Coastal Carolina Preview (MBB)

We've never played Coastal Carolina before, but we will tomorrow....in the home leg of the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge.

Since the mid-80s, the Chanticleers (bad ass nickname) have made the NCAA Tourney four times. The last time was in 2015.  All four times, they were a 15 or 16 seed.  They have never won a game. 

They were once coached by Buzz Peterson.  Cliff Ellis coached them for 17 years, ending only recently,  You will remember him from stints at Clemon and Auburn.  He's the 9th winningest coach in D1 history. In 2023 they were off to a 3-5 start and he retired and the interim coach took them to a 9-22 season.  This year, Justin Gray took over after 3 years at Western Carolina (51-47).  They are 8-16 (6-16 in D1) and 1-11 this year and have lost 10 straight.

I wanted to look up what part of North Carolina they are in....only to find out that they are in Conway, SOUTH Carolina.  (Oops). 

Founded in 1954, Coastal Carolina, alumni include Dustin Johnson and Josh Norman. Tony Dunkin, a former Chanticleer, is the only men's basketball player in NCAA Division I history to be named the conference player of the year all four seasons he played. 

They won the College World Series in 2016.

They were picked last in the Sun Belt.  When Grey came in, he had to replace their top seven scorers. Their kenpom is 325.   Kenpom gives BG a 65% chance of winning on home court.

The Chanticleers play at 62 possessions a game, one of the three lowest in the country (All games). That's Charlie Coles slow.  Their offense, at 1.01 points per possession, is not very good.  But their defense, at 1.16 is 337th in the country.  They allow 1.20 in conference play.

They take 40% of their shots from 3FG, which is average. They make 34.5% from 3FG, which is a little above average, but they only make 49% from 2FG% which is below average. They are poor on turnovers and offensive rebounds, and they do get to the line but only make 69%.

On defense, they actually defend the shot pretty well, both 2FGs and 3FGs.  However, they force turnovers on 10.6% of possessions with the average being 17%. They are good on the defensive boards and give up an above average free throw rate.  This is one of those odd situations where the individual elements are not bad, but the overall total is.

Their leading scorer is Rasheed Jones, who is scoring 12.4 PPG on 45% and 36% shooting.  He transferred over from Western Carolina with the Coach. 

Jordan Battle is the 2nd leading scorer, who scores 12.1 PPG on 44% and 41% from 3FG, which is really good.  He played at Salt Lake Community College with Preston Squire.

Noah Amenhauser scores 10 PPG.  He's 7'2" and makes 60% of his 2FGs plus 5.6 RPG.   He transferred from Grand Canyon.  Their leading rebounder is Denzel Hines with 6.3 RPG.  He transferred from High Point University.