VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview   

"Before we even digest turkey, we've taken on murder's row," Benson said. "We're throwing our guys out there and seeing how they respond.  There's no doubt we can't take anyone for granted, we have to show up and play.  We have to make sure that every minute of every game, we bring it."

C-N opens up the season Nov. 11 at the Lander University Tipoff Classic in Greenwood, S.C. C-N starts the season against Southern Wesleyan before taking on Lander, the eight seed in the Southeast Region and defending Peach Belt Conference tournament champs. 

The Eagles beat SWU last year 83-69 before falling to the Bearcats 72-65 to start the season. 

C-N then plays back-to-back home games against UVA-Wise Nov. 16, which leads to an early season SAC battle with Lincoln Memorial on Nov. 22.  The Railsplitters are fresh off an appearance in the Division II title game and are ranked third in the Division II Bulletin preseason poll. 

"That's one of our primary rivalry games," Benson said. "That'll be a big night for us. We do quite a bit to try to educate our guys that they know the significance of this game. A large crowd for that contest would be quite meaningful."

Following Thanksgiving, the Eagles head to Owensboro, Ky., for a tournament featuring Hillsdale, Kentucky Wesleyan and Winona State.  The Eagles open play Nov. 25 against Hillsdale.  The Chargers, a perennial GLIAC power, went 18-10 last year and last made an NCAA tournament in 2012. 

The winner of that game gets the winner of the matchup between Kentucky Wesleyan and Winona State. KWC made a run to the NCAA tournament last year before bowing out to Wisconsin-Parkside.  Winona State went 16-13 last year.  The Warriors last made the NCAA tournament in 2013-14.   

Carson-Newman wraps up nonconference play Nov. 30 with Johnson C. Smith.  The Golden Bulls have beaten the Eagles in back-to-back season and took a 95-92 shootout win back to Charlotte last year. 

"The SAC is so tough," Benson said. "Every night in the SAC is a challenge.  We wanted to make certain we played a challenging, full Division II slate with our nonconference schedule.  We want to win every game, but we also want to set ourselves up for postseason success.  We're going to try to keep that thing stocked with quality Division II teams and let the chips fall where they made."   

The Eagles wrap up the first semester schedule with a road-home sandwich.

C-N jumps back into conference play Dec. 3 at Newberry before playing back-to-back home games against Queens and Catawba.  The Eagles close out the first half of the year on the road in Hickory at Lenoir-Rhyne, a team who made the Sweet 16 last year, on Dec. 17. 

The Eagles return to the hardwood New Year's Eve at Mars Hill. 

The second half of the schedule essentially features the Eagles at home for two games followed by two games on the road.  The exception to that is a nasty eight-game swing where C-N plays at LMU and Queens backt-to-back on Jan. 25 and 27.  That's followed by a home game against Mars Hill Feb. 1 before the Eagles hit the road again for contests Feb. 4 and 8 at Catawba and Anderson, respectively. 

C-N comes back home Feb. 11 against Lenoir-Rhyne before closing out its road schedule at Tusculum and Wingate.  That's six road games out of eight contests for the Eagles down the stretch run. 

Carson-Newman spends its final two games of the schedule in the friendly confines at Holt Fieldhouse. The Eagles take on Brevard Feb. 22 and celebrate senior day against Coker on Feb. 25.