Inside the Numbers: #7 Charleston Southern vs. #2 Asheville, Big South Quarterfinals

 

Asheville forward Kam Taylor is captured in the middle of a windmill dunk in Friday's quarterfinal victory. (Photo:  Big South Conference)

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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Charleston Southern coach Saah Nimley – himself a legend as a Buc player and now their coach – walked onto the podium after Friday’s quarterfinal against Asheville, looked at the table, and spoke volumes in three words.

“That was tough.”

Asheville reversed course Friday night. Its prior largest win in conference play was nine points – until the Big South quarterfinals. The Bulldogs turned a once-close contest into a 20-point blowout on the strength of ball security, great shooting, and suffocating defense.

You now know that Asheville claimed an 80-60 victory – now, let’s find out how they did so as we go…Inside the Numbers!

• To call Asheville’s big victory uncharacteristic would be quite the understatement. The Bulldogs led by just six at the interval as Charleston Southern shot 48.3 percent in the opening 20. After Daylen Berry snipped the CSU deficit to four with a bucket to start the second half, Asheville went on a nearly immediate, 10-0 run that helped put away the game. More on that run in a minute, but first, some words from Asheville coach Mike Morrell on the result.

“I thought we had the three best days of practice that we've had all year,” Morrell said. “That doesn't guarantee you anything, but if you don't do that, I can guarantee you what the other result will be.”

“We haven't blown anybody out this year and I I don't know that that's as much on us as it is that this is the deepest in the best of league as it’s been in my seven years (at Asheville) and I really don't think it's close.” 

• Regarding that key segment, Morrell commented after the game on its importance. After a brief stoppage, Charleston Southern ran a quick ATO and passed up on its first read – whether this was something Asheville blew up or the design was to go to the second look could not be determined – choosing instead to kick to Berry for a triple. Berry’s look spun away and Asheville boarded the miss, spraying ahead to Fletcher Abee for a deep corner triple that extended the Bulldog lead to 12 and induced a Charleston Southern timeout.

“That was a really good read by (guard Jordan) Marsh,” Morrell said. “That’s something we talk about a lot. I wish we did more of that – getting the ball ahead in transition. One of the reasons we probably can’t do it as much is that I probably play Fletcher too many minutes and he’s so damn tired that he has a hard time getting down the court.”

“That was a big sequence. The other big sequence was when (forward) Toyaz (Solomon) made a really good read off a side out of bounda play that was really an option for him or Fletcher. He decided to give it to Fletch and Fletch hit a big three there.”

• Asheville absolutely suffocated Charleston Southern in the second half, but the defensive effort in the first half also helped tell the story. The Bulldogs logged 25 first-half deflections, which forced the Bucs out of their comfort zone. CSU shot just 33.3 percent (9-for-27) in the closing 20, adding just 25 percent (3-for-12) from deep. The Bucs also missed five free throws in 12 tries in the period.
  
  
• That defense led to one of the more interesting tempo numbers of the night. Asheville cashed 20 points off 16 Buccaneer turnovers but surrendered just three points off its eight miscues. Which number was more important? Let’s ask Solomon and Marsh.

“Definitely the 20 off their turnovers, because we had a season-high of deflections in the first half,” Solomon said. “That’s pretty big. We converted (on those turnovers).”

“Coach Morrell is on us – mainly me and Toyaz – about defense,” Marsh added. “We just want to keep playing. This group is too good. We just have to stay strong and keep playing for each other.”

Leave it to Morrell to finish that response with a joke.

“20 points leads mostly to their points, so obviously they’re going to choose those.”

• The game marked the final in the storied career of Charleston Southern forward and Player of the Year Taje’ Kelly. There are probably few more qualified to comment on Kelly’s legacy at CSU than Nimley. 

“It’s hard to put into words,” Nimley said. “Taje’ – he reminds you of what’s right about college basketball, even with all the changes going on – extra years, money, transferring – he reminds you of what’s right about it. Regardless of how his career went, wins- and losses-wise, there’s not a doubt that he’s one of the best players to ever play here and has had one of the best individual careers. He’ll be cemented in that because of his loyalty. If you track (his career) year-by-year, he’s the definition of development. This is a kid that, moving forward, has set the table for who we’re going to be.”

Morrell also weighed in on Kelly’s legacy.

“I told Taje’ this – I think he’s the best player in the league outside of (Drew) Pember in just how hard he is to guard. I give him so much credit for – I was at Charleston Southern for a year and I obviously know that place really well – I give him so much credit for staying there for four years and being just a great player. I guarantee you when he gets to my age -- which is 42 -- he will remember that way more. He is just a great player. I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that.”

Solomon led all scorers with 21 for Asheville, connecting on 10-of-11 tries from the deck and grabbing five boards. Marsh added 20, hitting nine shots, grabbing six boards, and dishing six helpers. Abee contributed 16, hitting 5-of-7 from deep. Josh Banks finished with 11.

Three Bucs finished in doubles. Kelly and Anthony Gause notched 11 apiece, while RJ Johnson finished with 10. 

Quick tempo numbers:

Asheville:  1.231 PPP (65 trips), 56.9% scores, 12.3% turns, 54.1% shooting (33-61), 43.8% three-point shooting (7-16), 58.3% free throw shooting (7-12)

Charleston Southern:  .923 PPP (65 trips), 41.5% scores, 24.6% turns, 41.1% shooting (23-56), 25% three-point shooting (6-24), 61.5% free throw shooting (8-13)

Asheville improves to 20-10 and will square off with the winner of sixth-seeded Longwood and third-seeded Winthrop in Saturday’s second semifinal. Tip time is approximately 2:30 (Eastern), with streaming coverage over ESPN+. Charleston Southern finishes its season with a 10-22 record.