RE: Official Game Thread: UNC-Asheville
Asheville is 1-2, losing to Wilmington 76-68; to Western Carolina in OT 83-81; and winning over a weak South Carolina State 77-56.
They were rated 2nd in the Big South Preseason behind a stong Winthrop team by Blue Ribbon.
2 of their players were rated 1st team all conference: 6-5 215 So. L.J. Thorpe (8.0 ppg and 5.3 rpg, but also 3.7 t.o.’s); and 6-2 190 Jr DeVon Baker.
Asheville has been hampered by having 2 top starters out with injury: DeVon Baker and 6-9 190 Jr. Coty Jude. The injuries are supposedly minor and both players could be back at any time. Without those 2, Kenpom rates them 225 overall, 187 offensively and 274 defensively.
They have been scoring the ball from 2 pt range, but are not strong perimeter shooters with 6 makes from 3 and a .310 shooting percentage. However they defend the 3 well, allowing opponents only 4.0 makes (20th in D1) and .211 (21st in D1). Best 3 point threat is 6-5 190 Jr G Taijon Jones with 3.7 makes on .523. Unless they get Jude or Baker back, nobody else has yet done much of anything from the perimeter.
Rebounding margin is +2.0. Blocks are an excellent 6.7, 12th in D1.
Turnovers are bad – averaging 18.7 with a margin of -3.0, tied for 217th in D1.
They foul a lot: 22.7 per game, 29th in D1.
They’ve been relying heavily on the 5 starters (Jones, Battle, Stephney, Clayborne and Thorpe) for almost all their production. 6th man Batts gets 22 minutes , but not much in the stat sheet (3.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg), while Lawson, Mason and Marable get about 10-13 minutes each, with little production.
I’ll be interested if the Bucs continue to improve their defense, and pick up their offense and shooting. One step at a time for a brand new team in a uniquely challenging year. Kenpom has the Bucs by 1 point, 70-69.
Guards:
#20 6-2 190 Jr DeVon Baker; injured, 1st team All Conference
#3 6-5 190 Jr Tajion Jones; 36.0 min., 20.0 ppg, .423 from 3 (3.7 makes), 4.7 rebounds
#1 6-5 210 So Jamon Battle; 26.3 min., 12.7 ppg, 0 3’s, 6.7 rebounds
#5 6-2 190 So Trent Stephney; 36.3 min., 11.3 ppg, .222 from 3 (0.7 makes), 3.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 4.7 t.o.'s
#2 6-5 215 So L.J. Thorpe; 25.3 min., 8.0 ppg, .333 from 3 (0.3 makes), 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 3.7 t.o.'s
#0 6-3 185 Sr Lavar Batts; 22.0 min., 3.7 ppg, .125 from 3 (0.3 makes), 2.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 3.0 t.o.'s
Front Court:
#10 6-8 240 Gr-Tr Evan Clayborne; 24.0 min., 11.3 ppg, 0 3’s, 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 blocks
#22 6-9 190 Jr Coty Jude; injured but a good 3 pt shooter
#14 6-7 180 Jr Luke Lawson; 13.7 min., 2.7 ppg, .250 from 3 (0.7 makes), 2.3 rebounds
#55 6-7 180 3* Fr Silas Mason; 10.0 min., 2.7 ppg, 0 3’s, 3.0 rebounds
#11 6-9 220 Fr BJ Marable; 11.0 min., 2.0 ppg,
(This post was last modified: 12-08-2020 09:39 AM by swvabucsfan.)
|
/
Official Game Thread: UNC-Asheville (postponed)
