16-1 overall, 4-0 conference record, 15 game winning streak

Loss - UNC 86-102

Wins - Chattanooga 85-78, Richmond 92-90(OT), Davidson 89-66, VaTech 77-55, Kent St. 74-72, Presbyterian 67-62, Stetson 65-60, Towson 76-74 OT. Colorado St. 74-64

Stats compared to CAA teams overall

#1 scoring 80.8 ppg(#3 UNCW 71.7)
#7 scoring def 70.6 ppg(#2 UNCW 62.9)
#1 Scoring margin +10.2(#2 UNCW +8.8)
#3 FG .444 (#2 UNCW .456)
#7 Opp FG .445 (#3 UNCW .420)
#8 Three Pt .328 (#5 UNCW .343)
#7 Opp Three Pt .337 (#1 UNCW .307)
#1 Reb Margin +6.8 (#5 UNCW +2.8)
#1 Off Reb 13.6 per game (#7 UNCW 10.7)
#1 FT .744 (#4 UNCW .722)
#3 FT attempts 348 (#2 UNCW 349)
#3 Assists 13.12(#12 UNCW 11.47)

Starters

D Bolon 6'4" Grad 23 min 13ppg .411FG(76-185) .286 Three(28-96) 4.4Reb
R Larson 6'1" Grad 29 min 11ppg .467FG(63-135) .377 Three(29-77) 68 assts
R Smith 6'2" Soph 23 min 11ppg .350FG(49-140) .331 Three(42-177)
A Brzovic 6'10" Soph 16 min 10ppg .481FG(64-133) .395 Three(17-43) 4.9 Reb
J Scott 6'5" Grad 27 min 5 ppg .439FG(29-66) .278 Three(5-18) 51Asst 5 Reb 13blks

Bench

P Robinson 6'3"Grad 19 min 11ppg .508FG(66-130) .343Three(12-35)
B Burnham 6'7" Soph 16min 8ppg .500FG(53-106) .378Three(17-45)
R Horton 6'6" Soph 23 min 6 ppg .393FG(35-89) .333Three(14-42)
B Faye 6'8" Soph 17min 6ppg .508FG(31-61) 5.5Reb 16 blocks
C Lampten 6'11" Sr 8min 1ppg 12 blocks

This will be a game of tempo and who can control the tempo. Charleston wants to get the score into the high 70's or 80's and UNCW wants to keep the score in the 60's or 70's. Having watched them play several times(and the stats bear this out) CofC relies on offensive rebounding, drives to the basket to draw fouls or kick out to a team loaded with three point shooters. They have attempted 503 three pointers in 17 games (29.6 per game), the next closest is A&T with 411 attempts. They also have the most overall FG attempts with 1070(63 per game) while UNCW has 940 attempts(55 per game).

Charleston takes 47% of their shots from three. They get a lot of their three point attempts off the drive of Larson and Scott who will drive and kick out to set shooters. They don't have any standout rebounders, instead they all hit the offensive boards. Their nine primary players have at least 16 offensive rebounds with five over 20. UNCW rebounds well, but only four players have more than 16 offensive rebounds with three over 20. A key to this game will be keeping Charleston from getting offensive rebounds which drive their entire offense.

Trask is going to be packed with one of the most anticipated games in decades. A big rivalry already, this one has the two longest winning streaks in the nation on the line and a chance for UNCW to take down a CofC team with only one loss and a #23 ranking. Charleston has enjoyed a home heavy schedule where they thrive off the energy and can push the tempo. Siddle will have to keep his guys in check so they play at a tempo that is to our liking. I think he can do that and the energy of Trask will help UNCW impose their will on defense and pump up the offense. This feels like an opportunity for a game changer for the season, for Siddle and for our program. Would easily be the biggest win for UNCW since the Brownell years. I think we step up and make it happen

Hawk Attack 71
Kitty Kats 68