2021–22 UNC Asheville Bulldogs men's basketball team
{{short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
|CoachRank =
|APRank =
|year = 2021–22
|team = UNC Asheville Bulldogs
|sport = basketball
|image = UNC Asheville Bulldogs wordmark.png
|image_size = 250
|logo =
|logo_size = 200
|conference = Big South Conference
|division = South Division
|short_conf = Big South
|record = 17–15
|conf_record = 8–8
|head_coach = Mike Morrell
|hc_year = 4th
|asst_coach1 = Neil Dixon
|asst_coach2 = Woody Taylor
|asst_coach3 = Justin Levine
|stadium = Kimmel Arena
|champion =
|tourney= CBI
|tourney_result = Quarterfinals
}}
{{2021–22 Big South men's basketball standings}}
The 2021–22 UNC Asheville Bulldogs men's basketball team represented the University of North Carolina at Asheville in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bulldogs, led by fourth-year head coach Mike Morrell, played their home games at Kimmel Arena in Asheville, North Carolina, as members of the Big South Conference. With the reintroduction of divisions for the first time since the 2013–14 season, the Bulldogs played in the South division.{{cite web|url=https://bigsouthsports.com/news/2021/9/15/big-south-announces-2021-22-mens-basketball-league-schedule.aspx|title=Big South Announces 2021-22 Men's Basketball League Schedule|work=Big South Conference|access-date=October 27, 2021|language=en}} They finished the regular season 16–13, 8–8 in Big South play which resulted in a fourth place in the South division. As the No. 5 seed in the Big South tournament, they lost to Charleston Southern in the first round.
The Bulldogs participated in the College Basketball Invitational as a No. 13 seed, where they defeated No. 4 Stephen F. Austin in the first round before losing to No. 12 Northern Colorado in the quarterfinals.
Previous season
In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Bulldogs finished the 2020–21 season 10–10, 9–5 in Big South play to finish in fourth place. They were defeated by Longwood in the quarterfinals of the Big South tournament.{{cite web|url=https://uncabulldogs.com/news/2021/3/1/mens-basketball-returns-after-layoff-falls-in-big-south-quarterfinals.aspx|title=Men's basketball returns after layoff, falls in Big South Quarterfinals|work=UNC Asheville Athletics|access-date=October 27, 2021|language=en}}
Preseason
The Bulldogs were picked to finish in second place in the South division in a preseason poll.{{cite web |title=Campbell, Winthrop Earn Top Spot in 2021-22 Men's Basketball Preseason Polls |url=https://bigsouthsports.com/news/2021/10/19/campbell-winthrop-earn-top-spot-in-2021-22-mens-basketball-preseason-polls.aspx |website=Big South Sports |access-date=7 January 2022}} The team returned six of their top seven scorers from the prior season, including guard Tajion Jones who entered the season as the Big South's active leader in career points (1,058).{{cite web |title=2021-22 Big South Media Guide |url=https://bigsouthsports.com/documents/2021/11/9//2021_22_Basketball_Media_Guide.pdf}}
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header|year=2021|team=UNC Asheville Bulldogs|teamcolors=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Trent|last=Stephney|num=0|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=170|class=jr|rs=|home=Knoxville, Tennessee}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jamon|last=Battle|num=1|pos=F|ft=6|in=5|lbs=210|class=jr|rs=|home=Richmond, Virginia}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=LJ|last=Thorpe|num=2|pos=F|ft=6|in=5|lbs=215|class=sr|rs=y|home=West Palm Beach, Florida}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Tajion|last=Jones|num=3|pos=G|ft=6|in=5|lbs=190|class=jr|rs=y|home=Oak Ridge, Tennessee}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Martin|last=Kawa|num=4|pos=G|ft=6|in=3|lbs=185|class=fr|rs=|home=Stafford, Virginia}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Silas|last=Mason|num=5|pos=F|ft=6|in=7|lbs=185|class=so|rs=|home=Greensboro, North Carolina}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Evan|last=Clayborne|num=10|pos=F|ft=6|in=6|lbs=228|class=gs|rs=|home=Dayton, Ohio}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=BJ|last=Marable|num=11|pos=F|ft=6|in=9|lbs=230|class=so|rs=|home=Knoxville, Tennessee}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Quay|last=Kimble|num=13|pos=G|ft=5|in=10|lbs=165|class=gs|rs=|home=Shelby, North Carolina}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Luke|last=Lawson|num=14|pos=F|ft=6|in=7|lbs=180|class=sr|rs=|home=Coeburn, Virginia}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Dean|last=Gabrelcik|num=15|pos=G|ft=6|in=4|lbs=205|class=fr|rs=|home=East Lake, Florida}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jordan|last=Hairston|num=21|pos=G|ft=6|in=0|lbs=160|class=so|rs=|home=Centreville, Virginia}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Coty|last=Jude|num=22|pos=F|ft=6|in=9|lbs=190|class=sr|rs=|home=Fort Gay, West Virginia}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Deacon|last=Heath|num=30|pos=G|ft=6|in=0|lbs=170|class=sr|rs=|home=Banner Elk, North Carolina}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Drew|last=Pember|link=y|num=55|pos=F|ft=6|in=10|lbs=190|class=jr|rs=|home=Knoxville, Tennessee}}
{{CBB roster/Footer
|head_coach=
- Mike Morrell ({{college|Milligan}})
|asst_coach=
- Neil Dixon ({{college|West Virginia}})
- Woody Taylor ({{college|Eckerd}})
- Justin Levine ({{college|Ithaca}})
