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Charleston Southern Selected Big South Preseason Favorite

CSU returns three starters and eight letterwinners from a 2012-13 squad that won 19 games, captured the Big South South Division title, and advanced to the NIT. The Bucs reached national postseason play for the second time in program history behind a high-powered offense that finished 39th in the country in scoring, and second in made three-point field goals per game.

Charleston Southern Picked to Win Big South Conference - Post and Courier: Charleston, SC

“We came up one game short last year and that has been the motivating factor all summer and all through the preseason,” said (CSU Head Coach, Barclay) Radebaugh. “We did not finish last year and our goal is to finish this year. We have had a productive summer and a really good preseason. With so many returning players, the preseason has gone smoothly. We’re excited to get started.”

The Bucs are led by a pair of preseason first-team all-conference selections in junior guards Saah Nimley and Arlon Harper. Nimley ranked fifth in the league in scoring last season at 15.9 points per game, and Harper was eighth at 15.3 points per game. “Saah and Arlon are very deserving of the accolades they receive,” Radebaugh said. “They’ll be the first to tell you this is a team sport. They’ll be the first to tell you that the strength of our team is our depth. That being said, we also recognize that they’re very talented and very deserving of the recognition. They bring a great confidence and swagger to our team, and we are excited to see them continue to grow as upperclassmen.”

BJuice wrote:Charleston Southern Selected Big South Preseason Favorite

CSU returns three starters and eight letterwinners from a 2012-13 squad that won 19 games, captured the Big South South Division title, and advanced to the NIT. The Bucs reached national postseason play for the second time in program history behind a high-powered offense that finished 39th in the country in scoring, and second in made three-point field goals per game.

Charleston Southern Picked to Win Big South Conference - Post and Courier: Charleston, SC

“We came up one game short last year and that has been the motivating factor all summer and all through the preseason,” said (CSU Head Coach, Barclay) Radebaugh. “We did not finish last year and our goal is to finish this year. We have had a productive summer and a really good preseason. With so many returning players, the preseason has gone smoothly. We’re excited to get started.”

The Bucs are led by a pair of preseason first-team all-conference selections in junior guards Saah Nimley and Arlon Harper. Nimley ranked fifth in the league in scoring last season at 15.9 points per game, and Harper was eighth at 15.3 points per game. “Saah and Arlon are very deserving of the accolades they receive,” Radebaugh said. “They’ll be the first to tell you this is a team sport. They’ll be the first to tell you that the strength of our team is our depth. That being said, we also recognize that they’re very talented and very deserving of the recognition. They bring a great confidence and swagger to our team, and we are excited to see them continue to grow as upperclassmen.”

Who is CSUs frosh of impact???

dal4018 wrote:Who is CSUs frosh of impact???

We only have one Sophomore on the roster. However, we have one Freshman who has a legitimate chance of being REAL special. He was "Mr. Basketball" for the state of South Carolina last year. That means he was the South Carolina 4A (highest classification / level of competition in the state) High School Player of the Year.

Tre Smith Bio

BJuice wrote:

dal4018 wrote:Who is CSUs frosh of impact???

We only have one Sophomore on the roster. However, we have one Freshman who has a legitimate chance of being REAL special. He was "Mr. Basketball" for the state of South Carolina last year. That means he was the South Carolina 4A (highest classification / level of competition in the state) High School Player of the Year.

Tre Smith Bio

I'm impressed how did this guy slip through the fingers of Clemson,South Carolina with those numbers?!?! He looks like a classic tweener!!! 6-3 195.

dal4018 wrote:I'm impressed how did this guy slip through the fingers of Clemson, South Carolina with those numbers?!?! He looks like a classic tweener!!! 6-3 195.

I know. He is from Simpsonville. That is right in Clemson's back yard. We have a great coaching staff. They are tireless recruiters and very hard workers. Former South Carolina Gamecock BJ McKie is on our staff. He is a big time name in the state and that helps.

I have a few thoughts on how we got him...

1. From the Charleston Southern recruiting perspective, we are arguably and realistically one of the top, if not the top, men's college basketball teams in the state. Aside from possibly College of Charleston (now competing in the A10), we are the only team in the state that can realistically say to a kid we are recruiting that if you come to Charleston Southern, you can play in the NCAA Tournament. That is really all every kid wants a chance to do is play in the NCAA Tournament. We can realistically state that for this year and next. Other schools might say that, but realistically they don't have a chance.

