After opening the week with a quality win over Bethune-Cookman and taking care of business in a midweek tune-up against Bob Jones, the Furman Paladins face their toughest test yet this season.

Northern Iowa rolls into Timmons Arena bringing a traditional, hard-nosed brand of basketball that will test Furman for all 40 minutes.

Scouting the Panthers

Northern Iowa comes to Greenville with plenty of respect as a high quality mid major, known historically for its suffocating defensive identity and discipline under Ben Jacobson. The Panthers are fundamentally sound, and boast a roster capable of slowing down tempo and turning games into half-court grinds.

For Furman, this matchup represents a chance at redemption. When these two programs met last season up in Cedar Falls, the offensive struggles were glaring… the Paladins shot just 39.3% from the field (22-of-56) and managed a dismal 4-of-30 (13.3%) from beyond the arc in a 70-54 defensive battle that kept them completely out of sync. Furman is going into this match shooting 50% from the field and 39% from three.

Building Momentum

This week has been all about finding rotation depth, and getting key contributors into a rhythm. Here’s an opportunity to put it together against one of the top mid major programs on your home court.

Playing three games in a compressed early-season window forces a team to rely on its entire bench. The valuable reps logged earlier in the week will pay massive dividends this afternoon when the legs get heavy and every possession becomes a high-stakes battle against a disciplined Missouri Valley Conference opponent. None of Furman’s starters played more than 17 minutes on Wednesday. We will need players like Johnston and Marcus Kell down the stretch to make key defensive stops and threaten the perimeter with their shooting ability.

Keys to Victory

1. Protecting the Perimeter and Taking Care of the Ball: Northern Iowa thrives on converting opponent mistakes into efficient offense. Limiting live-ball turnovers will be priority number one. UNI shot 27% from the outside in their opener against non D1 Cornell IA.

2. Inside Toughness: Charles Johnston and the front-court are going to have their hands full dealing with UNI’s physical interior defense and rebounding schemes. Establishing paint presence early is important especially if shots from outside aren’t falling.

3. Patience on Offense: You don’t rush against the Panthers. Taking high-percentage shots and avoiding empty possessions will keep the crowd into it and prevent UNI from dictating the tempo.

Tip-off is set for 5:00 PM at Timmons Arena. If you’re around Greenville, you don’t want to miss this solid early-season matchup between two strong mid-majors.

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Furman came into this game with the intent on spreading minutes around and building confidence in the young guys and newcomers. Although there’s not a ton we can learn from such a blowout, there are some things to note:

1. Tom House put up an effortless 17 points. It looked easy for Tom out there, as it should. He’s now 55% from three through two games, strongly contrasting his poor shooting start to last season.

2. Furman recorded only 3 turnovers. Yes it’s a D2 defense, but through three games in 2025-26, the Paladins turned it over 48 times, including 9 against their first D2 opponent. The ball control from Luka Toews and Cameron Elwer has been refreshing and Furman sits at only 13 turnovers through two games.

3. Cameron Elwer dished out 10 assists. Bob Richey mentioned multiple times that Elwer would see minutes as a freshman and he has looked ready. He did not shoot well from deep, but it will almost certainly round into form, he was a prolific shooter in high school.

4. Strong minutes from Jaxson Bell, Jordan Butler, and Jerrin Samuel. Of this three, only Jordan Butler played minutes against Bethune-Cookman but Bell and Samuel made solid Paladin debuts. Both will undoubtedly work themselves into the rotation for certain games. Samuel hit 3 of 4 from deep and Bell crashed the boards hard from the guard spot, picking up 8 rebounds.

5. Baba back on track. After a slow game one, Franklin looked more comfortable. He didn’t need to settle for threes, just got to the rim and even threw down an alley-oop. Statline: 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists.

6. Nikos minutes! Our new favorite Czech made his Furman debut. He’s raw and may take some time to adapt to the college game, but at 6’9 on the wing, Nikos has massive potential. He finished with 5 points and 6 rebounds.

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Monday night’s gritty opening-night game against Bethune-Cookman is already in the rearview mirror, but the Paladins have little time to catch their breath. Furman is back at Timmons Arena for a quick turnaround against Bob Jones University, serving up an ideal midweek tune-up before the schedule stiffens significantly this weekend.

Ramping Up Depth and Looking for Rhythm

While high-major season openers demand tight rotations and high-intensity minutes, tonight presents a valuable opportunity to expand the floor and test the depth of the roster. Bob Jones comes to town for an early-season matchup that gives the staff a chance to empty the bench, manage legs, and let different combinations find their footing.

Expect an emphasis on getting quality floor time for everyone from top to bottom. For players working to cement their spots in the early-season rotation. Particularly freshman guard Cameron Elwer, tonight is about finding clean looks, establishing offensive rhythm, and building chemistry.

Looking Ahead to Northern Iowa

The primary objective tonight is about offensive execution, defensive discipline, and keeping the entire roster sharp before Northern Iowa rolls into town this Saturday. Spreading out the minutes tonight ensures the core rotation stays fresh while building the foundational depth the Paladins will need when the competition level spikes over the weekend.

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Quick Takeaways from an opening day victory:

1. Best wishes to Bob Richey as he recovers from an illness. Pat Estepp performed admirably in his absence, picking up his first win as a head coach.

