Three conversation starters from SoCon Hoops (Feb. 6)

 Takeaways and Conversation Starters From around the SoCon

Bo Hodges continues strong play in ETSU's 11th-straight win over Chattanooga

1. Streaks and Records

For me probably the most impressive streak in the Southern Conference right now is East Tennessee State’s the past five years, notching a fifth-straight 20-win campaign under fifth-year head coach Steve Forbes.

The Bucs registered an 80-64 win over arch-rival Chattanooga to move to 20-4 overall and 9-2 in league play, which is tied atop the SoCon standings with Furman. The more surprising streak might be the one that the Bucs own against the Mocs, as the two schools represent the most decorated Southern Conference basketball programs.

The win was ETSU’s 11th-straight since losing the 2016 Southern Conference championship game to the Mocs at the US Cellular Center. All told, the past five seasons under Forbes, ETSU has posted a combined record of 120-43 overall and one of the most successful track records for mid-major programs over the past five seasons. 

There’s no denying the fact that Bo Hodges has been one of the best players in the Southern Conference this season, and has really stepped up his play as of late and posted five-straight games in double figures, which included his second-career double-double in a win over UNCG and a career-high 27-point effort in a win over arch-rival Chattanooga just 11 days ago. The junior from Nashville, TN posted 16 points, six rebounds, two blocks, two steals and an assist in the road win. 

It looks as though what was a promising season two weeks ago for the Mocs is now suddenly in peril. 

2. The List—(My Top candidates for SoCon Player of the Year to this point)

• Isaiah Miller (UNCG)—He’s been the most consistent scorer in the Southern Conference this season and leads the league with 11 games with 20 or more points and also ranks first in steals-per-game. He is the best athlete in the league and has the potential to take over any game.

• Bo Hodges (ETSU)—He does it all. Hodges is having a season comparable to Wofford’s Karl Cochran back in 2015 in which he led the Terriers in virtually every statistical category en route to sweeping SoCon Player of the Year honors. He is tied with Tray Boyd for team high scoring average (13.5 PPG) ETSU’s leading scorer. Hodges had to step up his play with Jeromy Rodriguez continuing to nurse a foot injury. 

• Jordan Lyons (Furman)—Lyons broke the program record for three-point field goals in Furman’s 79-57 win over Mercer and now has 274 triples in his standout career. He has made big shot after big shot this season, and he was one of the main reasons why the Paladins were able to post home wins over East Tennessee State and VMI, delivering daggers against the Bucs, and scoring 40 and 26 against the Keydets. The 26-point effort was perhaps more impressive because it was a game that appeared Furman was seemingly about to lose had it not been for his acrobatic three with 7.4 seconds left.

• Carlos Dotson (Western Carolina)—While Mason Faulkner has been the missing piece that has allowed the Catamounts to more than double their win total from last season, Carlos Dotson notched his sixth double-double of the season last night in Western Carolina’s 78-70 road win at Samford, posting 20 points and 14 rebounds. He's a valued commodity at the mid-major level.

3. At-large chances?

Many of you read the piece on mid-major madness yesterday and about what East Tennessee’s chances might be if the Bucs went 29-5 and lost in the championship game to a Wofford, UNCG or Furman. Those hopes took a big hit last night, with LSU’s debacle in Nashville, with a 99-90 loss to the Jerry Stackhouse-led Commodores. 

Strangely, it was Will Wade’s hometown. I am sensing another conspiracy here, given the fact Matt Ryan of Chattanooga also spent time in the Music City and Wade spent time as the coach in the Scenic City. Ok, I am joking. Wade’s Tigers were demolished of course, 74-63, by ETSU at the Maravich Center back on Dec. 18. That score is generous for anyone who watched it.

My opinion is that UNC Greensboro (18-6, 7-3 SoCon) has the SoCon’s next best win over Georgetown. Had Furman handed No. 9 Auburn a third loss, holding as much as 13-point second half lead before dropping an 81-78 decision in overtime, the SoCon would be make a huge case right now. In fact, as good as 2018-19 was, had Furman won that game, the SoCon would like have a really solid chance at a second bid if one UNCG, ETSU or Furman lost in the championship game after having won out from this point.

Someone asked an excellent question to me on twitter the other day, and that was how could the league be kept out of the SoCon title if it ends the season with six 20-win teams. It would kind of unheard of on the service. It’s probably only going to be five now with Chattanooga’s loss last night, but should they win a three or four in the stretch and win a game in the tournament, it’s possible.

ETSU of course picked up its 20th on Wednesday night. Furman (19 wins), UNCG (18 wins), Wofford (16 wins) are all likely to do it again. Western Carolina is creeping up with 15 wins, and Chattanooga has 14. Let’s assume the other three of the big four do just that and win 20, below I have listed Western Carolina’s and Chattanooga’s remaining games.

Realistically, it’s still likely only a one-bid league unfortunately. However, this string of success could be huge in that happening for the SoCon in the very near future, with four teams to likely win 20 in the regular-season for a fourth-straight season. That’s impressive!

Western Carolina (15-7, 7-4 SoCon)

Feb. 8 vs. Furman

Feb. 12 at UNCG

Feb. 15 at Wofford

Feb. 19 vs VMI

Feb. 22 vs The Citadel

Feb. 26 vs. Samford

Feb. 29 at ETSU

Chattanooga (14-10, 5-6 SoCon)

Feb. 8 at Wofford

Feb. 12 vs. VMI

Feb. 15 at Furman

Feb. 19 at The Citadel

Feb. 22 vs. Mercer

Feb. 26 at VMI

Feb. 29 vs. UNCG