VIDEO: C-N v. Wise Highlights
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (20-10, 15-9 South Atlantic Conference) begins its venture in the SAC Men's Basketball Tournament Championship as a five seed, taking on fourth-seeded UVA Wise (18-10, 15-9 SAC) Wednesday at noon at the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center.
Carson-Newman enters the South Atlantic Conference tournament as a five seed for the second time since 2005. The Eagles were last a five-seed in 2021-22 and beat Wingate and Lincoln Memorial before falling to Queens in the SAC title game. The five seed is one of C-N's more productive seeds. The Eagles have been a five times, winning a title in 1994 and getting to the title game in 2022. Carson-Newman's six wins as a five are the most out of all the seeds that C-N has been.
This is Carson-Newman's first-ever postseason meeting with UVA Wise. The Eagles lead the all-time series with the Cavs 20-2. This is also the first time that C-N and Wise will square off on a neutral floor. The meeting with UVA Wise will leave Anderson, Limestone and Emory & Henry as the only league foes C-N hasn't faced in a league tournament (strange for Anderson given their 17-year history in the league, less odd for the Saints and Wasps who have been in the league a combined eight years).
Carson-Newman has won its quarterfinal game in three straight tournament appearances. C-N last bowed out in the quarters in 2019 as an eight seed to top-seeded Queens. The Eagles are 7-5 in the quarterfinal round of the tournament under head coach Chuck Benson.
John Zhao is the ninth member of Carson-Newman's 200-three club. Nick Brenegan joined the club earlier this season. Brenegan has 279, good for second all-time in school history and fifth in league history. It is unlikely that he catches the program's all-time leader Ish Sanders, and his 340 career threes. Brenegan needs eight more threes to catch Newberry's James Stepp for fourth in league history. With 231 career threes, Zhao passed assistant coach Luke Brenegan and is officially fifth all-time in threes made. He needs 28 triples to draw level with Charles Clark and Malik Abraham for third all-time in school history. Zhao is 13th all-time in SAC history for career threes made. He needs eight more to match Queens Todd Withers for 12th on the all-time list.
Zhao, Brenegan and Jack Browder are see-sawing around the all-time leading scoring list. Zhao has 1,379 career points Brenegan 1,326 and Browder 1,313. Zhao is oficially in the top 20 all-time in school history in scoring. Zhao needs 21 points to become the 20th player in school history with 1,400 career points, 36 will move him into a tie for 19th with George Cox (1,415). Brenegan and Browder trail Mike Morton (1,368) for 21st all-time.
Nick Brenegan is the fourth player in school history with multiple 80-three seasons. John Zhao joined him as the fifth player in school history with that distinction, knocking down his 80th against Coker in the regular season finale. With 84 threes, Brenegan leads the SAC, a figure that is 18th nationally. Brenegan (108) and Ish Sanders (99) are the only two players in program history with more than 90 threes in a season. Calvin Owen's mark of 86 marks the demarcation line for the top five for a season.
Carson-Newman and the Cavs split the regular season meetings, with Wise winning in Virginia in December 87-81 before C-N triumphed in Holt Fieldhouse 101-76.
Jack Browder has four of his 23 career double-doubles against the Cavs.
Tipoff between the Eagles and Cavs is set for noon Wednesday. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 11:45 a.m. with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mix 105.5 (WSEV-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.
