UNC Asheville vs West Georgia prediction: UNC Asheville and West Georgia both start over in Carrollton

Two rosters built from scratch

Neither team that takes the floor at The Coliseum on Nov. 11 looks much like the one that finished last season. Both went 15-17 in 2025-26, and both watched their core walk out the door. UNC Asheville returns 27.2% of last season's minutes. West Georgia returns just 18.9%.

The departures hurt. Asheville lost Kam Taylor, who scored 18.9 points per game and is now at Florida State, along with Justin Wright and Toyaz Solomon. West Georgia lost Shelton Williams-Dryden, its 20.7-point scorer, and Josh Smith, who left for Duquesne.

That makes last season's team numbers a weak guide. Asheville finished 233rd of 365 in adjusted net efficiency (points per 100 possessions scored minus allowed, adjusted for opponents). West Georgia finished 303rd. The gap points to Asheville, but the players who built those ratings are mostly gone. What carries over is coaching: Mike Morrell runs Asheville and Dave Moore runs West Georgia, and their systems will shape the newcomers.

A tempo tug-of-war

Coaching habits show up most clearly in pace. Last season West Georgia played fast, averaging 70.3 possessions per 40 minutes, 61st in the country. Asheville preferred to slow things down at 66.5, which ranked 240th.

With new players on both benches, expect each staff to lean on what it knows. The Wolves will want to push in their home opener. Asheville's new backcourt of transfers may decide whether the Bulldogs can keep the game in the half court.

West Georgia's rim protection

The one West Georgia strength from last season with a returning anchor is shot-blocking. The Wolves blocked 13.0% of opponents' two-point attempts, 27th nationally, and Kenneth Chime, who averaged 1.6 blocks, is back.

That matters against an Asheville team that made only 51.3% of its twos last season, 237th. Asheville did get to the line often, with a free throw rate (free throws attempted per field goal attempt) that ranked 65th. It then shot 68.7% there, 306th. Mayfield, the top Asheville returner, made 42.1% of his free throws.

West Georgia is also slightly bigger, at 78.4 inches of minutes-weighted height to Asheville's 77.5.

Guards who will carry the load

Asheville's scoring will likely run through transfers. Khayri Dunn used 23.6% of Georgia Southern's possessions when on the floor last season and made 48 threes. Kelcy Phipps hit 43.1% of his threes at Portland State.

West Georgia's best returning scorer is Chas Lewless, who averaged 12.8 points but played only 10 games last season. Justin Redmond, a transfer from Northwestern State, shot 85.3% at the line.

The stakes are early but real. Asheville was picked fifth in the Big South preseason poll and heads to Georgia Tech three days after this game. West Georgia is opening its first season in the UAC.