Coastal Carolina Basketball

Coastal Carolina's cheerleading team has reportedly been suspended due to multiple allegations, including prostitution.

According to Ian Cross and Sage Speaks of WMBF News, a CCU cheerleader who spoke on the condition of anonymity said multiple cheerleaders were questioned by police after an anonymous letter was sent to school president David DeCenzo.

The letter alleged that Coastal Carolina cheerleaders engaged in "prostitution, purchasing alcohol for underage team members and paying others to complete their homework assignments."

Police reportedly searched through the cheerleaders' cellphones during the questioning and released them Wednesday after telling them they had done nothing wrong.

While no incident reports have been filed, a cheerleading showcase the team was set to host April 4 has been canceled, and an anonymous cheerleader said the squad will no longer take part in a national competition in Daytona Beach, Florida, per Cross and Speaks.

Coastal Carolina officials have yet to comment publicly on the status of the cheerleading team or the allegations against it.

Dates:  March 1, 3 and 5

Bracket:  The Big South Conference

Sites:  The first round is hosted by higher-seeded teams while semifinal action will take place at Coastal Carolina University.  The championship will be played on the campus of the highest remaining seed.

Television:  Semifinals on ESPNU; Championship on ESPN2

Tourney Fact:  Only the top eight teams qualify for the conference tournament.  Presbyterian is not eligible for the conference tournament this year.

Favorite:  Coastal Carolina (26-4, 16-2) had their way in the Big South for most of the season.  However, the suspension of leading scorer Desmond Holloway and the report of possible NCAA violations have definitely caused some distractions as the Chanticleers have dropped two of their last four.  Still, with all of the negative attention, Coastal Carolina is the team to beat.

Best of the Rest:  Liberty (19-12, 13-5) finished second in the Big South but have lost four straight and are limping into the tournament.  UNC-Asheville (16-13, 11-7) has been playing well lately and own a win over Coastal Carolina.  Don’t be surprised if Matt Dickey and the Bulldogs find their way to the finals.

Sleeper:  VMI (17-12, 10-8) can put up points in bunches.  If the Keydets get hot they could be the spoiler in the Big South tourney.

Also, check out Conference Tourney Breakdown: The Horizon League

As a Big South men's basketball fan, there is currently no better place to be than in Conway, S.C.

Right now in Conway, wearing teal represents a fashion statement. Libraries and bookstores are scrambling to find copies of The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. Rumor has it that Cliff Ellis will soon release a country song about Coastal Carolina basketball.

Predicted to finish eighth by the coaches and a media panel, the Chanticleers are currently in first place in the Big South with an 8-1 record within the 10-team conference. Only Kentucky, BYU, and Syracuse have more than Coastal's 18 wins in Division I basketball going into this week's action.

There are several reasons for the Chanticleers' turnaround from a 11-20 record last season, but the huge improvement starts at the point guard position. Kierre Greenwood's 8.8 points per game only begins to tell the story of his importance.

This team possesses the true point guard it has lacked for several years, and consequently teammates are finally getting the ball at the right time. Greenwood's penetration skills are leading to several easy baskets every game.

The arrival of Ed Gray from South Carolina has more than made up for the surprise transfer of Anthony Breeze to Appalachian State. Coming off the bench, Gray is  averaging 15.2 points and five rebounds a game.

The combination of Greenwood and Gray have added much-needed athleticism to a team that has been lacking it since the days of Tony Dunkin.

Joseph Harris may wear "double nothing" on his back, but he is some kind of something for Coastal. The red-shirt senior leads the Chanticleers in scoring at 15.6 points per game and recently became the Big South's all-time leader in rebounds.

Seniors Mario Edwards and Logan Johnson may be overlooked, but the pair is never under-appreciated. These two are the quintessential glue guys who do the dirty work to help the entire team execute as one cohesive unit. 

Once thought to be a poor hire, Ellis is now known as the crafty crooner of Myrtle Beach. Ellis has the squad playing tough defense and taking high-percentage shots. No longer is there any talk of his 24-35 record after two seasons at Coastal.

Halfway through the conference season, Coastal Carolina has transformed from also-rans to the team to beat in the Big South. Despite the current success, the team knows it most likely has to win the conference tournament to make it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1993.

For now, the Cliff Dwellers are just glad the team isn't the predicted cellar-dweller.