VIDEO: Mason Bates Interview
Carson-Newman's guard play was a growing process in 2014-15 that ultimately saw it factor in mightily as the Eagles made a run to the South Atlantic Conference tournament championship and the NCAA tournament.
Bates and preseason first team All-SAC selection Charles Clark (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) each started at least 13 of the Eagles last 15 games. Mix in plenty of playing experience for three-point marksmen Andy Barnett (Pigeon Forge, Tenn.) and Christian Harris (Gold Canyon, Ariz.) and C-N returns four guards that saw plenty of on-court action.
"Bird and I got experience last year," Bates said. "Christian Harris and Andy Barnett both saw the floor last year too. We all know about the standards this program has and what we're supposed to do."
A South Atlantic Conference All-Freshman team selection and the MVP of the South Atlantic Conference Tournament, Clark scored 23 points and snagged nine boards to send the Eagles past No. 3 LMU and on to the SAC tournament title. Clark scored 74 points in the tournament, nine away from Anderson's Denzail Jones and the tournament record.
He set his career high in the semis against Newberry with 33 points on 10-for-16 shooting. Clark finished the year second on the team in scoring and second in the SAC among freshmen. He averaged 12.6 points per game coupled with 3.7 rebounds per contest.
Bates was Carson-Newman's sixth-leading scorer as a freshman. He appeared in 30 games and started 23, missing two because of a concussion. Bates shot 40 percent from the field and 30 percent from three en route to averaging 6.0 points per game. He also averaged 3.3 rebounds and dished out 2.4 assists per game. He connected on 76 percent of his free throws. Bates finished the year with six double-digit scoring efforts. He hit has career high of 15 twice, against Tusculum (1/21) and Mars Hill (1/7).
In addition to the four veteran guards, Carson-Newman also adds Zach Pangallo (Newport, Ky.) to the mix.
"Coach likes Zach and we like Zach," Bates said. "We think he can go run the point and handle the ball to be able to relieve some pressure from Bird. Regardless of expectations, it's not about wins and losses, it's about how we're able to go out and be able to perform. It's about how each player can go out and perform to their maximum level and give more than is expected of them."
Pangallo comes to Carson-Newman from Newport Central Catholic High School where he averaged 11.5 points and 4.2 assists per game as a senior. He finished his Thoroughbred career as the school's third all-time leader in assists. Pangallo spurned multiple Division I baseball scholarship offers to come to Carson-Newman for basketball. On the hardwood, Pangallo helped guide Newport Central Catholic to a trio of All A state titles as a well as a quartet of District 36 championships.
"We've worked on our defense to be able to contain more one-on-one and grasp the principles better," Bates said. "Then on the offensive end, it's more of the same from last year. Get the ball inside to our big men, then knock down shots from the perimeter to take pressure off them."
The Eagles will debut Friday, Nov. 13 at 8 p.m. against Southern Wesleyan. Coverage will be available on the Eagle Sports Network on Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
