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| Wiggins' entire career summed up in one photo |
Georgia Southern (14-12, 12-4)
TD Bank Arena
Tipoff at 8pm on ESPN3
Hard to believe this is the Cougar's final home game of the regular season, and the last hurrah for Antwaine Wiggins. That means it's our last chance to see the long-limbed, former high-top-fade-sporting defensive specialist play in front of the Maroon faithful. This Tennessee native was the biggest catch of the recruiting class of 2007. On ESPN's scouting page, Mr. Wiggins was a highly-touted baller who ranked ahead of little known prospects like Donovan Monroe (not even listed on the site) and Andrew Goudelock (one other Division 1 offer). I mean who would want those guys?!
Antwaine gave up offers to play at Michigan, Vanderbilt and Illinois to travel down to the Lowcountry and his four years as a starter solidified him as one of the most versatile players in Cougar history. He's just eight points away from moving into the Top 15 on the all-time scoring list, ranks 5th on the D1 rebounding list (with a good chance of moving up to third), and is 7th on the all time 3-pointers made list. Not bad numbers for a guy whose career at CofC was split in half because of a season-ending ACL injury.
But this game is only mostly about Antwaine Wiggins. Georgia Southern got the better of us in that ugly game on January 21st where a befuddled Matt Sundberg and Nori Johnson looked lost in the starting lineup and the team shot a season-low 35.7% from the floor. Luckily Nori seems more at ease with his role as the off-ball guard and Matt is back to being the first big off the bench. Not to mention the team will once again have the services of Adjehi Baru inside.
Like UNC-Greensboro, the Eagles of Statesboro have lost very little since playing the Cougars. Georgia Southern has won eight of their last nine and are battling Wofford for the final tournament bye behind Davidson. Eric Ferguson leads the team in points and rebounds and is almost equivalent to the type of athletic big man that the Cougars missed out on in their last game against Kent State. Ferguson abused Sundberg and James Carlton in January for 19 points and 8 rebounds, but he'll have a tougher time doing that against someone his own size (I'm talking about Baru, fyi). Willie Powers and Ben Drayton make up an all-senior backcourt that is also very tough to deal with on the perimeter.
Senior night festivities, intriguing matchups, the return of Anthony Stitt (to the bench)...what more could you want out of the last home game of the year? Former math-wiz and benchwarmer Garrett Campbell at the scorers table, calling the game with Everett German?!
...actually I'm being told this is also happening...
*UPDATE: confirmed that Anthony Stitt will see a few minutes tonight
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