University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Photo by: UNC Asheville
Bulldogs Host Winthrop Thursday in League First-Place Showdown on ESPNU
02.07.2017 | Men's Basketball
UNC Asheville-Winthrop Game Notes (PDF - click link to access)
THE MATCHUP
Teams: UNC Asheville (18-7, 10-2 Big South Conference)
Winthrop (18-5, 10-2 Big South Conference)
Location: Asheville, N.C. / Kimmel Arena
When: Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017 / 7 p.m.
Video: 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: UNC Asheville plays host to Big South Conference rival Winthrop in a league first-place matchup that will be nationally-televised on ESPNU.
BULLDOGS IN BLUE: The UNC Asheville men's basketball team is hoping to pack Kimmel Arena for its nationally-televised Big South Conference game against Winthrop that will be sponsored by Carolina Alliance Bank on ESPNU at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017. For the Big South Conference rivalry showdown featuring two of the teams currently leading the league that has been described by Mid-Major Madness as one of the best mid-major rivalries in the nation, UNC Asheville is calling for a BLUE OUT on what is going to be called "Bulldogs in Blue Day" in the city of Asheville. Doors will open for the nationally-televised game on ESPNU at Kimmel Arena at 5:30 p.m. To make the evening a fun night for the whole family, Ingles will also be sponsoring a special four-pack of tickets for just $20. Faculty and staff tickets will be just $5. The special day that will feature the hashtag BulldogsinBlue in addition to the official athletics hashtag ThePursuit in the lead up and on the day of the game will include a great deal of fun for all in attendance in addition to one of the best rivalries in all of college basketball being played on the court. All fans in attendance on the evening will also receive a special blue glowstick for "Bulldogs in Blue Day" to be utilized before the start of the league rivalry showdown. One of the biggest draws on the evening will be a special VisitMyrtleBeach.com prize package that one lucky fan and/or family will win as part of a drawing open to only those in attendance on the evening. The exclusive VisitMyrtleBeach.com prize package features a two nights and three-day stay in Myrtle Beach, S.C., a $50 dinner gift card, two tickets to the Myrtle Beach Skywheel and two tickets to a show all included in a special VisitMyrtleBeach.com backpack. All Bulldog fans are encouraged to head straight to the Sherrill Center grounds as early as possible to beat the crowd, but also more importantly to enjoy great pregame food that will be available from the two food trucks that will be on site the day of the game in Melt Your Heart and Belly Up. In addition, the concession area inside Kimmel Arena will open with the doors and Chartwells will be offering special discounted pricing for fans to enjoy throughout the evening. The whole evening as noted will be sponsored by Carolina Alliance Bank and they will have frisbees to throw out over the course of the contest. Ingles will also be handing out pom-poms to all of those in attendance. Great Clips will also be on site and they will be utilizing washable blue hair dye to allow fans to even add more fun with blue hair for "Bulldogs in Blue Day."
SPECIAL LEAGUE STREAK CONTINUES: With the win over High Point, 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.
A LOOK AT THE LEAGUE: UNC Asheville remains tied with Winthrop (18-5, 10-2 Big South Conference) and Liberty (15-10, 10-2 Big South Conference) for the Big South Conference lead.
SERIES: The Eagles own a slight 40-34 all-time series advantage, including a 44-29 advantage in regular-season meetings. The Bulldogs and the Eagles have split their last four meetings with the two teams splitting during the regular-season last year before the Bulldogs claimed the 2016 Big South Conference Tournament Championship with a 77-68 win over the Eagles on Sunday, March 6, 2016, at Gore Arena in Buies Creek, N.C. The Eagles picked up a narrow 76-73 win over the Bulldogs earlier this season.
ABOUT WINTHROP: The Big South Conference preseason favorite, Winthrop is led by Big South Conference Preseason Player of the Year Keon Johnson, who scored a career-best 39 points in the Eagle win over Campbell this past weekend. On the year, Johnson is averaging 21.5 points per game.
ELITE GROUP: With the win over Presbyterian on Thursday, Jan. 26, UNC Asheville head coach Nick McDevitt became just the third coach in Big South history to win at least 15 games in his first four seasons in the league. McDevitt joins Radford's Ron Bradley and Winthrop's Gregg Marshall in the elite grouping.
SEASON SWEEP: The win over the Panthers at the Millis Center garnered the Bulldogs their first regular-season league sweep of High Point since the 2011-12 season. UNC Asheville now owns a 30-21 all-time series advantage over the Panthers.
