University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
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UNC Asheville Set for Nationally-Televised Road Showdown With Gardner-Webb Thursday on ESPNU
02.21.2017 | Men's Basketball
UNC Asheville-Gardner-Webb Game Notes (PDF - Click Link to Access)
THE MATCHUP
Teams: UNC Asheville (22-7, 14-2 Big South Conference)
Gardner-Webb (16-13, 9-7 Big South Conference)
Location: Boiling Springs, N.C. / Paul Porter Arena
When: Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017 / 9 p.m.
TV: ESPNU
Talent: Robert Lee (PxP), Nate Ross (Analyst)
Radio: NEWS RADIO 570 WWNC
Talent: Brian Hall
Live Stats: uncabulldogs.com
Twitter: @ashevilledogs #ThePursuit
BULLDOG BITES
NATIONALLY-TELEVISED SHOWDOWN: ESPNU has selected the UNC Asheville at Gardner-Webb men's basketball contest scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 23 as its Big South Wildcard Selection broadcast, it was announced by the Big South Conference office. Game time will be 9 pm ET inside Paul Porter Arena in Boiling Springs, N.C. Robert Lee (play-by-play) and Nate Ross (analyst) will handle the call from courtside. "We are extremely thankful to have the opportunity to once again be able to highlight our program on national television," UNC Asheville head men's basketball coach Nick McDevitt said. It will be the second regular-season meeting between the squads, as Asheville prevailed in overtime, 90-85, back on Dec. 31.
STREAKING: With the win over Campbell, league-leading UNC Asheville is now in the midst of a nine-game winning streak, which is the longest current winning streak in the Big South Conference. The nine-game winning streak is the longest UNC Asheville winning streak in league play in program history.
INTO THE TOP 20: The Big South Conference-leading UNC Asheville men's basketball team is ranked 19th in the latest CollegeInsider.com Men's Basketball Mid-Major Top-25 that was released on Monday, Feb. 20, 2017. The Bulldogs moved up from 22nd to 19th in the latest poll. Asheville had received votes in the Mid-Major Top-25 on 12 different occasions prior to being officially ranked in the Feb. 13 edition of the poll. Asheville (22-7, 14-2 Big South Conference) is one of two Big South Conference teams in the latest poll as Winthrop is just behind the Bulldogs at No. 23. The Mid-Major Poll is made up of teams from the following conferences: America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Horizon, Independents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt, West Coast and Western Athletic. The Bulldogs have beaten numerous teams that were either ranked at the time or are currently ranked in the Mid-Major Top-25 for example in Siena, Elon, Furman and Winthrop. Based on the latest poll, one of the biggest wins of the season for the 19th-ranked Bulldogs is over Furman, who is currently ranked 16th in the Mid-Major Poll. The Bulldogs picked up a 64-58 road win over the Paladins in Greenville, S.C. on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016. UNC Asheville's 104-101 double overtime win over current 23rd-ranked and league foe Winthrop on Thursday, Feb. 9, at Kimmel Arena is also obviously a huge win for the Bulldogs in numerous ways. In addition to the top-20 ranking in the CollegeInsider.com Men's Basketball Mid-Major Top-25, UNC Asheville men's basketball is also 22nd in the Mid-Major Madness Power Rankings.
1,000 POINTS AND MORE TO COME: The 31st Bulldog to score over 1,000 points, Ahmad Thomas is now also just eight rebounds away from becoming just the 56th player in Big South Conference history with 1,000 points and 500 rebounds. Thomas is also just a few steals away with 179 in his career from becoming just the sixth player in league history with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 200 steals.
DISHING IT OUT: UNC Asheville junior guard Kevin Vannatta dished out a career-best nine assists in the win over Campbell. As a team, Asheville had 19 assists on 21 made field goals.
WIN NO. 75: UNC Asheville men's basketball head coach Nick McDevitt picked up his 75th win in charge of the Asheville men's basketball program in the win over Presbyterian on Feb. 15. McDevitt has led the Bulldogs to back-to-back 20-win seasons.
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CHARITY: Freshman guard MaCio Teague is currently leading the Bulldogs and is second in the Big South Conference in free throw shooting percentage (89.1 percent). After the win over Campbell, Teague has now made 26 straight free throws.
OVER THE HUMPS: UNC Asheville has won 10 straight in its series with Campbell with the Bulldogs the only team the Camels have not beaten since rejoining the Big South Conference in the 2011-12 season.
