VIDEO: Bryant Thomas Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the first in a two-part series breaking down the Carson-Newman men's basketball team's positions for 2022-23. This part analyzes the forwards and centers with assistance from All-SAC center Bryant Thomas.
Carson-Newman will have to contend with the loss of 1,000-point scorer EJ Bush, however, everyone else in the low post returns. The Eagles also add in a transfer and, barring further injury will have a healthy Ivan Hadzic and Nehemie Kabeya at its disposal as well.
The top returner down low is all-conference selection and reigning defensive player of the year for the SAC Bryant Thomas.
"I've been focused on ensuring my confidence is high," Thomas said. "I want to have a feel and be comfortable. That mental aspect is something I've really focused on through the offseason."
Thomas was the back-line anchor to Carson-Newman's zone defense that led the league in blocks and scoring defense, and as a result Carson-Newman has held more opponents (three) below 50 points last season than in any other season this century.
Thomas was the league's top shot blocker and rebounder. He was ninth nationally with 65 blocks and 14th in the country with 2.22 re-directs per game. Thomas was the league leader in both categories. His 65 rejections are the Eagles' single-season record. Carson-Newman has the country's 28th best shot-blocking team with 111 total rejections.
Thomas posted multiple rejections in 18 of Carson-Newman's games this season – including the last seven in a row. He tied his own single-game school record twice this season with six-block days against Queens (Nov. 20) and Coker (Jan. 17). The league's top rebounder, Thomas has snagged at least five rebounds in every game Carson-Newman has played since Jan. 17 – 15 straight. He's posted double-digit rebounds in nine contests, including three consecutive for the first time in his career from Jan. 22-26 against Wingate Anderson and Lincoln Memorial.
Thomas will be complemented by sophomore posts Joshuwa Butts and Tyler Bowens.
"They have definitely embraced their roles," Thomas said. "They have been in the gym nonstop. You can tell in their confidence that they've worked. Tyler has always been a great passer, but he's become more aggressive."
Butts made his first career start against UVA Wise (1/5). The redshirt-freshman post appeared in 26 of the Eagles' games. Butts averaged 2.7 points and 2.1 rebounds per game on 45.3 percent shooting. He topped out at nine points against Lenoir-Rhyne (12/1) and set a new career high for rebounds against Erskine (1/1) and Newberry (1/29) with five in each game.
In his redshirt-freshman season, Bowens appeared in 29 games for the Eagles. He averaged 4.7 points and 3.3 boards per game. Bowens shot 43.8 percent from the field. He turned in a pair of double-digit scoring efforts against Wingate (11/27) and at Lincoln Memorial (1/26). He nearly produced a double-double against the Bulldogs with eight rebounds.
One may be tempted to throw Ren Dyer into the mix with the posts. The 2021 SAC Freshman of the Year has spent time at the four, but more frequently plays small forward.
"Ren can go anywhere," Thomas said. "He's positionless. He can make things happen, he always plays hard and is super aggressive. It's going to be hard for other teams to deal with him."
In a season beset by injury and illness, Dyer still able to turn in 9.7 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per contest in 23 appearances with 22 starts. Dyer produced a quartet of double doubles and came within an assist of the fifth triple double in Carson-Newman men's basketball history. Against Coker (1/17), he had 16 points, 10 rebounds and a career-best nine assists.
The 16 points were a season high, matched by his 16-point effort in the season opener against Lees-McRae (11/13). He had nine double-digit scoring efforts on the year and 12 games with at least five rebounds.
C-N also will have the aforementioned Hadzic and Kabeya at its disposal. Hadzic is 6-9, 230 pounds, while Kabeya clocks in at 6-9, 235.
"They are big," Thomas said. "You have to go in and pound against them everyday. They are hard to stop."
Battling back injuries for much of the year, Hadzic was fairly unstoppable as a reserve post player when he waas healthy. In his first appearance on Jan. 5 against UVA Wise, he poured in nine points on flawless 3-of-3 shooting. Hadzic followed that up with a career high 10 points in a career high 16 minutes at Catawba (1/12). He averaged 4.2 points in his six games.
Kabeya sat out last season with a knee injury, last suiting up for North Carolina Central in 2020-21. he played nine games with five starts, and averaged 9.7 minutes per game. He totaled 10 points and 19 rebounds, and went 4-for-9 from the floor. He pulled down a season-high five rebounds against Southern.
A third transfer, Ben Beeker, will add size down low.
"Ben is another big body," Thomas said. "He has nice touch around the rim and is an elite rebounder. He's definitely a good addition to our team."
Coming from Furman, Beeker played his high school ball at Hendersonville in North Carolina. As a senior at Hendersonville High School, Beeker averaged 17.6 points and 13.0 rebounds per game to go with 2.2 blocks and 2.2 steals. He was named the conference player of the year as a senior. He helped the Bearcats to a pair of Mountain 6 Conference Championships.
Carson-Newman's position previews wrap up Tuesday with the backcourt and assistance from Luke Brenegan.
