College of Charleston’s Adjehi Baru has been named the Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week.

Baru recorded three straight double-double performances last week as the Cougars fell to Samford (62-57) before topping Chattanooga (86-59) and The Citadel (73-69).

Baru opened the week with 18 points and 11 rebounds against Samford and followed that performance with 13 points and 10 rebounds against Chattanooga.  He closed the week with 16 points and 12 rebounds in Monday’s win over The Citadel.

A native of the Ivory Coast, Baru shot 57 percent from the field (17-of-30) and connected on 77 percent from the free throw line (13-of-17).  He added six blocked shots, three steals and an assist last week.

The sophomore leads the SoCon and ranks 45^th nationally with 9.2 rebounds per game.  He is connecting on 50 percent of his field goal attempts this season and is fourth in the conference in blocked shots (1.4 bpg).  Baru has tallied five of his six career double-doubles this season.

The Cougars (12-5, 4-1 SoCon) return to action Thursday when they travel to face Georgia Southern (7-10, 1-3 SoCon).

College of Charleston head coach Monte Lee has announced that former player Kevin Decker has joined the Cougar coaching staff as a undergraduate student assistant for the 2013 season. Decker will return to Charleston after a two-year stint in the minor leagues.

Decker played for College of Charleston in the 2009 and 2010 seasons, compiling an 11-1 career record with a 5.39 ERA and 114 strikeouts against just 63 walks. In 2010, he earned Second Team All-Southern Conference honors after posting a perfect 8-0 record and 3.78 ERA, leading the Cougars to the championship game of the 2010 NCAA Myrtle Beach Regional.

“We’re excited about adding Kevin to our coaching staff for this season,” Lee said. “He will add a wealth of knowledge to our pitching staff after pitching at a high level here and with the Pirates organization.”

Originally from Washington, Ind., Decker was drafted in the 39th round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He pitched that summer with the State College Spikes of the New York/Penn League, and won his team’s Pitcher of the Year award after posting an 8-1 record.

In 2011, Decker played in the Single-A South Atlantic League, pitching for the West Virginia Power. That season, he registered a 3.49 ERA with 55 strikeouts, going 3-5.

Chattanooga vs. College of Charleston

WHEN: 4 p.m.

WHERE: TD Arena

RADIO: WTMZ 910-AM

RECORDS: College of Charleston 10-5, 2-1 in SoCon; Chattanooga (7-9, 2-1).

NOTES: The College of Charleston leads the all-time series with Chattanooga, 16-11. … The last meeting the Cougars defeated Chattanooga, 87-85, (2OT), on Dec. 3, 2011 at TD Arena. … Chattanooga is currently on the tail end of a four-game road swing, in which they’ve complied a 2-1 mark, with a 70-65 victory at The Citadel Thursday night. … . Three of UTC’s losses this season have come against BCS opponents on the road at Kansas (L, 55-69), at LSU (L, 67-80) and at Georgia Tech (L, 58-74). The Mocs currently rank No. 61 in the nation in rebounds per game (38.4). … As part of CofC Basketball Alumni Weekend, the Cougars will celebrate the 30th year anniversary of their 1983 NAIA National Championship title won under legendary head coach John Kresse. A “Legends Game” which will be held prior to the Chattanooga game and will feature Cougar Basketball all-time greats such as Anthony Johnson, Thad Delaney, Sedric Webber, Troy Wheless, Greg Mack, John Brett, Pat King and Stacy Harris. The alumni game will be played from 1:45-2:45 p.m. at TD Arena. Admission is free.

College of Charleston assistant men’s soccer coach Troy Lesesne was honored as one of the top-15 assistant coaches in the nation by CollegeSoccerNews.com, a leading publication on NCAA Soccer.

CSN releases its list of the most-impactful assistants annually and this is the second time Lesesne’s dedication and tireless work ethic have gotten him recognized.

“Troy is extremely committed to the Cougars and his energy is amazing in all areas of our program,” said head coach Ralph Lundy. “He keeps growing and demonstrating great expertise which is well received by our players.”

CSN annually recognizes the assistant coaches across the country who are excelling at their work and impacting the game and their respective programs. The criteria are based on efforts and dedication toward the coaches’ respective programs but additional weight is also placed on the teams’ success on the field.

The 2012 season was Lesesne’s fifth as assistant coach and eighth as a member of the CofC men’s soccer coaching staff. Lesesne serves the program in a wide range of capacities such as leading training, monitoring academics, coordinating recruiting efforts, maintaining alumni relations, scheduling, budgeting and managing equipment. His continuous efforts greatly alleviate the responsibilities of his fellow coaches and members of the athletic department.

Lesesne was a standout player for CofC and an integral member of the 2004 Southern Conference champion team which advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He was named to the NSCAA/Adidas All-American team as well as the NSCAA/Adidas All-South first team.

Samford vs. College of Charleston

WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: TD Arena

RADIO: WTMZ 910-AM

TV: WMMP

RECORDS: College of Charleston 10-4, 2-0 in SoCon; Samford (3-12, 1-1).

