RE: @Charleston - GAME 12 - CAA GAME 3
Charleston projected starters
PG Dimitrius Underwood (6-4 Gr.): 10.0 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.4 spg, .761 FT %
SG Brenden Tucker (6-3 Jr.): 11.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.9 spg, .446 3-Pt %
SF John Meeks (6-6 Gr.): 14.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.3 spg, .400 3-Pt %, .806 FT %
PF Ben Burnham (6-7 Fr.): 7.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.4 bpg, .488 FG %
C Osinachi Smart (6-8 Gr.): 4.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 0.5 bpg, .636 FG %, .813 FT %
Key bench players
G Reyne Smith (6-2 Fr.): 12.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.6 spg, .364 3-Pt %, 27.5 mpg
F Babacar Faye (6-8 Fr.): 5.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 0.5 spg, .500 FG %, 18.8 mpg
F Charles Lampten (6-11 Jr.): 1.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.1 bpg, 0.4 spg, 12.2 mpg
F Raekwan Horton (6-6 Fr.): 2.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.7 spg, 12.1 mpg
It appears to me that Pat Kelsey (Charleston's 1st year HC) is cut from a similar cloth as his predecessor, Earl Grant. Charleston seems to be more than capable of winning rock fights. But even though they've failed to reach 70 in either of their first 2 CAA contests, they were a solid offensive team in non-conference play, averaging 80.2 points per contest despite playing the # 81 toughest non-conference schedule in the nation.
Grad transfers Meeks and Underwood are the guys to watch, as the offense runs through them. They are able to co-exist in the starting lineup together, but either can operate comfortably as the primary ball-handler. Meeks, who comes to CofC from Bucknell, has a lot of similarities to Jaylen Sims, as he's a 6-6 guy who can play PG while also being the top scoring option. Like Sims, he also chips in nicely as a rebounder and defender, and he's an excellent free throw shooter. Underwood, a D-III grad transfer, has stuffed the stat-sheet, and in the proces leads the team in assists, rebounds, and steals. He's not a perimeter shooter (1-16 on the season) but he does everything else well.
Tucker, Burnham and Smart are all relatively recent additions to the starting lineup; all three have been in the rotation all season, but none have received more than 8 starts. Reyne Smith, who had started the first 13 games of the season before moving to the bench in the team's January 9th win over Elon, leads the team in 3-point attempts (107), but Tucker moved into the lineup at least in part for his perimeter efficiency, as he's 25-56 (.446) from deep. Charleston has frontcourt depth for days between Burnham, Smart, Faye, Lampten and Horton. The 6-11 Lampten could in particular give the Seahawks trouble, given his rim protection abilities (16 blocks). I wouldn't be surprised to see an uptick in minutes for him in this contest.
What sticks out to me about Charleston is that everyone on the team rebounds, and everyone on the team is capable of generating turnovers. Underwood in particular is going to be dangerous in the latter category, as he's recorded 9 steals in his first 2 CAA contests.
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