SURGING TOWARDS 1,000: With his 25 points in the win over Charleston Southern, Bulldog junior guard Ahmad Thomas passed the 900-point plateau. He now has 940 career points.
SANDWICH ARTIST FOR A GREAT CAUSE: UNC Asheville men's basketball head coach Nick McDevitt recently showed off his Subway Sandwich Artistry skills at the Subway restaurant on 740 Merrimon Ave., Merrimon Square, Asheville, NC 28804. The special appearance by McDevitt at Subway was part of an effort to help raise awareness and support for the fight against cancer through the Coaches vs. Cancer campaign. Bulldog fans, normal Subway lunch lovers and even some of McDevitt's own players came out to support the tremendous cause during McDevitt's appearance from 12-1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Sporting a blue UNC Asheville Adidas polo, a Subway hat and his own personal Subway nameplate, McDevitt by the conclusion of his time at Subway even had people ringing the bell at the end of the line to denote he had made a perfect sandwich. The efforts towards helping this cause are definitely still ongoing as donations can still be made at checkout at local SUBWAY® restaurants through Feb. 28 with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the local Coaches vs. Cancer program. The Coaches vs. Cancer program is a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Locally, the North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association has joined the effort to promote healthy living, raise awareness and support for the fight against cancer. For more information on Coaches vs. Cancer, visit www.cancer.org.
ZILLI BLOCK PARTY: Giacomo Zilli tied his career high with three blocks in the win over Radford. Zilli also had three blocks in an 87-48 win over Johnson & Wales at Kimmel Arena on Nov. 19, 2014.
FIRST MEETING OF THE YEAR (1/19/17): In what has been a normal occurrence in the Big South Conference rivalry between UNC Asheville and Winthrop it came down to the wire with the Eagles taking a narrow 76-73 win over the Bulldogs in a nationally-televised game on ESPNU at the Winthrop Coliseum on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. Ahmad Thomas led three Bulldogs in double figures with a career-high-tying 27 points to go along with six rebounds and three steals. Thomas connected on a career-high-tying three treys. MaCio Teague ended his evening with 15 points, six rebounds and two assists, while Miller had 13 points, one rebound, one block and one steal. Winthrop's Xavier Cooks surpassed 1,000 points in his career in the game en route to finishing with a team-best 19 points and 13 rebounds in the Eagle win. Asheville shot 41.5 percent (22-of-53) overall, while the Eagles shot 42.1 percent (24-of-57).
HOME SWEET HOME: UNC Asheville is currently in the midst of a six-game home winning streak. The Bulldogs are 10-1 on the year at home. UNC Asheville after the win over Charleston Southern is now 65-16 all-time at Kimmel Arena, including 45-10 in Big South Conference contests.
AMONG THE BEST: Ahmad Thomas is currently third in the country in total steals with 77. He is fifth in the country in steals per game with 3.08 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 guards Ahmad Thomas and Kevin Vannatta are both nearing 1,000 points. Currently, Thomas has 940 career points, while Vannatta has scored 834 in his Bulldog career. Asheville senior guard David Robertson is also closing in on 1,000 points in his career as he currently has 844 points in his four-year career.
STREAKING: With the win over High Point, UNC Asheville is now in the midst of a five-game winning streak. The five-game winning streak is the third five-game winning streak of the year for the Bulldogs.
IT'S A STEAL: The UNC Asheville men's basketball team boasts one of the top defenses in the entire country with the Bulldogs fifth in the country in total steals (233). The Bulldogs are also eighth in the country in steals per game (9.32).
IT'S A STEAL (PART TWO): Currently in the top-5 in the country in steals, Ahmad Thomas with his six steals in the win over High Point now has four games this season where he has collected five or more steals in a single game. Thomas collected a career-high and program-record 10 in the Bulldog win over Warren Wilson on Dec. 10, 2016.
BIG SOUTH UNVEILS NEW BRAND IDENTITY (Per the Big South Conference): "The Big South Conference introduced its new brand identity on Saturday, Jan. 14, that epitomizes the league's strong commitment to its student-athletes and re-establishes the Conference's vitality, personality and longstanding success in NCAA Division I collegiate athletics under a new mantra – 'Where Winners Are Made.'" Full Release: Visit BigSouthSports.com.
UP NEXT: UNC Asheville will travel to Longwood to face off against the Lancers in a Big South Conference battle at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11.
