The Paladins (4-4) venture into North Carolina this Wednesday to face a talented Elon Phoenix squad (4-3) in a non-conference matchup at Schar Center. Elon, a Coastal Athletic Association member, has been facing plenty of familiar faces lately, currently midway through a Southern Conference swing that has already tested their toughness.
Here is what you need to know before the Paladins take the court.
Elon: The Scouting Report
Elon, a former SoCon member from 2003–14, is highly familiar with Southern Conference competition. They recently picked up an impressive 92-90 overtime victory on the road at UNCG and fell 91-84 at home to Mercer.
• Three-Point Volume is High: The Phoenix are one of the most prolific perimeter shooting teams in the CAA, averaging 11.1 made three-pointers per game, ranking them in the top 25 nationally. If you let them get hot, they can run away quickly. Guard Randall Pettus II is a major contributor here, shooting 46% from deep.
• Cuthrell is a Force: Graduate forward Chandler Cuthrell is a solid two-way player this season. His scoring is elite, and he consistently gets to the free-throw line. Furman’s Charles Johnston and Cooper Bowser will need to defend without fouling against him.
• Second Chances and Bench Boost: Elon is aggressive on the glass, generating many second-chance points. They also rely heavily on sophomore guard Bryson Cokley (12.7 PPG) to provide scoring punch off the bench.
Furman Takeaways: Consistency is Key
The Paladins had an important 1-1 showing in Florida, which highlighted the team’s current identity and exposed a few immediate areas for improvement:
• The Stud is Alex Wilkins: Freshman Alex Wilkins has stepped into the hype he received in the preseason. He continues to be the team’s top option with great efficiency, though cutting down on turnovers remains a focus as he develops.
• The Zone Still Works: Coach Richey’s 1-3-1 zone defense continues to disrupt opponents. It was instrumental in the win over Richmond and forces teams to burn clock and take tough shots.
• FT/TO Issues Must Be Fixed: The most significant issues for the Paladins moving forward are free-throw shooting (they shot just 43% vs. Richmond) and managing late-game ball security. This team cannot afford to miss opportunities at the stripe.
• Defense is the Foundation: The Paladin defense is showing real promise, holding opponents to low scoring totals and proving strong on the boards with a rebounding margin of nearly +11.
The Forecast
This game will be a battle of opposing priorities. Elon wants to push the pace, hit volume threes, and win the game in the 80s or 90s. Furman, relying on its defense, wants to slow Elon down, force turnovers with the 1-3-1, and work the ball inside to Johnston and Bowser.
The Paladins must leverage their Cooper Bowser/Charles Johnston interior presence to force Elon to defend the post and draw fouls. However, this relies on Furman finally converting at the free-throw line. If Asa Thomas or a bench player like Collin O’Neal can provide a three-point outburst to counter Elon’s long-range game, the Paladins should secure the road victory.