University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Thursday, January 13
Rock Hill, S.C.
7:00 p.m.
UNC Asheville
at
Winthrop
Men’s basketball visits Winthrop for conference clash on ESPNU Thursday
01.11.2022 | Men's Basketball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville men's basketball team will renew its rivalry with Winthrop on ESPNU on Thursday, facing the Eagles at 7:00 p.m. at the Winthrop Coliseum.
The Matchup
Who: UNC Asheville (10-5, 2-0 Big South) vs. Winthrop (8-6, 1-0 Big South)
When: Thursday (1/13) at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Rock Hill, S.C. – Winthrop Coliseum (COVID Protocols)
How to Follow
Watch: ESPNU - Matt Schick (pxp) and King McClure (analyst)
Listen: 570 WWNC
Stats: Live
AVL + ESPNU
The match-up will mark the sixth meeting between the squads on ESPNU, with Winthrop holding a 3-2 advantage in the nationally-televised meetings. Overall, Thursday will mark the 11th appearance for the Bulldogs as part of the Big South's ESPNU Wildcard series. Asheville and Winthrop appeared on ESPNU last January, just one day before the Bulldogs snapped Winthrop's 21-game winning streak, handing the Eagles their only regular-season loss of the 2020-21 season.
Off to a Hot Start
Defeating Charleston Southern 82-59 on Saturday, UNC Asheville started the season 10-5 overall and 2-0 in Big South play for the first time since the 2015-16 team went 12-5 (6-0 Big South). The win was also Asheville's fourth straight (8-2 in its last 10 games) and fifth in a row at home, improving to 7-1 in Kimmel Arena this season. The 2-0 start in conference play is also just the 11th time the program has won its first two conference games since joining the Big South in 1986-87.
National Rankings
The Bulldogs' hot start has them ranked in the top 40 in Division I in seven categories, ranking in the top 15 in three-point field goal percentage defense (2nd, 24.8), total blocks (8th, 88) and blocks per game (13th, 5.9). Individually, Drew Pember continues to lead the way, ranking fourth in the country in blocks (60) and blocks per game (4.0).
Scouting the Eagles
Originally slated to face Campbell Saturday, the Eagles and Camels faced off on Monday (due to COVID protocols), with Winthrop's Drew Buggs sinking a shot with four seconds to play to give the Eagles a 74-72 win. The preseason favorite to win the Big South, Winthrop received 16 overall first-place votes and 23 first-place votes in the South Division, with Asheville receiving three. The Eagles are extremely efficient from the floor and from three, leading the conference with a .475 field-goal percentage and .378 three-point field goal percentage, ranking in the top 50 nationally in those categories. On the flip side, Winthrop ranks 11th among conference teams in scoring defense (73.0 ppg) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (34.9%). The Eagles are led by Big South Preseason Player of the Year D.J. Burns (16.4 ppg) whose 62.8 field goal percentage ranks 11th in the nation.
The Matchup
Who: UNC Asheville (10-5, 2-0 Big South) vs. Winthrop (8-6, 1-0 Big South)
When: Thursday (1/13) at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Rock Hill, S.C. – Winthrop Coliseum (COVID Protocols)
How to Follow
Watch: ESPNU - Matt Schick (pxp) and King McClure (analyst)
Listen: 570 WWNC
Stats: Live
AVL + ESPNU
The match-up will mark the sixth meeting between the squads on ESPNU, with Winthrop holding a 3-2 advantage in the nationally-televised meetings. Overall, Thursday will mark the 11th appearance for the Bulldogs as part of the Big South's ESPNU Wildcard series. Asheville and Winthrop appeared on ESPNU last January, just one day before the Bulldogs snapped Winthrop's 21-game winning streak, handing the Eagles their only regular-season loss of the 2020-21 season.
Off to a Hot Start
Defeating Charleston Southern 82-59 on Saturday, UNC Asheville started the season 10-5 overall and 2-0 in Big South play for the first time since the 2015-16 team went 12-5 (6-0 Big South). The win was also Asheville's fourth straight (8-2 in its last 10 games) and fifth in a row at home, improving to 7-1 in Kimmel Arena this season. The 2-0 start in conference play is also just the 11th time the program has won its first two conference games since joining the Big South in 1986-87.
National Rankings
The Bulldogs' hot start has them ranked in the top 40 in Division I in seven categories, ranking in the top 15 in three-point field goal percentage defense (2nd, 24.8), total blocks (8th, 88) and blocks per game (13th, 5.9). Individually, Drew Pember continues to lead the way, ranking fourth in the country in blocks (60) and blocks per game (4.0).
Scouting the Eagles
Originally slated to face Campbell Saturday, the Eagles and Camels faced off on Monday (due to COVID protocols), with Winthrop's Drew Buggs sinking a shot with four seconds to play to give the Eagles a 74-72 win. The preseason favorite to win the Big South, Winthrop received 16 overall first-place votes and 23 first-place votes in the South Division, with Asheville receiving three. The Eagles are extremely efficient from the floor and from three, leading the conference with a .475 field-goal percentage and .378 three-point field goal percentage, ranking in the top 50 nationally in those categories. On the flip side, Winthrop ranks 11th among conference teams in scoring defense (73.0 ppg) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (34.9%). The Eagles are led by Big South Preseason Player of the Year D.J. Burns (16.4 ppg) whose 62.8 field goal percentage ranks 11th in the nation.
Players Mentioned
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