VIDEO: Grant Teichmann Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the second half of a two-part series breaking down Carson-Newman men's basketball's positions for 2018-19. This preview analyzes the Eagles' guards with help from senior Grant Teichmann (Brentwood, Tenn.).
Carson-Newman's backcourt has the tall task of replacing one of the best guards to ever play at Carson-Newman. Charles Clark is off to Iceland to compete professionally. The Eagles' third all-time leading scorer and the SAC's all-time leading scorer takes 2,339 career points, 259 made threes and 208 steals out the door with him.
"Everyone has to pitch in here and there together," Teichmann said. "You lose Charles, you lose his points, but you also lose his minutes. It will take all of us banding together to get done what he got done."
Teichmann and fellow senior Malik Abraham (Snellville, Ga.) headline those who will look to replace the future Hall of Famer.
The South Atlantic Conference's and Carson-Newman's leader in assist-to-turnover ratio in his junior year at Mossy Creek, Teichmann was one of two players (the other was Charles Clark) to start all 31 games for the Eagles. Teichmann was fourth on the team in scoring with 11.1 points per game.
"I've really tried to touch on all aspects of my game," Teichmann said. "Coach Benson and I have talked a lot about finishing. I've tried to work on my free throws, my passing and making the right reads. I really have tried to touch on all aspects of my game."
He added 4.5 rebounds and 3.87 assists per game while only turning it over 1.22 times per game. Teichmann was highly efficient, shooting 50 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from beyond for his junior campaign. He also made 70 percent of his free throws. Teichmann scored in double figures 19 times during the campaign and was especially effective late.
He closed the season on a seven-game double-figure scoring streak that featured his only two scoring efforts of the year that went for more than 20 points. He hit his career high twice, going for 22 in the regular season finale against Wingate (2/24) and again in the SAC semifinals against No. 5 Queens (3/3). Teichmann came within spitting distance of a triple-double against Lenoir-Rhyne in Holt Fieldhouse with a 10-point, eight-rebound, eight-assist effort.
Meanwhile, Abraham is one of the top three-point shooters to come through Holt Fieldhouse.
Abraham shot 41.5 percent from beyond the arc and made 88-of-212 threes. The 88 triples go down as the second highest single-season total in school history. Abraham also has the fourth highest mark with 83 made in his sophomore year. Abraham shot 42.8 percent from the field in general and 58 percent from the foul line.
"He's aggressive and confident," Teichmann said. "He's playing more under control and Malik has a better feel and understanding for what we're going to do. Obviously, his shot making is elite. Having him on the court, he's another guy you can trust and you know what he's going to do. Malik's set himself up for a good season."
Abraham topped double figures 17 times and had a quartet of 20 point games. Carson-Newman was unbeated when he scored at least 20 points and went 13-4 when he had at least 10. Abraham had 15 games where he knocked down at least three three-pointers. His top outing came against Lenoir-Rhyne (12/16). He scored 23 points against the Bears on 7-12 shooting, including a 6-of-10 ledger from long range.
The Eagles add depth with Cameron Holmes (Fort Mill, S.C.) and Reece Anderson (Douglasville, Ga.).
"The main thing with them is confidence," Teichmann said. "They know they deserve to be on the court and have been a part of a lot of winning basketball here."
Holmes tallied 4.2 points per game on 36 percent shooting, including a 34 percent mark from three. He set a new career high against Limestone (12-19) when he poured in 20 points on 5-of-10 shooting and a 4-of-8 mark from beyond the arc. He had his first career double-double at Coker (1/27) with a 17-point, 11-rebound game.
Anderson matched his career high at Johnson C. Smith (1/2) with a nine-point effort. He also reset his career high for assists against Newberry (1/20) by handing out seven helpers. He also had five assists against Catawba (1/6).
Nick Rogers (Knoxville, Tenn.) will also be expected to contribute after showing up late during his freshman season.
Rogers only appeared in eight of the Eagles' first 28 games before logging at least 10 minutes in Carson-Newman's final four games. His coming out party came against Wingate (2-24) when he logged a career-high 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting from distance in a career-best 19 minutes. Rogers had scored 20 points to that point in his freshman season when he erupted on the Bulldogs.
The Eagles will also have Kellen King (Brentwood, Tenn.) at their disposal after a redshirt season. As a senior at Brentwood, he led the team in points per game, assists, offensive boards, three point field goal percentage and free throw percentage. He tallied 18.9 points per game, six boards and 3.5 assists. He was named All-District, All-District Tournament and All-Region Tournament as a senior. He helped Brentwood to a pair of state tournament appearances, including a runner up finish in 2015.
Carson-Newman also adds in Roane State transfer Blake Ervin and Fork Union product Luke Brenegan. Tusculum transfer Zailan Peeler and East Gaston High School graduate Caleb Bridgewater both intend to redshirt this season.
"Blake and Luke both can shoot and they both have a high basketball IQ," Teichmann said. "Even though they're new guys, they're not your typical new guys. They're readiness to play and their high basketball IQs have them in position to see the floor this year."
Ervin averaged 10.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists in his only season at Roane State. A highly efficient guard, Ervin shot 51.8 percent from the field and made 47.3 percent of his threes. He had 14 double-digit scoring efforts on the year, topping out at 26 points in an 84-73 win over Motlow State. Ervin was an unconscious 8-for-9 from long range that day. That game was one of 11 for Ervin where he knocked down at least three threes at a bare-minimum 50 percent clip.
Brenegan led the Generals and his conference in scoring, averaging 21.9 points per game. He also chipped in five boards and three assists per game as a senior. He earned All-State honors, landing on the first team and was his conference's MVP. He helped Wade Hampton to a conference title.
Carson-Newman opens the season Nov. 9 at Southern Wesleyan for another challenge featuring the Warriors and Lander. All games will be broadcast on the Eagle Sports Network on Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