NOTES: The Cougars have won a season-high five straight games, including a 60-56 win over Furman this past Saturday night. … This is the first of three games in five days for the Cougars, who play Chattanooga (Saturday) and The Citadel (Monday). … Samford is currently on a two-game losing skid after a 74-70 loss against Chattanooga. The Bulldogs have played one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the league after facing the likes of No. 2 Louisville (L, 54-80), No. 16 Memphis (L, 54-65), No. 19 Kentucky (L, 56-88) and Wisconsin (L, 51-87). … The Bulldogs are led by sophomore G Raijon Kelly (14.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3.5 apg,) and freshman F Tim Williams (14.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg).

The College of Charleston has been nominated for “Best Road Trip Destination in College Basketball.

Voting for the 10 finalists opened today with the winner to be completely fan-determined through Facebook voting at: Facebook.com/BestofCollegeBasketball. Fans can vote once per day until January 25. The winning school will be featured in GEICO Best of College Basketball on Saturday, April 6 on CBS.

The 10 finalists were chosen based on a wide range of categories including in-game atmosphere, history of the program, pre- and post-game events, scenery and attractions of the town and many more. Fans can visit the Facebook page to view videos and photo albums showcasing why each school is a perfect college basketball road trip destination.

The College of Charleston boasts one of the best college game-day atmospheres among NCAA Division I mid-major basketball programs having compiled a 394-58 (.872) home-court winning percentage to date. Known as “Giant Killers,” the Cougars opened their new basketball venue, TD Arena, in 2008 and the court is named after legendary head coach John Kresse who compiled 560 career victories and led the program to its four NCAA Tournament and three NIT appearances. Located in the heart of historic, downtown Charleston, the College is located near the King Street shopping district which is home to some of the top restaurants and shopping in the Southeast region. Charleston was also ranked the No. 1 U.S. Destination and No. 1 City in the World by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine in 2012 and the CofC campus is within 12 miles of the Atlantic Ocean and some of the most picturesque beaches in the U.S. including Isle of Palms, Folly Beach, Sullivan’s Island and Kiawah Island.

The other nine finalists are:

Brigham Young University – Provo, Utah

With flowers in spring and beautiful snow-capped mountains in winter, Provo is a majestic backdrop, but it’s the “Roar of the Cougars” student section that makes game-day so unique.

Creighton University – Omaha, Neb.

Creighton is college basketball at its best – fantastic fans, wonderful venue, and a top-ranked team.  McDermott fever has captured Bluejay Nation and Omaha – the heart of the Midwest.

Harding University – Searcy, Ark.

The Bison’s Rhodes Field House is one of the most unique arenas in college sports. A converted World War II airplane hangar, it’s now one of the premier arenas in Division-II and hosts the famous Rhodes Rowdies.

Indiana University – Bloomington, Ind.

Steeped in basketball history, Indiana’s Assembly Hall is regarded as one of the most prestigious arenas in college basketball.

University of Arizona – Tucson, Ariz.

Season tickets to the McKale Center have sold out for 25 consecutive years, which helps provide one of the finest game-day atmospheres in college basketball. Plus, the cool Tucson nights, cultural events at the UA Centennial Hall or historic Fox Theater, youthful hotspots on 4^th Street and unparalleled sunsets ensure something for everyone.

University of Memphis – Memphis, Tenn.

Memphis is well known for its incredible food and vibrant music scene; it’s also filled with college basketball super-fans who love their Tigers.

West Virginia University – Morgantown, W.Va.

Morgantown, West Virginia is home to people as rock solid as the mountains for which the state is known. And the signing of John Denver’s “Country Roads” after a big provides the perfect ending to game-day at the Coliseum.

Wichita State University – Wichita, Kan.

Wichita, the Air Capital of the World, has something for everyone as well as an incredible game-day experience. Plus, being an urban college, the tradition of WSU is not just limited to campus, but spreads throughout the entire city.

Xavier University – Cincinnati, Ohio

Xavier is one of the toughest places to play in college basketball. Its home arena, the Cintas Center, averages more than 10,000 fans a game – nearly a packed-house. Cincinnati also offers famous Skyline Chili and impressive nightlife in Mt. Adams, The Banks and Fountain Square.

Vote and find out more about the finalists at: Facebook.com/BestofCollegeBasketball or Facebook.com/EnterpriseRentACar

Furman vs. College of Charleston
WHEN: 5 p.m.
WHERE: TD Arena
TV: WMMP
RADIO: WTMZ 910-AM
RECORDS: College of Charleston 9-4, 1-0 in SoCon; Furman 3-9, 0-1.
NOTES: College of Charleston junior forward Trent Wiedeman is expected to play tonight against the Paladins. Wiedeman, who has had two separate ankle injuries, has missed nine games. The Cougars are 7-2 in Wiedeman’s absence. … Furman leads the overall series, 41-38, … Furman ended a nine-game, four-year losing skid in the series with a 69-63 victory on the Cougars home court last season. … The Cougars lead the SoCon in shooting, hitting at a 44.8 percent clip from the floor and leads the league in 3-point shooting at 39.2 percent. … Cougars C/F Adjehi Baru leads the SoCon in rebounding, averaging 9.0 a game, while G Anthony Stitt is the top 3-point shooter (46.8 percent) in the SoCon.

