Cougars To Host The Citadel In Season Opener at TD Arena

Friday, November 11

TD Arena

7:00 PM

College of Charleston

The Citadel

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Photo by: Al Samuels

Cougars To Host The Citadel In Season Opener at TD Arena

11/10/2016 8:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball

The Citadel Game Notes

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (0-0, 0-0 CAA) vs. THE CITADEL (0-0, 0-0 SoCon)
Game #1
November 11, 2016 • 7:00 p.m. (ET)
TD Arena/John Kresse Court (5,100)
at Charleston, S.C.

Television: None
Radio: College of Charleston Radio Network (ESPN Radio 910 AM)
Series History: CofC Leads 54-39
Last Meeting: CofC def. The Citadel, 82-74, on Dec. 5, 2015 at McAlister Field House in Charleston, S.C.
Internet: Free Live Statistics at www.CofCStats.com
Live Video: Free Live Video at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/charleston/
Twitter: @CofCBasketball

THE COACHES
College of Charleston: Earl Grant
Third Year at CofC: 26-38
Third Year Overall: 26-38
The Citadel: Duggar Baucom
Second Year at The Citadel: 10-22
13th Year Overall: 198-200

RADIO (College of Charleston Radio Network)
Play-By-Play: Everett German
Color Analyst: Danny Johnson

GAME PREVIEW
The College of Charleston men's basketball team will tip-off its 107th overall season fittingly with one of its longest-played opponent series to date in crosstown rival The Citadel on Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. (ET) at TD Arena. The game is presented by Chick-fil-A. The 94th all-time meeting between both schools will feature the nation's top returning defenses and top returning offenses. Under third-year head coach Earl Grant, the Cougars' signature defense and system held opponents to 62.0 points per game last season, which ranked eighth-best in the country. This year, CofC will look to add more on the offensive end with several key players returning to the lineup and extra firepower of options off the bench at every position. Last year, the Bulldogs ranked No. 2 in the nation in scoring offense (86.0 ppg) with 12 games over the 90+ point threshold. The Cougars are coming off a 118-67 exhibition victory over Allen University, while The Citadel routed North Greenville (97-62) in its lone preseason tune-up on Nov. 4.

BULLDOG WATCH
Like CofC, The Citadel will play a tough non-conference schedule with the likes of Iowa State, Arizona State and Virginia Tech. The Bulldogs are led by second-year head coach Duggar Baucom and return three of their starters from last year's 10-22 squad. Senior guard Warren Sledge averaged 10.3 points a year ago, while sophomore center Zane Najdawi averaged 7.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Last year, the Cadets also made the third-most three-point field goals per game (11.3) among NCAA statistical leaders.

COFC IN SEASON OPENERS
The Cougars are 13-2 all-time in home openers since 1991-92. Last year, they opened the season with South Carolina State (W, 74-54) on Nov. 13, 2015 at TD Arena. In the Earl Grant Era, CofC is 2-0 in season openers.

COUGARS ON THE AIRWAVES
Fans can listen to all CofC men's basketball games throughout the 2016-17 season on ESPN Radio 910 AM in Charleston or via a live audio link at: www.charlestonsportsradio.com. Voice of the Cougars Everett German will call the action live from TD Arena along with color analyst Danny Johnson on the College of Charleston Radio Network.

PROJECTED COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON STARTERS (*2015-16 Statistics)
#13 Joe Chealey, G, 6-4, 195, RS-Jr. (DNP*)
#12 Cameron Johnson, G, 6-4, 200, Jr. (12.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.4 apg, 33.1 min*)
#3 Payton Hulsey, G, 6-5, 225, Sr. (5.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.3 apg, 28.7 min*)
#5 Jarrell Brantley, F, 6-7, 250, So. (11.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.3 apg, 28.4 min*)
#0 Chevez Goodwin, F, 6-9, 205, Fr. (DNP*)