2. You can never complain about a win away from Timmons, especially against a team picked to go back to March Madness this season. It was a strong opening day performance.

3. Furman started out torching the nets from three. The Dins were heavily reliant on perimeter shooting early in the game, but it paid off. Furman shot 5-10 initially, and finished 12-31 (39%).

4. Welcome back House! Tom House, freshly eligible, picked up where he left off. He finished with 22 points, but got to the line throughout the night for 16 free throws.

5. The matchup: Bethune-Cookman was picked in the preseason to go back to back in the SWAC, and may be one of the better defenses Furman sees all season. Furman struggled shooting it in the paint, but they adapted as back cuts opened up late in the game.

6. Going stagnant: Bethune-Cookman made its run when Furman’s offense went stale and the threes stopped falling. Runs happen and one of Furman’s strengths this season is their offensive talent. The Dins have multiple outlets to create shots on the offensive end and don’t have to lean on anyone in particular to do the heavy lifting.

7. Kell’s clutch play: Marcus Kell embraced the moment when BC fought back to tie the game.

   At 50-50, he took the buried his man under the rim and forced it in.

   At 52-50, he hits an open transition three

   At 55-50 he again goes underneath and draws the foul

8. Luka Toews knew his role throughout the night. He handled the ball confidently against a ton of pressure, and held up on the defensive end. Toews finished with 7 assists and only 2 turnovers.

9. Furman only played 6 guys past the 13:40 mark in the second half. Obviously without Cole Bowser, there was less flexibility for lineups, but interestingly we did not see Jaxson Bell the entire night. Collin O’Neal played a pivotal role defensively and earned his spot in the five that closed the game.

10. Charles Johnston Player of the Year campaign? Chuck certainly looked like a leader on the court, both emotionally and on both ends. He’s back to his double-double ways, grabbing 11 rebounds. He was flaming hot from deep, finishing 6-of-9. At 75-70, he added in an old-fashioned three point play to seal the game with a putback and the free throw.

Stat leaders:

• Charles Johnston: 23 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 6-9 3PT.

• Tom House: 22 points, 3 rebounds, 12-16 from the line.

• Marcus Kell: 14 points, 3 rebounds

• Luka Toews: 8 points, 7 assists

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The wait is finally over, college basketball season is officially back!!

Entering the 2026–27 campaign, the Furman Paladins find themselves with the target on their backs as the consensus preseason pick to win the Southern Conference. Bob Richey’s squad earned 10 first-place votes in the preseason coaches poll, a nod to a roster that blends a seasoned frontcourt with an influx of high-impact backcourt talent. Before any conference title race takes shape, the Paladins have to return to a place where they took an Opening Day beating right out of the gate last season.

On Monday night, Furman opens its regular season against Bethune-Cookman at the Rock Hill Sports & Events Center as part of the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon.

Scouting the Wildcats

Monday’s opponent comes in riding its own wave of high expectations. Bethune-Cookman was selected to finish first in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) preseason poll, securing 181 points and 10 first-place votes after capturing the regular-season championship last year.

Head coach Reggie Theus has completely reloaded his conference title roster, bringing in 11 transfers alongside key returning forward Quentin Heady. The Wildcats’ revamped rotation features major Division I additions across the floor, including 6-foot-8 wing Kevin Patton Jr. (New Mexico), point guard Jameel Morris (Alcorn State), explosive wing Mari Jordan (Radford), and 7-foot center Melian Martinez (Louisiana Tech). This is a long, athletic, and experienced group that knows how to win. They’ll test Furman’s defensive discipline from the opening tip.

Furman Reloading

The core of Furman’s preseason hype centers on an intriguing mix of established veterans and crucial additions. Fifth-year guard Tom House has just gained his eligibility and will serve as another shooting threat for the Dins. Fifth-year forward Charles Johnston returns to anchor the interior after controlling the glass all last season, earning Preseason All-SoCon honors alongside fellow frontcourt standout Marcus Kell. Kell, a grad transfer from Western Carolina who poured in 13.6 points a game last year, gives the Paladins a league-tested scorer who fits right into Coach Richey’s system.

Meanwhile, the backcourt has undergone a makeover. With the loss of Alex Wilkins, Boston College transfer Luka Toews steps in as a primary orchestrator to run the offense, while Army transfer Jaxson Bell brings proven scoring to a perimeter rotation that also features returners like Abijah Franklin and Cole Bowser. Franklin has looked to pick up the scoring that his friend Wilkins left behind, averaging 20.7 points over the three exhibition games. Cameron Elwer comes in after breaking Lebron James’ high school scoring record in Ohio, and will undoubtedly receive consistent minutes as a freshman.

Keys to the Opener

1. Controlling the Pace: Abijah Franklin, Toews and Cameron Elwer will need to dictate tempo against an athletic, transfer-heavy Bethune-Cookman defense, limiting live-ball turnovers and generating clean looks early in the shot clock.

2. Inside-Out Balance: With Johnston and Kell drawing attention down low against BCU’s imposing front line (including 7-foot center Melian Martinez), opening up space for shooters will be critical to cracking the Wildcats’ defense.

