Chuck Benson By The Slice – Coker Quarterfinal Preview

C-N Basketball Game Notes

Standing in the second-seeded Eagles' way is seventh-seeded Coker (14-12).  The squads split the regular season meetings.  The Eagles beat the Cobras at Holt Fieldhouse 87-77, but dropped a 68-59 decision at Timberlake-Lawton Gym back in the fourth game of the season. 

The Eagles' second place finish in the SAC is their highest in a decade. The Eagles were the number one seed in the SAC tournament in the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons. Carson-Newman can secure its first back-to-back 20-win seasons since those years.

"The first thing about Coker that's so concerning is that they have seven seniors," C-N head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson said. "They won't come in here with a mindset that they want to get it over with and get to spring break.  They play hard offensively and defensively.  Coach Schmotzer is so invested in that community and that school; he'll put forth a great product together for them."

Carson-Newman is 1-2 all-time as a two-seed in the SAC tournament.  The Eagles haven't been seeded second since 1995 when they defeated Gardner-Webb 81-76 in two overtimes in the opening round before falling in the semis to third-seeded Presbyterian 60-56. 

Carson-Newman is 11-12 all-time in the quarterfinals but 9-4 as a higher seed. 

C-N is averaging 84 points per game over the five contests leading into the SAC tournament.  The Eagles have shot 50 percent or better from the field in their last seven wins.  The solid play has also been evident defensively.  The Eagles are riding a seven-game streak where they have held their opponent at least six minutes or longer without a field goal.

"I think we've made great strides since even the second meeting," Benson said. "I think they will be more than ready for us, but I really like the improvement we've made as a team and just how different we are as a unit.  We hadn't established our post game as we have this past month."

Freshman forward Sawyer Williams (Owenton, Ky.) is coming off a career best 27-point, 10-rebound game – also his first career double-double – in C-N's 92-78 victory over Newberry. 

Carson Brooks (Knoxville, Tenn.) has averaged 10.8 points and 8.6 boards over the Eagles' last five contests. 

Antoine Davis (Rustburg, Va.) needs one more point to crest 1,500 for his career. If Ish Sanders (Cleveland, Tenn.) can score 22 points, he'll move into a tie for fourth on the South Atlantic Conference's all-time scoring list with 1,905 for his career.  He would match Presbyterian's Chuck Rayford is he could hit the mark. 

They will have to contend with a Cobra club led by Julian Nelson – the league's sixth-leading scorer with 19.0 points per game. 

"He's versatile; he can drive; and he's got a good in-between game, which not a lot of kids have anymore," Benson said. "He's a senior and he's not going to be ready for his season to be over. You can tell he's the leader of that team."

Tipoff between the Eagles and Cobras has been set for 8 p.m.  The winner will advance to face the winner of the Anderson – Queens game in the SAC semifinals at Timmons Arena in Greenville, N.C. at 2:30 p.m. Saturday Pregame coverage for C-N's contest with Coker is slated for 7:45 p.m. on the Eagle Sports Network on 106.3 ESPN Radio The Zone (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.

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