Late Monday Night Point Guard

1. If the Chants had handled VMI’s late press better Monday night they are 2-0 in league play this morning. That would have been a lift considering Josh Mack has left the team and Joseph Harris is on the bench with a heavy cast wrapped around his surgically repaired thumb.

2. CCU guard Everage Richardson is on a tear. Over his last eight contests Richardson is averaging 20 points per game and is one of the few Chants who can effectively create his own shot.

3. The Chanticleers’ defense still has work to do. While CCU played well for 31 minutes Monday night, they still let VMI shoot 50 percent from the field. The Keydets entered play shooting 44 percent. Of course easier said than done with VMI’s sharpshooters on the outside and star Reggie Williams on the inside.

4. After playing just 10 minutes through Coastal’s first five games, including two DNPs, Mario Sisinni has become a key contributor in the rotation. He had seven assists against zero turnovers Monday against VMI’s tough trap-and-pressure defense and Ellis said he has been pleased with his performances as the starting point guard. Sisinni has also taken pressure off Jack Leasure and is one of the Chants’ better on-ball defenders.

5. The Chants now have to prove themselves on the road with a High Point-Liberty swing. CCU is 0-6 on the road this season. Saturday’s game against High Point ( 7 p.m. tipoff) is on Big South TV.