Men's Basketball Set for 2020-21 Season Tip-Off

HARTSVILLE, S.C. - The Coker University men's basketball team is ready to start its 2020-21 campaign, in the team's second season under head coach Jarred Merrill.

During Merrill's first season in 2019-20, the Cobras improved their win total with seven wins, including six in the South Atlantic Conference.

"We're trying to continue to elevate our kids and the program to new levels," said Merrill. "We improved our win total a season ago, and we continue to understand that this is a process."

Coker returns its top three scorers from a season ago in Chandler Lindsey (13.4 PPG), Malcolm Kennedy (11.2 PPG) and Dakota Jennings (8.4 PPG), while Jennings also returns as the team's leading rebounder from a season ago at 5.4 RPG. In total, the Cobras return six players from 2019-20.

Merrill also spoke highly of his incoming recruiting class of seven players, made up of four transfers and three true freshmen.

"We have a bunch of high-character kids coming in," said Merrill. "They fit into our system well in how they play the game. We've found some kids that can really shoot the basketball."

Merrill noted that the returning players and the new players have gelled together nicely on and off the floor.

"These young men are going to step in and help us from both a shooting standpoint and a leadership standpoint," said Merrill. "They've been able to mesh and connect with the kids that we have, and they're all going to do a great job for us."

The Cobras will open the season on Nov. 21 at home against Carson-Newman, before hosting No. 3 Lincoln Memorial on Nov. 24 and traveling to South Carolina for a Division I exhibition on Nov. 25. After the Thanksgiving holiday, Coker will travel to UVA Wise for matinee contests on Nov. 28. The Cobras open December at home against Queens (N.C.) on Dec. 2, before traveling to Limestone on Dec. 5 and returning home to face Newberry on Dec. 13. The team plays its final game of 2020 in an exhibition at High Point University on Dec. 15. Coker will open the 2021 portion of the schedule at home against Limestone on Jan. 6, before hosting UVA Wise on Jan. 9. The Cobras will then embark on a three-game road swing at Wingate (Jan. 13), Tusculum (Jan. 16) and Catawba (Jan. 20) before returning home to face Lenoir-Rhyne on Jan. 23. The Cobras will host Wingate on Jan. 27, before traveling to Anderson (S.C.) on Jan. 30 to wrap up the month of January. The Cobras open the final month of the regular season at Lincoln Memorial on Feb. 6, before traveling to Queens (N.C.) on Feb. 10. Coker plays its only two home games in the month of February back-to-back, hosting Mars Hill on Feb. 13 and Tusculum on Feb. 20, Senior Day. The Cobras end the regular season with trips to Newberry (Feb. 24) and Carson-Newman (Feb. 27), before the South Atlantic Conference tournament begins on Mar. 3 at Timmons Arena on the campus of Furman University.

"Our toughest stretch of schedule is what we start with," said Merrill. "Carson-Newman comes here, followed by the No. 3 team in the country in Lincoln Memorial and a Division I game against South Carolina, we'll really be tested. Every stretch in the SAC is a beast."

 Merrill also discussed how he and his coaching staff have grown from their first season going into year two.

"I can't speak highly enough of Elvis Kisonas and Ron Apke," said Merrill. "How they took the reins and managed things last year, they're both going to be great head coaches one day and they definitely proved that."

The Cobras open the 2020-21 season on Saturday (Nov. 21) at home against Carson-Newman at the DeLoach Center. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m., with video and live stats available at www.cokercobras.com.

 Coker University will not be allowing outside fans to basketball games at this time.

Coker University will continue to assess the NCAA, federal, state and local developments and provide updated revisions as additional information is available.