Burning question: Can Cedrick Williams keep it going? Kevin Keatts has been predicting a breakout game from Williams for weeks, and it finally happened Saturday in the form of 22 points and 14 rebounds. It was his first double-digit scoring night since Dec. 3. Now the senior forward has to back it up. Williams was active on both ends, showing an enthusiasm has been largely missing from his game this season. ?I feel like that was my breakout game,? Williams said. ?I just let it come naturally to me. I played with a lot more energy, fed off the crowd a lot. Just gotta keep doing what I did to get to that point.? This seems like another good situation for Williams. Elon doesn?t play anyone taller than 6-foot-8. If he can stay aggressive and attack, he should be able to find the points around the hoop he?s been sorely missing this season. He can hit those midrange jumpers, but he can?t live off them alone.
Star watch: Freshman guard Elijah Bryant. The 6-foot-4 guard from Georgia has been instant offense off the bench for the Phoenix. He leads the team, averaging 13.8 points in just 22 minutes per game. (That makes him the highest scoring freshman in the conference.) He?s shooting once every two minutes he?s on the floor. Coach Matt Matheny gave Bryant his first career start Saturday and it didn?t go great. The freshman picked up a couple of early fouls and only played 17 minutes. It will be interesting to see if he goes back to the reserve role or stays in the starting lineup. He?s got the look a big-time CAA player, explosive enough to get to the rim with enough range to keep the defense honest. (He?s already shot 106 free throws.) He has, however, been far from perfect. He?s averaging 3.5 turnovers to 2.5 assists per game. UNCW ? the CAA leader in steals ? will try to pressure him into mistakes.
Stat check: 71.3. That?s Elon?s average possessions per 40 minutes. It means the Phoenix doesn?t mind pushing the pace. That figure ranks second in the CAA behind Hofstra. It also means this one could be fun. UNCW has run into a few teams already that like to slow it down and keep the score low. The Seahawks aren?t entirely comfortable playing that way. (And Keatts doesn?t want to coach that way, which is why he?s tried to speed them up with his press.) That won?t be a problem here. Both teams are in the top third of the CAA in scoring offense and bottom third in scoring defense. Elon has had trouble in the grind-it-out games, which explains two losses to Towson. The Phoenix snapped a four-game losing streak on Saturday with a 92-84 win over Delaware. The Seahawks haven?t hit 80 since their loss at Minnesota on Dec. 27, but that streak could end here.
Et cetera: UNCW has won three straight games and six of seven to get to the top of the CAA standings. This is the 12th all-time meeting between the in-state foes but first since Elon joined the CAA on July 1, 2014. ? UNCW will unveil its new athletics logo prior to the game. ? UNCW?s last seven CAA games have been decided by seven points or fewer. ? Freddie Jackson is questionable with a sprained right ankle. UNCW?s leading scorer hasn?t practiced this week. He sustained the injury late in Saturday?s win over Towson. He was already dealing with a sore left ankle. ?I just think he?s had a bunch of bad luck,? Keatts said. ? Center Yemi Makanjuola remains out for personal reasons.
Last word: Elon would seem to be a good matchup for Jackson. The 6-foot-4 guard has thrived getting to the basket against smaller opponents. Williams isn?t worried, though, if the Seahawks have to figure it out without their hometown star, at least for a game or two. ?I feel like we have enough players to pick up the slack. We?re still deep enough to still play the style of play that we want to without Fred. Of course we want him back as soon as possible, but if we?re unfortunate not to get him back (against Elon), I have faith in my teammates to pick up the slack.?
Star watch: Freshman guard Elijah Bryant. The 6-foot-4 guard from Georgia has been instant offense off the bench for the Phoenix. He leads the team, averaging 13.8 points in just 22 minutes per game. (That makes him the highest scoring freshman in the conference.) He?s shooting once every two minutes he?s on the floor. Coach Matt Matheny gave Bryant his first career start Saturday and it didn?t go great. The freshman picked up a couple of early fouls and only played 17 minutes. It will be interesting to see if he goes back to the reserve role or stays in the starting lineup. He?s got the look a big-time CAA player, explosive enough to get to the rim with enough range to keep the defense honest. (He?s already shot 106 free throws.) He has, however, been far from perfect. He?s averaging 3.5 turnovers to 2.5 assists per game. UNCW ? the CAA leader in steals ? will try to pressure him into mistakes.
Stat check: 71.3. That?s Elon?s average possessions per 40 minutes. It means the Phoenix doesn?t mind pushing the pace. That figure ranks second in the CAA behind Hofstra. It also means this one could be fun. UNCW has run into a few teams already that like to slow it down and keep the score low. The Seahawks aren?t entirely comfortable playing that way. (And Keatts doesn?t want to coach that way, which is why he?s tried to speed them up with his press.) That won?t be a problem here. Both teams are in the top third of the CAA in scoring offense and bottom third in scoring defense. Elon has had trouble in the grind-it-out games, which explains two losses to Towson. The Phoenix snapped a four-game losing streak on Saturday with a 92-84 win over Delaware. The Seahawks haven?t hit 80 since their loss at Minnesota on Dec. 27, but that streak could end here.
Et cetera: UNCW has won three straight games and six of seven to get to the top of the CAA standings. This is the 12th all-time meeting between the in-state foes but first since Elon joined the CAA on July 1, 2014. ? UNCW will unveil its new athletics logo prior to the game. ? UNCW?s last seven CAA games have been decided by seven points or fewer. ? Freddie Jackson is questionable with a sprained right ankle. UNCW?s leading scorer hasn?t practiced this week. He sustained the injury late in Saturday?s win over Towson. He was already dealing with a sore left ankle. ?I just think he?s had a bunch of bad luck,? Keatts said. ? Center Yemi Makanjuola remains out for personal reasons.
Last word: Elon would seem to be a good matchup for Jackson. The 6-foot-4 guard has thrived getting to the basket against smaller opponents. Williams isn?t worried, though, if the Seahawks have to figure it out without their hometown star, at least for a game or two. ?I feel like we have enough players to pick up the slack. We?re still deep enough to still play the style of play that we want to without Fred. Of course we want him back as soon as possible, but if we?re unfortunate not to get him back (against Elon), I have faith in my teammates to pick up the slack.?