3. Defensive Rebounding: Setting a physical tone on the defensive glass right from tip-off will neutralize Bethune-Cookman’s second-chance opportunities and allow Furman to get out and run. Furman has had no trouble grabbing rebounds in the preseason, but defense has been a major area of growth this offseason for the Paladins. Let’s see how they improved from the preseason scrimmages, to a live game opener.

November openers are usually about shaking off the rust, but pairing two defending preseason conference favorites on a neutral floor changes the math immediately. For Furman, it’s a high-stakes stress test right out of the gate against a veteran, transfer-loaded roster that will expose any early defensive leaks.

Tip-off from Rock Hill is set for 8:00 PM, giving the Paladins an immediate chance to show whether the preseason hype is earned.

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Go Dins!

The visit must have made an impression! Nolan Nelson, a 3-star recruit in the class of 2027 committed to the Paladins shortly after visiting campus late in August. Nelson is a big time pickup for Bob Richey, and is Furman’s second highest rated recruit ever according to 247sports.

Ranked 172nd in the nation, the 6’8 power forward had a final five of Florida, South Florida, Harvard, and Santa Clara in addition to the Dins. Nelson was recruited hard by former Furman associate head coach Jeremy Growe at USF while Santa Clara has produced NBA starters Jalen Williams and Brandin Podziemski in recent seasons. Ultimately, Nelson saw the value of development and atmosphere in a small school environment where he’d have the chance to cut down the nets each year. In an age where the big programs focus on the portal, the Paladins have been able to stack talent out of high school and put the renowned Furman development to work. Nolan Nelson is next.

Nelson is a big body that will have the opportunity to play right away. He averaged 13.5 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and just over a steal and a block per game last year. He’ll look to be a true stretch four: comfortable underneath while showcasing scoring from all three levels. Nolan has no trouble handling the ball when necessary, but doesn’t float around the perimeter. Instead, he pounds it inside, gets his man underneath the rim, and often finishes off with a dunk. Nelson clearly has a propensity for rebounding and still has his senior season and a Furman summer to build on an already collegiate ready frame. Defensively, he has the length to guard other bigs and should be able to switch onto the perimeter in certain situations.

Furman fans should be very excited about another outstanding freshman class that is on its way to campus. Click here to view a short highlight reel of Nelson.

When Kais Parris committed to the Paladins on August 12th, he knew he’d be following a familiar pipeline. Parris plays his high school ball for Pinewood Prep in Summerville, South Carolina, outside of Charleston. Observant Furman fans may recognize Pinewood as the program that produced fellow Charleston native and Furman legend, Jalen Slawson. Another Slawson, Brandon, is an assistant coach at Pinewood. The familiarity with the Dins could only have helped Parris feel more comfortable with his decision.

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Parris is a versatile forward with a powerful 6’7 frame. He averaged over 18 points and 2.7 assists per game while flashing moments of dominance defensively: he averaged 1.6 steals and 1.7 blocks along with 8.8 rebounds. Though Parris may come in as more of a project, he truly is a player in a similar mold of Jalen Slawson. His frame should allow him to put on some weight even in year 1 and give the Dins a big strong post presence. He can step out and shoot from time to time, but physicality on defense and his obvious talent for rebounding will be a valuable addition.

Comparisons aside, Kais Parris is built to be a Paladin through and through. He’s already been a helpful recruiter, taking his official visit with fellow 2027 recruit Nolan Nelson, who committed soon after.

Give him a follow on IG: @thekaiparris

Highlights below:

South Carolina transfer Jordan Butler committed to the Dins on Monday after a short trip up the road to campus. Furman was looking for a center so step into the void left by Cooper Bowser, and Butler more than fills the gap. Size was at a premium in the portal this offseason, and Butler brings a true big presence at 7 feet, 237 lbs. Butler began his career at Missouri (25 games played), before portaling to the Gamecocks and seeing time in 58 games.

Butler is from just down the road in Mauldin, South Carolina. After winning just 33 games in three years at two less than successful programs, Butler will join the defending SoCon champs who have won over 60 games in the same timeframe. Jordan will look to follow the path of Tom House, Asa Thomas, and many successful SoCon players who came in and produced after underwhelming years at high major programs.

Butler will play a true center role, not likely to shoot many threes, but Furman’s roster is already bristling with shooters to surround the big man. As an incoming senior, Butler will have one year of eligibility, pending the upcoming 5 year eligibility rules.

Jordan’s ‘25-26 season averages: 2.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, 77% FT.

Army transfer Jaxson Bell announced his commitment to the Furman Paladins over the weekend. After adding Jordan Lyons to the coaching staff from Navy, the Paladins grabbed one of Army’s top scorers from last season. Bell played 30 games and started 8, providing a scoring spark off the bench as the Black Knight’s second-leading scorer.

Hailing from Indianapolis, Bell will bring steady play and a shooting stroke at 35% from deep. Bell had multiple 20+ point games, scoring 19 and 11 against Furman opponents Manhattan and Harvard respectively. Bell will crash the boards from the guard spot, averaging 5 rebounds a game, including a game with 10 boards against the America East champs UMBC.

As an incoming junior, Bell will have two years of eligibility (pending the 5 in 5 ruling of course). He brings physicality and rim pressure on top of his shooting, and went 81% from the free throw line last season. Bell averaged 12.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 35% from three.

