Throughout the 2018-19 season, the USC Aiken Athletic Communications office will provide weekly notes, giving all of Pacer Nation an in-depth look at the team.

X Factor

Junior Xzavier Barmore comes to USC Aiken after a pair of pit stops at Liberty and the College of Central Florida. The Seneca, S.C., native accounted for 9.9 points per game while canning 45.3 percent of his field goal attempts a season ago.

The Only One

This year, head coach Mark Vanderslice's team has one preseason all-conference standout Doniel Dean. In his first year with the program, Dean accounted for 16.9 points per game. He scored 472 points en route to a stellar year. He drained 47 percent of his shots from the field, including 38 percent from downtown.

Transfers

USC Aiken added multiple transfers to the 2018-19 team. Head coach Mark Vanderslice added senior Ty'lik Evans and juniors Xzavier Barmore and Damontez Oliver. Barmore transferred from the College of Central Florida while Oliver played at Campbell last year. Evans was a standout at Savannah State.

Local Product

In addition to the transfers, USC Aiken added a local standout in guard Melvin McKie. He played at South Aiken H.S. The four-year letterwinner was a three-time all-region performer.

Shaq Attack

Rookie Shaquan Jules is a 6-7 forward from Atlanta, Ga. Jules played previously at Windermere Preparatory School, leading the team to a district title as a junior. He poured in 12.8 points and snagged 8.5 boards a game as a senior.

King Of The Hill

Junior Robert Hill has transformed himself into one of the top big men in the region. After averaging 5.7 points and 6.8 rebounds a game as a freshman, he upped both categories to 8.1 points and 8.7 boards per night as a sophomore. He also swatted 78 shots a year ago – 24 more than he did as a freshman.

Returning Info

USC Aiken boasts a wealth of returners this season from last year's 16-12 team. Faison Brock, Darius Bell, Doniel Dean, Robert Hill and Kyle Tackeberry all saw extended playing time a season ago while Ryan Missildine came off the bench to provide minutes.

Washington Is In South Carolina

Rookie Myles Washington is a 6-5 forward from Charlotte, N.C. As a senior at William Amos Hough H.S., he poured in 16 points and snagged six boards a game.

Inside The Numbers

This week, USC Aiken hosts Tusculum on Friday, Nov. 9 before hosting Lincoln Memorial on Saturday, Nov. 10. Since moving to Division II, the Pacers are 25-24 (51 percent) in Friday contests. The team is also 183-161 (53.2 percent) in Saturday affairs. During that same time, the squad is 1-0 on Nov. 9 and 1-1 on Nov. 10.

Against The Opponents

This week, USC Aiken hosts Tusculum on Friday, Nov. 9 before hosting Lincoln Memorial on Saturday, Nov. 10. The Pacers trail the all-time series to the Pioneers 4-0, but the teams have not played since Dec. 16, 2006. This marks the first-ever time USC Aiken will square off with Lincoln Memorial. The teams nearly met in the NCAA Regional in 2013-14 before the Railsplitters were knocked out of the tournament in the second round by No. 18 Montevallo, 98-86.