The wait is finally over, college basketball season is officially back!!
Entering the 2026–27 campaign, the Furman Paladins find themselves with the target on their backs as the consensus preseason pick to win the Southern Conference. Bob Richey’s squad earned 10 first-place votes in the preseason coaches poll, a nod to a roster that blends a seasoned frontcourt with an influx of high-impact backcourt talent. Before any conference title race takes shape, the Paladins have to return to a place where they took an Opening Day beating right out of the gate last season.
On Monday night, Furman opens its regular season against Bethune-Cookman at the Rock Hill Sports & Events Center as part of the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon.
Scouting the Wildcats
Monday’s opponent comes in riding its own wave of high expectations. Bethune-Cookman was selected to finish first in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) preseason poll, securing 181 points and 10 first-place votes after capturing the regular-season championship last year.
Head coach Reggie Theus has completely reloaded his conference title roster, bringing in 11 transfers alongside key returning forward Quentin Heady. The Wildcats’ revamped rotation features major Division I additions across the floor, including 6-foot-8 wing Kevin Patton Jr. (New Mexico), point guard Jameel Morris (Alcorn State), explosive wing Mari Jordan (Radford), and 7-foot center Melian Martinez (Louisiana Tech). This is a long, athletic, and experienced group that knows how to win. They’ll test Furman’s defensive discipline from the opening tip.
Furman Reloading
The core of Furman’s preseason hype centers on an intriguing mix of established veterans and crucial additions. Fifth-year guard Tom House has just gained his eligibility and will serve as another shooting threat for the Dins. Fifth-year forward Charles Johnston returns to anchor the interior after controlling the glass all last season, earning Preseason All-SoCon honors alongside fellow frontcourt standout Marcus Kell. Kell, a grad transfer from Western Carolina who poured in 13.6 points a game last year, gives the Paladins a league-tested scorer who fits right into Coach Richey’s system.
Fifth-year guard Tom House has just gained his eligibility and will serve as another shooting threat for the Dins.
Meanwhile, the backcourt has undergone a makeover. With the loss of Alex Wilkins, Boston College transfer Luka Toews steps in as a primary orchestrator to run the offense, while Army transfer Jaxson Bell brings proven scoring to a perimeter rotation that also features returners like Abijah Franklin and Cole Bowser. Franklin has looked to pick up the scoring that his friend Wilkins left behind, averaging 20.7 points over the three exhibition games. Cameron Elwer comes in after breaking Lebron James’ high school scoring record in Ohio, and will undoubtedly receive consistent minutes as a freshman.
Keys to the Opener
Controlling the Pace: Abijah Franklin, Toews and Cameron Elwer will need to dictate tempo against an athletic, transfer-heavy Bethune-Cookman defense, limiting live-ball turnovers and generating clean looks early in the shot clock.
Inside-Out Balance: With Johnston and Kell drawing attention down low against BCU’s imposing front line (including 7-foot center Melian Martinez), opening up space for shooters will be critical to cracking the Wildcats’ defense.
Defensive Rebounding: Setting a physical tone on the defensive glass right from tip-off will neutralize Bethune-Cookman’s second-chance opportunities and allow Furman to get out and run. Furman has had no trouble grabbing rebounds in the preseason, but defense has been a major area of growth this offseason for the Paladins. Let’s see how they improved from the preseason scrimmages, to a live game opener.
November openers are usually about shaking off the rust, but pairing two defending preseason conference favorites on a neutral floor changes the math immediately. For Furman, it’s a high-stakes stress test right out of the gate against a veteran, transfer-loaded roster that will expose any early defensive leaks.
Tip-off from Rock Hill is set for 8:00 PM, giving the Paladins an immediate chance to show whether the preseason hype is earned.