|roster_url=https://uncabulldogs.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/2021-22
|accessdate=October 27, 2021
}}
Schedule and results
During the non-conference half of the season, the Bulldogs used a balanced attack (Tajion Jones, Drew Pember, and LJ Thorpe all averaging 10-15 points per game) to begin the conference half with the best record in either division of the Big South.{{cite web |title=Big South Conference Statistics |url=http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/conferences/statistics/player/_/id/6/stat/scoring-per-game |access-date=6 January 2022 |website=ESPN.com}}{{CBB schedule start|attend=yes}}
|-
!colspan=12 style={{NCAA color cell|UNC Asheville Bulldogs}}| Non-conference regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 9, 2021
| time = 7:30 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = UAB
| site_stadium = Bartow Arena
| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL
| tv = CUSAtv
| score = 77–102
| attend = 2,923
| record = 0–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 11, 2021
| time = 6:30 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Brevard
| site_stadium = Kimmel Arena
| site_cityst = Asheville, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 101–44
| attend = 1,290
| record = 1–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 14, 2021
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Chattanooga
| site_stadium = McKenzie Arena
| site_cityst = Chattanooga, TN
| gamename = Coke Zero Sugar Classic
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 45-75
| attend = 2,250
| record = 1–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 18, 2021
| time = 6:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| neutral = yes
| opponent = Tennessee Tech
| site_stadium = McKenzie Arena
| site_cityst = Chattanooga, TN
| gamename = Coke Zero Sugar Classic
| tv =
| score = 61–55
| attend = 412
| record = 2–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 23, 2021
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = North Carolina
| site_stadium = Dean Smith Center
| site_cityst = Chapel Hill, NC
| tv = ACCNX
| score = 53–72
| attend = 15,710
| record = 2–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 28, 2021
| time = 4:30 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = St. Andrews
| site_stadium = Kimmel Arena
| site_cityst = Asheville, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 106–36
| attend = 659
| record = 3–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 1, 2021
| time = 6:30 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = The Citadel
| site_stadium = Kimmel Arena
| site_cityst = Asheville, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 65–58
| attend = 751
| record = 4–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 4, 2021
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = North Carolina Central
| site_stadium = Kimmel Arena
| site_cityst = Asheville, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 82–66
| attend = 580
| record = 5–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 8, 2021
| time = 6:30 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Chattanooga
| site_stadium = Kimmel Arena
| site_cityst = Asheville, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 73–78
| attend = 405
| record = 5–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 11, 2021
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Western Carolina
| site_stadium = Ramsey Center
| site_cityst = Cullowhee, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 73–72
| attend = 2,418
| record = 6–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 14, 2021
| time = 8:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = UT Martin
| site_stadium = Skyhawk Arena
| site_cityst = Martin, TN
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 68–79
| attend = 1,041
| record = 6–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 18, 2021
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = East Tennessee State
| site_stadium = Kimmel Arena
| site_cityst = Asheville, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 79–64
| attend = 767
| record = 7–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 21, 2021
| time = 6:30 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Milligan
| site_stadium = Kimmel Arena
| site_cityst = Asheville, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 114–54
| attend = 641
| record = 8–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 29, 2021
| time = 7:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Indiana
| site_stadium = Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall
| site_cityst = Bloomington, IN
| tv = BTN
| score =
| attend =
| record =
| status = c
| result_details = Canceled due to COVID-19 protocols
}}
|-
!colspan=12 style={{NCAA color cell|UNC Asheville Bulldogs}}| Big South regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 5, 2022
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Campbell
| site_stadium = Gore Arena
| site_cityst = Buies Creek, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 60–54
| attend = 0
| record = 9–5
| conference = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 8, 2022
| time = 4:30 pm
| opponent = Charleston Southern
| site_stadium = Kimmel Arena
| site_cityst = Asheville, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 82–59
| attend = 175
| record = 10–5
| conference = 2–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 12, 2022
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Winthrop
