Longwood at UNC Asheville 3/1/21 - College Basketball Picks & Predictions

The Longwood Lancers travel on the road to Kimmel Arena to take on the UNC-Asheville Bulldogs in the Big South tournament quarterfinals. Longwood ended their season with a home-loss to Hampton falling 74-68 and dropping to 11-5 (10-10 conference). UNC Asheville didn’t play at all in February, the last time they were in action they pulled off the upset win on the road over previously undefeated Winthrop, improving to 10-9 (5-5 conference).

The long layoff will not help UNC-Asheville, especially on the offensive end, where they’re scoring 74.1 points per game ranking 110th in the country in scoring offense. The Bulldogs are shooting an impressive 47.5% from the field and 36.6% from beyond the arc, ranking 38th and 60th respectively. 

A pair of junior guards, Tajion Jones and LJ Thorpe, have led the way for the Bulldogs. Jones is leading the way in scoring with 16 points on 47.5% shooting including an impressive 42.9% from three on over 8 attempts per game. Thrope is second on the team with 11.9 points on 50.6% shooting and is dishing out a team-high 3.2 assists per game.

Longwood has been a putrid offensive team averaging 66 points per game ranking 291st in the nation in scoring offense. The Lancers love to slow it down, they’re 315th in adjusted tempo and 303rd in average offensive length and are shooting just 42.9% from the field. They also struggle with turnovers turning it over on nearly 20% of their possessions, 197th in the nation.

Three players are averaging double-figures, led by senior guard Juan Munoz who is scoring 12.6 points per game on 35.8% shooting and is second on the team in assists with 2.9 per contest. Freshman Justin Hill has emerged as a spark off the bench averaging 11.3 points and a team-high 3.2 assists per game.

Longwood and their slow tempo have eased the pressure on their defense allowing 67 points per game ranking 88th in the country in scoring defense. Opponents are shooting 44.5% from the field, 234th in the nation but have defended the three well holding opponents to 31.8% from beyond the arc, 79th nationally. Longwood is 226th in KenPom adjusted defense.

UNC Asheville has been spotty on the defensive end allowing 72.6 points per game ranking 239th in the country in scoring defense. Opponents have shot 44.2% from the field, 215th in field-goal percentage, and 32.2% from beyond the arc, 101st in three-point percentage. UNC Asheville is 269th in KenPom adjusted defense.