PROJECTED CITADEL STARTERS (*2015-16 Statistics)
#1 Frankie Johnson, G, 5-9, 150, Fr. (DNP*)
#2 Quayson Williams, G, 5-11, 170, So. (9.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.0 apg, 18.9 min*)
#5 Warren Sledge, G, 6-3, 180, Sr. (10.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, 28.3 min*)
#10 Leandro Allende, F, 6-6, 190, Fr. (DNP*)
#35 Zane Najdawi, C, 6-7, 205, So. (7.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.4 apg, 18.5 min*)

INSIDE THE RIVALRY SERIES
College of Charleston and The Citadel first met in 1901. The Cougars lead 54-39 in the all-time series and have won 23 of the last 26 meetings between the two crosstown rival schools including 10 of the last 12. CofC claimed an 82-74 victory at McAlister Field House in last season's annual meeting.

LAST 12 GAMES IN THE SERIES
W, 82-74, at McAlister Field House on 12/5/15
W, 59-55, at TD Arena on 12/2/14
W, 72-48, at McAlister Field House on 12/29/13
W, 69-54, at TD Arena on 1/24/13
W, 73-69, at McAlister Field House on 1/14/13
W, 55-47, at McAlister Field House on 2/25/12
W, 83-64 at TD Arena on 12/1/11
W, 85-63 at McAlister Field House on 2/17/11
W, 87-66 at TD Arena on 1/15/11
L, 65-72 at TD Arena on 2/8/10
W, 61-55 at McAlister Field House on 1/9/10
L, 58-72 at TD Arena on 2/14/09

PRESEASON BY THE NUMBERS
26 – Number of years the College of Charleston and the men's basketball program has competed on the NCAA Division I level. The Cougars' first season as a Division I member was 1991-92. CofC boasts a 533-240 (.690) all-time record since joining the NCAA Division I ranks. The Cougars' all-time winning percentage currently ranks sixth on the active NCAA Division I list behind the likes of Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, Duke and UNLV.

10 – Number of CofC returners including the team's top returning scorer in junior Cameron Johnson (12.3 ppg), a 2016 All-CAA Third Team and CAA All-Defensive Team selection.

8 – The final NCAA statistical national ranking the Cougars finished in scoring defense holding opponents to 62.0 points per game in 2015-16. They also led the CAA in the same category.

7 – CofC will face seven opponents on its schedule that advanced to postseason play a year ago including defending national champion Villanova on Nov. 23 at The Pavilion in Villanova, Pa. It will mark the fourth all-time meeting in program history for the Cougars to take on the defending national champion in their non-conference slate next to North Carolina (2009-10), Louisville (2013-14) and Connecticut (2014-15).

COUGAR SOUND BITES
"Aside from the rivalry, it is everyone's first game of the season and we are all excited to play. Obviously, it is a team in the same city. There are a lot of positives of playing games in the city just like the Big Five does in Philadelphia. The Citadel dates have just worked out with our schedule and we will continue the series as long as we can. We play two good teams and tests before the Charleston Classic in The Citadel on Friday and at Coastal Carolina on Monday. Both will be very challenging. The excitement though is because college basketball is back." – College of Charleston Head Coach Earl Grant on the crosstown rivalry game with The Citadel

"They are a good program. You have to be prepared for the press. If you play against a pressing team, you get your press offense and try to attack. They do a great job. Every game in our first three-or-four contests are all different and present different game plans. You have to plan accordingly. Every program has a different style of play. Some play fast, some play slow and some play zone. Everyone does different things. We just happen to try to defend, rebound and take away shots. If the game forces us to play fast, we will play fast. If we can slow it down, we will." – Coach Grant on The Citadel's running offense

"It's good to have a home game to open up the season and kick it all off. The season feels like it's been here for weeks, especially after we played Clemson in a closed scrimmage. We expect a good home crowd. As far as The Citadel, their style of play isn't as bizarre to us, because we just need to play our own game. We will defend, we will play hard and we will be focused on the game plan." – CofC junior guard Cameron Johnson on the season opener against The Citadel