SoCon Basketball: Furman, UNCG, ETSU at top in latest power rankings

LEXINGTON, VA - JANUARY 10: The Southern Conference logo on the floor before a college basketball game between the Furman Paladins and the Virginia Military Keydets at Cameron Hall on January 10, 2019 in Lexington, Virginia. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

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IOWA CITY, IOWA- DECEMBER 18: Forward Luka Garza #55 of the Iowa Hawkeyes goes to the basket in the first half against forward Carlos Dotson #4 of the Western Carolina Catamounts (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

4. Western Carolina

Record: 17-10 (9-7 SoCon)

Despite the fact that they have lost three of their last five games, Western Carolina currently sits at 4th in the conference because not many of the squads around them have done what is needed in order to climb up the standings.

While they are certainly a SoCon Basketball team capable of making things in the league more interesting due to their good guards and solid big men, they seem to lack the depth that would allow them to be a top team.

Junior guard, Mason Faulkner, leads the Catamounts in scoring with 17.6 ppg. Senior forward, Carlos Dotson, may be the best SoCon Basketball big man, averaging 15.7 ppg and 10.0 rpg. Dotson, who is a very physical playmaker, has altered the outcome of games on his own, and he may not yet be done doing so.

The performances of both Dotson and Faulkner will be crucial for them in their last two games and as they compete in the SoCon Basketball Tournament.

They are yet to show that they can beat Furman, UNCG, or ETSU; however, if just a few more guys step up when given the opportunity, the Catamounts could pull off an upset over the league’s top teams.