QUOTABLES
"It's obviously a meeting of two of the three teams that are tied for first in the Big South Conference and there is only three weeks to go in the regular-season. All of them matter. This one matters obviously as you've got to protect home court in order to win your league, and this year winning your league means hosting the Big South Tournament. To have Kimmel Arena packed with a big and loud crowd behind us would be a big boost for our team." - Head Coach Nick McDevitt
THE MATCHUP
Teams: UNC Asheville (18-7, 10-2 Big South Conference)
Winthrop (18-5, 10-2 Big South Conference)
Location: Asheville, N.C. / Kimmel Arena
When: Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017 / 7 p.m.
Video: 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: UNC Asheville plays host to Big South Conference rival Winthrop in a league first-place matchup that will be nationally-televised on ESPNU.
BULLDOGS IN BLUE: The UNC Asheville men's basketball team is hoping to pack Kimmel Arena for its nationally-televised Big South Conference game against Winthrop that will be sponsored by Carolina Alliance Bank on ESPNU at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017. For the Big South Conference rivalry showdown featuring two of the teams currently leading the league that has been described by Mid-Major Madness as one of the best mid-major rivalries in the nation, UNC Asheville is calling for a BLUE OUT on what is going to be called "Bulldogs in Blue Day" in the city of Asheville. Doors will open for the nationally-televised game on ESPNU at Kimmel Arena at 5:30 p.m. To make the evening a fun night for the whole family, Ingles will also be sponsoring a special four-pack of tickets for just $20. Faculty and staff tickets will be just $5. The special day that will feature the hashtag BulldogsinBlue in addition to the official athletics hashtag ThePursuit in the lead up and on the day of the game will include a great deal of fun for all in attendance in addition to one of the best rivalries in all of college basketball being played on the court. All fans in attendance on the evening will also receive a special blue glowstick for "Bulldogs in Blue Day" to be utilized before the start of the league rivalry showdown. One of the biggest draws on the evening will be a special VisitMyrtleBeach.com prize package that one lucky fan and/or family will win as part of a drawing open to only those in attendance on the evening. The exclusive VisitMyrtleBeach.com prize package features a two nights and three-day stay in Myrtle Beach, S.C., a $50 dinner gift card, two tickets to the Myrtle Beach Skywheel and two tickets to a show all included in a special VisitMyrtleBeach.com backpack. All Bulldog fans are encouraged to head straight to the Sherrill Center grounds as early as possible to beat the crowd, but also more importantly to enjoy great pregame food that will be available from the two food trucks that will be on site the day of the game in Melt Your Heart and Belly Up. In addition, the concession area inside Kimmel Arena will open with the doors and Chartwells will be offering special discounted pricing for fans to enjoy throughout the evening. The whole evening as noted will be sponsored by Carolina Alliance Bank and they will have frisbees to throw out over the course of the contest. Ingles will also be handing out pom-poms to all of those in attendance. Great Clips will also be on site and they will be utilizing washable blue hair dye to allow fans to even add more fun with blue hair for "Bulldogs in Blue Day."
SPECIAL LEAGUE STREAK CONTINUES: With the win over High Point, 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.
A LOOK AT THE LEAGUE: UNC Asheville remains tied with Winthrop (18-5, 10-2 Big South Conference) and Liberty (15-10, 10-2 Big South Conference) for the Big South Conference lead.
SERIES: The Eagles own a slight 40-34 all-time series advantage, including a 44-29 advantage in regular-season meetings. The Bulldogs and the Eagles have split their last four meetings with the two teams splitting during the regular-season last year before the Bulldogs claimed the 2016 Big South Conference Tournament Championship with a 77-68 win over the Eagles on Sunday, March 6, 2016, at Gore Arena in Buies Creek, N.C. The Eagles picked up a narrow 76-73 win over the Bulldogs earlier this season.
ABOUT WINTHROP: The Big South Conference preseason favorite, Winthrop is led by Big South Conference Preseason Player of the Year Keon Johnson, who scored a career-best 39 points in the Eagle win over Campbell this past weekend. On the year, Johnson is averaging 21.5 points per game.
ELITE GROUP: With the win over Presbyterian on Thursday, Jan. 26, UNC Asheville head coach Nick McDevitt became just the third coach in Big South history to win at least 15 games in his first four seasons in the league. McDevitt joins Radford's Ron Bradley and Winthrop's Gregg Marshall in the elite grouping.
SEASON SWEEP: The win over the Panthers at the Millis Center garnered the Bulldogs their first regular-season league sweep of High Point since the 2011-12 season. UNC Asheville now owns a 30-21 all-time series advantage over the Panthers.
SURGING TOWARDS 1,000: With his 25 points in the win over Charleston Southern, Bulldog junior guard Ahmad Thomas passed the 900-point plateau. He now has 940 career points.
