Radford at UNC Asheville 1/24/21 - College Basketball Picks & Predictions

The Radford Highlanders travel on the road to Kimmel Arena to take on the UNC Asheville Bulldogs. Radford has won six straight games with sweeps of Hampton, Charleston Southern, and then on the road at Campbell winning the first in 3OT and then 67-61 to improve to 10-6 (9-1 conference). UNC-Asheville had a four-game win streak snapped with a road loss to Garner-Webb being dominated 84-57 and dropping to 8-7 (7-3 conference). 

Radford is 338th in adjusted tempo and their slow pace of play has led to the Highlanders averaging just 68.9 points per game ranking 246th in the country in scoring offense. Radford is shooting 46.15 from the field as a team, the 93rd shooting percentage nationally. 

Radford has just one player averaging double-figures and that is emerging freshman guard Fah’Mir Ali he’s averaging 10.8 points and dishing out a team-high 3.5 assists per game. Ali is shooting just 37.1% from the field and 30.6% from three. Sophomore forward Dravon Magnum is another developing young piece he’s averaging 9.5 points and pulling down 4.3 rebounds per game.

UNC Asheville is averaging 75.4 points per game ranking 105th in the country in scoring offense. As a unit, they are efficient shooting 48% from the field but haven’t shared the same success from three. With 96.3% of their scoring returning from last season, UNC-Asheville hopes to improve on their 5th place finish in the Big South last season.

Junior guard Tajion Jones has started 72 games in his first three years on campus, he’s improved his shooting percentages especially from three. Jones is avearging 17.3 points per game, a team-high, and is shooting an impressive 42.2% from three on 8.5 attempts per game. Junior guard LJ Thorpe is averaging 12.7 points per game and dishing out a team-high 3.5 assists per game. 

UNC Asheville comes in allowing 73.3 points per game ranking 246th in scoring defense and opposing teams are shooting 45% from the field ranking 248th in field-goal defense. The Bulldogs are 293rd in KenPom adjusted defense. Radford is allowing 63.6 points per game ranking 40th in scoring defense with opposing teams shooting 40.3% from the field. Radford is 200th in KenPom adjusted defense.