- November 3rd, 2007, 5:18 pm
#124336
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 (twelth season at UNCA)
Players that are Returning:
G Bryan Smithson, Sr. (6’0”, 170 lbs) – 14.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.9 spg, 35.5 3PT%, 85.2 FT%
G K.J. Garland, Sr. (6’1”, 170 lbs) – 12.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.5 spg, 37.6 3PT%
F Vincent James, Sr. (6’7”, 200 lbs) – 9.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg
F Reid Augst, Jr. (6’6”, 190 lbs) – 6.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 45.9 FG%, 35.4 3PT%
C Kenny George, Fr. (7'7”, 360 lbs) – 5.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.0 bpg, 77.2 FG%
G Donovan Jones, So. (6'0", 185 lbs) - 4.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg
F Matt Day, Jr. (6’8”, 205 lbs) – Played in 4 games, 4.2 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 70.0 FG%
G Sean Smith, So. (6’6”, 195 lbs) - 4.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 40.0 3PT%, 78.9 FT%
F Garrett Moles, Sr. (6’7”, 200 lbs) – 3.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg
F Jason Ridenhour, So. (6’6”, 190 lbs) – Played in 3 games, 1.0 ppg, .7 rpg
Players that are Gone:
F Joey Harrell (6’7”, 215 lbs) – 6.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 31.7 3PT%, 78.1 FT%
F/C Brett Warner (6’10”, 235 lbs) – 3.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 78.6 FT%
C C.J. Walker (7’1”, 270 lbs) – 2.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 45.7 FG%
New Players:
F Andrew Lomond, Jr. (6'7", 255 lbs) - State Fair Community College
G Rashad Gill, Fr. (6'5", 180 lbs) - Newton HS, Covington, GA
G Brandon Davis, Fr. (6'2", 165 lbs) - Greensboro Day HS, McLeansville, NC
F John Williams, Fr. (6'4", 205 lbs) - Redshirted Last Year, Christchurch HS, Raleigh, NC
C Eric Stubbs, Fr. (6'8", 210 lbs) - Palm Beach Gardens HS, West Palm Beach, FL
Eddie Biedenbach's Bulldogs had a seven year stretch where they finished either 2nd or 3rd in the Big South from 1995 to 2002. They followed that up with a trip to the NCAA's as a #5 seed in 2003. However, aside from a 3rd place finish in 2005, UNC Asheville has struggled to get any higher than the middle of the pack. Injuries have generally not been kind to Asheville in recent years, but they also have had very few impact players to help them get back to near the top of the standings. Enter Kenny George. The tallest player in Big South history finally got onto the court for the last half of last year, and made a big impact. Though he did not lead the Bulldogs to an upper-tier finish, he did leave the impression that if he is healthy and has some playmakers around him, better days could come for UNCA.
The playmakers that will play the biggest role in helping get Asheville toward the upper half are a pair of fifth-year senior combo-guards, Bryan Smithson and K.J. Garland. Smithson is the slightly better scorer and good at finishing both inside and outside. Garland is the better distributor and can light it up from outside at times. They will be joined in the backcourt by all-freshman team member Donovan Jones and sharpshooter Sean Smith. Rashad Gill could also see some time at the shooting guard spot.
The forward spots have plenty of depth. Redshirt freshman John Williams could end up the starter at small forward, and Biedenbach is very high on his potential as a star for the Bulldogs. Vincent James had a very strong season last year, and can play either forward spot as well. Reid Augst is a versatile player that will likely see alot of playing time at a couple of positions. Big-bodied JuCo transfer Andrew Lomond has the potential to see immediate action, and former walk-on Garrett Moles can also contribute after seeing plenty of playing time in the last two years. This group of forwards will be overshadowed (literally) by George when he is in the game. George can disrupt the other team's offense because of his ability to block shots anywhere around the paint. His biggest weaknesses are his health and stamina, which generally do not allow him to play many minutes in a row. His free throw shooting is also terrible, and may end up leading to teams employing a hack-a-George strategy, though his offensive role is generally smaller than his role on defense. Freshman Eric Stubbs could see some time as George's back-up, though many of the forwards can fill in as well.
The health of Kenny George plays a big role in how the Bulldogs play, and how potentially good they can be. He is not the best player on the court, but he's the most disruptive player, and he clogs up the lane enough to frustrate opponents and his presence in the paint on offense opens up opportunities for guys like Garland and Smithson. The Bulldogs have solid depth at most positions and plenty of experience, especially in the backcourt. All of those things lead to the potential for a good year for UNCA. However, their overall talent level is not as strong as the High Points and Winthrops of the league, and it is doubtful that George will be healthy the whole year, so I see them finishing just outside the top three.