SANDWICH ARTIST FOR A GREAT CAUSE: UNC Asheville men's basketball head coach Nick McDevitt recently showed off his Subway Sandwich Artistry skills at the Subway restaurant on 740 Merrimon Ave., Merrimon Square, Asheville, NC 28804. The special appearance by McDevitt at Subway was part of an effort to help raise awareness and support for the fight against cancer through the Coaches vs. Cancer campaign. Bulldog fans, normal Subway lunch lovers and even some of McDevitt's own players came out to support the tremendous cause during McDevitt's appearance from 12-1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Sporting a blue UNC Asheville Adidas polo, a Subway hat and his own personal Subway nameplate, McDevitt by the conclusion of his time at Subway even had people ringing the bell at the end of the line to denote he had made a perfect sandwich. The efforts towards helping this cause are definitely still ongoing as donations can still be made at checkout at local SUBWAY® restaurants through Feb. 28 with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the local Coaches vs. Cancer program. The Coaches vs. Cancer program is a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Locally, the North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association has joined the effort to promote healthy living, raise awareness and support for the fight against cancer. For more information on Coaches vs. Cancer, visit www.cancer.org.
ZILLI BLOCK PARTY: Giacomo Zilli tied his career high with three blocks in the win over Radford. Zilli also had three blocks in an 87-48 win over Johnson & Wales at Kimmel Arena on Nov. 19, 2014.
FIRST MEETING OF THE YEAR (1/19/17): In what has been a normal occurrence in the Big South Conference rivalry between UNC Asheville and Winthrop it came down to the wire with the Eagles taking a narrow 76-73 win over the Bulldogs in a nationally-televised game on ESPNU at the Winthrop Coliseum on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. Ahmad Thomas led three Bulldogs in double figures with a career-high-tying 27 points to go along with six rebounds and three steals. Thomas connected on a career-high-tying three treys. MaCio Teague ended his evening with 15 points, six rebounds and two assists, while Miller had 13 points, one rebound, one block and one steal. Winthrop's Xavier Cooks surpassed 1,000 points in his career in the game en route to finishing with a team-best 19 points and 13 rebounds in the Eagle win. Asheville shot 41.5 percent (22-of-53) overall, while the Eagles shot 42.1 percent (24-of-57).
HOME SWEET HOME: UNC Asheville is currently in the midst of a six-game home winning streak. The Bulldogs are 10-1 on the year at home. UNC Asheville after the win over Charleston Southern is now 65-16 all-time at Kimmel Arena, including 45-10 in Big South Conference contests.
AMONG THE BEST: Ahmad Thomas is currently third in the country in total steals with 77. He is fifth in the country in steals per game with 3.08 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 guards Ahmad Thomas and Kevin Vannatta are both nearing 1,000 points. Currently, Thomas has 940 career points, while Vannatta has scored 834 in his Bulldog career. Asheville senior guard David Robertson is also closing in on 1,000 points in his career as he currently has 844 points in his four-year career.
STREAKING: With the win over High Point, UNC Asheville is now in the midst of a five-game winning streak. The five-game winning streak is the third five-game winning streak of the year for the Bulldogs.
IT'S A STEAL: The UNC Asheville men's basketball team boasts one of the top defenses in the entire country with the Bulldogs fifth in the country in total steals (233). The Bulldogs are also eighth in the country in steals per game (9.32).
IT'S A STEAL (PART TWO): Currently in the top-5 in the country in steals, Ahmad Thomas with his six steals in the win over High Point now has four games this season where he has collected five or more steals in a single game. Thomas collected a career-high and program-record 10 in the Bulldog win over Warren Wilson on Dec. 10, 2016.
BIG SOUTH UNVEILS NEW BRAND IDENTITY (Per the Big South Conference): "The Big South Conference introduced its new brand identity on Saturday, Jan. 14, that epitomizes the league's strong commitment to its student-athletes and re-establishes the Conference's vitality, personality and longstanding success in NCAA Division I collegiate athletics under a new mantra – 'Where Winners Are Made.'" Full Release: Visit BigSouthSports.com.
UP NEXT: UNC Asheville will travel to Longwood to face off against the Lancers in a Big South Conference battle at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11.
QUOTABLES
"It's obviously a meeting of two of the three teams that are tied for first in the Big South Conference and there is only three weeks to go in the regular-season. All of them matter. This one matters obviously as you've got to protect home court in order to win your league, and this year winning your league means hosting the Big South Tournament. To have Kimmel Arena packed with a big and loud crowd behind us would be a big boost for our team." - Head Coach Nick McDevitt
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's BasketballMonday, March 18
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