Friday, February 26, 2010

Four 20-game winners?

Twenty-win seasons have long been a benchmark for success in college basketball, although it’s a feat more readily achieved in recent years with a slightly increased number of regular-season games.

Still, it’s an accomplishment.

Only once in the history of the Southern Conference, which was established in 1921, have as many as four league teams won 20 or more games in the same season.

It could happen again this season.

In 1952-53, the SoCon had four 20-game winners: N.C. State (26-6), Wake Forest (22-7), Furman (21-6) and Richmond (20-7).

The SoCon has two this year – Wofford (22-8) and Western Carolina (20-10) – and could add two more by season’s end.

Appalachian State (19-11) and College of Charleston (19-10) have at least two games remaining. The Mountaineers will play Samford and the Cougars will play Furman in regular-season finales on Saturday, and both have the SoCon Tournament remaining.

Barring upsets, the SoCon will have four 20-game winners for the first time in 57 years.

For the record, Western Carolina has won 20 games for the first time since 1971-72. Wofford is a 20-game winner for the first time since 1993-94. Both have won 20 games for the first time since becoming a Division I program.

Charleston won 27 games last season. Appalachian last won 20 in 2006-07.