ASHEVILLE, N.C. — After a memorable eleven years in the Southern Conference, the Elon Basketball program took the court for the final time as a member of the SoCon.
The 2014 Southern Conference Tournament was hosted in Asheville for the third consecutive year, and Elon fans filled the stands with maroon and gold.
“Asheville is a great place to have the tournament, I have enjoyed being here,” said President Emeritus Dr. Early Danieley. “I am surprised and pleased by the great number of Elon fans who come to Asheville for the tournament.”
Danieley graduated from Elon in 1946 and never left. He fell in love with Elon basketball decades ago, so whom better to speak about the Phoenix through the years, than Danieley
“I’ve been in various conferences over the years in Elon,” said Danieley. “I think that the Southern Conference has been one of the best affiliations we have had.”
Elon joined the Southern Conference in 2003, and to Elon women’s head basketball coach Charlotte Smith, the SoCon was truly special.
“I just loved it, you know because you had to be mentally sharp and mentally focused,” said Smith. “Every night you had to be prepared to fight no games were easy games and anybody could have beaten anybody on any given night.”
In the time that Elon has spent in the Conference, it has seen tremendous growth across the board.
“I think our programs have improved since being in the Southern Conference, there are some really fine institutions in the Southern Conference,” said Danieley.
The future of Elon athletics is promising and Dr. Danieley is looking forward it.
“I guess next year we will be in Baltimore in a new conference and a new tournament,” said Danieley.
At the beginning of next season, the Phoenix will move to the Colonial Athletic Association.