| site_stadium = Winthrop Coliseum
| site_cityst = Rock Hill, SC
| tv = ESPNU
| score = 80–86
| overtime = OT
| attend = 1,698
| record = 10–6
| conference = 2–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 15, 2022
| time = 2:00 pm
| opponent = USC Upstate
| site_stadium = Kimmel Arena
| site_cityst = Asheville, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 73–76
| attend = 85
| record = 10–7
| conference = 2–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 19, 2022
| time = 6:30 pm
| opponent = North Carolina A&T
| site_stadium = Kimmel Arena
| site_cityst = Asheville, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 71–73
| attend = 441
| record = 10–8
| conference = 2–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 22, 2022
| time = 2:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Radford
| site_stadium = Dedmon Center
| site_cityst = Radford, VA
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 78–74
| overtime = OT
| attend = 1,181
| record = 11–8
| conference = 3–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 27, 2022
| time = 6:30 pm
| opponent = Gardner–Webb
| site_stadium = Kimmel Arena
| site_cityst = Asheville, NC
| tv = ESPNU
| score = 55–61
| attend = 614
| record = 11–9
| conference = 3–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 29, 2022
| time = 4:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Presbyterian
| site_stadium = Templeton Physical Education Center
| site_cityst = Clinton, SC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 68–67
| attend = 594
| record = 12–9
| conference = 4–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 2, 2022
| time = 6:30 pm
| opponent = Longwood
| site_stadium = Kimmel Arena
| site_cityst = Asheville, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 48–56
| attend = 507
| record = 12–10
| conference = 4–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 5, 2022
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = High Point
| site_stadium = Qubein Center
| site_cityst = High Point, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 83–91
| overtime = OT
| attend = 4,698
| record = 12–11
| conference = 4–6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 9, 2022
| time = 6:30 pm
| opponent = Hampton
| site_stadium = Kimmel Arena
| site_cityst = Asheville, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 69–53
| attend = 572
| record = 13–11
| conference = 5–6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 12, 2022
| time = 4:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = USC Upstate
| site_stadium = G. B. Hodge Center
| site_cityst = Spartanburg, SC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 83–56
| attend = 267
| record = 14–11
| conference = 6–6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 16, 2022
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Charleston Southern
| site_stadium = Buccaneer Field House
| site_cityst = North Charleston, SC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 85–66
| attend = 619
| record = 15–11
| conference = 7–6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 19, 2022
| time = 4:30 pm
| opponent = Winthrop
| site_stadium = Kimmel Arena
| site_cityst = Asheville, NC
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 79–84
| attend = 1,505
| record = 15–12
| conference = 7–7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 23, 2022
| time = 7:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Gardner–Webb
| site_stadium = Paul Porter Arena
| site_cityst = Boiling Springs, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 59–60
| attend = 687
| record = 15–13
| conference = 7–8
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 26, 2022
| time = 4:30 pm
| opponent = Presbyterian
| site_stadium = Kimmel Arena
| site_cityst = Asheville, NC
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 98–96
| overtime = OT
| attend = 1,691
| record = 16–13
| conference = 8–8
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|UNC Asheville Bulldogs}}| 2022 Big South Conference men's basketball tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 2, 2022
| time = 2:00 pm
| neutral = yes
| seed = 5
| opponent = Charleston Southern
| oppseed = 12
| site_stadium = Bojangles Coliseum
| site_cityst = Charlotte, NC
| gamename = First round
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 78–79
| attend =
| record = 16–14
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|UNC Asheville Bulldogs}}|2022 College Basketball Invitational
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 19, 2022
| time = 2:30 pm
| neutral = yes
| seed = 13
| opponent = Stephen F. Austin
| oppseed = 4
| site_stadium = Ocean Center
| site_cityst = Daytona Beach, FL
| gamename = First Round
| tv = FloSports
| score = 80–68
| attend = 588
| overtime =
| record = 17–14
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 21, 2022
| time = 3:30 pm
| neutral = yes
| seed = 13
| opponent = Northern Colorado
| oppseed = 12
| site_stadium = Ocean Center
| site_cityst = Daytona Beach, FL
| gamename = Quarterfinals
| tv = FloSports
| score = 84–87
| attend = 706
| overtime =
| record = 17–15
}}
{{CBB schedule end|rank=| poll=AP Poll|region=|regionname=|timezone=Eastern}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{UNC Asheville Bulldogs men's basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2021-22 UNC Asheville Bulldogs men's basketball team}}
Category:UNC Asheville Bulldogs men's basketball seasons
UNC Asheville Bulldogs men's basketball