University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Bulldogs Get Ready to Take on Coastal Carolina Tuesday Night
02.26.2007 | Men's Basketball
CONWAY, S.C. - The UNC Asheville men's basketball team arrived here this afternoon as the Bulldogs get ready to take on fourth-seeded Coastal Carolina Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in the quarterfinals of the Advance Auto Parts Big South Conference Tournament.
UNC Asheville (11-18, 6-8 BSC) earned the fifth seed for this year's tourney by winning its last three games, including an 82-77 win at Coastal Carolina last Thursday night. Bulldog coach Eddie Biedenbach was happy to get the win but knows things will be a lot different Tuesday evening.
"We played very well at Coastal Carolina last week and found a way to get a big victory against a tough opponent on the road," said Biedenbach. "But that game is behind us and it's going to take another effort like that and more to win. Coastal Carolina is a team that went to the Big South Conference championship game last year and posted some great wins this season. They'll be ready to play and will be anxious to get revenge after our win last week. Hopefully, we'll be more than ready to play, as well."
The winner of Tuesday's quarterfinal game will advance to the semifinals at Winthrop Thursday night. UNC Asheville or Coastal Carolina will take on the winner of the Charleston Southern-Winthrop game that will also be played Tuesday night.
The Bulldogs have been playing their best basketball of the season the past two weeks. UNC Asheville just missed upsetting second-seeded High Point at home on Feb. 14th before falling on a last-second shot, 69-67. The Bulldogs followed up that near miss with wins against Radford (78-68), Coastal Carolina (82-77) and at Charleston Southern (73-56) this past Saturday.
"I wouldn't say we're a red-hot basketball team right now but we're playing better," explained Biedenbach. "We're healthy and our guys are doing a good job being focused for each game and doing the little things to find ways to win. Everyone is contributing and you have to have that when you come to the tournament."
An area of the game the Bulldogs have improved on as of late is rebounding. Asheville has out-rebounded its last six opponents and held a 44-26 advantage at Charleston Southern Saturday afternoon.
"We're doing a much better job on the boards and its not one particular person, it's everyone contributing," said Biedenbach. "However, our big guys are healthy now and that's making a real difference."
7-7 sophomore center Kenny George has really been coming on lately. He's averaging 12 points and 6.5 rebounds over the last four games and in that span is shooting an amazing 86 percent (24-of-28) from the field.
"We're pleased with Kenny's progress this year but he still has some work to do," added Biedenbach. "He's played in 21 games this year and that's the only 21 games he's played in the past three years. What's nice with Kenny is that he's only going to get better."
Bryan Smithson leads Asheville in scoring with a 14.6 average, while junior guard K.J. Garland is second on the team in scoring with an 11.6 mark. Garland has scored in double figures in seven straight BSC game and is averaging 18.1 points per game during those games.
