As the final horn sounded in Asheville, many bitterly disappointed Furman fans believed it would be the last game they got to see this team play. The incredible run to the tournament finals, fueled by outstanding performances by our seniors, guaranteed this team would be remembered. But it’s not over yet! Furman is guaranteed at least one more game and a chance to make a run in the NIT.
The NIT has history, once the most prestigious tournament in the country. It certainly hasn’t lost its luster as a traditionally top-flight accomplishment for mid-major basketball, with the chance to chase down another banner and beat bigger programs on the way. Furman will be making its third appearance in the National Invitational Tournament, which itself marks how deserving this 25-win Paladin team is of postseason play. Both appearances were one and done, with Furman losing to West Virginia in 1991 and Wichita State in 2019. The Dins will look to do a little more damage in 2025.
The Matchup: Wednesday, March 19
Furman has been matched up with North Texas in the Dallas regional. North Texas finished second in the American Athletic Conference before falling to fellow NIT participant UAB in the conference tournament semifinals. For those that can recall, all the way back in November, Furman went 1-0 against the American, defeating Tulane 75-67. North Texas finished 2 games better than Tulane, and also defeated them at home, 76-66. Furman is certainly able to compete with opponents of this caliber, but will need to play their best game in order to move on.
North Texas is led by Atin Wright, a 6’1 guard with NCAA Tournament experience. Last season, at Drake, he scored 20 points in a 5 point loss to Washington State in the first round. He certainly knows how to show up when the lights are bright. Wright notably scored 42 points against Charlotte just two weeks ago, hitting 8 of his 12 attempts from three. He shoots 40% from distance, and Bob Richey will certainly be attempting to slow down his momentum. The SoCon is practically built on small scoring guards, and the Paladins can use that experience for this game.
The Mean Green also look to Brenen Lorient for his scoring output. Lorient is extremely athletic and utilizes it on both ends, averaging over a block a game. He is consistent, scoring 12 points per game, but never seeming to drop far below that, even on an off night. North Texas runs an eight man rotation, with some relatively balanced scoring between them. Defense will be a priority as always, but cutting off the flow to the top guys will be essential.
Keys to the Game
Rebounding: Furman averages nearly 4 more rebounds per game than the Mean Green, which will be an area the Dins need to capitalize on to finish out defensive possessions.
Bench Production: The Dins will need Charles Johnston to continue his contributions, and hope to for Tom House to knock down his shots as well. Furman will not win this game if PJay Smith and Nick Anderson are forced to be the only scorers
Stem the Tide: Guys like Honor Huff and Kenyon Giles have had huge games against the Paladins. Controlling the flow of scoring from Atin Wright will force others to make up the difference. 20 points or less would be ideal.