AMONG THE BEST: Already the single-season program record holder in the category, Ahmad Thomas is currently second in the country in total steals with 89. He is fifth in the country in steals per game with 3.07 steals per outing. Thomas with his five steals in the win over Charleston Southern on Feb. 1 became the first Big South player with back-to-back 70-steal campaigns since VMI's Chavis Holmes (2006-08). He is just the fourth overall in Big South Conference history to accomplish the impressive feat. Currently second in the league in steals, Thomas is trying to become the first player to lead the league in steals in consecutive years since Radford's Javonte Green (2013-15).
NEARING 1,000: Junior guard Kevin Vannatta is nearing 1,000 points. Currently, Vannatta has scored 871 points in his Bulldog career. Asheville senior guard David Robertson is also closing in on 1,000 points in his career as he currently has 897 points in his four-year career.
IT'S A STEAL: The UNC Asheville men's basketball team boasts one of the top defenses in the entire country with the Bulldogs second in the country in total steals (277). The Bulldogs are also fifth in the country in steals per game (9.55).
FASTEST TO 20: UNC Asheville's win over Longwood on Feb. 11 allowed this year's Bulldog men's basketball team to reach 20 wins in the fewest number of games (27) in the Bulldogs' time in the Big South Conference.
SERIES: UNC Asheville and Gardner-Webb will be meeting for the 46th time on Thursday with Asheville having won 14 of the last 16 meetings dating back to the 2007-08 season. UNC Asheville has won the last six meetings, but Gardner-Webb owns a 26-19 all-time series advantage.
FIRST MEETING (12/31/16): With all of its five starters in double figures, UNC Asheville picked up a thrilling 90-85 Big South Conference overtime win over Gardner-Webb on Saturday, Dec. 31, at Kimmel Arena. In a game in which the score was tied nine times and the lead changed hands 10 times, Asheville finished its win shooting 51.6 percent (32-of-62) as a team. Gardner-Webb shot 50.8 percent (30-of-59) as a team in its loss to Asheville. The reigning Big South Conference Player of the Week at the time, MaCio Teague put on another show in the win over Gardner-Webb, finishing with 25 points, three rebounds, three assists and one steal. He was 8-of-12 from the field overall, which included 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. Asheville's David Robertson scored a career-high-tying 23 points to go along with three rebounds, three assists and one steal. Robertson knocked down a career-high-tying seven three-pointers. Ahmad Thomas just missed on a double and, in fact, a triple double in Asheville's win over Gardner-Webb. Thomas had 16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. He also had four steals and two blocks.
500 BOARDS: UNC Asheville senior forward Will Weeks became the 83rd player in Big South Conference history with over 500 rebounds when he passed the mark in the Bulldog road win at Longwood on Saturday, Feb. 11. Weeks entering the Gardner-Webb game now has 518 career rebounds.
FEATURED BY ESPN: UNC Asheville was featured twice by ESPN over a four-day stretch from Feb. 9-12. Asheville was featured on ESPN's official Instagram page on Sunday, Feb. 12, for a tremendous shot from the bleachers inside Kimmel Arena made by Bulldog junior guard Raekwon Miller. The video on ESPN's Instagram page had over 100,000 views in less than an hour. The UNC Asheville men's basketball team was originally featured on SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays of the Day after the thrilling 104-101 double overtime win over Winthrop at Kimmel Arena on Thursday, Feb. 9. MaCio Teague's buzzer-beating and game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds of regulation to send the game into overtime was ranked the ninth-best play of the day by ESPN's flagship program. Teague, a freshman guard, would continue his heroics into the second overtime period that eventually ended with the thrilling three-point Bulldog victory. Miller's shot from the bleachers was made while Teague was being interviewed by WLOS News 13 on Sunday, Feb. 12.
SPECIAL LEAGUE STREAK CONTINUES: With the win over High Point on Feb. 9, UNC Asheville is assured of at least 10 wins in Big South Conference play for the 10th straight year, which is a new league record.
HOME SWEET HOME: UNC Asheville is currently in the midst of an eight-game home winning streak. The Bulldogs are 12-1 on the year at home. UNC Asheville after the win over Presbyterian is now 67-16 all-time at Kimmel Arena, including 47-10 in Big South Conference contests.
FREE BASKETBALL: After the double overtime win over Winthrop, UNC Asheville is now 3-1 on the year in overtime contests.
QUOTABLES
"Gardner-Webb is a very good basketball team that has had a good season. They're at the top of the standings in our league for a reason. They're very well-coached by Tim Craft and they have two of the best players in the league in Laquincy Rideau and Tyrell Nelson. Any time you've got a quality inside-out punch like that with your point guard and a post player that can score around the basket, you're going to be a good basketball team. Obviously, with Thursday's game being a nationally-televised game and senior day for Gardner-Webb it will be a festive atmosphere." - Head Coach Nick McDevitt
THE MATCHUP
Teams: UNC Asheville (22-7, 14-2 Big South Conference)
Gardner-Webb (16-13, 9-7 Big South Conference)
Location: Boiling Springs, N.C. / Paul Porter Arena
When: Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017 / 9 p.m.
