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Bracketology 2023: Florida Atlantic, Charleston among mid-majors to watch

By Jason Burgess

Jan 7, 2023; Charleston, South Carolina, USA; Charleston Cougars guard Reyne Smith (2) on the floor in the second half against the Delaware Blue Hens at TD Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2023; Charleston, South Carolina, USA; Charleston Cougars guard Reyne Smith (2) on the floor in the second half against the Delaware Blue Hens at TD Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports /
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NCAA Basketball Longwood Lancers guard Walyn Napper William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Basketball Longwood Lancers guard Walyn Napper William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports /

Longwood Lancers at UNC-Asheville Bulldogs

Thursday, January 12, Asheville, NC, 7:00 PM ET, ESPNU

Historically the Big South Conference tournament has been one of the more unpredictable ones in March and a possible tournament preview takes place Thursday night when defending champion Longwood travels to Asheville, North Carolina to take on the UNC-Asheville Bulldogs. Coming off a season where the Lancers won 26 games, they are 12-5 after taking out Winthrop in their last game.

The Lancers have four guys that average double figures led by Isaiah Wilkins and Leslie Nkereuwem, but what Griff Aldrich’s team does really well is, cherish the basketball. Longwood turns the ball over just 12 times per game and they are 29th in the country with an offensive rebounding percentage of 34.6%. The Bulldogs have had an up-and-down beginning to the year with an 11-6 record but they’re just a game back of the leaders early on. Senior Drew Pember is their go-to guy leading the team in both scoring and rebounding with 18.9 and 8.9 respectively.

The Bulldogs started the year with an impressive double-overtime win over tournament Central Florida. Then they hit the skids in late November before righting the ship to go 6-3 in December, losing to Dayton, Arkansas, and their league-opener to Winthrop by two. They rebounded nicely last week by beating High Point and Campbell to prepare for this home tilt with the defending champs. With the Bulldogs having three tournament titles since 2011, which is tied for the most in the conference over that time, this should be a statement game for both teams.

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