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THE BLUE BANNER I WEDNESDAY, NOV. 5, 2014 I THEBLUEBANNER.NET
sports
EDITOR: ASHIKA RAVALI ARAVAL@UNCA.EDU
Jaleel Roberts, a senior center for UNCA, faces off against teammates in a practice session at Kimmel Arena.
Photo by Max Carter - Staff Writer
Bulldogs remain confident about conference prospects
MAX CARTER
jcarterl ©unca.edu -
Staff Writer
The UNC Asheville men’s
basketball team is confident
in their potential for success
as preparations for the up
coming season are underway.
“We exceeded our expec
tations last season, so we are
looking to do the same this
year,” said Andrew Rowsey,
sophomore point guard.
“The goal is to win the Big
South and do whatever we
can to do that.”
Last year UNCA surpassed
the preseason predictions and
finished second in the South
division of the Big South
Conference.
According to Rowsey, after
this year’s sixth place projec
tion the team hopes to have a
similar outcome.
Nick McDevitt, who is
in his second year as head
coach, said this year the con
ference is full of experienced
teams, which could pose Qjacomo Zilli, a sophomore forward from
difficult matchups.
“There are veteran ball
clubs that are really good in our
league. Some of the teams that fin
ished ahead of us last year have a lot
of players coming back.” McDevitt
said. “It’s going to be a tough chal
lenge for us this year. There are a lot
of tough teams in our league.”
The Bulldogs brought back 11
members from last season, one be
ing point-guard playmaker Andrew
Rowsey - who made an immediate
impact as a freshman.
In his first season Rowsey set a
UNCA single-season record for
most three-pointers made at 106. He
was also named Big South Fresh
man of the Year, earned first-team
All-Conference honors and this sea
son was voted into the Preseason
First Team All-Conference selec
tion.
During the offseason UNCA ac
quired five freshmen and added Lo
gan Johnson as an assistant coach to
the staff.
Coaches and players said these
additions have made an immediate
impact to the team.
“Fm really pleased with how all
of our newcomers are performing
this early in the year. Going from
high school athletics to college ath
letics there is an adjustment period.
Right now, if they continue to prog
ress, I think all of our newcomers
can help out this team,” McDevitt
said.
McDevitt also said Johnson is fit
ting into his role as one of the assis
tant coaches.
“He’s got a winning attitude and
brings a lot of basketball intelli
gence and has a lot of skill sets that I
look for in an assistant coach,” Mc
Devitt said. “We are lucky to have
him.”
In 2005, Johnson, a native of Ten
nessee, was recruited by UNCA to
play basketball, but instead he chose
conference rival Coastal Carolina
University,
After college he went on to be
come the assistant coach for Ouachi
ta Baptist University for three years
before joining UNCA’s coaching
staff.
McDevitt said Johnson was some
one he always kept an eye on—ever
since UNCA tried recruiting him—
and is happy to now have him part
of his coaching staff.
“He’s got a winning attitude and
brings a lot of basketball intelli-
Italy, goes up for a shot during practice at Kimmei Arena.
gence and has a lot of skill sets that I
look for in an assistant coach,” Mc
Devitt said. “We are lucky to have
him.”
This year the job of managing in
side the paint will go to 7-feet Jaleel
Roberts and 6’9” Chudier Pal, both
senior centers.
“They have differences to their
game so our playing style may vary
to a degree depending on who is
in the ball game,” McDevitt said.
“They’re both doing very well and I
like what I see out of both of them.”
Even with two powerhouse cen
ters, Giacomo Zilli also deserves
mention, when if comes to the inside
presence. Standing at 6’9” and 255
pounds, coaches acknowledge the
sophomore forward most for his ag
gressiveness and work ethic.
“Look at his stature. He’s a big,
strong, bulky kid and he’s got a great
attitude,” McDevitt said. “He likes
playing with contact and throwing
his body around defensively. I like
that about him. If he keeps putting in
the hard work that he has, his future
is bright.”
Also making an appearance this
season is Marcus Neely who was
SEE BASKETBALL ON PAGE 10
Photo by Max Carter - Staff Writer
Photo by Max Carter - Staff Writer
Corey Littlejohn catches the ball during pratice.