TV: ESPNU
Talent: Robert Lee (PxP), Nate Ross (Analyst)
Radio: NEWS RADIO 570 WWNC
Talent: Brian Hall
Live Stats: uncabulldogs.com
Twitter: @ashevilledogs #ThePursuit
BULLDOG BITES
NATIONALLY-TELEVISED SHOWDOWN: ESPNU has selected the UNC Asheville at Gardner-Webb men's basketball contest scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 23 as its Big South Wildcard Selection broadcast, it was announced by the Big South Conference office. Game time will be 9 pm ET inside Paul Porter Arena in Boiling Springs, N.C. Robert Lee (play-by-play) and Nate Ross (analyst) will handle the call from courtside. "We are extremely thankful to have the opportunity to once again be able to highlight our program on national television," UNC Asheville head men's basketball coach Nick McDevitt said. It will be the second regular-season meeting between the squads, as Asheville prevailed in overtime, 90-85, back on Dec. 31.
STREAKING: With the win over Campbell, league-leading UNC Asheville is now in the midst of a nine-game winning streak, which is the longest current winning streak in the Big South Conference. The nine-game winning streak is the longest UNC Asheville winning streak in league play in program history.
INTO THE TOP 20: The Big South Conference-leading UNC Asheville men's basketball team is ranked 19th in the latest CollegeInsider.com Men's Basketball Mid-Major Top-25 that was released on Monday, Feb. 20, 2017. The Bulldogs moved up from 22nd to 19th in the latest poll. Asheville had received votes in the Mid-Major Top-25 on 12 different occasions prior to being officially ranked in the Feb. 13 edition of the poll. Asheville (22-7, 14-2 Big South Conference) is one of two Big South Conference teams in the latest poll as Winthrop is just behind the Bulldogs at No. 23. The Mid-Major Poll is made up of teams from the following conferences: America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Horizon, Independents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt, West Coast and Western Athletic. The Bulldogs have beaten numerous teams that were either ranked at the time or are currently ranked in the Mid-Major Top-25 for example in Siena, Elon, Furman and Winthrop. Based on the latest poll, one of the biggest wins of the season for the 19th-ranked Bulldogs is over Furman, who is currently ranked 16th in the Mid-Major Poll. The Bulldogs picked up a 64-58 road win over the Paladins in Greenville, S.C. on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016. UNC Asheville's 104-101 double overtime win over current 23rd-ranked and league foe Winthrop on Thursday, Feb. 9, at Kimmel Arena is also obviously a huge win for the Bulldogs in numerous ways. In addition to the top-20 ranking in the CollegeInsider.com Men's Basketball Mid-Major Top-25, UNC Asheville men's basketball is also 22nd in the Mid-Major Madness Power Rankings.
1,000 POINTS AND MORE TO COME: The 31st Bulldog to score over 1,000 points, Ahmad Thomas is now also just eight rebounds away from becoming just the 56th player in Big South Conference history with 1,000 points and 500 rebounds. Thomas is also just a few steals away with 179 in his career from becoming just the sixth player in league history with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 200 steals.
DISHING IT OUT: UNC Asheville junior guard Kevin Vannatta dished out a career-best nine assists in the win over Campbell. As a team, Asheville had 19 assists on 21 made field goals.
WIN NO. 75: UNC Asheville men's basketball head coach Nick McDevitt picked up his 75th win in charge of the Asheville men's basketball program in the win over Presbyterian on Feb. 15. McDevitt has led the Bulldogs to back-to-back 20-win seasons.
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CHARITY: Freshman guard MaCio Teague is currently leading the Bulldogs and is second in the Big South Conference in free throw shooting percentage (89.1 percent). After the win over Campbell, Teague has now made 26 straight free throws.
OVER THE HUMPS: UNC Asheville has won 10 straight in its series with Campbell with the Bulldogs the only team the Camels have not beaten since rejoining the Big South Conference in the 2011-12 season.
AMONG THE BEST: Already the single-season program record holder in the category, Ahmad Thomas is currently second in the country in total steals with 89. He is fifth in the country in steals per game with 3.07 steals per outing. Thomas with his five steals in the win over Charleston Southern on Feb. 1 became the first Big South player with back-to-back 70-steal campaigns since VMI's Chavis Holmes (2006-08). He is just the fourth overall in Big South Conference history to accomplish the impressive feat. Currently second in the league in steals, Thomas is trying to become the first player to lead the league in steals in consecutive years since Radford's Javonte Green (2013-15).