Baseball America magazine has tabbed College of Charleston head baseball coach Monte Lee as one of the “Top 10 College Head Coaches Under 40.”

Entering his fifth season with the Cougars, Lee has posted a 156-85 record for a winning percentage of .647 with trips to NCAA Regionals in 2010 and 2012. Last season, the Cougars won a share of the Southern Conference regular season title and an at-large berth to the NCAA Gainesville Regional.

The Cougars have finished in the top five in the nation in home runs in each of Lee’s four years, and have garnered conference Player, Pitcher or Freshman of the Year honors every year that Lee has been at the helm. In 2012, Marty Gantt and Christian Powell won Player and Pitcher of the Year nods for the first award sweep in program history.

Under Lee’s tutelage, 17 CofC players have been drafted or signed professional baseball contracts, while seven different players were named All-Americans including Daniel Aldrich, the 2011 Collegiate Baseball National Freshman of the Year.

Last month, Perfect Game picked Lee as one of the nation’s “Top 10 Rising Coaches,” attesting to the respect for Lee among the media and his peers.

A former CofC baseball player himself, Lee graduated from the College in 2000 and was an assistant coach at South Carolina from 2002-08. He is enshrined in the College of Charleston baseball Wall of Fame.

National baseball writer Aaron Fitt wrote this about Lee in the Baseball America article:

The Skinny: The first position player ever drafted out of CofC, Lee spent six years learning under Ray Tanner at South Carolina before returning to his alma mater as head coach and guiding the Cougars to two regionals in his first four years.

What They’re Saying: “I think the world of Monte. He’s a great coach, a great guy, a great recruiter, he works hard and he’s really well connected. Players love playing for him; he’s got a great temperament, and he’s a darn good hitting guy too. He was the hitting coach for some of those really good South Carolina teams. He’s very happy at the College of Charleston, it being his alma mater, but it would be smart of an AD in the ACC or SEC to hire him, because he’s a great one.”

—South Carolina coach Chad Holbrook

College of Charleston senior guard Andrew Lawrence has been playing some of the best basketball of his career the last couple of weeks.

Lawrence was named the SoCon Player of the Week on Wednesday.

Lawrence led the Cougars to a 4-0 record over the holiday break with wins over Old Dominion (76-65) on Dec. 18, Coastal Carolina (60-51) on Dec. 22, 2012 NCAA Tournament Second Round participant Vermont (62-50) on Dec. 29 and Marist (85-75) on Dec. 31.

The Cougars have won eight of their last 10 games and currently boast the most road victories in the nation among NCAA Division I schools who remain unbeaten on the road with an impressive 5-0 record away from the friendly confines of TD Arena.

Lawrence led the team in scoring with two 20-point outings in back-to-back road games at Vermont (21 points) and at Marist (season-high tying 22 points). He averaged a team-leading 16.8 points and 2.5 steals per game, while controlling the ball well with a team-best 2.25 assist-to-turnover ratio (18-8). Lawrence also helped the Cougars on the boards averaging 4.0 rebounds per game and shot 52.5 percent from the floor, 47.6 percent from beyond the arc and 68.2 percent from the charity stripe against the Monarchs, Chanticleers, Catamounts and Red Foxes combined.

The team captain also moved into eighth all-time in career three-pointers made at Vermont and has now drained 170 for his career to date. He is 73 points away from becoming the 30th player in school history to reach the 1,000-career point mark (927). Lawrence has scored in double figures and led the team in assists in three of the team’s last four contests of the season.

He currently ranks 12th in the SoCon in scoring (14.0 ppg), third in assists (4.0 apg), third in steals (1.6 spg) and seventh in made three-pointers per game (2.0 avg).

College of Charleston vs. Vermont

WHEN: 2 p.m.

WHERE: Patrick Gymnasium, Burlington, VT.

RADIO: WQNT 910-AM

RECORDS: College of Charleston 7-4; Vermont 7-4.

NOTES: The Cougars defeated Vermont, 85-70, last February at TD Arena in an ESPN BracketBuster game. … The Catamounts have one of the top home-court advantages in college basketball. … Vermont is 47-12 (.797) at Patrick Gymnasium over the last four years. … Eleven games into the season, the Cougars lead the Southern Conference and rank among the top 15 teams in the country holding opponents to 27.0 percent shooting from the three-point line.  … The Cougars, who are 3-0 on the road this season, have one common opponent in Towson. … Towson beat Vermont (64-68) on Dec. 5, the Cougars beat Towson in its season opener (75-58) on Nov. 9. .. This is the first of two games of the Cougars in the Northeast. The Cougars will face Marist on New Year’s Eve.