NCAA Basketball: Syracuse and Louisville among teams with key MTEs on their schedules
High Point Panthers
All Alan Huss did in his first year as a Division I head coach was lead High Point to a 27-9 record and a Big South regular season title, and although they were upset 80-79 in overtime of the Big South tournament, they did reach the finals of the CBI. The Panthers can score the ball, scoring 84 points per game. They finished 36th in offensive efficiency thanks to their two-point work where they shot 54% and finished 10th in the country in offensive rebounding percentage at 37%.
Even though the leading scorer, Duke Miles, transferred to Oklahoma, Huss returned his next six scorers, who had appeared in at least 30 games. Senior Kezza Giffa and his 16 points per game lead them, and juniors Kimani Hamilton and Abdoulaye Thiam also return. One guy who could have a big year is sophomore big man Juslin Bodo Bodo, who averaged 7.1 points and 9.6 rebounds as a freshman. Even with the depth returning, the Panthers have six transfers coming in, most likely to comprise a revamped bench. Terry Anderson from Lamar and Liam McChesney from Illinois State provide frontcourt depth. Bobby Pettiford, Jr. out of East Carolina and Chase Johnston from Florida Gulf Coast will strengthen the backcourt.
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High Point is a part of the Cayman Islands Classic, with a chance for some big wins early on. Their first game is with Missouri State, and then they face either Old Dominion or Boston College. The other side of the bracket includes Hampton, Duquesne, Boise State, and South Dakota State, giving the Panthers a chance for more significant wins. This tournament is the gem of their non-conference schedule and how they perform in it could be really big should the Panthers win the Big South.