MISENHEIMER — Pfeiffer University men’s basketball coach Dave Davis has a whole closet full of big shoes to fill.
Eight guys who filled it up for Pfeiffer last season are gone, including legends Terrence Baxter and Nem Sovic, triggermen for 82 wins over the past four seasons.
Also turning in their black and gold uniforms for good were tough-guys Shakil Brew and Joe Holmes, leaper Dwayne Bell, shooters Jay Moody and Emory Smith and glue-man Eric Jackson.
Moody actually had a year of eligibility remaining, but opted for business opportunities. Brew appealed for one more year, but got a thumbs down from the NCAA. That made it eight men out as far as the veterans who carried Pfeiffer to a 20-8 mark in 2000-01 and 26 victories — including an impressive 18-0 blitz of the CVAC — in 1999-2000.
“We return absolutely no one who has played significant minutes,” said Davis. “We’ve gone from the league’s most experienced team to the least experienced. It’s scary. We lost our top eight. And at the end of last season, those eight were the only eight playing.”
Davis looks like he might burst into tears as he talks about the talent pool that’s swum out to sea, but hold the Kleenex. Pfeiffer’s not going to drop all that far. In fact, the Falcons may not drop at all. Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference coaches picked Pfeiffer fourth in their preseason poll, so they must know things are rosier than they seem in Misenheimer.
“Those coaches are giving my assistants a lot of respect,” said Davis. “They’re saying our guys can really recruit. How many times do you lose everybody and get picked fourth?”
Hardly ever. But Davis and assistants Rob Perron and Jared Hedrick, have beaten the bushes, manned the phones and called in all their markers. And they’ve pieced together a roster stout enough to challenge the league’s projected top dogs — Longwood, Queens and Belmont Abbey.
Of course, the burning question is how quickly can Pfeiffer’s coaches transform those individual talents into a functioning unit.
“This team is brand new, just like the first year I came here,” said Davis. “And there’s not much time to grow up. Not much time to get to know each other. And the schedule is tough.”
The one thing Davis is sure of is that Pfeiffer’s style won’t change while he’s in charge. The Falcons will still play small-ball with four guards. They’ll run like crazy, shoot 3s like crazy. The new scoreboard at Merner Gym has enough lights to accommodate triple-digit point totals for a good reason.
“Our philosophy,” said Davis, “is to be the attackers at both ends of the floor. That’s unchanged.”
One thing that will change is the number of players Davis regularly employs. He’d like to use 11 this time. That would keep everyone fresh and keep the game moving at the frantic pace he loves.
Three big-rep Division I players have arrived in town and may endanger the life expectancy of CVAC scoreboards.
Tyree Harris (6-1) was a star at Bethune-Cookman. He scored 37 points against Texas A&M, 23 against Georgetown and 19 against Florida. The senior could be the Falcons’ leading scorer.
“If there’s ever been a player perfectly designed for our system it’s Tyree,” said Davis. “He’s explosive, strong and has unlimited energy.”
Dan Anderson (6-1), a sophomore transfer from Loyola, could emerge as the floor general. But he’s out until at least Dec. 4 with a broken right hand. Anderson’s originally from West Caldwell High where he led North Carolina prep players in assists as a senior.
Mature Terrence McCutcheon (6-4) played at Nichols State before coming to Pfeiffer.
“McCutcheon will be our leader in most every area,” said Davis. “He can play inside or out.”
Darrin Wallace (6-0), a solid and seasoned junior college player from Florida could start.
“He’s confident,” said Davis. “He’s played against great competition.”
Then there’s Antoine Wilkerson (6-6), who used to be a prime-time player at Gardner-Webb. He can rebound.
Rico Grier and Damien Argrett have a redshirt year under their belts. They spent last season to good advantage, getting stronger and learning the system.
Grier, a lightning bug from Charlotte’s Harding High, can score in bunches.
Argrett’s stock rises by the minute. The South Rowan High product is now listed at 6-9, roughly a foot taller than when he was a high school sophomore. Davis was counting on Argrett for key minutes even before he scored 19 points in 22 minutes in a recent scrimmage. Now he might start.
“Damien gives us a presence in the post,” said Davis. “We haven’t had a shot-blocker, but he could give us that.”
Argrett developed guard skills before hitting that late growth spurt. His shooting range and ballhandling always surprise foes, who expect him to stick to the block.
Holdovers from last season include defensive-minded Wale Cole (6-foot-4), improving Northwest Cabarrus High product James Johnson (6-4) and Jahmal Rich (6-4).
Davis’ inside game gets an additional boost in mid-December when Lionel Jackson (6-5) and Phillip Hammons (6-3) join the fun.
“Both could be impact players,” said Davis.
So could a pair of true freshmen, who are locks to be in Pfeiffer’s top eight.
Rashad McGee (5-11) was the Rocky River Conference MVP in both basketball and football and is a great athlete. Davis also has high hopes for Martin Jones (6-5), who scored 16 points in one 7-minute burst in a scrimmage.
There’s so much talent on hand that Davis plans to redshirt East-West All-Star Jay Farrow as well as Jay Rhoades, Kurtis Darden and Bobby Hall.
Quick Lamont McNight and Albemarle High shooter Joe Easley are guards who played mostly jayvee ball last year but may get some varsity chances. Gerald Stansbury (6-3) adds depth.
Last year’s famous veterans got up for the biggies, but came out flat in games against St. Andrews (twice) and Limestone that likely cost Pfeiffer a return trip to the national tournament. With plenty of players eager to prove themselves, look for a hungrier band of Falcons this time around.
And if everyone shares the ball and plays a little “D,” these new faces might just go places.
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Contact Mike London at 704-797-4259 or mlondon@salisburypost.com
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