My Prediction:
16-13 overall, 7-7 in the Big South; Fourth place finish; Will be eliminated in first round of Big South Tournament
Head Coach: Eddie Biedenbach (twelth season at UNCA)
Players that are Returning:
G Bryan Smithson, Sr. (6’0”, 170 lbs) – 14.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.9 spg, 35.5 3PT%, 85.2 FT%
G K.J. Garland, Sr. (6’1”, 170 lbs) – 12.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.5 spg, 37.6 3PT%
F Vincent James, Sr. (6’7”, 200 lbs) – 9.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg
F Reid Augst, Jr. (6’6”, 190 lbs) – 6.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 45.9 FG%, 35.4 3PT%
C Kenny George, Fr. (7'7”, 360 lbs) – 5.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.0 bpg, 77.2 FG%
G Donovan Jones, So. (6'0", 185 lbs) - 4.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg
F Matt Day, Jr. (6’8”, 205 lbs) – Played in 4 games, 4.2 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 70.0 FG%
G Sean Smith, So. (6’6”, 195 lbs) - 4.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 40.0 3PT%, 78.9 FT%
F Garrett Moles, Sr. (6’7”, 200 lbs) – 3.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg
F Jason Ridenhour, So. (6’6”, 190 lbs) – Played in 3 games, 1.0 ppg, .7 rpg
Players that are Gone:
F Joey Harrell (6’7”, 215 lbs) – 6.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 31.7 3PT%, 78.1 FT%
F/C Brett Warner (6’10”, 235 lbs) – 3.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 78.6 FT%
C C.J. Walker (7’1”, 270 lbs) – 2.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 45.7 FG%
New Players:
F Andrew Lomond, Jr. (6'7", 255 lbs) - State Fair Community College
G Rashad Gill, Fr. (6'5", 180 lbs) - Newton HS, Covington, GA
G Brandon Davis, Fr. (6'2", 165 lbs) - Greensboro Day HS, McLeansville, NC
F John Williams, Fr. (6'4", 205 lbs) - Redshirted Last Year, Christchurch HS, Raleigh, NC
C Eric Stubbs, Fr. (6'8", 210 lbs) - Palm Beach Gardens HS, West Palm Beach, FL
Eddie Biedenbach's Bulldogs had a seven year stretch where they finished either 2nd or 3rd in the Big South from 1995 to 2002. They followed that up with a trip to the NCAA's as a #5 seed in 2003. However, aside from a 3rd place finish in 2005, UNC Asheville has struggled to get any higher than the middle of the pack. Injuries have generally not been kind to Asheville in recent years, but they also have had very few impact players to help them get back to near the top of the standings. Enter Kenny George. The tallest player in Big South history finally got onto the court for the last half of last year, and made a big impact. Though he did not lead the Bulldogs to an upper-tier finish, he did leave the impression that if he is healthy and has some playmakers around him, better days could come for UNCA.
The playmakers that will play the biggest role in helping get Asheville toward the upper half are a pair of fifth-year senior combo-guards, Bryan Smithson and K.J. Garland. Smithson is the slightly better scorer and good at finishing both inside and outside. Garland is the better distributor and can light it up from outside at times. They will be joined in the backcourt by all-freshman team member Donovan Jones and sharpshooter Sean Smith. Rashad Gill could also see some time at the shooting guard spot.
The forward spots have plenty of depth. Redshirt freshman John Williams could end up the starter at small forward, and Biedenbach is very high on his potential as a star for the Bulldogs. Vincent James had a very strong season last year, and can play either forward spot as well. Reid Augst is a versatile player that will likely see alot of playing time at a couple of positions. Big-bodied JuCo transfer Andrew Lomond has the potential to see immediate action, and former walk-on Garrett Moles can also contribute after seeing plenty of playing time in the last two years. This group of forwards will be overshadowed (literally) by George when he is in the game. George can disrupt the other team's offense because of his ability to block shots anywhere around the paint. His biggest weaknesses are his health and stamina, which generally do not allow him to play many minutes in a row. His free throw shooting is also terrible, and may end up leading to teams employing a hack-a-George strategy, though his offensive role is generally smaller than his role on defense. Freshman Eric Stubbs could see some time as George's back-up, though many of the forwards can fill in as well.
The health of Kenny George plays a big role in how the Bulldogs play, and how potentially good they can be. He is not the best player on the court, but he's the most disruptive player, and he clogs up the lane enough to frustrate opponents and his presence in the paint on offense opens up opportunities for guys like Garland and Smithson. The Bulldogs have solid depth at most positions and plenty of experience, especially in the backcourt. All of those things lead to the potential for a good year for UNCA. However, their overall talent level is not as strong as the High Points and Winthrops of the league, and it is doubtful that George will be healthy the whole year, so I see them finishing just outside the top three.
My Prediction:
16-13 overall, 7-7 in the Big South; Fourth place finish; Will be eliminated in first round of Big South Tournament
- By LU Armchair coach