GAME PREVIEW: Gardner-Webb Set To Open Season At Iowa Friday
November 11, 2015 | Men's Basketball
Game Notes | Live Stats | Video
Top Storylines For Friday's Game
1. A New Season, A Clean Slate
Gardner-Webb will look to build on its third consecutive winning season after posting a 20-15 overall record last year, and earning its second postseason bid in three years with a berth in the Collegiate Basketball Invitational. The Runnin' Bulldogs return four of their top seven scorers and two of their top five rebounders from last season, and with six promising newcomers in the fold as well, Gardner-Webb is poised to make a push for the Big South Championship this coming spring.
2. Senior Leadership
The Runnin' Bulldogs will have a bevy of veteran presence on the court this season, bringing five players back for their senior campaigns - all of whom are expected to log significant minutes. Harold McBride, Adonis Burbage, Isaiah Ivey, Dylan Poston and Herve Aholode each saw plenty of game time last season, with four of the five averaging at least 13 minutes per game as the group combined for just under 25 points per game.
3. Craft Era Hits Year Three
Tim Craft enters his third season at the helm of the Gardner-Webb men's basketball program, having led the Runnin' Bulldogs to 38 wins over the past two years. A former assistant with the Runnin' Bulldogs in the mid-2000's, Crafted guided Gardner-Webb to a 20-15 mark last season, including a berth in the Big South semifinals as a No. 7 seed and a trip to the Collegiate Basketball Invitational.
4. Fierce Front Court
Junior Tyrell Nelson will have big shoes to fill this season as the face of the program and the leader of a new-look front court for Gardner-Webb, entering his third year in the Red & Black as the team's top returning scorer and rebounder with averages of 13.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last season. He will be joined in the front court rotation by senior Herve Aholode, sophomore L'Hassane Niangane, and freshmen Brandon Miller and DJ Laster - a group that combines both size and strength with high energy and athleticism to form the backbone of the defense for Gardner-Webb.
5. Taking a Look at Iowa
Iowa has been tabbed by many pundits to take a significant leap forward from last season, a term in which the Hawkeyes finished tied for third in the Big Ten with a 12-6 conference record. The Hawkeyes would advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, defeating Davidson in the first round before falling to Gonzaga, 87-68.
