2008 Woodie Awards
UNC Asheville Advances to Semifinals
The Four Horsemen: Smithson, Garland, Williams and James
Ben Smith
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Big South Conference
After rattling out a 15-foot jumper early in the first half, John Williams brought his range closer to the basket. He dunked five times for 11 points in the Bulldogs' 87-63 rout of Charleston Southern.
The win pits first placed UNC Asheville (22-8) against No. 4 Liberty on Thursday at the Justice Center.
"It's definitely tournament time," said Head Coach Biedenbach. "I've been doing this for a long, long time and I don't get real excited or nervous. I was tonight."
Williams' pension for creative finishes made him a fan favorite. Three students named the redshirt freshman their favorite Bulldog after the game.
"John Williams is the most athletic player in the Big South Conference," said senior environmental science student Jeff Stewart. "I love watching him dunk and rebound."
The win came on the backs of seniors K.J. Garland and Bryan Smithson. Garland dished out eight assists and scored 13 points. Smithson dropped 22 points.
"We've been lucky to have these two guys on and off the court," Biedenbach said while sitting between Smithson and Garland during the press conference. "We've never been better than the second half of last season and this year and it's because of them."
Smithson has battled back from a planter fasciitis foot injury, which left him on cruches and sidelined against High Point during the Bulldogs' four game loosing skid.
Coming back has taken "a lot of hours in the training room, my teammates support, coach being patient with me in practice and listening to me when I tell him enough is enough," Smithson said. "It's really been great to have a team and staff that understands my situation. I think that helps me get back even quicker and right on the ball."
Smithson said he's not fully recovered yet, but a conference season of Big South bumps has leveled the playing field.
"Everybody has nicks and cuts and bruises and sprains," he said. "It's the time you ball up and it's something that I've got to do for my team."
Charleston Southern (10-20) trailed by 11 at the half but bounced back early in the second. Omar Carter and Chris Moore made good on two threes to narrow the lead to 50-45 with 13:36 remaining.
After the two teams exchanged baskets, Williams responded with a dunk and three players followed with 3-pointers of their own. Garland capped the run with a fadeaway buzzer beater which left the crowd reeling.
UNCA never trailed by less than 14 points for the rest of the game.
The runaway lead gave Bulldog starters an opportunity to rest and the second string a chance to shine.
Rashad Gill came in the game with less than a minute left, but made one of the night's most memorable moves.
Gill snatched a high rebound off a 3-point miss by Jason Ridenhour and slammed it home in one fluid motion over two Charleston Southern defenders.
"That was very impressive," Garland said. "I haven't seen anything like that all year with a follow-up dunk."
The win came without a major contribution from Kenny George who went 0-4 from the floor. Prior to Tuesday, George led the nation in field goal percentage with 71.3 percent.
George sunk all four of his free throws.
"When you hit four free throws in that situation, it's remarkable," Biedenbach said. "What he does night after night. Those guys lean on him and push on him and he's no Shaquille O'Neill with that 'hack-a-Shaq' thing. I just pray that he doesn't loose it one night because he's gonna take someone's head off."
George's outing marked his second straight lackluster performance in the Big South Tournament. In the Bulldogs' elimination game against Winthrop last year, George went 1-5 from the field.
"I think you've got to give it to him," Biedenbach said. "Kenny is Kenny and he's the most remarkable player I've ever had."
The Bulldogs look to advance to the finals for the first time since their 2003 championship season on Thursday against Liberty (16-15). The Bulldogs downed Liberty at home earlier this season but fell to the Flames by 29 points on Feb. 9.
UNCA just has to play like themselves to win, Garland said.
"We didn't play well the last time we played Liberty," he said. "We didn't know how to play from behind so we had to do some things we weren't accustomed to and it got away from us. We just have to play like ourselves and it'll be a close game."
The win pits first placed UNC Asheville (22-8) against No. 4 Liberty on Thursday at the Justice Center.
"It's definitely tournament time," said Head Coach Biedenbach. "I've been doing this for a long, long time and I don't get real excited or nervous. I was tonight."
Williams' pension for creative finishes made him a fan favorite. Three students named the redshirt freshman their favorite Bulldog after the game.
"John Williams is the most athletic player in the Big South Conference," said senior environmental science student Jeff Stewart. "I love watching him dunk and rebound."
The win came on the backs of seniors K.J. Garland and Bryan Smithson. Garland dished out eight assists and scored 13 points. Smithson dropped 22 points.
"We've been lucky to have these two guys on and off the court," Biedenbach said while sitting between Smithson and Garland during the press conference. "We've never been better than the second half of last season and this year and it's because of them."
Smithson has battled back from a planter fasciitis foot injury, which left him on cruches and sidelined against High Point during the Bulldogs' four game loosing skid.
Coming back has taken "a lot of hours in the training room, my teammates support, coach being patient with me in practice and listening to me when I tell him enough is enough," Smithson said. "It's really been great to have a team and staff that understands my situation. I think that helps me get back even quicker and right on the ball."
Smithson said he's not fully recovered yet, but a conference season of Big South bumps has leveled the playing field.
"Everybody has nicks and cuts and bruises and sprains," he said. "It's the time you ball up and it's something that I've got to do for my team."
Charleston Southern (10-20) trailed by 11 at the half but bounced back early in the second. Omar Carter and Chris Moore made good on two threes to narrow the lead to 50-45 with 13:36 remaining.
After the two teams exchanged baskets, Williams responded with a dunk and three players followed with 3-pointers of their own. Garland capped the run with a fadeaway buzzer beater which left the crowd reeling.
UNCA never trailed by less than 14 points for the rest of the game.
The runaway lead gave Bulldog starters an opportunity to rest and the second string a chance to shine.
Rashad Gill came in the game with less than a minute left, but made one of the night's most memorable moves.
Gill snatched a high rebound off a 3-point miss by Jason Ridenhour and slammed it home in one fluid motion over two Charleston Southern defenders.
"That was very impressive," Garland said. "I haven't seen anything like that all year with a follow-up dunk."
The win came without a major contribution from Kenny George who went 0-4 from the floor. Prior to Tuesday, George led the nation in field goal percentage with 71.3 percent.
George sunk all four of his free throws.
"When you hit four free throws in that situation, it's remarkable," Biedenbach said. "What he does night after night. Those guys lean on him and push on him and he's no Shaquille O'Neill with that 'hack-a-Shaq' thing. I just pray that he doesn't loose it one night because he's gonna take someone's head off."
George's outing marked his second straight lackluster performance in the Big South Tournament. In the Bulldogs' elimination game against Winthrop last year, George went 1-5 from the field.
"I think you've got to give it to him," Biedenbach said. "Kenny is Kenny and he's the most remarkable player I've ever had."
The Bulldogs look to advance to the finals for the first time since their 2003 championship season on Thursday against Liberty (16-15). The Bulldogs downed Liberty at home earlier this season but fell to the Flames by 29 points on Feb. 9.
UNCA just has to play like themselves to win, Garland said.
"We didn't play well the last time we played Liberty," he said. "We didn't know how to play from behind so we had to do some things we weren't accustomed to and it got away from us. We just have to play like ourselves and it'll be a close game."
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