Boston College transfer Luka Toews has announced his commitment to the Furman Paladins after visiting campus early this week. The Dins were in the market for a point guard, and bring in one with high major experience. Toews played in 54 games in two years at BC, starting 20 last season.

Originally from Tokyo, Japan, Luka is a quick guard who can shoot it from deep, hitting at a 39% rate. Toews had double figure scoring nights in 8 games this season, including 21 against FDU.

As an incoming junior, Toews will have two years of eligibility and will be valuable for controlling the game in high-pressure moments. He averaged only 1.3 turnovers per game in the ACC.

Luka’s ‘25-26 season averages: 6.3 points, 1.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 39% 3PT.

Western Carolina transfer Marcus Kell has announced his commitment to the Furman Paladins after an on-campus visit during the first weekend of the open transfer portal. Bob Richey recruited Kell out of high school and will now have the chance to coach him in college.

Kell, a Rock Hill native, is a versatile forward who can score on all three levels and gets himself to the free throw line. Furman fans may be familiar with his performances against the Paladins, notably his 29 point, 8 rebound performance in February of 2025. Kell scored in double figures both times against the Dins this season, including 16 in the Catamounts overtime win at Timmons. Now, he’ll be doing it for the right shade of purple.

As a graduate transfer, Kell will be exempt from the SoCon in-conference transfer regulations and will be able to play immediately. He’ll have one year of eligibility.

Marcus was a preseason All-SoCon selection and averaged 13.6 points and 4.8 rebounds in ‘25-26. He struggled at times from three this year, but was a 38% shooter from beyond the arc in ‘24-25. Kell is a big early pickup and is likely to be preseason All-Conference once again.

The Paladins worked the portal and got four quality guys, who will all fight for starting spots. Take a look below for a recap on the outgoing guys and previews on the new portal pickups.

Outgoing Transfers

Unfortunately in this era, success means the high majors come calling to poach the best guys from the mid-major squads. Furman has really competitive NIL relative to the SoCon, but the money being thrown around at the top of the sport is really hard to compete with. Furman will lose its two top performers to the portal, Alex Wilkins and Cooper Bowser, both of whom will be getting 7 figure deals at high major schools. The Dins were able to table a competitive offer for Wilkins, but at the end of the day, you can’t tell a teenager and his family to pass up on the chance to make a life changing amount of money before even leaving school. Wilkins will have his pick of the litter which, in the end, reflects well on the program for getting an unranked guy into a position like that. Furman will also lose the services of Eddrin Bronson and Asa Thomas. Neither are likely to move to a high major, but for some guys a new environment is needed, and for Asa, he’ll have a chance to move closer to home if he chooses, after two years in the Upstate.

Returners

Furman has a lot to replace, losing its top 7 guys in minutes played. The strong freshman class from last season helps, with Cole Bowser, Abijah Franklin, Collin O’Neal, and Owen Ritger ready to jump in. Furman will also have Mason Smith and Davis Molnar returning after season ending injuries during the year. The Paladins have also signed two freshmen, Jerrin Samuel and Cameron Elwer, who will receive their chance to perform in year 1.

Past Portal Success

Furman has had a great track record with finding both immediate production and multi-year guys from the portal, especially from the D2 ranks. Bob Richey and his staff have brought in 7 transfers during the “Portal Era”, all who have been productive in different ways:

Conley Garrison (D2 Drury University): 9.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 42% 3PT

Carter Whitt (Wake Forest): 7.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals

PJay Smith (D2 Lee University): 17.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.6 steals, 41.6% 3PT

Nick Anderson (D2 Barry University): 14.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 39.5% 3PT

Tom House (Florida State): 8.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists

Asa Thomas (Clemson): 11.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 38% 3PT

Charles Johnston (D2 CSU Monterrey Bay): 9.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists

Commits

Marcus Kell (Western Carolina): Kell committed April 12th as the first commit in the cycle. A more in-depth look at him here:

Luka Toews (Boston College): Luka committed on April 15th after a visit to campus. He was a high major starter and brings lots of experience. More about him here:

Jaxson Bell (Army): Bell committed on April 26th. He was the second-leading scorer at Army and a great guard rebounder. More on him here:

Jordan Butler (South Carolina): Bell committed on April 27th after visiting campus. He’ll bring true 7 foot size to the interior. More on him here:

Coach Richey’s track record speaks for itself and we should see some great contributions from portal guys next year.

March Madness is Here!

Records are officially out the window. All that matters is putting together your best 40 minutes.

Dan Hurley is going to have the Huskies locked, loaded, and ready to make a run in the tournament. There’s no doubt the Huskies are a juggernaut, but Furman isn’t coming to Philly without giving their best against the UConn.

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The Sleeping Giant (Literally)

Most 15-seeds try to pull off upsets by playing small ball, shooting 40 threes, and praying for a miracle. Furman is different. This is the fifth tallest team in the entire country.

While UConn is known for its physicality, they haven’t frequently run into a mid-major that can actually look them in the eye. With Cooper Bowser (6’11”) and Charles Johnston (6’11”) in the paint, the Paladins have the legitimate length to disrupt UConn’s interior flow. Furman will have to avoid the trap of fouling UConn’s bigger bodies and use their wingspans to make those shots tougher. If Bowser and Johnston can neutralize the boards and prevent the Huskies from getting second-chance buckets, the tall task of an upset starts looking a lot more manageable.