NEARING 1,000: Junior guard Kevin Vannatta is nearing 1,000 points. Currently, Vannatta has scored 871 points in his Bulldog career. Asheville senior guard David Robertson is also closing in on 1,000 points in his career as he currently has 897 points in his four-year career.
IT'S A STEAL: The UNC Asheville men's basketball team boasts one of the top defenses in the entire country with the Bulldogs second in the country in total steals (277). The Bulldogs are also fifth in the country in steals per game (9.55).
FASTEST TO 20: UNC Asheville's win over Longwood on Feb. 11 allowed this year's Bulldog men's basketball team to reach 20 wins in the fewest number of games (27) in the Bulldogs' time in the Big South Conference.
SERIES: UNC Asheville and Gardner-Webb will be meeting for the 46th time on Thursday with Asheville having won 14 of the last 16 meetings dating back to the 2007-08 season. UNC Asheville has won the last six meetings, but Gardner-Webb owns a 26-19 all-time series advantage.
FIRST MEETING (12/31/16): With all of its five starters in double figures, UNC Asheville picked up a thrilling 90-85 Big South Conference overtime win over Gardner-Webb on Saturday, Dec. 31, at Kimmel Arena. In a game in which the score was tied nine times and the lead changed hands 10 times, Asheville finished its win shooting 51.6 percent (32-of-62) as a team. Gardner-Webb shot 50.8 percent (30-of-59) as a team in its loss to Asheville. The reigning Big South Conference Player of the Week at the time, MaCio Teague put on another show in the win over Gardner-Webb, finishing with 25 points, three rebounds, three assists and one steal. He was 8-of-12 from the field overall, which included 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. Asheville's David Robertson scored a career-high-tying 23 points to go along with three rebounds, three assists and one steal. Robertson knocked down a career-high-tying seven three-pointers. Ahmad Thomas just missed on a double and, in fact, a triple double in Asheville's win over Gardner-Webb. Thomas had 16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. He also had four steals and two blocks.
500 BOARDS: UNC Asheville senior forward Will Weeks became the 83rd player in Big South Conference history with over 500 rebounds when he passed the mark in the Bulldog road win at Longwood on Saturday, Feb. 11. Weeks entering the Gardner-Webb game now has 518 career rebounds.
FEATURED BY ESPN: UNC Asheville was featured twice by ESPN over a four-day stretch from Feb. 9-12. Asheville was featured on ESPN's official Instagram page on Sunday, Feb. 12, for a tremendous shot from the bleachers inside Kimmel Arena made by Bulldog junior guard Raekwon Miller. The video on ESPN's Instagram page had over 100,000 views in less than an hour. The UNC Asheville men's basketball team was originally featured on SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays of the Day after the thrilling 104-101 double overtime win over Winthrop at Kimmel Arena on Thursday, Feb. 9. MaCio Teague's buzzer-beating and game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds of regulation to send the game into overtime was ranked the ninth-best play of the day by ESPN's flagship program. Teague, a freshman guard, would continue his heroics into the second overtime period that eventually ended with the thrilling three-point Bulldog victory. Miller's shot from the bleachers was made while Teague was being interviewed by WLOS News 13 on Sunday, Feb. 12.
SPECIAL LEAGUE STREAK CONTINUES: With the win over High Point on Feb. 9, UNC Asheville is assured of at least 10 wins in Big South Conference play for the 10th straight year, which is a new league record.
HOME SWEET HOME: UNC Asheville is currently in the midst of an eight-game home winning streak. The Bulldogs are 12-1 on the year at home. UNC Asheville after the win over Presbyterian is now 67-16 all-time at Kimmel Arena, including 47-10 in Big South Conference contests.
FREE BASKETBALL: After the double overtime win over Winthrop, UNC Asheville is now 3-1 on the year in overtime contests.
QUOTABLES
"Gardner-Webb is a very good basketball team that has had a good season. They're at the top of the standings in our league for a reason. They're very well-coached by Tim Craft and they have two of the best players in the league in Laquincy Rideau and Tyrell Nelson. Any time you've got a quality inside-out punch like that with your point guard and a post player that can score around the basket, you're going to be a good basketball team. Obviously, with Thursday's game being a nationally-televised game and senior day for Gardner-Webb it will be a festive atmosphere." - Head Coach Nick McDevitt
Players Mentioned
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