For years this University with it’s long history (it is the 13th oldest college in America) was not much more than a junior college even if it was the oldest municipal college in American.  With only 1400 students C of C really was a complete unknown sometimes even in the Port City.  Since Kresse has taken over and the College of Charleston have put themselves on the basketball map albeit still unknown outside of the south or to true basketball fans. The campus has exploded with growth with enrollment up almost to 10,000 and the building of many modern buildings such as the new basketball arena, the TD arena which seats over 5000.  With the team’s success the founders er administration decided it was time for this school to jump in to the deep water of Division One basketball.  No stepping up the ladders rung by rung through the different levels of college divisions.  Let’s just jump in with both feet and swim with the sharks.  And of course they would not even thought of doing this if their sensei was not leading the ‘Purple’ Cougars.  Kresse was getting offers from everyone at this point including actually accepting the job at Davidson for six days after Lefty Driesell left but not liking it and wanting to return home to the Port City.  Heck even his alma mater reportedly made an offer to Kresse when Little Louis was looking at the NBA but Kresse had now dug roots down south and loved what he had going in SC. And knew he was teaching kids without the big egos how to play the game the right way. The funny thing is that his style worked even at this level and in their first year the College of Charleston dominated the Trans American Athletic Conference earning a trip to the Big Dance on their maiden voyage.  Bigger conferences came clamoring for this program (and more importantly Kresse) based in the Metropolitan and cultural center of South Carolina and they chose the historic Southern Conference to show they belonged with the big boys.  Sure, this wasn’t the conference of old with most of the ACC schools and the home of the legendary Zeke from Cabin Creek but it was a huge step up from the lowly TAAC and they would be able play similar competition.  This would be a huge test for Kresse and his style of coaching. Kresse (no he is not a sensei, that was a KK joke but you don’t want to add the third K down here) knows he has something special down in Charleston.  He has put together a program that was not only able to dominate at the lower levels of the college basketball but has been able to continue to be competitive even with it’s switch into Division One.  He has done this with a system that emphasizes defense first and good sound fundamentals on offense.  He does not have extremely gifted players but they do know how to play the game and the do understand the concept of team first. 

The closest thing Kresse has to a star is sophomore wing Greg Mack. But as good as he is and Mack has brought an athleticism up front this program has never seen, Mack’s presence would be the biggest test he has endured since migrating south.  Sophomore Greg Mack was the starter on the post for ‘some’ of the year. He is not big enough for this position but this team does not have much size and it got Mack on the court in one of the two open spots available.  Kresses had used primarily a three-guard set before Mack got here but that all changed with this multi-faceted player on the team. Mack can play both forward positions and is a terrific athlete but did have some issues.  An undersized post player at six five who had a stellar prep career at Orangeburg-Wilkinson prep.  He would have been recruited by bigger schools if they thought he had more of an outside game but Mack has proved in his time in Charleston that he is indeed an inside/outside player.  The Truck is arguably the best offensive player on the team at least up front and Kresse trusts him enough to be the main go to guy down the stretch of most games.  He has a smooth game and was counted on to hit clutch shots which he did often was relentless at the end of games.  His biggest issue is that he is not quite quick enough to guard smaller, more athletic forwards and Kresse had to play him at the four at times where he was overmatched size wise.  He came around defensively and earned his starting role as even though Kresse loves offense he knows he has to be able to score to keep up in the SoCon.  None of Mack’s problems this year were on the court.  The problem was that Mack had an occurrence midway through the year right after he had taken over the starting spot.  Apparently, he was caught stealing a stereo system and was suspended from the team.  This was a huge spot for Kresse as Mack is one of this best players.  After a formal review Mack was placed on probation and made to pay back the cost of the stereo as well as performing community service.  Kresse acquiesced to his star player and gave him another chance and put him back on the roster though he did not start another game the rest of the year.  He became the instant offense off the bench the team needed but some think Kresse sold his soul for his star player.  Mack will be back next year but one thing is for sure no matter how talented he is he better keep his nose clean as the ‘Sensei’ stuck out his neck for this kid.  

Junior Ken Gustafson was the big man on campus before the Truck got here and comes into the year as the go to guy down low for C of C.  Gustafson was voted team captain and will begin the year once again starting down low after a couple of seasons in Charleston where he put up huge numbers.  Gustafson took a step back with the better competition and lost the starting role the second half of the year.  Or so it seemed.  Gustafson still ended up starting once Mack was suspended and put up solid numbers once again for the College of Charleston.  He is not big but man can he board!  This Long Island native is a bit limited defensively and that does not fly with Kresse.  Still, Gustafson is a team first guy who accepted his new role and like most people who have never seen this beautiful city ‘fell in love’ with Charleston and will be here for a long time. 

  Sophomore Stephen Yetman is ticketed to be the starter at point after showing last year he is not only a good quarterback but will fight for his right to run this team.  A good passer and terrific leader he is just not quite athletic enough for Division One. That will not stop him but Kresse is brining in a slew of freshmen to challenge for minutes.  Kresse believes in hierarchy and waiting your turn learning under the guys in front of you so Yetman is fairly safe.  But he needs to improve his shooting if he is to survive on Kresse’s team.  He loves the three but makes sure his kids are hitting at high percentage’s and taking good shots.  No one on one iso’s around these parts.

The other two spots are wide open with some nice competition but no stand-out studs.  This opens the door for the new recruits and though Kresse wants the kids to wait if a kid can play he will get some minutes.  Sophomore John Brett from Long Island (part of the New York City connection for Kresse) will battle returning juniors John Drafts, Rick Carpenter and Kevan Elliott for the spot next to Gustafson.  Kresse would like a true center here with somebody who can guard the rim on the defensive end.  Drafts is the best shot blocker of the group so has the inside lane.  Carpenter is the best on the offensive end but they already have Gustafson who plays the same style only better. 

Sophomores Pat Harrington and Steven Johnson will continue their competition for the stating two guard right where they left off last year.  Harrington, who prefers to be called Schnieder for some reason, is the incumbent but nowhere near as athletic as Johnson. Harrington gets by on toughness and smarts but Johnson really came on strong the second half and is a better defender. 

Kresse had a varied and deep bench at his disposal.  This includes most the guys mentioned above who will not be starting as Kresse uses up to 10 guys effectively. Some will be seeing the JV ranks with assistant Tom Herrion running the show.  He teaches the same in your face defense as his mentor.  Junior Sam Meade comes into the year as the sixth man up front.  He was the starting power forward next to Gustafson but like him lost his job early on.  He had a hard time regaining his staring role due to limited defensive abilities but even Kresse loves his diverse offensive game.  Another Junior Ron Thies was supposed to be the point guard last year but got beat out by Yetman but did play often. He is a much better scorer than Yetman.  Sam Hare not to be confused with Meade and Dwayne Grace are athletic sophomores who will be moving up from JV to challenge for PT.  They are behind the Truck though so one of them will probably be on JV again. 

The College of Charleston Cougars have a formula for playing basketball.  Play great defense and protect the ball on offense and take high percentage threes.  Coach John Kresse is a master teacher and has instilled in his pupils his simple tenants of how to play the game.  His young students have learned quickly and showed that this formula works even against bigger, stronger and more athletic teams.  This system will continue to be productive as long as Kresse is here and he has the types of scholars who believe in and are committed to winning the right way.  Discipline is the Cobra Kai er C of C Way and this program under Kresse will continue to fight you tooth and nail on every possession and for every loose ball and to the end of every match.  And if that doesn’t work then he might just have his kids ‘sweep the leg’ once or twice.