Repeatedly Charleston tossed the ball to 6-foot-10 Croatian Ante Brzovic on the free throw line. From there, the offense went to work. The ahead served as the point of interest with the flexibility to make a play for himself or dump it off to considered one of his teammates.
He tallied a game-high 27 factors on 11-of-16 (68.75%) capturing in CofC’s 90-80 season-opening win over Southern Illinois on the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. He additionally stepped out to hit considered one of his two 3-point makes an attempt whereas taking part in a career-high 36 minutes. The submit dished out 4 assists, the second most of anybody within the sport.
“He’s received loads of freedom,” Charleston head coach Chris Mack stated. “The best way we play, we would like the ball in his arms, whether or not it’s within the submit, whether or not it’s on the perimeter, as a result of he makes different gamers higher. He’s so sensible, so clever.”
Brzovic flashed his brilliance when the sport tightened up within the second half. After the Cougars noticed their 11-point first half lead slip away, they confronted a three-point deficit early within the second half. That’s when the CAA Preseason Participant of the Yr took over. He scored or assisted on seven straight Cougar factors to provide them a lead they by no means relinquished.
The run started with an old school three-point play, which tied the sport at 56. The subsequent time down the ground, he hit a chopping Jaxon Prunty within the lane for a simple layup to place CofC again in entrance. The Croatian transformed a layup of his personal to construct the lead again to 4 on the following possession.
“Any time you might have a participant of Ante’s caliber, his capability to essentially be poised, particularly his place [because] it’s one factor you probably have a guard that’s actually poised to make the precise performs, however down the stretch, when [he] can drag the opposite workforce’s 5 out persistently after which what he did within the low block, it’s simply choose your poison,” Mack stated. “If you wish to double him, he’s an awesome passer. When you don’t, he can rating it, put loads of guys in foul bother.”
Terrific begin of the season for Ante Brzovic as Charleston tok down Southern Illinois. 27pts, 9rebs, 4asts, 1stl and 2blks whereas capturing above 68% from the sector. Unimaginable manufacturing across the paint pic.twitter.com/4dhG5C8fCO
— Eurohoops Scouting (@EHoopsScouting) November 5, 2024
On prime of his scoring prowess, the ahead displayed a eager capability to rebound the basketball as nicely. He pulled down eight of his 9 boards within the second half and simply missed his ninth double-double in a Charleston uniform. He almost outrebounded SIU’s 4 submit gamers by himself as they mixed for 10 rebounds.
“He’s picked MVP for a cause,” Southern Illinois head coach Scott Nagy stated. “He whipped our bigs. He’s simply extra skilled. They do a very good job of getting him the ball in good spots. He’s a very good passer and a tricky guard.”
Brzovic is the highest returning scorer for the two-time reigning convention champions. He noticed his manufacturing enhance over every of his seasons with this system. He tallied 11.6 factors and 5.9 rebounds in his first 12 months and 12.1 factors, 6.3 boards and a pair of.4 assists final season.