2. Aside from playing the in NCAA Tournament, kids want to play against the best. We can also provide that. The Big South Conference is a very solid mid-major conference. We always play an out-of-conference schedule that allows for great national exposure. This year we play at New Mexico, at Baylor, at Alabama, and at Florida State for our games against top-tier conferences.

3. As for Clemson, with the additions to the ACC. Clemson's chances of competing have decreased. They are in the second half of the ACC and to get to the top half is going to take a great change and also a significant fall off from several teams near the top. Not likely to happen. I'm still not sure they have a very good coach and a coach that can allow Clemson to have a good ACC basketball program.

4. As for University of South Carolina. Coach Martin is still trying to build that program. Unlike Clemson, he has a national identity because of his success at Kansas State. He can and is recruiting nationally. He should be able to get the job done at South Carolina, but it will be a while (2 or 3 years) before the Gamecocks are in position to compete for a spot in the NCAA Tournament or even the NIT. Coach Martin has a lot of work to do with that program. The SEC is not the ACC, so I believe he can do it.

BJuice wrote:

dal4018 wrote:I'm impressed how did this guy slip through the fingers of Clemson, South Carolina with those numbers?!?! He looks like a classic tweener!!! 6-3 195.

I know. He is from Simpsonville. That is right in Clemson's back yard. We have a great coaching staff. They are tireless recruiters and very hard workers. Former South Carolina Gamecock BJ McKie is on our staff. He is a big time name in the state and that helps.

I have a few thoughts on how we got him...

1. From the Charleston Southern recruiting perspective, we are arguably and realistically one of the top, if not the top, men's college basketball teams in the state. Aside from possibly College of Charleston (now competing in the A10), we are the only team in the state that can realistically say to a kid we are recruiting that if you come to Charleston Southern, you can play in the NCAA Tournament. That is really all every kid wants a chance to do is play in the NCAA Tournament. We can realistically state that for this year and next. Other schools might say that, but realistically they don't have a chance.

2. Aside from playing the in NCAA Tournament, kids want to play against the best. We can also provide that. The Big South Conference is a very solid mid-major conference. We always play an out-of-conference schedule that allows for great national exposure. This year we play at New Mexico, at Baylor, at Alabama, and at Florida State for our games against top-tier conferences.

3. As for Clemson, with the additions to the ACC. Clemson's chances of competing have decreased. They are in the second half of the ACC and to get to the top half is going to take a great change and also a significant fall off from several teams near the top. Not likely to happen. I'm still not sure they have a very good coach and a coach that can allow Clemson to have a good ACC basketball program.

4. As for University of South Carolina. Coach Martin is still trying to build that program. Unlike Clemson, he has a national identity because of his success at Kansas State. He can and is recruiting nationally. He should be able to get the job done at South Carolina, but it will be a while (2 or 3 years) before the Gamecocks are in position to compete for a spot in the NCAA Tournament or even the NIT. Coach Martin has a lot of work to do with that program. The SEC is not the ACC, so I believe he can do it.

How did you guys lure McKie onto your staff???? Clemson is slipping this kid was snached up right under their very nose.

dal4018 wrote:How did you guys lure McKie onto your staff???? Clemson is slipping this kid was snached up right under their very nose.

I believe that CSU Head Coach Barclay Radebaugh knew BJ from the time Coach Radebaugh was an assistant for Coach Eddie Fogler at South Carolina. I believe that was when BJ was when BJ was playing for the Gamecocks.

Clemson has been slipping in basketball for quite a while. They are irrelevant in basketball. Mediocre at best. Now, with a stronger ACC in basketball (many thought the ACC couldn't get stronger, it is stronger and deeper), they have little chance of competing.

BJuice wrote:

dal4018 wrote:How did you guys lure McKie onto your staff???? Clemson is slipping this kid was snached up right under their very nose.

I believe that CSU Head Coach Barclay Radebaugh knew BJ from the time Coach Radebaugh was an assistant for Coach Eddie Fogler at South Carolina. I believe that was when BJ was when BJ was playing for the Gamecocks.

Clemson has been slipping in basketball for quite a while. They are irrelevant in basketball. Mediocre at best. Now, with a stronger ACC in basketball (many thought the ACC couldn't get stronger, it is stronger and deeper), they have little chance of competing.

Maybe it's coaching????