- November 9th, 2008, 7:32 pm
#207890
UNC Asheville Bulldogs (Last Season: 12-19; 6-8, 5th in Big South; Lost in Semifinals of Big South Tournament; RPI - 249)
Head Coach: Eddie Biedenbach (13th season at UNCA)
Players that are Returning:
F Reid Augst, Sr. (6’6”, 215 lbs) – 10.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 50.2 FG%, 35.1 3PT% (34 made threes), 80.5 FT%
F John Williams, So. (6'4", 215 lbs) – 6.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 59.6 FG%, 50.0 3PT% (3 made threes), 43.0 FT%
G Sean Smith, Jr. (6’6”, 200 lbs) – 5.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 39.7 FG%, 38.1 3PT% (40 made threes), 70.6 FT%
G Rashad Gill, So. (6'5", 190 lbs) – Played in 15 games, 1.5 ppg, .7 rpg, 28.6 FG%, 21.4 3PT% (3 made threes), 36.4 FT%
F Jason Ridenhour, Jr. (6’6”, 200 lbs) – Played in 14 games, 1.0 ppg, .4 rpg, 50.0 FG%, 44.4 3PT% (4 made threes)
G Brandon Davis, So. (6'2", 195 lbs) – Played in 15 games, .9 ppg, .6 rpg, 31.3 FG%, 22.2 3PT% (2 made threes)
C Eric Stubbs, So. (6'8", 225 lbs) – .7 ppg, .9 rpg, 50.0 FG%, 0 made threes
G Donovan Jones, So. (6'0", 195 lbs) – Redshirted last season due injury, 4.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg in 06-07
C Kenny George, Sr. (7'7”, 370 lbs) – Expected to miss 08-09 season due to injury, 12.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.3 bpg, 69.6 FG%, 0 made threes, 65.2 FT%
Players that are Gone:
G Bryan Smithson (6’0”, 170 lbs) – 16.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.9 spg, 45.1 FG%, 41.1 3PT% (62 made threes), 83.5 FT%
G K.J. Garland (6’1”, 170 lbs) – 13.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 6.0 apg, 1.3 spg, 43.0 FG%, 33.6 3PT% (51 made threes), 68.8 FT%
F Vincent James (6’7”, 200 lbs) – 10.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.2 spg, 47.1 FG%, 28.6 3PT% (8 made threes), 71.9 FT%
F Garrett Moles (6’7”, 200 lbs) – 3.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 43.7 FG%, 50.0 3PT% (1 made three), 59.5 FT%
New Players:
F Matt Kittrell, Jr. (6’9”, 240 lbs) – Redshirted last year, Transfer from Hampden-Sydney College and Wagner University
G Chris Stephenson, Fr. (6’3”, 200 lbs) – Charlotte HS, Punta Gorda, FL
G Matt Dickey, Fr. (6’1”, 180 lbs) – Hewitt-Trussville HS, Trussville, AL
G J.P. Primm, Fr. (6’1”, 195 lbs) – Dickson County HS, Dickson, TN
F Quinard Jackson, Fr. (6’5”, 240 lbs) – The Benjamin School, West Palm Beach, FL
F Terrence Turner, Fr. (6’5”, 210 lbs) – Fayette County HS, Fayetteville, GA
C Sean Hobbs, Fr. (7’2”, 260 lbs) – St. Frances DeSales, Columbus, OH
F Jeremy Harn, Fr. (6’8”, 230 lbs) – Mooresville HS, Mooresville, NC
G Madison Davis, Fr. (5’10”, 160 lbs) – Tuscola HS, Waynesville, NC
Last season, UNCA made an impressive run to a regular season Big South championship, a berth in the Big South championship game, and an appearance in the postseason NIT. The primary contributors to that team were KJ Garland, Bryan Smithson, and Kenny George. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Garland and Smithson were seniors, and the 7-7 Kenny George had to have part of his foot amputated, making his basketball future, along with his overall health in general, a big question mark. Needless to say, George will likely not play this season (if ever again), and Coach Biedenbach will have to adapt without his three biggest pieces from last season’s squad.
