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Southern Conference tournament preview

Bob McKillop

Davidson head coach Bob McKillop directs his team against Duke during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013. Duke won 67-50. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

AP

Another year, another Southern Conference title for Bob McKillop’s Davidson Wildcats, who finished the regular season 17-1 in league play. Jake Cohen was the coaches’ pick for SoCon Player of the Year, and he combines with De’Mon Brooks (who won the award last season) to form the conference’s best front court tandem.

Elon, led by guard Jack Isenbarger and forward Lucas Troutman, won the North Division by three games over Appalachian State. The College of Charleston managed to go 14-4 in SoCon play with point guard Andrew Lawrence running the show, finishing second behind Davidson in the South Division.

The Bracket

Where: ExploreAsheville.com Arena at Asheville’s U.S. Cellular Center and Kimmel Arena, Asheville, North Carolina

When: March 8th-11th

Final: March 11, 7:00 p.m., ESPN2

Favorite: Davidson

Having two players the caliber of Brooks and Cohen makes Davidson the team to beat, and McKillop has more than just two weapons at his disposal. Nik Cochran (9.8 ppg) leads five other Wildcats averaging between 7.3 and 9.8 points per game, and both he and J.P. Kuhlman have been solid distributors this season. With their weapons and efficiency on both ends of the floor Davidson’s going to be a tough out this weekend.

And if they lose?: College of Charleston

Elon (13-5 SoCon) did manage to win the North but it’s Charleston who won 14 conference games. Lawrence was also the starting point guard for Great Britain in last summer’s Olympics, and he’s got plenty of experience running the show. He and Anthony Stitt lead the way offensively, and sophomore Adjehi Baru has performed well inside. Charleston’s strong suit is their defense, and if they can control tempo the Cougars can win the tournament.

Sleepers: Elon

Tough to say a team that won 13 conference games is a sleeper, but that’s the role Elon will find itself in this weekend. Isenbarger and Troutman lead the way for the Phoenix, who enter the tournament having won five of their last seven. No team outside of the top three seeds finished .500 overall, which makes the pickings quite slim when considering sleepers.

Studs:

- F Jake Cohen and F De’Mon Brooks (Davidson): The last two coaches’ selections for SoCon Player of the Year, they’re most definitely studs.

- G Trevis Simpson (UNC Greensboro): Simpson averages 18.8 points per game for the Spartans, and he dropped 41 on Chattanooga back on January 27.

- F Nathan Healy (Appalachian State): Healy (14.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg) won SoCon Defensive Player of the Year due to his work on the boards and ranking second in the conference in steals (2.0 spg) and third in blocks (1.4 bpg).

CBT Prediction: Look for some upsets throughout the weekend but in the end Davidson and College of Charleston will play for the title, with the Wildcats earning their second consecutive NCAA appearance.

Raphielle also writes for the NBE Basketball Report and can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.