Carson-Newman Men’s Basketball Position Previews: The Backcourt
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the final part in a two-part series breaking down Carson-Newman men's basketball's positions for the 2025-26 season. This preview chronicles the guards with help from Matt Bilbrey.
VIDEO: Matt Bilbrey interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the final part in a two-part series breaking down Carson-Newman men's basketball's positions for the 2025-26 season. This preview chronicles the guards with help from Matt Bilbrey.
Carson-Newman will move into 2025-26 without its starting point and shooting guards Trey Hubbard and Nick Brenegan. Hubbard finished his career third in career assists average (5.1 a game), while Brenegan wrapped up his time at C-N as the program's second all-time three-point shooter (made 287).
"Obviously they were two really important pieces to our team last year and I think going forward we love what they did," Bilbrey said. "But we just got to focus what we have in the locker room right now and that's what's going to be most important for us."
While Hubbard and Brenegan wrapped their careers, C-N does retain its starting three-man Jack Browder (Kingsport, Tenn.)
Browder is the only returning member of last year's postseason All-SAC First Team.
Browder led C-N with 19.7 points per game. He also averaged a team-best 8.8 rebounds per game. He produced 30 double-digit scoring efforts last season, including 15, 20-point efforts. He led the conference with 14 double-double games, and was the only player in the league in the top four in scoring and rebounding. A four-time SAC Player of the Week honoree, Browder was named NABC National Player of the Week on Dec. 10.
"You love what Jack does, you know what he brings to the team," Bilbrey said. "He's going to bring literally everything for us. Scoring, defense, rebounding, good energy, great leadership guy. I think as Jack continues to elevate his game throughout the season, the most important thing for him is being a great leader for this team and just bringing us all together."
The junior turned in back-to-back 30-point games, and is the first Eagle this century to score 30 points in three straight games. He scored 99 points in a three-game stretch – the fifth time this century a player has scored more than 90 in a three-game span for C-N. Browder's 99 are second only to Charles Clark's 110 during the stretch where he had his 54-point triple-double and earned his second national player of the week award. For the week, Browder averaged 33 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks per game. He made 75 percent of his shots, 88.9 percent of his threes and all 16 of his free throws.
While Hubbard graduated at the point, Bilbrey played substantially as his backup and takes over the starting one.
"Kind of just like playing with a little bit more confidence, composure, pace in my game," Bilbrey said. "I feel like last year I got rattled in some pretty big moments. But I think this year just playing with a little bit of pace and confidence will change a lot for me."
Bilbrey turned in a quality red-shirt freshman campaign, shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 43.2 percent from three while averaging 4.1 points per game. He also snagged 1.2 rebounds per game and handed out 1.4 assists per game. Bilbrey appeared in all 33 games for the Eagles. Bilbrey turned in a trio of double-digit scoring efforts against Coker (Jan. 4), UVA Wise (Jan. 15) and at Lincoln Memorial (Feb. 26). He topped out at 15 points against the Cavs. His best rebounding effort came with five boards against King (Nov. 9) and he handed out a season-best five assists against Wingate (Nov. 18).
Bilbrey expects big things from Keliese Frye (Newport, Ky.) at C-N's two guard.
"He's great for us obviously on the defensive end, but one thing that they don't, a lot of people don't know is he is a good offensive player for us as well," Bilbrey said. "He knows his role. He Knows exactly what he's going to do. We know exactly what he brings to the team on the defensive and offensive side of the ball."
Frye appeared in 12 games off the bench for C-N, averaging 2.8 points per game to go with 1.4 rebounds per game. Frye shot 51.9 percent from the field and knocked down 6-of-11 free throws. He scored in double-digits against Johnson & Wales (Nov. 12) with a 12-point effort on 5-of-9 shooting.
C-N also returns Caiden Botts, who redshirted last year. Botts was a 4A all-district selection at Bradley Central. After transferring to Link Academy, he averaged 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists per game. He also played football for the Silverdale Seahawks.
Among newcomers, the Eagles add in two juco transfers in Shamir Caruthers and Sean Lidnsey. An all-region selection, Caruthers led National Park College in scoring and three-point percentage, making 15.9 points per game and 44.8 percent of his threes. Lindsey averaged 19 points, five assists and four rebounds for Lamar Community College. He was named first team all-conference.
The freshmen guards are Gaas Herman (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Colin Brown (Bristol, Tenn.).
Herman was a 1,000-point scorer for Notre Dame High School, where he was a three-time all-state selection, and three time all-tournament team selection for the state tournament. He helped the Fighting Irish to a state championship runner up while averaging 23.4 points per game.
A three-time all-district and all-region player, and a two-time all-state star for Michael McMeans at Tennessee High, Brown helped the Vikings to three straight conference titles. Brown is THS' second-leading scorer in school history with more than 2,000 career points. He also holds the Vikings school records for most points in a game (54) and most threes in a game (eight).
Carson-Newman opens the season at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 15 against King in Holt Fieldhouse in the SAC/Conference Carolins Challenge. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 7:15 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on MIX 105.5 (WSEV-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live. A video stream is available with a subscription to FloSports at cneagles.com/flombb.
