Post by The Cats on Jan 13, 2024 19:40:31 GMT -5
Who: Samford Bulldogs
Where: Ramsey Center, Cullowhee
When: Tuesday, January 16, 2023
Time: 6 pm
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
TV/Video: CBS Sports Network
Live Stats: Live Stats
Enrollment: 5,791
Nickname: Bulldogs
Colors: Blue and Red
Head Coach: Bucky McMillan enters his fourth season as head coach of the Samford University Men's Basketball team. McMillan was named Samford's 29th head men’s basketball coach April 6, 2020.
McMillan's Record at Samford: 62-37 / 4th season
McMillan's Record vs. WCU: 5-0
Gray's Record vs. Samford: 0-4
Samford Current Record: 15-2 overall, 12-0 home, 3-2 away, 0-0 neutral, 4-0 conference.
Samford Last Season's Record: 21-11 overall, 13-3 home, 8-7 away, 0-1 neutral, 15-3 conference.
The Series: In the series that tipped off in 1970, the Cats are 14-16 overall vs. the Bulldogs, thanks to a 5 game skid against Samford by the Catamounts. Western is 4-6 in the last 10 games played, but has a 11-4 record against Samford in games played in Cullowhee.
In the preseason polls, the coaches picked Samford to finish in 4th place, while the media picked Samford and Western Carolina in a tie for second place, and senior forward Jermaine Marshall was picked as preseason all conference. Samford has won its last 15-straight game for a school record for longest win streak, interestingly 12 of those 15 wins have come in Homewood, AL, in the Pete Hanna Center - the home court of the Bulldogs.
In conference play, the Bulldogs only ventured out of Homewood to play The Citadel in Charleston, SC. The other three conference games were played in the friendly confins of the Hanna Center, this will be the Bulldogs first real conference game test, on the road.
So far this season, Samford has been led by junior Achor Achor, averaging 15.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, leading the team in both categories. Junior A.J. Staton-McCray is averaging 13.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Rylan Jones leads the team in assists, dishing out 5.4 assists per contest. Samford ranks in the top 10 in the nation in several categories, bench points per game (5th-38.80 ppg.), assists per
game (3rd-20.5), fastbreak points per game (2nd-18.47 pg.), scoring offense (4th-89.5 ppg.), steals per game (6th-11.0 pg.), three-point percentage (5th-40.6%) and turnovers forced per game (8th-18.00 pg.).
Samford currently leads the SoCon in scoring (88.8 ppg.), scoring margin (+14.9), field goal percentage (.490), three-point field goal percentage (.404), turnover margin (3.38), assists (20.00 pg.) and steals (10.88 pg.). Individually, A.J. Staton-McCray leads the SoCon in free throw percentage (.891) and ranks third in steals (1.7 pg.). Achor Achor leads the league in field goal percentage (.617) and ranks third in blocked shots (1.7 pg.). Rylan Jones ranks first in assist to turnover ratio (3.7) and fourth in assists (5.4 pg.).
This game will include a Ronnie Carr, 3-pt Celebration, in honor of the player that made the very first 3-point shot in College Basketball.