This season, UNCA is going to have to count on some returning role players and newcomers in order to succeed. The returnees are led by Reid Augst and John Williams. Augst is a versatile small forward that can play different positions and score in a variety of ways. He’s been a valuable role player for the Bulldogs in recent years, but he will be counted on to be one of the leaders this season. Williams proved to the Big South last year that he is one of the most impressive athletes in the league, often skying well above the rim to slam one home or reject an opponent’s shot. His jump-shot needs a lot of improvement, but his ability around the basket at the power forward position should make him one of the Big South’s better players by the time his career is done. Sean Smith returns at the shooting guard position. He has been a strong shooter off the bench, but he will be counted on to bring more to the table now that he will have a bigger role. Donovan Jones will play at the point, returning to the court after missing last season due to injury. Eric Stubbs did not get much playing time behind George and Garrett Moles in the post last year, but the sophomore center brings good size to the paint and will need to get used to having a lot more playing time than he had a year ago. Rashad Gill is the other key returnee, and he will get playing time at both guard positions.
Biedenbach brought in a large recruiting class, and many of the newcomers will be counted on to bring quality minutes to the table if the Bulldogs want to have any success. J.P. Primm and Matt Dickey each come in and will both likely challenge Jones for playing time at the point guard spot. Chris Stephenson is an athletic shooting guard that will likely give Smith a tough battle at the two. In the frontcourt, transfer Matt Kittrell and freshmen Quinard Jackson and Terrence Turner will each get an opportunity to get minutes behind Augst and Williams. Finally, Sean Hobbs is yet another in a long line of UNCA seven-footers to enter the program. As is the case with most big guys coming into the Bulldog program, he has a long way to go before he is a polished product, but with George out for the year, he will likely find his way on the court at times. Out of the batch of newcomers, expect Primm and Stephenson to be the most likely to make the biggest contributions. With Garland and Smithson gone, the backcourt minutes are wide open, and those two freshmen appear ready to step in right away.
There is not a lot of optimism around the UNC Asheville program after all of the losses from a year ago. There are many reasons to believe that they will struggle to some extent. However, Biedenbach rarely lets his teams go too far down the standings, so do not be surprised if the Bulldogs hang around the middle of the pack, though do not expect a repeat of last year’s performance.
My Prediction:
13-16 overall, 8-10 in the Big South; Sixth place finish; Will loss in the first round of the Big South tournament
Head Coach: Eddie Biedenbach (13th season at UNCA)
Players that are Returning:
F Reid Augst, Sr. (6’6”, 215 lbs) – 10.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 50.2 FG%, 35.1 3PT% (34 made threes), 80.5 FT%
F John Williams, So. (6'4", 215 lbs) – 6.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 59.6 FG%, 50.0 3PT% (3 made threes), 43.0 FT%
G Sean Smith, Jr. (6’6”, 200 lbs) – 5.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 39.7 FG%, 38.1 3PT% (40 made threes), 70.6 FT%
G Rashad Gill, So. (6'5", 190 lbs) – Played in 15 games, 1.5 ppg, .7 rpg, 28.6 FG%, 21.4 3PT% (3 made threes), 36.4 FT%
F Jason Ridenhour, Jr. (6’6”, 200 lbs) – Played in 14 games, 1.0 ppg, .4 rpg, 50.0 FG%, 44.4 3PT% (4 made threes)
G Brandon Davis, So. (6'2", 195 lbs) – Played in 15 games, .9 ppg, .6 rpg, 31.3 FG%, 22.2 3PT% (2 made threes)
C Eric Stubbs, So. (6'8", 225 lbs) – .7 ppg, .9 rpg, 50.0 FG%, 0 made threes
G Donovan Jones, So. (6'0", 195 lbs) – Redshirted last season due injury, 4.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg in 06-07
C Kenny George, Sr. (7'7”, 370 lbs) – Expected to miss 08-09 season due to injury, 12.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.3 bpg, 69.6 FG%, 0 made threes, 65.2 FT%
Players that are Gone:
G Bryan Smithson (6’0”, 170 lbs) – 16.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.9 spg, 45.1 FG%, 41.1 3PT% (62 made threes), 83.5 FT%
G K.J. Garland (6’1”, 170 lbs) – 13.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 6.0 apg, 1.3 spg, 43.0 FG%, 33.6 3PT% (51 made threes), 68.8 FT%
