Chuck Benson By The Slice – Brevard Preview

C-N Game Notes

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Carson-Newman (14-6, 11-5 South Atlantic Conference) will take aim at an eighth consecutive victory under C-N head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson against the Brevard Tornados (3-17, 3-13 SAC).

BC is the only team in the conference without a win against a Chuck Benson-coached Eagle club.

The Tornados have lost nine consecutive, the longest active losing streak in the SAC. Carson-Newman is trying to win four straight games for the first time this season.

"We're never going to overlook anyone because our preparation and respect is the same for every opponent," Benson said. "After what happened to us earlier this year against Tusculum (the Pioneers won their first conference game and snapped a 13-game losing streak against the Eagles) I don't think there will be any problems with us being ready or being prepared." 

The Eagles won the first meeting the two schools 101-73 back on January 15.  The Eagles shot 75 percent from the field and 83 percent from three in that contest en route to a 59-point first half and, at times, a 31-point lead.    

"We were able to force turnovers and convert them into point at a high rate in that first meeting," Benson said. "The second half was relatively close compared to the first."

Antoine Davis (Rustburg, Va.) has been particularly effective in his career against BC. He's averaged 23.4 points lifetime while shooting 53 percent from the field and 55 percent from three. He had 27 points, nine boards, five assists and five steals in the first meeting between the teams. 

Ish Sanders (Cleveland, Tenn.) is the reigning South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week after averaging 27.5 points and five boards a game in wins over no. 7 Lincoln Memorial and Lenoir-Rhyne. 

Both Davis (20.3) and Sanders (19.7) trail Brevard's Darius Moose (20.6) among the league's leading scorers. 

"He really does a good job with shot fakes to get good angles," Benson said. "We need to limit his touches, then if he does get touches, get multiple defenders to the ball.  The thing is, it's not just an issue of stopping Moose, they've got multiple players who can score the ball." 

Trevon Shaw, Dominique Pickett and Miles Leathers all average double figures for the Tornados.  All four players scored 10 or more against the Eagles in the first meeting. 

"They are very unique," Benson said. "They are the only team in the league that runs a true Princeton-style offense.  They are the only team in the league that runs a true matchup zone defense.  They'll force you to settle for jump shots if you're not very careful." 

Tipoff from Brevard is set for 8 p.m.  Pregame coverage on the Eagle Sports Network gets underway at 7:45 on 106.3 ESPN Radio The Zone (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live. 

-CN-