2008 Woodie Awards
Bears to play Northern Arizona
Jordan Freemyer
Issue date: 1/30/08 Section: Sports
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This will be the second meeting this season of the two schools, with NAU taking the win in Flagstaff, 86-70 on Dec. 30.
The Lumberjacks are 14-7 overall and 6-2 in Big Sky Conference play and are led by senior forward Kyle Landry. The 6-foot-9 Landry is averaging 17 points and 8.4 rebounds per game this season. Landry has recorded seven double-doubles on the season, one of which came when he scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds the last time the Bears and Lumberjacks met.
"Our post defense is improving, so I think we'll be able to guard him," Bears forward Neal Kingman said of Landry.
By no means, however, is Landry a one-man team. The Lumberjacks have five players who average at least seven points per game. Junior guard Josh Wilson led NAU in its first game against the Bears with 20 points.
Bears coach Tad Boyle is also concerned with the defensive prowess of the Lumberjacks.
"They're the toughest team in our league, they lead our league in field goal percentage defense," Boyle said.
After giving up 86 points in the first meeting, the Bears know that tough defense will be the key to beating the Lumberjacks the second time around.
"We can't take any plays off on the defensive end," sophomore guard Will Figures said.
The Lumberjacks are coming off their second Big Sky loss of this season, a 69-67 defeat at the hands of Idaho State. The Bears are trying to stop a four-game losing streak.
"We're not going to give up, that's one thing I know," Boyle said.
The Bears certainly don't see an upset as being out of the question.
"I asked the team, 'Is there anyone in the Big Sky that we can't beat?' And the answer's no," Boyle said.
UNC will try for the upset against NAU at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday at the Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion.
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