Men's Basketball: Elon Preview

From October 23-November 3, each day there will be a preview of a SoCon team written by one of their fans/bloggers. Tomorrow- Furman.

Elon Preview: Wading Through Decency, Phoenix Look to Hit Pinnacle in 2012-13 

Under fourth year coach Matt Matheny, the Elon Phoenix has steadily improved, by the record anyways. Elon was 9-23 in 2009-2010, 14-17 in 2010-11, and 15-16 in 2011-12.

All of this while watching Matheny's alma mater and former employer Davidson College walk away with success year after year, the Phoenix has floundered in decency. There have been great players and great games, but nothing has been able to stick, no real success has stuck. In this past year, the Phoenix had a shot to win a North Division title, but finished one game behind UNC-Greensboro.

But this year may be Elon’s greatest opportunity to make it to the Southern Conference Tournament finals since 2008, the penultimate season under former head coach Ernie Nestor. One player from that team graduated this past May, while another, redshirt senior guard Josh Bonney, remains. The players Phoenix fans will bank on to lead the maroon and gold to the proverbial promised land of the NCAA Tournament are a dangerous quartet of juniors and a silky smooth sophomore.

Read the entire article here