October 10, 2014

Eagles set for daunting 2014-15 slate

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head men’s basketball coach Chuck Benson unveiled the Eagles’ 2014-15 schedule, which features a Final Four participant and three other teams who have made the NCAA tournament within two years.

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head men's basketball coach Chuck Benson unveiled the Eagles' 2014-15 schedule, which features a Final Four participant and three other teams who have made the NCAA tournament within two years.

"First of all we knew that we we're starting a new book with our program (because of the graduation of all-time greats Antoine Davis and Ish Sanders)," Benson said. "We wanted to challenge our young team early and often. So we went out and put together the toughest schedule on paper for our team in my time here as head coach."

C-N will welcome Final Four-participant USC Aiken to Holt Fieldhouse Nov. 29. The Eagles will also meet Anderson and LMU twice during South Atlantic Conference play a year removed from both teams making the NCAA tournament.

"USC Aiken has been as productive as anyone else in this region on a national stage," Benson said. "We hope to give our kids a quick dose of what it's like to play among the best of the best in Division II competition right out of the gate."

The Eagles open up the year at the 45-Second Classic in Wilson, N.C., on Nov. 14 against tournament host Barton and Mount Olive. The Bulldogs are two years removed from an Elite Eight appearance. The Eagles throttled Barton last year in Holt Fieldhouse last season 97-69.

Benson's Bunch turns around the next day to face off with Mount Olive at 2 p.m.

C-N then opens up its 22-game conference schedule on Nov. 19 with a road game at Tusculum. C-N and TC split the season series last year, with the Eagles winning at Mossy Creek and the Pioneers coming up victorious in Greeneville.

"Once we start practice, we'll be as aggressive as they've ever been in going five on five frequently to get us ready for those road games," Benson said. "We've scheduled some scrimmages away from Holt Fieldhouse to help gear us up for that road trip right off the bat."

Coker pays a visit to Holt Fieldhouse on Nov. 22 to open up the gym for the year and home conference play.

"Coker broke our hearts last year in the SAC tournament," Benson said. "Getting to play them here in our first conference schedule will no doubt be added motivation for some of our guys."

A week later, USC Aiken comes to town as the Eagles step out of conference play with a game against the Pacers and a road nonconference contest to open up December on the second at Clayton State. Clayton State is a three-time champion of the Peach Belt and made the NCAA tournament in back-to-back seasons from 2007-2008.

The Eagles wrap up nonconference play against Tennessee Wesleyan at home on Dec. 13 and on the road Johnson C. Smith on Dec. 17.

"We really hope this nonconference schedule keeps us in line with our processes," Benson said. "We'll be doing more teaching with daily hands on work to get our guys to understand that they have to have poise and self-discipline to handle any adversity that is thrown our way. We still have to work toward a postseason where we are more focused toward processes than outcomes."

A two-week break for Christmas has the Eagles jumping back into conference play to start 2015 on Jan. 3 at home against Wingate.

Senior day is set for Feb. 28 against Newberry.

All Carson-Newman men's basketball games during the 2014-15 season can be heard on the Eagle Sports Network on Mountain Country 106.3 9 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.

Date	Opponent	Notes	Time/Status
Nov 14, 2014	at Barton	45-Second Classic	8:00 PM
Nov 15, 2014	vs. Mount Olive @ Wilson, N.C.	45-Second Classic	2:00 PM
Nov 19, 2014	at Tusculum *		8:00 PM
Nov 22, 2014	Coker *		4:00 PM
Nov 25, 2014	Mars Hill *		8:00 PM
Nov 29, 2014	USC Aiken		4:00 PM
Dec 2, 2014	at Clayton St.		7:00 PM
Dec 6, 2014	at Catawba *		4:00 PM
Dec 10, 2014	Lenoir-Rhyne *		8:00 PM
Dec 13, 2014	Tenn. Wesleyan		2:00 PM
Dec 17, 2014	at Johnson C. Smith		7:00 PM
Jan 3, 2015	Wingate *		4:00 PM
Jan 7, 2015	at Mars Hill *		8:00 PM
Jan 10, 2015	Queens (N.C.) *		4:00 PM
Jan 14, 2015	at Brevard *		8:00 PM
Jan 17, 2015	at Coker *		4:00 PM
Jan 21, 2015	Tusculum *		8:00 PM
Jan 24, 2015	at Newberry *		4:00 PM
Jan 28, 2015	Anderson *		8:00 PM
Jan 31, 2015	Catawba *		4:00 PM
Feb 4, 2015	at Lincoln Memorial *		8:00 PM
Feb 7, 2015	at Lenoir-Rhyne *		4:00 PM
Feb 11, 2015	Brevard *		8:00 PM
Feb 14, 2015	at Wingate *		4:00 PM
Feb 18, 2015	at Anderson *		8:00 PM
Feb 21, 2015	at Queens (N.C.) *		4:00 PM
Feb 25, 2015	Lincoln Memorial *		8:00 PM
Feb 28, 2015	Newberry *		4:00 PM