University of North Carolina Athletics
Know Your Opponent: Appalachian State
December 21, 2015 | Men's Basketball
Appalachian State (AppStateSports.com)
Location: Boone, N.C.
Rankings: No. 310 KenPom, NR AP
Record: 2-8
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): Carolina leads 5-0 (UNC 97, Appalachian State 82, Dec. 17, 2011)
Appalachian State is off to a rough start in year two under Jim Fox. The Mountaineers opened the season with a win over Jacksonville but are just 1-8 since, with the lone win coming over Liberty in Nashville. They rank outside the top 300 nationally in six key categories according to KenPom.com, including rating 330th in the land in defensive efficiency.
Senior Frank Eaves has been a real bright spot in Boone, however, as the veteran guard is punctuating a solid career with his best season. Through 10 games, Eaves leads the Sun Belt in scoring (20.8 ppg) and has made a scorching 47.5 percent of his 3s (38-80). He's topped 20 points six times already, including a 38-point effort against Hofstra and a 6-of-8 performance from behind the arc at Texas.
Fellow senior Chris Burgess and freshman Ronshad Shabazz round out the ASU starting backcourt. Burgess makes better than 42 percent of his 3s and, somewhat remarkably considering he stands just 5-8, 62.5 percent of his 2s. Shabazz is the only other Mountaineer averaging more than eight points per contest, though he has struggled from the field so far in his first collegiate season.
Four others have started at least one game this season, with Griffin Kinney and Jacob Lawson leading the way up front. Kinney is the best defensive rebounder on the roster and Lawson has 22 blocks in just 162 minutes.
Appalachian State opens Sun Belt play on New Years Eve at UL-Monroe and then finishes the Louisiana road trip two nights later in Lafayette. Fox's crew was much better in league play last season, but the Mountaineers were unable to participate in the conference tournament due to APR penalties. They are penalty-free this season, however, so a top-8 SBC finish and a trip to New Orleans are on the table.
