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Bracketology 2023: Florida Atlantic, Charleston among mid-majors to watch

By Jason Burgess

Jan 7, 2023; Charleston, South Carolina, USA; Charleston Cougars guard Reyne Smith (2) on the floor in the second half against the Delaware Blue Hens at TD Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2023; Charleston, South Carolina, USA; Charleston Cougars guard Reyne Smith (2) on the floor in the second half against the Delaware Blue Hens at TD Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports /
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UNC Wilmington forward Trazarien White Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
UNC Wilmington forward Trazarien White Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 23 Charleston Cougars vs. UNC-Wilmington Seahawks

Wednesday, January 11, Wilmington, NC, 7:00 PM ET

The No. 23 Charleston Cougars are 16-1 at the start of the week and have begun conference play 4-0 after knocking off Delaware on Saturday. Now on Wednesday, they face another tough test as they hit the road to do battle with the UNC-Wilmington Seahawks who are also undefeated in the CAA and 14-3 overall. Charleston has been on a roll defensively of late, having allowed over 70 points just once since Thanksgiving in an overtime win at Towson. This game will be big for the Cougars as even in January shuffling in the CAA begins.

If Charleston wants to build a resume worthy of at-large consideration, every win against a conference contender will be critical. The Seahawks enter this game on a 13- game winning streak, not having felt defeat since Nov. 18 against UConn. Takayo Siddle’s team has also been on a roll defensively allowing more than 66 points in a game once since that loss to UConn.

Offensively, the Cougars can come at you from many different directions with nine guys scoring more than 4.8 a game. Whether it’s inside with 6’10 Ante Brzovic or the quartet of guards that net in double figures. On any given night it can be difficult for opponents to focus on one guy to shut down. The Seahawks couldn’t be more opposite, averaging just 71 points per game with sophomore Trazarien White leading the team in both scoring and rebounding and shooting over 50% from the field.

What they can do though is wear opponents down by coming at them with 11 players seeing more than 10 minutes per contest. Charleston looks to have a solid at-large resume, but as history has shown us, in conferences like the CAA you need to be nearly perfect to get one. This is a chance for UNC-Wilmington to show they’re a real threat to the throne.

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