VIDEO: Chuck Benson Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson has revealed the Eagles' 2023-24 men's basketball schedule featuring 15 games inside the friendly confines of Holt Fieldhouse. 

The schedule is largely a repeat of last year in terms of who C-N faces.  The SAC schedule expanded from 18 games to 20 and dropped its divisional format in favor of an unbalanced round robin.  Columbus State, Erskine and Johnson drop off the non-conference slate, while the Eagles add old VSAC foe Milligan to the non-conference lineup. 

"There has been a quite of bit a change in our conference schedule over the past couple years," Benson said. "Since CoVID and Queens leaving, this has been our third different set up.  We made some decisions a year ago to hand pick some challenging non-conference opponents who would benefit us as we head toward conference play.  This year we honor the second year of a lot of two-year contracts."

The Eagles will square off with three teams who made last year's NCAA Southeast Regional in conference foes Lincoln Memorial and Catawba, as well as the PeachBelt's Lander. 

Carson-Newman opens the year for a fourth straight season with a SAC/Conference Carolinas Challenge. Wise, Va., is the site this year. C-N starts the year with Lees-McRae for a fourth straight year before matching wits with King on Nov. 11.  The Eagles dropped the opener with the Bobcats last season before winning game two against the Tornado.

"We signed that for another four-year deal," Benson said. "We open with Lees and King at UVA Wise so we get the neutral court.  It's been a competitive thing for everyone involved." 

For a second straight year, the Eagles open the doors to Holt Fieldhouse with Southern Wesleyan on Nov. 18.  The Eagles rolled the Warriors 109-58 last year.  The Eagles lead the all-time series 5-1. 

After a week off, the Eagles get their first crack at an NCAA tournament foe from a year ago with a visit to Lander the Saturday following Thanksgiving. 

Carson-Newman returns home Monday, Nov. 27 to square off with Milligan.  It will be the Eagles' first meeting with the Buffs since Dec. 15, 2012 – a 101-68 decision where Collin Crane and Ish Sanders combined for 36 points.  The matchup will pit twin athletic directors, C-N's Matt Pope and Milligan's Chris Pope, against one another in what is being dubbed the Pope Bowl by local sports information directors. 

The Buffs are one of two NAIA foes on the schedule. The Eagles also play host to Tennessee Wesleyan for a second consecutive year on Dec. 19 to close out the first semester. 

"Those were the games I would come and watch 40 years ago," Benson said. "Those games with Tennessee Wesleyan, Milligan, Tusculum and Lincoln back in the old NAIA days were a big part of my youth.  We are certainly excited to renew those old rivalries."

Carson-Newman starts December with a non-conference meeting with Clayton State on the second.  The Eagles defeated the Lakers in Morrow, Ga. last year 92-89. 

Conference play starts the next Saturday with a visit from Limestone.  The Eagles get the Saints, Tusculum and Anderson all before the Christmas break. 

"I think the big thing that is always the first thing to talk about the league is LMU," Benson said. "I think they'll sit at the top of the heap as they have for the last decade plus. But Catawba is loaded with everybody back.  It starts there with those two, but beyond that, there's a lot of question marks. There's been roster changes and coaching changes, but I'm eager to see how it plays out."

Carson-Newman plays its final non-conference home game on Dec. 30 with a visit from Belmont Abbey at 4 p.m. 

With the unbalanced schedule, Carson-Newman only faces Newberry, Wingate, Coker and Catawba once. Of that crew, the Eagles get the Wolves and Cobras in Holt. 

Carson-Newman will celebrate senior day on March 2 against Mars Hill.  Another significant date is Jan. 6 against Newberry. That is Hall of Fame weekend.  The latest group inducted into the C-N athletics Hall of Fame will be recognized at halftime of that game. 

All Carson-Newman men's basketball games will be available on the Eagle Sports Network on Mountain Sports 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live. A video stream of SAC games can be found through FloSports.