University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Men's Basketball Begins Practice for 2011-12 Season
10.14.2011 | Men's Basketball
Asheville is coming off a Big South Conference championship and trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs thrilled fans everywhere with an exciting 81-77 overtime victory over Arkansas-Little Rock in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last March. Asheville then battled top-seeded Pitt admirably for most of the game before having their season end, 74-51 in the second round of the tournament.
The Bulldogs bring four starters back from last year's club (20-14), including Big South Tournament MVP Matt Dickey and fellow all-tournament selection J.P. Primm. Throw in two other starters in Chris Stephenson and Quinard Jackson plus a solid recruiting class, and Asheville is in position to have another outstanding season.
Dickey was named the Pre-Season Big South Player of the Year at the league's media day session on Tuesday. Primm was tapped to be on the Big South's Pre-Season All-Conference team. In addition, the Bulldogs were selected to finish first in the league this season.
Veteran coach Eddie Biedenbach is excited about the upcoming year but cautious.
"I've been here for 15 years, and the build-up for this season is the most I have ever seen," stated Biedenbach, the Big South's all-time winningest coach. "With the returnees we have back, the success we had last year and our new arena, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the season."
Asheville's first exhibition game at its new home will take place on Nov. 7 when the Bulldogs host Lees-McRae in an exhibition game starting at 8 p.m. The Blue & White open the regular-season at N.C. State on Friday, Nov. 11. Two days later (Nov. 13), Asheville plays its official first game at Kimmel when national power North Carolina comes to town. The game will be broadcast nationally by ESPNU.
