After a dominant defensive showing against VMI during Legends Weekend, the Furman Paladins (12-5, 3-1 SoCon) hit the road for a massive showdown against the Samford Bulldogs (9-8, 2-2 SoCon). While the Paladins are riding the high of a “stingy” 69-48 victory over VMI, Samford is looking to defend their home court after a high-scoring 88-79 loss at Chattanooga.
In the past couple of years, this matchup has evolved into one of the most entertaining series in the league. During the “Bucky Ball” era, a genuine rivalry formed, fueled by Samford’s high-pressure style and a fanbase that grew to truly hate the Dins.
Paladin fans certainly haven’t forgotten the 2023 regular-season finale in this building. In a performance for the ages, Mike Bothwell effectively silenced the Birmingham crowd by scoring Furman’s first 18 points (the first 16 of which came in a breathless opening flurry) to help secure a share of the SoCon title.
With Bucky McMillan now at Texas A&M and Lennie Acuff taking over for the Bulldogs, the question remains: does this rivalry intensity continue into the Acuff era? We will certainly find out tonight. Samford traditionally boasts a rowdy student attendance, and with both teams fighting for position in a crowded SoCon race, expect “The Pete” to be loud. Furman will have to navigate that hostile environment while missing numerous key players.
The Bulldogs Scouting Report
• Jadin Booth. The graduate guard is playing some of the best basketball in the SoCon. He recently crossed the 2,000-point career milestone and is currently averaging 20.4 PPG in league play. He is a high-volume threat who can stretch the floor.
• Dylan Faulkner. Faulkner is a problem. He’s coming off three consecutive 20-point games and is shooting an efficient 62.2% from the field. He provides the interior scoring and rim protection that anchors the Bulldogs.
• Keaton Norris and Isaiah Campbell-Finch. Norris provides the veteran stability at the point, while the freshman Campbell-Finch is coming off a career-high 16 points against Chattanooga.
Weathering the Injury Storm: New Opportunities
The story for Bob Richey’s squad remains their ability to adapt. Furman is still navigating a depleted roster with several key contributors sidelined.
. Missing Pieces: The Paladins continue to play without Cooper Bowser and Collin O’Neal. With these numerous injuries, the rotation is extremely thin, placing a massive burden on the starting five to play heavy minutes against Samford’s pace.
. The Defensive Anchor: Eddrin Bronson. Bronson was the catalyst in the win over VMI, lockdown on the perimeter and chipping in 17 points. His defensive assignment on Jadin Booth tonight will be one of the game’s most critical matchups.
. Johnston Development: Charles Johnston has evolved into a monster. Against VMI, he didn’t just score; he pulled down 15 rebounds and dished out 5 assists. Furman needs his playmaking from the post to break Samford’s defensive pressure.
. Is He Really A Freshman?: Alex Wilkins (16.9 PPG) and Cole Bowser (10 rebounds in his debut) represent the future and the present. Bowser’s length is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity to counter Samford’s Faulkner inside.
Three Keys to the Game
1. Surviving the “Pete” Atmosphere Samford’s student section is notoriously loud. Furman needs to stay poised early, (much like Bothwell did years ago) to prevent the Bulldogs from building a double-digit lead fueled by the crowd.
2. Disciplined Perimeter Defense Samford leads the league in several offensive categories, but they live on the three-pointer. Furman held VMI to under 50 points by being “stingy” on the perimeter. If they can force Booth into contested, difficult shots, the Paladins can dictate the tempo.
3. Points Off Turnovers Samford likes to speed you up. For a shorthanded Furman team, live-ball turnovers are a death sentence. The Paladins must be surgical with their passing to tire out Samford’s defense rather than getting caught in a track meet.
The Forecast
This is a true test of grit for the Paladins. Going into Birmingham shorthanded is a tall task, but Bob Richey has a history of winning tough road games (77 road wins in his tenure). If Charles Johnston can neutralize Faulkner and the Paladins can handle the hostile student section, they’ll leave Alabama with a signature win and a potentially share of the SoCon lead.
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