Gardner-Webb Runnin´ Bulldogs at Campbell Fighting Camels 3/1/21 - College Basketball Picks & Predictions

The Gardner Webb Bulldogs travel to John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center to take on the Campbell Camels in the quarterfinals of the Big South Tournament. Campbell ended their season with seven straight wins and dominated High Point at home 68-48 in their season-finale to improve to 15-9 (11-6 conference). Gardner-Webb won three-straight on the road to close out their regular season, winning the finale 69-58 to finish 11-14 (10-10 conference). 

Campbell struggled in the begging of the year and after being swept by Radford in late January was 4-6 conference, after winning their last seven they finished as 3rd in the Big South. They’re going to slow the ball down, they come in 336th in adjusted tempo but 15th nationally in effective field-goal percentage. The Fighting Camels are averaging 71.8 points per game ranking 170th in scoring offense. 

Senior point guard Jordan Whitfield has distributed the offense dishing out a team-high 2.8 assists per game and is second on Campbell in scoring averaging 14.5 points on an impressive 45.7% from beyond the arc. Paired in the backcourt with Whitfield is junior small-forward Cedric Henderson, he’s scoring a team-high 16 points on 51.3%.

Gardner-Webb has lived and died by the three this season, taking over 24 per game and cashing in on 36.5% of those attempts, 62nd nationally in three-point shooting. The Bulldogs are averaging 71.2 points per game ranking 186th in the country in scoring offense and are 129th in KenPom offensive efficiency.

The emergence of freshman D’maurian Williams has done wonders for the Bulldogs, he’s come off the bench to average 10.7 points on 41.3% shooting. Senior Jahaem Cornwall provides the Bulldogs with a lot of experience in his 119 games played, he’s averaging a team-high 14.3 points on 44.4/42/81 shooting splits and is dishing out a team-high 3.8 assists.

Gardner-Webb is giving up 68.6 points per game ranking 130th in the country in scoring defense. Opponents have been held to 41.6% from the field and 33.6% from beyond the arc, 92nd, and 180th nationally. Gardner Webb is 239th in KenPom adjusted defense. 

Campbell despite their methodical tempo is 124th in scoring defense allowing 68.5 points per game. The Fighting Camels are 275th in field-goal defense allowing opponents to shoot 45.7% from the field but have defended the perimeter well holding opponents to 30.2% from beyond the arc, 31st nationally. Campbell is 291st in KenPom adjusted defense.