Tonight Liberty welcomes the Western Carolina Catamounts into the Vines Center. Both teams are coming off of losses, Western Carolina falling in back to back games to Virginia Tech and Oregon, and Liberty to William and Mary. This is the fourth time these two teams have met, with Liberty holding a 2-1 advantage so far.
1. Introduction Western Carolina returns five seniors after going 14-19 last season, 9-9 in the Southern Conference. They finished third in the north division of the conference last season, and are predicted to finish third again this year. They are coached by Larry Hunter.
Coach Larry Hunter
2. Offense Trey Sumler is the Catamounts’ go to scorer. He led the conference in scoring last year, and was named pre-season player of the year this season. The whole team averaged 69.3 ppg last year, and is already scoring at a 73.7 ppg rate this year. They put up 83 points in a loss to #18 Oregon on November 13.
3. Defense After giving up 69.7 ppg last year, the Catamounts are surrendering 77 per game this season. However, if you take out the 107 they gave up to Oregon, the total comes down to a more respectable 67 per game. They are not putting up great rebounding numbers, with guard Brandon Boggs tied for the team lead with forward Tawaski King at 4.8 per game.
4. Player Turnover Western Carolina had almost no turnover from 2012-13 to 2013-14. They lost only two players, neither of them starters. Their incoming class boasts 247.com’s third best recruit from South Carolina, Charlendez Brooks.
5. Possible Starters Here is the probable starting five for the Catamounts in tonight’s game:
Trey Sumler leads the Catamounts
Point Guard: Trey Sumler (#5) is a 6’2”, 175 pound senior who leads the team in scoring with 20 ppg. He missed the first two games of the season, serving a suspension for pending assault and battery charges. He put up 29 points against Oregon, but only 11 in his last game, against Virginia Tech.
Wing: Tom Tankelewicz (#0) is a 6’4”, 180 pound senior, and the team’s 3-point specialist. He made 80 of the Catamounts’ 207 3-pointers last year, and before going 0-5 from three against Virginia Tech, had been shooting the long ball at a 50% clip. He’s averaging 10 ppg.
Wing: James Sinclair (#25) is a 6’3”, 180 pound Junior averaging a solid stat-line of 15.8 ppg, 4 rpg, and 3.3 apg. He stepped up in Sumler’s absence to lead the Catamounts to two wins in their first two contests of the season. He’s more than doubling his ppg from last year.
Forward: Kenneth Hall (#1) is a 6’7”, 210 pound junior who is 3.3 ppg and 3.3 rpg. He’s coming off a four block performance yesterday against Virginia Tech.
Forward: Tawaski King (#32) is a 6’8”, 245 pound senior averaging 7.5 ppg and 4.8 rpg so far this year. He’ll be banging down low against Liberty’s front court.
6. Prediction Liberty has plenty of size to match up with Western Carolina down low, and taking into account the way Antwan Burrus played against William and Mary, I’d give the Flames the advantage there. However, I believe this one will be decided by guard play. Davon Marshall and John-Caleb Sanders haven’t showed too much in the first two games, and they will have to outplay a Catamount three guard set that is averaging 45.8 ppg. I’m giving this one to Western Carolina. Western Carolina 72, Liberty 68.
