University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Men's Basketball Opens 2020-21 Season by Hosting Mako Medical Asheville Classic
10.30.2020 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team will open the 2020-21 season by hosting the Mako Medical Asheville Classic on November 27 and 28. The Classic, which will consist of four games in two days, will also feature Western Carolina, UNC Wilmington, and Troy.
"I am extremely excited to open our year at home and be able to host three quality programs here at UNC Asheville," said UNC Asheville Head Men's Basketball Coach Mike Morrell. "We are very grateful to Mako Medical and looking forward to late November and the start of the 2020-21 season in Kimmel Arena!"
The Classic will get underway on Friday, November 27, with Troy taking on Western Carolina at 1 p.m. The Bulldogs will follow with a matchup against UNC Wilmington at 3:30 p.m. Saturday's slate will begin with Troy taking on UNC Wilmington at 1 p.m., followed by a matchup between the Bulldogs and Catamounts to close things out around 4 p.m. All four games will be on ESPN+.
Asheville begins the 2020-21 season, looking to take another step forward after making significant strides the past two years. Despite being the 12th-youngest team in the country last season, the Bulldogs boosted their win total by 11 games, the second-largest in Division I men's basketball. Additionally, the Bulldogs bring back all five starters from a season ago, including 2019-20 All-Big South honorees DeVon Baker (2nd team) and LJ Thorpe (Honorable Mention).
Like Asheville, Western Carolina also enters this season with heightened expectations. The Catamounts went 19-12 in 2019-20, which was their most wins since the 2013-14 season. Western Carolina figures to be led by senior Mason Faulkner, who averaged 17.7 points and 6.1 assists per game a season ago on his way to All-Southern Conference and NABC All-Region honors.
UNC Wilmington put together a record of 10-22 last season. The Seahawks will be under new leadership as Takayo Siddle enters his first season leading the program. The tandem of Jaylen Sims and Ty Gadsden figure to be UNCW's top players as both averaged over 10 points per game last season.
Rounding out the four-team field is Troy, who went 9-22 overall and 5-15 in conference play. This year's Trojans will look vastly different, though, as they have 10 new players that join the five returners. Amongst the returners, Zay Williams is the lone one to average in double figures last season, checking in at 11.1 points per contest.
Due to existing CoVID-19 protocols, no fans will be allowed to attend the four games in person.
"I am extremely excited to open our year at home and be able to host three quality programs here at UNC Asheville," said UNC Asheville Head Men's Basketball Coach Mike Morrell. "We are very grateful to Mako Medical and looking forward to late November and the start of the 2020-21 season in Kimmel Arena!"
The Classic will get underway on Friday, November 27, with Troy taking on Western Carolina at 1 p.m. The Bulldogs will follow with a matchup against UNC Wilmington at 3:30 p.m. Saturday's slate will begin with Troy taking on UNC Wilmington at 1 p.m., followed by a matchup between the Bulldogs and Catamounts to close things out around 4 p.m. All four games will be on ESPN+.
Asheville begins the 2020-21 season, looking to take another step forward after making significant strides the past two years. Despite being the 12th-youngest team in the country last season, the Bulldogs boosted their win total by 11 games, the second-largest in Division I men's basketball. Additionally, the Bulldogs bring back all five starters from a season ago, including 2019-20 All-Big South honorees DeVon Baker (2nd team) and LJ Thorpe (Honorable Mention).
Like Asheville, Western Carolina also enters this season with heightened expectations. The Catamounts went 19-12 in 2019-20, which was their most wins since the 2013-14 season. Western Carolina figures to be led by senior Mason Faulkner, who averaged 17.7 points and 6.1 assists per game a season ago on his way to All-Southern Conference and NABC All-Region honors.
UNC Wilmington put together a record of 10-22 last season. The Seahawks will be under new leadership as Takayo Siddle enters his first season leading the program. The tandem of Jaylen Sims and Ty Gadsden figure to be UNCW's top players as both averaged over 10 points per game last season.
Rounding out the four-team field is Troy, who went 9-22 overall and 5-15 in conference play. This year's Trojans will look vastly different, though, as they have 10 new players that join the five returners. Amongst the returners, Zay Williams is the lone one to average in double figures last season, checking in at 11.1 points per contest.
Due to existing CoVID-19 protocols, no fans will be allowed to attend the four games in person.
Players Mentioned
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