Breaking Down the Big South: UNC Asheville
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Nick McDevitt takes over for legendary coach Eddie Biedenbach at UNCA.[/caption]
UNC Asheville Bulldogs
LancersBlog Prediction: 5th in the South
Last Year: 16–16 (10–6), 3rd in South
Departures: Jeremy Atkinson (18 ppg), Keith Hornsby (TR, 15 ppg), Jon Nwannunu (7 ppg)
Top Returners: Trent Meyer (10 ppg), Will Weeks (9 ppg), DJ Cunningham (8 ppg), Jaron Lane (12 ppg in 2011–12)
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Last Year Versus Longwood: W 68–85 in Asheville, L 87–72 in Big South Opening Round
This Year Versus Longwood: February 1 at Longwood
Last time we saw the Asheville Bulldogs it was a historic day for Longwood as the Lancer sent the defending champs packing with a 87–72 win behind 17 points and 7 assists from Lucas Woodhouse. The game turned out to be the last that Eddie Biedenbach would coach for the Bulldogs as decided to split for an assistant job at UNC Wilmington. Long time assistant Nick McDevitt now takes over and inherits an interesting roster that may have the ability to compete in the South, but I’m not as high on the Bulldogs as some pundits are. Big South first-teamer Jeremy Atkinson has graduated and Keith Hornsby, who would have been UNCA’s top returning scorer, transferred to LSU.
Not much should change with the Bulldogs, but can McDevitt turn a team around that had a disastrous finish to last season. Will Weeks proved he was one of the conference’s top freshman a year ago and will continue to improve. Jaron Lane should also add some scoring prowess after sitting out last year with an ankle injury for the whole season. Trent Meyer and Corey Littlejohn are two talented guards who will have to control the Bulldogs tempo and set the table for the team. Asheville’s wild card is 7'0 junior Jaleel Roberts who appeared in 12 games a year ago. Can the big man become a presence for the Bulldogs in the paint?
Asheville learned that Longwood could compete in both game last year after head coach Eddie Biedenbach compared the Lancers to Lenoir-Rhyne before tip-off of the first match up. Expect the Lancers to continue to give Asheville trouble when they come for a visit to Willett Hall on February 1.
