 Southern Conference
College of Charleston Team Page
2010-11: 26-11, 14-4
2010-11 postseason: NIT
Coach: Bobby Cremins (113-60 at College of Charleston, 567-367 overall)
With the loss of his top three scorers, Coach Bobby Cremins has a little rebuilding to do. Yet, there is talent waiting in the wings. This group may not win 26 games again this year, but they will be right in the mix for a Southern Conference title. Antwaine Wiggins is the star of the team. He is a superb all-around player who can create mismatches in the Southern Conference. The 6-7 small forward has enough speed to get around most defenders and can shoot over most of defenders as well. He needs to boost his scoring output up from his 7.9 points per game average of a year ago, but with his ability to shoot the long ball and attack the basket, that should not be a problem. Wiggins also provides the Cougars with a great rebounder on the wing and this team should be able to be very effective on the glass.
Who’s Out:
Andrew Goudelock will sorely be missed after leading the Cougars with 23.7 points and 4.2 assists per game in 2010-2011. He connected on 3.5 three-pointers per game and connected on 40.7 percent of his attempts. Few players had any luck stopping Goudelock and rarely stopped himself by taking bad shots. That production will not be replaced by one player. Donavan Monroe was Goudelock’s backcourt mate and averaged 12.4 points per game. Jeremy Simmons was Charleston’s best interior scorer and he too is gone.
Who’s In:
Adjehi Baru could very well be the best interior scorer on the team by March. The highly regarded recruit was a great pickup for Coach Cremins and College of Charleston. Baru is a high energy big man who can run up and down the floor quite well for a 6-9, 215 pound center. He is decent scorer facing the basket or with his back to the basket. With his size and strength, Baru should be counted on to do quite a bit of scoring. On the other end of the floor, he is a solid rebounder and is expected to be a good rebounder. The backcourt is in need of some help and they will get it with Trevonte Dixon and Anthony Stitt. Both will likely start off the year on the bench, but either could step into a starting role sooner rather than later.
Who to Watch:
Without Goudelock and Monroe, there is not much experience in the backcourt. Andrew Lawrence is the only returning player with any significant experience. Lawrence is a good shooter and a decent ball handler. He will likely start off the year running the point, but he could go back to his shooter off the bench role if the newcomers are ready to take over. Jordan Scott hardly saw the floor as a freshman. With the talent in front of him it is understandable. However, there are high hopes for Scott to turn into the productive backcourt scorer this team so desperately needs. If he does not do it, the freshmen better be really good or this group may lack a solid perimeter scorer.
Final Projection:
The frontcourt has options. Trent Wiedeman, a 6-8 sophomore, is full of potential after a superb freshman campaign. He averaged 8.4 points and 6.6 rebounds last year and will be a full-time starter this year. If Wiedeman can continue to develop his game and knock down the mid-range jumper with consistency, he will vie for all-conference accolades. Teaming Wiedeman up with Baru in the frontcourt could be a very imposing duo for the next three years. Whether or not that dominance comes to fruition this year remains to be seen. Willis Hall is the only returning player to start all 37 games a year ago. He is not the most talented player around, but he is a scrappy player who never fails to hustle. If Charleston needs him to play 25 minutes per game, he can, and will do a pretty good job of it. Matt Sundberg is back after redshirting last year and James Carlton will provide plenty of depth to the talented frontcourt. This team just needs to find somebody who can feed the ball into the big men and they will be very dangerous.
Projected Postseason Tournament: CBI/CIT
Projected Starting Five:
Andrew Lawrence, Junior, Guard, 5.8 points per game
Jordan Scott, Sophomore, Guard, 1.4 points per game
Antwaine Wiggins, Senior, Forward, 7.9 points per game
Willis Hall, Junior, Forward, 8.4 points per game
Trent Wiedeman, Senior, Forward, 8.4 points per game
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