Stopping Tarris Reed Jr.

The heart of UConn’s interior is Tarris Reed Jr., who has anchored their defense all year. However, Reed has a clear Achilles’ heel… foul trouble.

Reed is at his best when he can be aggressive, but when forced to defend mobile, high-IQ bigs like Bowser, he’s shown a tendency to pick up whistles early. If Johnston and Bowser can draw Reed into early fouls and force him to the bench, their defense changes. Without that rim protection, the floor opens up for Furman’s guards to attack the rim or find their rhythm from deep.

UConn has four other guys that average double digits including star point guard Silas Demary Jr., future lottery pick Braylon Mullins, and the steady senior Alex Karaban. Demary and Karaban shoot 38% and 40% from three respectively, and Mullins can go off at any time. Furman will need to use their length on the perimeter to help force misses, even on the great offensive sets run by Dan Hurley.

Hurley vs. Bob Richey

The coaches don’t play, but these two coaches impact the games as much as if they were out there in a jersey themselves. Hurley is known for his offensive sets and is a great motivator. When they need a shot, it seems like Karaban or Ball somehow get open. After all, the Lakers interviewed him for a reason! Bob Richey also runs some of the best offense in the country, with his adapted Princeton offense. The back cuts built into this offense will be ultra-important against high major teams who will be eager to jump onto passes on the perimeter. Bob has been calm on the sidelines this season, especially in Asheville. You never know, Furman may get the benefit of a technical from the fiery Dan Hurley.

Not A Normal 15 Seed

To understand why this game is dangerous for UConn, you have to look at why Furman is a 15-seed in the first place. This team spent the bulk of the year without their best players on the court, battling significant injuries while navigating a jam-packed, brutal SoCon schedule. At full strength, Furman dominated the SoCon Championship, and showed their elite size and depth when it mattered in a tournament situation.

Both offenses are incredibly complex, relying on elite movement and high basketball IQ, which usually favors the more experienced, cohesive unit. In a high-stakes environment like the NCAA Tournamant, that “battle-tested” mentality counts for more than a seed line.

The Forecast

At the end of the day, it comes down to the backcourt. If Alex Wilkins, Tom House, and Asa Thomas can hit their shots early and force UConn to stretch their defense, the Huskies will be in for a dogfight.

UConn is the favorite for a reason, and Furman may be outclassed in recruiting rankings. But this Furman squad that is finally healthy and playing with house money. If the Paladins can stick to the script, stay out of their own foul trouble, and lean into their height, Philly might just witness what makes March Madness so special.

The Dins are Dancing!

Your Furman Paladins are still the 2026 SoCon Champions! They’ll be looking to make another March memory and maybe, just maybe, bust some more brackets. After a week of celebration, it’s always fun to look back on the three day journey that got Furman into the Big Dance.

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Quarterfinals: Furman 86 - Samford 81

Some may not have been excited for a matchup with the Bulldogs who were one of the hottest teams coming into the tournament. Though Furman had already swept Samford, they came into the game winners of 9 of their last 10. On top of that Jadin Booth, the SoCon Player of the Year, was coming off of a 40 point, school record shooting performance. He looked like he might do it again, dropping 26 first half points.

The first half was nip and tuck with both teams shooting well and the defenses struggling. Furman shot over 65% from deep in half one. Coach Richey made a significant defensive adjustment, planting Cole Bowser on Booth at all times. When Bowser came out, Baba Franklin took his place. Both of them gave him absolutely no room to operate and held Booth to 8 points in the second half. Furman got 48 bench points, including Cooper Bowser, who gave up his starting spot for the good of the team and the opening matchups. Furman really utilized the size advantage, keeping the Samford front court to 14 points combined. Tom House seems to save his best games for Samford in the tournament, dropping 20 points and three threes. Wilkins scored 19 on an efficient 57%.

Despite some crazy threes going down in the final minutes from Samford, Furman made free throws down the stretch to close out a first round “upset”.

Semifinals: Furman 81 - UNCG 75

Well, this one was a stressor. The first half was uninspiring, with Neely running rampant inside and nothing going offensively. It was heading towards a poor offensive showing that Mike Jones has typically been able to force from the Paladins. At halftime, we knew it could go one of two ways: Furman lays down and takes a double digit loss or they get right back into it.

It was a 13-2 run with points from Wilkins, Bowser, and Thomas that got Furman back into the game. Alex went absolutely nuclear, dropping 26 second half points including four threes. He finished with 34. Much like the first meeting between the Spartans and Paladins, Furman closed the game by finding those open corner threes in the midst of a tough defense. Eddrin Bronson hit one of those, a clutch one, to go up 6 and fend off the Spartan comeback. Bronson played a lot of point guard, controlling the tempo and limiting possessions, while allowing Wilkins to work off the ball. More clutch free throws went down at the end of this one, for a Furman squad that had struggled tremendously from the charity stripe early in the year. The Dins shot 88%, including 6-6 from Bronson and 10-10 from Wilkins. On to the Championship.

Championship Game: Furman 76 - ETSU 61

The title game was the Cooper Bowser show. Bowser took the All-SoCon disrespect personally and went right at Defensive Player of the Year Cam Morris III. He scored 14 in the first half, including a stretch where he scored 10 of 12 en route to building a double digit first half lead.