F Vincent James (6’7”, 200 lbs) – 10.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.2 spg, 47.1 FG%, 28.6 3PT% (8 made threes), 71.9 FT%
F Garrett Moles (6’7”, 200 lbs) – 3.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 43.7 FG%, 50.0 3PT% (1 made three), 59.5 FT%
New Players:
F Matt Kittrell, Jr. (6’9”, 240 lbs) – Redshirted last year, Transfer from Hampden-Sydney College and Wagner University
G Chris Stephenson, Fr. (6’3”, 200 lbs) – Charlotte HS, Punta Gorda, FL
G Matt Dickey, Fr. (6’1”, 180 lbs) – Hewitt-Trussville HS, Trussville, AL
G J.P. Primm, Fr. (6’1”, 195 lbs) – Dickson County HS, Dickson, TN
F Quinard Jackson, Fr. (6’5”, 240 lbs) – The Benjamin School, West Palm Beach, FL
F Terrence Turner, Fr. (6’5”, 210 lbs) – Fayette County HS, Fayetteville, GA
C Sean Hobbs, Fr. (7’2”, 260 lbs) – St. Frances DeSales, Columbus, OH
F Jeremy Harn, Fr. (6’8”, 230 lbs) – Mooresville HS, Mooresville, NC
G Madison Davis, Fr. (5’10”, 160 lbs) – Tuscola HS, Waynesville, NC
Last season, UNCA made an impressive run to a regular season Big South championship, a berth in the Big South championship game, and an appearance in the postseason NIT. The primary contributors to that team were KJ Garland, Bryan Smithson, and Kenny George. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Garland and Smithson were seniors, and the 7-7 Kenny George had to have part of his foot amputated, making his basketball future, along with his overall health in general, a big question mark. Needless to say, George will likely not play this season (if ever again), and Coach Biedenbach will have to adapt without his three biggest pieces from last season’s squad.
This season, UNCA is going to have to count on some returning role players and newcomers in order to succeed. The returnees are led by Reid Augst and John Williams. Augst is a versatile small forward that can play different positions and score in a variety of ways. He’s been a valuable role player for the Bulldogs in recent years, but he will be counted on to be one of the leaders this season. Williams proved to the Big South last year that he is one of the most impressive athletes in the league, often skying well above the rim to slam one home or reject an opponent’s shot. His jump-shot needs a lot of improvement, but his ability around the basket at the power forward position should make him one of the Big South’s better players by the time his career is done. Sean Smith returns at the shooting guard position. He has been a strong shooter off the bench, but he will be counted on to bring more to the table now that he will have a bigger role. Donovan Jones will play at the point, returning to the court after missing last season due to injury. Eric Stubbs did not get much playing time behind George and Garrett Moles in the post last year, but the sophomore center brings good size to the paint and will need to get used to having a lot more playing time than he had a year ago. Rashad Gill is the other key returnee, and he will get playing time at both guard positions.
Biedenbach brought in a large recruiting class, and many of the newcomers will be counted on to bring quality minutes to the table if the Bulldogs want to have any success. J.P. Primm and Matt Dickey each come in and will both likely challenge Jones for playing time at the point guard spot. Chris Stephenson is an athletic shooting guard that will likely give Smith a tough battle at the two. In the frontcourt, transfer Matt Kittrell and freshmen Quinard Jackson and Terrence Turner will each get an opportunity to get minutes behind Augst and Williams. Finally, Sean Hobbs is yet another in a long line of UNCA seven-footers to enter the program. As is the case with most big guys coming into the Bulldog program, he has a long way to go before he is a polished product, but with George out for the year, he will likely find his way on the court at times. Out of the batch of newcomers, expect Primm and Stephenson to be the most likely to make the biggest contributions. With Garland and Smithson gone, the backcourt minutes are wide open, and those two freshmen appear ready to step in right away.
There is not a lot of optimism around the UNC Asheville program after all of the losses from a year ago. There are many reasons to believe that they will struggle to some extent. However, Biedenbach rarely lets his teams go too far down the standings, so do not be surprised if the Bulldogs hang around the middle of the pack, though do not expect a repeat of last year’s performance.
My Prediction:
13-16 overall, 8-10 in the Big South; Sixth place finish; Will loss in the first round of the Big South tournament
- By LU Armchair coach