| Game 1: Charleston Southern (0-0) vs. Columbia International (1-1) |
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The 2019-20 Charleston Southern men's basketball team gets their season started Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. inside Buccaneer Field House with Columbia International for a second-consecutive season.
Charleston Southern will be playing their 55th season of basketball when the Rams come to Charleston as the Buccaneers are also one of seven founding members of the Big South Conference alongside current members Campbell, Radford and Winthrop.
Head coach
Barclay Radebaugh enters his 15th season at the helm looking to lead the Bucs to another deep run in the Big South Championships after a trip to the semifinals last season and home win over FAU from Conference-USA in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT).
The Bucs have 11 players back from last season's 18-win group and have high expectations once again as junior guard
Phlandrous Fleming Jr. earned Big South Preseason All-Conference First Team honors, giving the Bucs back-to-back honorees.
CSU was also tabbed for a fifth-place finish in the 2019-20 Big South preseason poll, as voted on by conference head coaches and media members. The Bucs were also slated for a top-three finish according to Blue Ribbon Basketball.
For Openers
- Charleston Southern opens their 15th season under head coach Barclay Radebuagh after picking up a postseason win in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, downing Florida Atlantic 68-66 inside the Buc Dome.
- The Bucs welcome back 10 letterwinners from last season's 18-win roster including All-Big South performers Phlandrous Fleming Jr. and Dontrell Shuler.
- CSU's Nov. 5 matchup makes it back-to-back seasons Columbia International will serve as the season-opening foe after handling business 100-68 last year. In that win - their fourth all-time in a four-game series - six different Buccaneers scored in double figures led by 17 from Travis McConico and Duncan LeXander in his collegiate debut.
- Charleston Southern opens the 2019-20 season at home for the third-consecutive campaign after wins over CIU and Southern Wesleyan previously.
- Big things are expected of CSU as they were voted fifth in the Big South preseason polls by media members and the league's head coaches as well as third by Blue Ribbon Basketball in their 2019-20 Yearbook.
- The home schedule in 2019-20 sees SoCon power Furman and NCAA Tournament mainstay N.C. Central enter the Buc Dome while the road slate sees Power 5 foes Michigan State and Missouri as well as Dayton from the A-10.
Scouting The Rams
- Columbia International finished 18-16 overall and 10-12 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference their first season under head coach Tony Stockman. The Rams fell in their first game of the AAC Tournament, then won the NCCAA South Region and went 1-2 in the NCCAA National Championship tournament falling to Grace College in their finale.
- In last season's matchup with CSU, Eric Graham led the Rams with 11 points while Corey Benton and Brandon Doss added nine while Elijah Spalding had eight.
- Tuesday's matchup is the second of three exhibition games for the Rams in 2019-20 - CIU also battled South Carolina Oct. 30 and have a matchup Nov. 8 at Mercer.
Fleming Named All-Conference
- Phlandrous Fleming Jr. was named to the Big South's Preseason All-Conference First Team, as announced at Big South Media Days.
- The junior guard makes it back-to-back seasons the Bucs have a Preseason First Team member after Christian Keeling earned the nod last season.
- Fleming looks to step into a bigger scoring role as he leads all returners after averaging over 12.0 points per game as a sophomore.
- Fully healthy entering the preseason, Fleming looks to lead the Bucs and provide the same production from his rookie campaign that earned him a spot on the All-Freshman Team in the Big South. Fleming missed most of the nonconference slate last season before returning and providing over 12.0 points per contest.
Playing Both Ends
- Under the direction of Barclay Radebaugh, Charleston Southern has been known to turn up the pressure defensively forcing turnovers and getting out into transition. The Bucs ranked 11th in the NCAA in turnovers forced last season and have been among the tops in the Big South in scoring defense and offense during Radebaugh's tenure.
- Charleston Southern also took care of the rock last season finishing with the No. 18 turnover margin in the NCAA while placing a top-35 performance in total steals.
- The Bucs paced the Big South in offensive rebounds, steals, turnover margin and turnovers forced in 2018-19 on their way to another semifinals appearance.
Tell Me, Who Are You?
- Head coach Barclay Radebaugh and the Bucs will take on five programs for the first time in school history during nonconference play including Final Four mainstay Michigan State, SEC foe Missouri and Dayton from the A-10.
- CSU will also take on North Carolina A&T and N.C. Central from the MEAC for the first time in school history as they travel to Greensboro Nov. 8 in their second contest of the season to play the Aggies, then host the Eagles of NCCU Dec. 7 before the Christmas break.
- The five new teams on the schedule marks the most first-time matchups for CSU since the 2014-15 season when the Bucs played Ole Miss, Wright State, Central Arkansas, Colorado State and Johnson (Tenn.).
- Of the five first-time matchups on the schedule, three finished among the top-75 of the 2018-19 NET rankings (Michigan State - 5, Dayton - 70, Missouri - 74).
A Win on Tuesday Would…
- Give the Bucs a win in their season opener, extending a streak of back-to-back seasons with a 1-0 start.
- Move CSU to a perfect 5-0 versus Columbia International.
- Give CSU a six-game win streak at home dating back to last season.
- Be the fifth-straight home-opening win for CSU under head coach Barclay Radebaugh.