Furman flipped the script on the league leaders, holding them to 3 of 16 from three. ETSU almost seemed hesitant to challenge Furman’s set defense and settled for a lot of setback midrange jumpers when they couldn’t get it inside. Furman also outshot ETSU at the free throw line, 80% to 56%.

The Dins got contributions from all over and controlled the game completely in the second half. Asa Thomas and Tom House had timely threes. Cole Bowser had a huge block and Wilkins provided a dagger steal and dunk during a 5 on 4 situation. Bronson controlled the tempo again, running ETSU out of time to comeback. It was a perfect all-around game from the entire rotation and even Thomas Tillman got some time on the court for Furman’s 8th SoCon title.

Big notes that led to Furman’s title run:

• Furman’s rebounding had been great all season. After Western dominated the boards in the final regular season game, it may have been a worry. But Furman had no such issue: The Dins out rebounded opponents on the tournament run by 18.

• Furman was a low 30% three point shooting team the whole season. In Asheville, they shot 44.7% as a team, averaging 10 threes per game.

• Free throw shooting was a struggle throughout the year. In two of the games, Jadin Booth and Lilian Marville kept the pressure on until the very end. The Paladins simply responded by going 81%, 88%, and 80% respectively in the three games.

At the end of it all, the Furman Paladins are SoCon Champions! Furman has now been to four tournament championships in 5 years and finished the job twice in 3 years. Up next, March Madness! Furman will find out who and where they play at 6:00 PM tonight.

Can the 6-Seed Be Furman’s Lucky Number?

There is no more room for “what-ifs.” After a regular-season finale where Furman stumbled against a scorching-hot Western Carolina squad, the Paladins (19-12, 10-8 SoCon) find themselves exactly where nobody expected them to be in November: the #6 seed.

But here is the strange, beautiful reality of the SoCon Tournament: the bracket might actually favor the underdog. By landing in the bottom half, Furman avoids a potential collision with the #1 seed until the championship game. To get there, they first have to go through a team they’ve already solved twice this year: the #3 seed Samford Bulldogs (18-13, 11-7 SoCon).

The Better Path

While falling to the 6-seed felt like a gut punch on Saturday, look at the matchups. If Furman handles business Saturday, they’ll likely face the winner of the Wofford vs UNCG/VMI matchup in the semifinals. This keeps them away from the top-seeded gauntlet on the other side of the bracket (ETSU, Mercer, and WCU). For a team that has struggled with consistency, having this path to Monday night is a massive advantage.

The Samford Rematch: 2-0 With a “Catch”

Furman swept the regular-season series against Samford, winning 77-73 in Birmingham and 78-73 in Greenville. You know what they say: “It’s hard to beat a team three times in the same season”. But here is the kicker: they did that without Cooper Bowser and Asa Thomas.

Think about that. Furman beat the #3 seed in the conference twice while missing two of their three best players.

• Alex Wilkins (17.3 PPG) had to play like a superhero in those games.

• Now, with Asa Thomas (13.1 PPG) back to space the floor and Cooper Bowser (13.6 PPG) shooting near 79% from the paint, the Paladins have a level of depth and size that Samford hasn’t had to defend yet.

SoCon POY

There’s no sugarcoating it: Jadin Booth is the most dangerous man in Asheville right now. The SoCon Player of the Year is coming off a 40-point masterpiece against UNCG to close the season. He is a bucket-getter in the purest sense.

The strategy for Bob Richey’s squad tonight has to be disciplined. You aren’t going to stop a guy like Booth from getting 20 or even 25. The goal is to make him a “volume scorer.” If he drops 35 but the rest of the Bulldogs are held in check, Furman wins. The Paladins cannot afford to let Samford’s secondary shooters get comfortable while they over-rotate on Booth.

War in the Paint: Johnston vs. Faulkner

If Furman wants to survive and advance, the rebounding effort against Western Carolina has to stay in the rearview mirror. Being out-rebounded was the “shock” of the finale, and it cannot happen against Samford’s interior.

Johnston is the key for defensive boards. He has to stay vertical and force Dylan Faulkner into tough, contested hooks. If Bowser and Johnston can win the battle of the boards, Furman’s guards will be unleashed. He had 30 rebounds combined in the previous 2 games vs. Samford

The Verdict: Now or Never

Last game was a “flush the tape” game. The losses down the stretch don’t matter if Furman can string together three wins in three days. They have the size, they finally have the health, and they have ability to be one of the best defensive teams in the league.

The offense works best when it’s moving. If Wilkins stays composed and the Paladins play with the defensive efficiency their depth now allows, the Dins will play deep later this weekend.

Final: Furman 72 - 51 The Citadel

Bob Richey reached a tremendous milestone in his coaching career, picking up his 200th win at Furman. Coach Richey’s resume includes high major wins at Louisville and defending champion Villanova to go along with the 2023 SoCon championship and the subsequent win over Virginia in March Madness. Bob has only lost to The Citadel three times since he began as a head coach, so it was only fitting that his 200th was against the squad from Charleston.

The Citadel fought hard, hanging in with the Paladins for the first half behind 17 first half points from Braxton Williams. Coming out with a purpose in the second, Furman shut down the Bulldogs and dominated in the paint. Let’s get some quick takeaways from the final home game of the season.

