Haskins molds Lady Braves into contenders

Reviewing and previewing local college basketball:

WHO'S HOT

John Haskins. In his first year at the helm, the former UNC Pembroke men's coach has turned around the women's program, which was picked to finish last in the Peach Belt pre season coaches poll. The Lady Braves are off to a 7-2 start and are one game shy of last season's win total. Of course, all of UNC Pembroke's wins have come against opponents with losing records.

WHO'S NOT

Miles women. The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference school is off to an 0-8 start. Miles is shooting 34 percent from the field and recording three times as many turnovers as assists.

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS

For ASU coach Dip Metress: A stress ball. He's picked up three technicals so far and is on pace for 12.

Paine coach Ron Spry: How to Win Friends and Influence People (Referees). The Lions are averaging 20 fewer free throws per game than their opponents.

USC Aiken coach Mike Roberts: Two basketball recruits in the molds of Juan Wiley and Derek Moore.

Aiken Tech coach Bruce Capers: Sanity. A freshman-loaded team can age the youngest of coaches.

ASU women's coach Greg Wilson: a healthy, dependable true center.

Paine women's coach Selina Kohn: A lights-out 3-point shooter.

USC Aiken women's coach Mike Brandt: A consistent free-throw shooter.

RANKING THE MEN'S TEAMS

1. Augusta State (4-3). Jaguars find the meat of their non-conference schedule tough, losing by 30 points in two of the past three contests.

2. USC Aiken (4-4). The new year looks bleak if the Pacers continue to shoot free throws at a 62 percent clip.

3. Paine (1-5, 0-2 SIAC). The players are starting to listen and be more patient on offense; those who don't buy in will sit the bench.

RANKING THE WOMEN'S TEAMS

1. USC Aiken (9-4). Lady Pacers would be

11-2 if not for blowing second-half leads against Newberry and Carson-Newman.

2. Augusta State (6-4). Playing at Georgia and losing by 46 is OK. Following that up with a

48-point loss at Shaw is not OK.

3. Paine (2-4, 2-0 SIAC). Lady Lions haven't shot better than 38 percent in a game this season.

GAME OF THE WEEK

Winston-Salem State at Augusta State, 4 p.m. today. The Rams lead the series 3-1 and enter the game with a 7-2 season mark. Audly Wehner and Alleggrie Guinn are each averaging 16 points a game for Winston-Salem State.

The Jaguars are averaging only 59.8 points in six games (excluding their 115-point out burst against Carver Bible College). Augusta State got trounced by West Georgia and Georgia Southern and nearly blew a win against Paine.

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.