It’s a coming-home party of sorts on Saturday night as Pete Strickland’s Coastal Carolina Chanticleers visit UD Arena for a contest against the surprising Dayton Flyers. Strickland — who was Oliver Purnell’s top assistant at Dayton before moving on to Coastal — is in his second season at the helm of the Conway, SC, school, an institution situated just 10 miles from the Atlantic coast and popular vacation destination Myrtle Beach. But it’s not all sand castles and Ray Bans as the Chants try to put last season’s 7-20 season behind them and rebuild a program that went to the NCAA tournament just a few years ago.

Strickland’s squad brings a 1-4 record into the contest against the Flyers — a win over The Citadel and losses to FDU, Jacksonville, UNC-Greensboro, and George Mason, the latter three losses by a total of 12 points. Little did anyone think at the beginning of the season that the Flyers would bring an undefeated team into this game. Barring an apocalyptic meltdown, Dayton should have their way on Saturday and improve to 8-0. As soon as one gets a bit too confident however, goofy things start to happen.

Coastal Carolina is guard-oriented from front to back and has one of the smallest and most inexperienced lineups in the country. While the backcourt has experience and a dangerous element, not a single returning player from last year’s team earned time in the frontcourt. In all, 10 players on Strickland’s team are either freshmen or sophomores.

Running the show at point guard is 6-0, Todd Shannon, a senior averaging 5.8ppg and 2rpg. Shannon was more of a scorer last season, but he’s been hot and cold in 99-00. While he’s not scoring and dishing out assists like Strickland would like, Shannon can knock down the three-pointer (.400%) and tends to pick his spots well to make a difference in the game.

Matt Gladieux, 6-5, has been the bright spot this year. The senior shooting guard leads the team in scoring (17.8ppg), rebounding (4.2rpg), and assists (3.2apg). Gladieux is a fine all-around player who played two seasons at the University of Toledo, then transferred to a Junior College before arriving at Coastal last year. He paid his own way in 98-99, practiced with the team, and now finds himself at the end of a long basketball journey. Gladieux is skilled enough to play either PG, SG, or QF over the course of the season.

With the Chants at a height disadvantage, the quick forward slot goes to another guard as 6-2 Steve Miles provides more firepower from the perimeter. Like all of Coastal’s perimeter players, Miles can play more than one position. When Gladieux is on the bench, Miles can slide to shooting guard. Gladieux can even play quick forward as the pieces of the puzzle are quite interchangeable. Miles, the Big South Rookie of the Year in 98-99, averages 9ppg, 4.4rpg, and 3.2apg, the latter two tying him for the team-high. Miles doesn’t shoot the trey as much as Gladieux but can knock it down if left unguarded (.400%).

In the frontcourt, CCU will be undermanned almost every night — especially outside the conference against the likes of Dayton, Ohio State, Maryland, and Georgetown. With a lack of size being a reality, the Chants must utilize quickness and opportunity to compete against big-bodied forwards and centers.

One option was 6-3 Torrey Butler, a sophomore who averaged 13.5ppg and 2rpg in the first two games of the season, but hasn’t seen action since then because of a foot infection. Butler was connecting on .588% from the floor before he was sidelined. With his status unknown at this point, other players must step up and take on some of the scoring burden inside 15 feet.

Clint Reed, 6-6, has been logging minutes at the power forward spot, netting 4.5ppg and 3.3rpg. Reed is a mobile player who likes to do most of his work facing the basket. Another option has been Anthony Susnjara, a 6-8 forward averaging 5.4ppg and 1rpg. Both Reed and Susnjara are freshman hailing from Australia.

The only true big man on the Coastal team capable of mixing it up with larger players is 6-9, 225lb, Cedric Davis — a player who has grown four inches since arriving on campus. Davis hails from right here in Dayton and sat out last season as a partial qualifier. He’s averaging 9.2ppg and 4.2rpg so far this year.

A handful of other players contribute off the bench.

Dayton has this game won on paper. Strickland’s club doesn’t have the players to compete with the Ashmans, Stanleys, Hollands, and Doliboas of the world. The Flyers are not only experienced at every position, but at least two players deep with the exception of center. While Coastal is hovering in the bottom 20 of the Sagarin however, it’s not a time to let up and take things easy. Every opponent has the potential to upend the Flyers — even this undefeated squad. While the odds are improbable, upsets usually happen when one team underestimates the opposition.

Pete Strickland’s club will be anxious to play the Flyers and pull off the major upset — especially since its a homecoming for their head coach. They have nothing to lose, everything to gain, and will let it all hang out. While Purnell and Strickland are dear friends, it will be all business once the whistle blows.