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1. Thank you Seniors! Ben Vander Wal, Tom House, Charles Johnston, and Thomas Tillman were all honored before the game. Vander Wal cut down the nets in 2023 and is surely hoping to help the others do the same this year.

2. The rebounds speak for themselves. The Dins used their size well, beating the Bulldogs on the glass by a whopping 30 rebound margin. The Citadel fought admirably in the first half, but could not withstand that dominance from Furman.

3. Charles Johnston was dominant with 13 rebounds. Another game where the bulk of his points came from inside or at the free throw line. Johnston went 0-3 from three, but was aggressive towards the rim, finishing with 13 points. He has not hit a three in three games, but has still been insistent on affecting the game by scoring. He has had 13 points in each of those games without a three.

4. Vander Wal’s final game looked like Vander Wal. He finished with 6 points, 7 rebounds (5 offensive), a steal and a block. His highlight moment was a huge alley-oop dunk followed by a late clock fadeaway jumper from the baseline. It seemed like Kobe or Dirk had stepped into Timmons for one play!

5. Wilkins looked in control this game. He floated in and out of his moments, focusing mainly on getting the ball inside to the bigs. He had 5 assists and only 6 shots.

6. Tom House forcing the issue. The threes weren’t falling tonight for Tom, but he forced the issue, getting into the paint and getting to the line. When threes aren’t going down for guys like Johnston and House, it is important they continue to drive and get fouled. Whistles can get tight in Asheville and it will be essential not to give away possessions with quick threes.

7. The defense stepped up! The defense shut The Citadel down in the second half, allowing only 20 points. Ed Bronson played a big role in that, keeping the hot Braxton Williams to only 8 in the second half. Furman’s success had been. built on their defense all year.

Furman will have a challenge on their hands going into the final game, looking to potentially reach the 3 seed for Asheville. Western Carolina is on a 5 game win streak, though only one of those is against a top half squad. The Dins will have to come out with some fight to come out on top in Cullowhee.

The atmosphere at Timmons Arena is going to be electric tonight for two reasons: Senior Night and the final push for a top-six seed in Asheville. After a massive 76-67 road win at Wofford where the Paladins finally exercised their second-half demons and closed out a rival, Furman (18-11, 9-7 SoCon) returns home to host The Citadel (9-20, 6-10 SoCon) at 6:00 PM.

A win tonight would go a long way in ensuring the Paladins avoid the Friday night game at the SoCon Tournament. With the rotation fully healthy and momentum on their side, this is about taking care of business against a scrappy Bulldog team that always plays the Dins tough.

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Honoring the Vets

Furman will honor four seniors. This group has combined for 43 wins over the last two seasons and a massive chunk of this year’s production.

Charles Johnston: The Australia native has been an absolute double-double machine. He leads the team in rebounding and has provided the interior grit Furman desperately needed after last year’s departures.

Tom House: The Florida State transfer brought a veteran perimeter presence. When he’s hitting from deep, this offensive unit is nearly impossible to stop.

Ben Vander Wal: A glue guy in every sense of the word. His versatility on both ends of the floor has allowed Bob Richey to play smaller, faster lineups. He is also a leader for this team with a veteran presence which has greatly contributed to their success.

Thomas Tillman: A Charleston native who has been a dedicated part of the culture. We can’t forget the times the student section went wild for him on the court.

Scouting the Bulldogs

Ed Conroy’s Bulldogs have had a rough stretch, losing four straight, but they are a spoiler team. They play with a slow, deliberate pace that can frustrate Furman’s high-octane transition game.

Braxton Williams (13.9 PPG): He is the guy who can get hot and stay hot. He led them with 26 points in their last outing and was instrumental in the comeback win back in January.

Sola Adebisi: He’s the defensive anchor, leading them in blocks and steals. His matchup with Charles Johnston in the paint will determine who controls the glass.

Three Keys to the Game

1. Managing the Emotions Senior Night can be a double-edged sword. Furman needs to settle into their offensive sets early and trust the system rather than hunting for highlight-reel plays in the first five minutes.

2. Win the Rebounding Battle Johnston and Bowser have to be disciplined with their box-outs. If Furman limits the Bulldogs to one shot per possession, they can turn defensive stops into transition buckets, where they are dangerous.

3. Perimeter Defense The Citadel lives and dies by the three-point line. In the first meeting (an 82-75 Furman win), the Paladins allowed a few too many open looks in the second half.

The Outlook

The Paladins showed a lot of maturity in their win over Wofford, proving they can hold a lead and execute down the stretch. If they bring that same defensive intensity to Timmons tonight, they should be able to send the seniors out with a win in their final regular-season home game.

Just down the road from Furman’s campus, in Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium (not to be confused with the outdoor version used for football), Furman avenged their January loss to the Terriers with a gutsy performance. Furman built a large first half lead with Asa Thomas scorching the nets from deep. But they gave half of it back before halftime and the rest soon after the break. Same old story some might say. But this one was different. Powered by some strong interior play, good decisions from the guards, and clutch defensive rebounding, Furman held them off and quieted the Wofford faithful. Let’s get into takeaways from an exciting weekend in Spartanburg.

