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Bracketology 2024: 5 games with early season momentum building on the line

By Jason Burgess

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 11: Kyle Filipowski #30 reacts after a basket by Jeremy Roach #3 of the Duke Blue Devils against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half of the ACC Basketball Tournament Championship game at Greensboro Coliseum on March 11, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Duke won 59-49. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 11: Kyle Filipowski #30 reacts after a basket by Jeremy Roach #3 of the Duke Blue Devils against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half of the ACC Basketball Tournament Championship game at Greensboro Coliseum on March 11, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Duke won 59-49. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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UNC Wilmington forward Trazarien White is defended by Oklahoma guard Otega Oweh Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
UNC Wilmington forward Trazarien White is defended by Oklahoma guard Otega Oweh Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports /

UNC-Wilmington (1-0) at UNC-Asheville (0-1)

Asheville, NC, Saturday, November 11, 2:00 PM ET, ESPN+

The final game of the weekend pits two young coaches who took their respective teams to the title game of their conference tournament last season. Takayo Siddle and UNC-Wilmington (1-0) came up just short, whole Mike Morrell and UNC-Asheville earned a trip to the big dance. Not only were both these teams successful last year, but they also are programs that are trending up and return lots of firepower from last year’s squads.

UNC-Asheville is led by Big South Player of the Year candidate Drew Pember who averaged nearly a double-double with 20.9 points and 9.1 rebounds for the Bulldogs (0-1) last season. In the season opener on Tuesday, he put up 19 and three in the 89-74 loss to Michigan. Much like the Bulldogs, UNC-Wilmington also returns its leading scorer and rebounder from last season, forward Trazarien White who netted 14 points and nearly six rebounds for the Seahawks. In their season-opening win over Mount Olive on Monday he led the team with 23.

Each top 25 team's toughest November test. dark. Next

Momentum can be extra important for mid-major teams especially early in the year when they often find themselves either having a rare opportunity to play teams from power conferences or other mid-major teams like themselves. Early season wins for teams like the Seahawks and Bulldogs go a long way in getting them prepared for their conference seasons.

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