University of North Carolina Athletics
Know Your Opponent: Bucknell
November 15, 2017 | Men's Basketball
By Bobby Hundley
Bucknell (BucknellBison.com)
Location: Lewisburg, Pa.
Rankings: Bucknell - No. 86 KenPom, NR AP; UNC - No. 12 KenPom, No. 9 AP
Records: Bucknell - 0-2; UNC - 1-0
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): First meeting
Bucknell opened its season with a pair of losses over the weekend, including a 101-73 setback at Arkansas on Sunday. But don't let that fool you - this is a deep, veteran team that returns almost its entire roster from 2016-17, a year that saw the Bison roll to a Patriot League title and test West Virginia in the NCAA tournament as a 13 seed.
Seniors Zach Thomas and Nana Foulland form a dynamic inside-outside duo for third-year head coach Nathan Davis. Thomas is a 42.5-percent career 3-point shooter, and Foulland made 63 percent of his 2s last year as the Bison ranked 20th nationally in effective FG%. Thomas has gotten off to a scorching start to his final college season, going for 24 and 10 in the opener against Monmouth before posting career highs of 31 points and 16 boards against the Razorbacks.
Point guard Stephen Brown gives Bucknell a third senior in the starting lineup and another outside threat. The 5-11 captain made 40 percent of his 3s last season while also ranking in the top 100 nationally in assist rate. Kimball Mackenzie is another 40+ shooter from deep, but the junior guard has been ice cold from the field (0 for 4 on 2s, 1 for 9 on 3s) through two games. Avi Toomer rounds out the Bison starting five at the wing and is the team's defensive stopper. Of the other four players in the regular rotation, only freshman guard Jimmy Sotos is new to the program.
Davis has had quick success in his first two seasons at the helm, winning Patriot League Coach of the Year honors both years after a successful six-year run at Division III Randolph-Macon. This figures to be his best team yet, though a brutal non-conference schedule that features nine true road games could keep the Bison under the radar. The unanimous pick to repeat in the Patriot, Bucknell should once again be a first-round problem for a high seed come March.
Bucknell (BucknellBison.com)
Location: Lewisburg, Pa.
Rankings: Bucknell - No. 86 KenPom, NR AP; UNC - No. 12 KenPom, No. 9 AP
Records: Bucknell - 0-2; UNC - 1-0
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): First meeting
Bucknell opened its season with a pair of losses over the weekend, including a 101-73 setback at Arkansas on Sunday. But don't let that fool you - this is a deep, veteran team that returns almost its entire roster from 2016-17, a year that saw the Bison roll to a Patriot League title and test West Virginia in the NCAA tournament as a 13 seed.
Seniors Zach Thomas and Nana Foulland form a dynamic inside-outside duo for third-year head coach Nathan Davis. Thomas is a 42.5-percent career 3-point shooter, and Foulland made 63 percent of his 2s last year as the Bison ranked 20th nationally in effective FG%. Thomas has gotten off to a scorching start to his final college season, going for 24 and 10 in the opener against Monmouth before posting career highs of 31 points and 16 boards against the Razorbacks.
Point guard Stephen Brown gives Bucknell a third senior in the starting lineup and another outside threat. The 5-11 captain made 40 percent of his 3s last season while also ranking in the top 100 nationally in assist rate. Kimball Mackenzie is another 40+ shooter from deep, but the junior guard has been ice cold from the field (0 for 4 on 2s, 1 for 9 on 3s) through two games. Avi Toomer rounds out the Bison starting five at the wing and is the team's defensive stopper. Of the other four players in the regular rotation, only freshman guard Jimmy Sotos is new to the program.
Davis has had quick success in his first two seasons at the helm, winning Patriot League Coach of the Year honors both years after a successful six-year run at Division III Randolph-Macon. This figures to be his best team yet, though a brutal non-conference schedule that features nine true road games could keep the Bison under the radar. The unanimous pick to repeat in the Patriot, Bucknell should once again be a first-round problem for a high seed come March.
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