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1. Asa wanted the smoke! Asa Thomas came out of the gate already on fire and hit his first six three pointers. After his fourth, Thomas played to the crowd, asking for more from an already energetic Wofford student section. It didn’t seem to bother him as he made two more soon after, helping build a 16 point lead. Thomas finished with 18, but his gravity led to some of the drives late in the game.

2. The bench showed up. Furman’s bench is the key to holding onto leads and taking some of the pressure off of the starters. Alex Wilkins played 30 minutes, the most of all starters. Cole Bowser didn’t score, but grabbed five rebounds. The bench limited turnovers to 1, and made key plays in both halves. Eddrin Bronson and Tom House closed the game, attempting 0 threes, instead driving the lane and getting to the line or dishing to Bowser and Johnston.

3. Resilience. After giving up the lead early in the second half, it became a back and forth game. Furman wanted it more and importantly, did not rely on the three. Layups from Bronson and VanderWal, an and-1 from Johnston, and a 7 footer from Wilkins gave Furman the 8 point lead with 2 minutes to go. Wilkins, Bowser, and Bronson all made free throws down the stretch as well.

4. Baba Franklin had some great minutes. Last time out against Wofford, Franklin had the best game of his career: 14 points, 6 rebounds and an assist. This time, he came in for two minutes in the first half and hit a three, stole the ball, and hit another three the next possession. He really has showed flashes of what we can look forward to from him next season.

5. Dominant Frontcourt: Furman’s twin towers once again shot with great efficiency. They combined to score 26 points on 77% shooting. Johnston moved his game inside and looked really aggressive. He only took 1 three on the night.

6. Furman converted from the line (76%) and Wofford did not (53%). Quite a shift from early free throw struggles.

7. After a rough shooting night against ETSU where Furman put up 33 threes, they only shot 17 on Saturday, out of 52 field goals. When the game got tight, they got to the rim, shooting only 5 threes in the second half. That is an impressive adjustment and something that shows the coaching staff definitely has a grasp on what Furman has struggled with going into March. Coach Richey does love Asheville!

The first meeting on January 17th was a microcosm of Furman’s season: they led by 13 points with under 10 minutes to play, only to suffer a scoreless drought of nearly seven minutes as the Terriers stormed back for a 74-70 win. Tonight is about finishing what they started and stopping the late-game bleeding that has defined their recent slump.

Can the Dins Outlast the Terriers?

Furman is healthy, but they are looking for their first true “complete” game since the rotation stabilized.

Alex Wilkins: The freshman standout is coming off a 21-point effort against ETSU. He has to limit the high-risk passes late in the game that led to Wofford’s transition points in the first meeting.

Asa Thomas: Thomas had 13 points against ETSU. Wofford’s Nils Machowski will likely be glued to him, which should create more room for Cooper Bowser to operate inside.

Cooper Bowser: Bowser is still shooting a ridiculous 78.6% from the field. In the first meeting, Furman went away from the interior during the collapse. Tonight, the offense has to run through the paint when the perimeter shots aren’t falling.

Charles Johnston: Johnston is a double-double threat every night. He’ll be tasked with neutralizing Wofford’s Brian Sumpter, who grabbed 14 rebounds against the Dins in January.

Scouting the Terriers

The Terriers have found their rhythm, winning seven of their last ten games. They currently sit in 2nd place in the SoCon and are looking to sweep the Paladins for the first time in years.

Kahmare Holmes (19.1 PPG): Holmes is the most dangerous scorer on the floor tonight. He’s coming off a 22-point performance against VMI and is a master at getting to the free-throw line.

Nils Machowski (16.8 PPG): A sharpshooter who averages nearly three triples per game. He was the catalyst for the comeback in Greenville, scoring 20 points and hitting the go-ahead shots.

Chace Watley (9.9 PPG): The glue guy who put away Furman in the first meeting with clutch free throws. He thrives on the energy of the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.

Conference Seeding

The SoCon Tournament in Asheville (March 6-9) gives a bye to the top six teams. The 7th through 10th seeds have to play an extra game on Friday.

Furman is currently 8-7 in conference, sitting in a precarious tie for 5th/6th place.

A loss tonight, combined with the way the tiebreakers are shaking out with Samford and Mercer, could realistically slide the Paladins into that Friday play-in territory.

A win tonight splits the season series with Wofford and virtually locks Furman into a Saturday start in Asheville.

Three Keys to the Game

1. The 10-Minute Mark Poise In both the first Wofford game and the recent ETSU game, Furman had leads inside 10 minutes and stopped scoring. If the Dins can maintain their ball movement in the final media timeout stretch, they win.

2. Contain the Holmes-Machowski Duo These two account for nearly 40% of Wofford’s scoring. Furman’s guards have to be elite on the perimeter to prevent Wofford from getting the crowd involved with early threes.

3. Points in the Paint In the first meeting, Wofford actually outscored Furman 44-26 in the paint. That shouldn’t happen with Bowser and Johnston on the floor. Furman needs to capitalize on their size advantage and force Wofford’s bigs into foul trouble early.

The Outlook

Rivalry games in Spartanburg are never easy, but Furman is the more desperate team tonight. They have the talent to win this game by double digits if they play a focused 40 minutes, but the “mental hurdle” of closing out games is the biggest opponent they face.