Elon basketball 2015-16 season preview

Elon Phoenix

Overall record: 15-18, 6-12 in the CAA

Head coach: Matt Matheny

Tenure at Elon: 7th season

Career coaching record: 92-100

Home court: Alumni Gym

Starters: G Tanner Samson, G Luke Eddy, G Dmitri Thompson, F Christian Hairston, C Tony Sabato

Bench: F Collin Luther, G Steven Santa Ana

Overview: Elon got off to a respectable start last season, losing to a pair of power conference teams—to Northwestern in overtime and by five to Missouri—early in the season. The Phoenix also lost 75-62 at Duke in December, with guard Luke Eddy pouring in 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting. The wheels came off in January and February, though, when they lost 11 of 12 conference games during one stretch.

Eddy will be back to help Elon try to rebound this season after tearing his ACL just before conference play began last year, but the Phoenix also lost a lot of production from last year’s team. Their leading scorer, Elijah Bryant, transferred to Brigham Young in the offseason, and consistent starters Austin Hamilton and Kevin Blake both graduated. Elon was picked to finish dead last in its conference in this year’s preseason poll. 

Still, there is reason for hope. Freshman guard and Charlotte native Steven Santa Ana was an all-state player in high school and should help replace some of the lost backcourt production.

The Phoneix will play in the Battle 4 Atlantis Mainland Games during November, facing off against the likes of Syracuse and Michigan early in the season. Their matchup against Duke Dec. 28 will be their last non-conference game of the season before opening conference play three days later against Northeastern.

One thing that needs to go right: Christian Hairston and Dmitri Thompson transition seamlessly into bigger roles after combining for just five starts last year, using their length and athleticism to lead a fearsome defensive unit.

One thing that could go wrong: Nobody can replace Elijah Bryant’s playmaking abilities, and the offense becomes stagnant. The Phoenix have a nightmare season and win less than 10 games.

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