Southern Conference Preview

The following preview is provided by Blue Ribbon. For the most thorough preview available of the upcoming season, order the 2002-03 Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, on sale now at 1-800-775-2518.   Blue Ribbon Forecast No. North Division Team  '01-02 Conf. Rec. (Overall) 1. East Tennessee State  11-5 (18-10)  2. UNC-Greensboro  11-5 (20-10)  3. Western Carolina  6-10 (12-16)  4. Davidson  11-5 (21-9)  5. Virginia Military  7-9 (15-16)  6. Appalachian State  5-11 (10-18)  No. South Division Team  '01-02 Conf. Rec. (Overall) 1. Furman  7-9 (17-14)  2. Georgia Southern  9-7 (16-12)  3. College of Charleston  9-7 (21-9)  4. Wofford  5-11 (11-18)  5. Chattanooga  9-7 (16-14)  6. The Citadel  8-8 (11-18)  All-Conference Team Did You Know? G: Mike Lenzly SR, Wofford F: James Maye SR, UNC Greensboro F: Karim Souchu SR, Furman F: Jason Conley SO, VMI F: Kevin Martin SO, Western Carolina Player of the Year Jason Conley SO, VMI Newcomer of the Year Brad Nuckles FR, East Tennessee State Top Backcourts 1. Furman 2. Georgia Southern 3. Davidson Top Frontcourts 1. East Tennessee State 2. UNC Greensboro 3. VMI 2002-03 Conference Tournament March 5-8, North Charleston Coliseum, Charleston, SC 2001-02 Champions Davidson, UNC Greensboro, ETSU (North Division co-champs) Col. of Chas, Ga. Southern, Chattanooga (South Division co-champs) Davidson (Conference tournament) After an unprecedented season of parity in which half the teams in the league tied for one of the league's two division titles, the Southern has a lot of talent to replace this season. Only four of the league's top 10 scorers return. VMI's Jason Conley became the first freshman in the history of the NCAA to lead the nation in scoring at 29.3 points per game. His spectacular debut overshadowed Western Carolina's Kevin Martin, who finished seventh nationally at 22.1 points per game. Without Conley, Martin would have been the highest scoring freshman in league history. It's the sixth time a player from the Southern Conference led the nation in scoring. Furman's Frank Selvy did it twice at 29.5 points per game in 1954 and 41.7 points per game in 1954, followed by fellow Paladin Darrell Floyd at 35.9 in 1955 and 33.8 in 1956. Bob McCurdy, from former league member Richmond, led the nation in 1975 at 32.9. Conley is the league's top returning scorer, while East Tennessee State junior Zakee Wadood is the league's top returning rebounder. The Southern Conference will be realigned slightly next year, as long-time member Virginia Military moves to the Big South and the league brings in Elon. VMI is the oldest remaining member of the league, which began in 1924. With the change, which won't take effect until next basketball season, Davidson and Chattanooga will switch divisions and Elon will take VMI's spot in the North Division. UNC Greensboro is making its first appearance in the Preseason NIT. The league welcomes two new coaches this season, Tennessee-Chattanooga's Jeff Lebo, who was hired from Tennessee Tech, and College of Charleston's Tom Herrion, who was Pete Gillen's top assistant at Virginia the last four years.

 

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