Holmes named Big South player of the week

Well, that didn't take long.

Senior forward Mike Holmes has been named the Big South's men's basketball player of the week after his first two games in a Coastal Carolina uniform.

Holmes, a 6-foot-8 transfer from South Carolina, earns the honor after playing a key role in two of the Chanticleers' bigger wins this season.

Making his CCU debut last Monday at LSU, Holmes had 14 points and 10 rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench in helping the Chants to an overtime win and their first victory over an SEC team in 17 years. And in his first start Saturday against East Carolina at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, Holmes recorded 16 points and seven rebounds while being limited to 19 minutes due to foul trouble. He was especially impressive at the end Saturday, scoring four points in the final 1:19 while also drawing a key charge and securing a big rebound off a missed CCU free throw.

So far, he has been everything anybody could have expected and should have a significant impact on the rest of the season for CCU -- and the Big South, for that matter.

Holmes will play his first true home game at Kimbel Arena night as the Chants (9-2) take on Division III Thomas More at 7 p.m.

| Ryan Young, ryoung@thesunnews.com