A fresh start is just what’s needed for North Carolina A&T and South Carolina.
After disappointing seasons a year ago, one of them will enjoy success when the programs meet in the season opener on Tuesday at Columbia, S.C.
“One of the more exciting parts of this job is to try to get everybody on the same page,” said Gamecocks coach Lamont Paris, whose team will begin the season with four consecutive home games.
The biggest storyline around the South Carolina team might be the return of guard Meechie Johnson for his second stint with the Gamecocks. He has started 62 games with the team, but he spent last season at Ohio State.
Now, he’s back as a potential headliner for a team that went 12-20 last season, including 2-16 in Southeastern Conference play.
“We’ve talked about it as a staff: We can’t imagine having brought in a better piece into our team than Meechie Johnson,” Paris said. “He knows what the expectations are. He’s a leader.”
Paris believes his team is more experienced than recent South Carolina teams.
“We’ll be able to spread the floor a little bit more than we were able to last year,” Paris said.
North Carolina A&T is trying to find solid footing following a season that included player suspensions and frustrating, close defeats. The Aggies finished 7-25 overall, 3-15 in the Coastal Athletic Conference. Coach Monte Ross acknowledges that it’s a restructured roster, but he is high on the potential at the defensive end.
“That’s where we want to rest our hat,” Ross said. “We want to rest our hat on the defensive end.”
North Carolina A&T, without any of its top five scorers from last season on board, is picked to finish last according to the preseason Coastal Athletic Association coaches’ poll.
With 10 newcomers, including eight transfers, it’s largely a new look for the Aggies. Junior guard Bryson Ogletree, who averaged 7.3 points per game last season, is the most accomplished returning player
“We’ve embraced the way things are now because it’s not going anywhere,” Ross said.
Trent Middleton Jr., formerly of Ball State and Delaware, could become North Carolina A&T’s top perimeter threat.
South Carolina could receive an immediate impact from forward EJ Walker, one of five freshmen on the roster.
“He’s very intelligent on the basketball court,” Paris said.
The teams have met just once previously, a 91-54 home win for South Carolina in December 2014.