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Post by The Cats on Dec 7, 2023 19:07:55 GMT -5
 Who: UNC Asheville Bulldogs When: Saturday, December 9, 2023 Time: 4 pm Where: Ramsey Center, Cullowhee Radio: Catamount Sports NetworkTV/Video: ESPN+Live Stats: WCU Live StatsConference: Big South Conference (BS) Location: Asheville, NC Enrollment: 3,233 Nickname: Bulldogs Mascot: Rocky Colors: Blue and White Message Board: none Head Coach: Mike Morrell is in his sixth season at the helm of the UNC Asheville men's basketball program in 2023-24. Morrell, the 2022-23 Big South Coach of the Year, guided the Bulldogs to one of the best seasons in program history in 2022-23. Asheville posted a school record 27 wins on the season and captured both the Big South Regular Season and Tournament Championships. Morrell's record vs. WCU: 2-3 Gray's record vs. UNCA: 0-2 Current Record (UNCA): 5-4 overall, 3-1 home, 0-2 away, 2-1 neutral, 0-0 conference Last Seasons Record (UNCA): 27-8 overall, 13-0 home, 10-6 away, 4-2 neutral, 16-2 conference The Series: Western owns a 33-24 overall record with Asheville, going 7-3 in the last 10 games played. The Cats have lost the last two games between the two teams, and the Cats are 19-9 in games played in Cullowhee. Western comes into this game having dropped two road games to two Big South teams, while the Bulldogs dropped an overtime road game to Kennesaw State, ending a three game winning streak. Asheville was projected to win the conference in preseason voting. Drew Pember currently leads the Bulldogs in the scoring column, averaging 16.9 points a game. Under the basket, Pember leads the team with 6.4 rebounds a game and 12 blocked shots. Pember is 15 blocked shots away from 200 career blocked shots. Fletcher Abee is averaging 13.5 points per game and leads the team with a .481 3-point shooting percentage. He leads the conference in 3-point field goals per game (3.3) and leads in free throw percentage with a .952. Caleb Burgess leads the league with 44 assists, averaging 5.5 a game, and has a league-high assist-to-turnover ratio (3.7). |
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Post by UNCAshevilleAlum on Dec 8, 2023 12:46:52 GMT -5
Very intrigued about this game. Like always, it will probably be close. But either team could come out hot. Should be a great matchup. Does this one look like a big WCU crowd? Not sure if y'all have advertised for it much or not.
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Post by catamountalum04 on Dec 8, 2023 12:53:13 GMT -5
i doubt it will be a big crowd. We don't really draw for basketball and with two straight losses i doubt the students turn out
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Post by UNCAshevilleAlum on Dec 8, 2023 13:57:39 GMT -5
That's too bad cause y'all really have started hot. It surprises me since y'all draw such a high attendance for football. Should be a great game either way. Asheville's putting on a pregame get-together at Innovation Brewing before the Men's game. I'm sure we'll have have quite a few Asheville fans make the drive, but nothing like the 2000 we traveled to Charlotte for the Big South Championship last year. I think both teams have very good shots at making it deep and potentially winning their respective conference championships. We'll see.
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Post by catamountfanatic07 on Dec 8, 2023 20:03:49 GMT -5
That's too bad cause y'all really have started hot. It surprises me since y'all draw such a high attendance for football. Should be a great game either way. Asheville's putting on a pregame get-together at Innovation Brewing before the Men's game. I'm sure we'll have have quite a few Asheville fans make the drive, but nothing like the 2000 we traveled to Charlotte for the Big South Championship last year. I think both teams have very good shots at making it deep and potentially winning their respective conference championships. We'll see. Hopefully there is a good crowd, but I’d assume it will not be good with the losses as stated. I have not kept up with Asheville or much basketball at all yet, but after two losses it may be quite quiet in Ramsey. Hoping for a great game. |
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Post by The Cats on Dec 8, 2023 20:09:35 GMT -5
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Post by catamountalum04 on Dec 8, 2023 20:20:34 GMT -5
i have not heard much regarding hype about the team. Any current students have any insight into how the student pop feels about support of the team?
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Post by tarcat on Dec 8, 2023 21:57:47 GMT -5
i have not heard much regarding hype about the team. Any current students have any insight into how the student pop feels about support of the team? I'm not a current student, but I do know that this is that weird time of year after classes have ended, final exams are about to begin and December commencement is next weekend. I don't anticipate a large student turnout, but you never know. |
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Post by FLCATAMOUNT on Dec 9, 2023 14:42:40 GMT -5
I don’t understand how the ESPN prediction wheel works. ESPN says that there is a 62.5 percent chance that WCU will beat UNCA. Granted since we are playing at home, we might have an edge but not a 62.5 chance of winning. I think it will be close and could go either way because we have home court advantage. If the game was in Asheville, I would think Asheville would have the edge.
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catman72
Redshirt Freshman
2023 SoCon Football Pick'em Champion & 2022 SoCon Football Pick'em Co-Champion
Posts: 408
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Post by catman72 on Dec 9, 2023 16:00:53 GMT -5
Point spread:
WCU -3.5
UNC-A +3.5
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