Today our Big South Basketball Preview continues with the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs. Gardner-Webb finished this past season in 2nd place in the South Division with an 11-5 conference mark and 21-13 overall record. The Runnin’ Bulldogs lost to Liberty 65-62 in the semifinals of the Big South Tournament.
Losing
Tashan Newsome
6’3″ 200lb G
14.1 points, 5.1 rebounds
Kevin Hartley
6’6″ 235lb F
9.6 points, 6.4 rebounds
Newsome & Hartley are two big losses for the Runnin’ Bulldogs.
Returning
Donta Harper
Jr 6’6″ 180lb G/F
12.7 points, 4.9 rebounds
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| Naji Hibbert |
Max Landis
Jr 6’2″ 175lb G
7.9 points, 1.4 assists
Jerome Hill
So 6’5″ 210lb F
6.1 points, 4.7 rebounds
Tyler Strange
Jr 5’9″ 175lb G
5.6 points, 4.1 assists
Onzie Branch
Sr 6’6″ 215lb G/F
3.1 points, 3.8 rebounds
Incoming
Naji Hibbert transfer from Texas A&M
RSr 6’5″ 190lb G
Tyrell Nelson
6’8″ 210lb F
Hibbert is a transfer from Texas A&M who sat out the 2012-13 season and will be eligible in 2013-14. He played all three of his seasons for the Aggies and totaled 93 games played. In 2011-12, he averaged 3.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.
Outlook
Losing Newsome & Hartley will hurt, but the addition of Hibbert will have Chris Holtmann & company contending for the Big South Championship. Expect Gardner-Webb to finish in the top 3 in the Big South’s South Division.
Previous team previews:
Presbyterian
Winthrop
Coastal Carolina
UNC-Asheville
