GAME INFO

Wednesday, Nov. 25 -- at Davidson (John M. Belk Arena) 7 p.m.
Live Stats | Watch | Game Notes

The High Point University men's basketball team returns to action on what will be opening night for college basketball on Wednesday (Nov 25) as the Panthers will face Davidson on the road. This is the first division 1 meeting between the Wildcats and the Panthers. The game will be broadcast on ESPN + and will start at 7:00 pm. This is the third straight season HPU has had an Atlantic 10 opponent on their schedule (Richmond 18-19, Saint Louis 19-20).

Matchup History

· This is the first division-1 matchup between Davidson and High Point. 
· It also marks the first time Tubby Smith has faced Bob McKillop and one of his Davidson teams. The Wildcats represent the tenth Atlantic 10 team that Coach Smith has faced in his illustrious career. 

Across the Bench

The Wildcats are led by guard, Kellan Grady, the senior was recently selected as one of 50 players on the 2021 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Watch List. Grady has been an offensive leader for the Cats since he got to Davidson. Last year Grady averaged 17.2 points per game.

Bob McKillop enters his 32nd season as the coach for Davidson. McKillop has Big South head coaching experience as he coached the Wildcats for their two seasons in the conference (1990-91, 1991-92). McKillop's record as a head coach is 594-364, he is six wins away from becoming the 39th division 1 head coach with 600 or more wins. Coach Smith achieved the milestone of 600 career wins in 2018 as HPU defeated ECU 55-52.

Following their game against High Point, Davidson will head to Asheville, N.C. for the relocated Maui Invitational which tips off on Nov 30th. (Maui Invitational Tournament Chairman Dave Odom was recently a guest on The Tubby Smith Show.)

Panther Notes 

You Got It (The Wright Stuff)
HPU enters the season being picked 7th in the Big South Preseason poll. Sophomore John-Michael Wright was selected to the preseason Big South All-Conference Second Team. Entering his sophomore season Wright was selected to NABC Player Development Coalition Roster. The NABC Player Development Coalition is a diverse collection of Division I men's basketball student-athletes that will provide valuable perspective and feedback on college basketball issues. 

New Experience 
The Panthers add graduate transfer Lydell Elmore, who comes to High Point after a successful career at Livingstone College. Elmore received All CIAA Front Court honors two years in a row (2019,2020). Elmore was named a 2020 BOXTOROW Division II All American. He was selected to the BOXTOROW All-American Second Team.

Start Me Up
The Panthers return seven players, with six of them having started games a season ago.

Clean Slate
This opening game against the Wildcats is one of the Panther's five non-conference games this season. HPU will play 26 games total this season.

Tubby's Third Season
Tubby Smith is entering his third season as the head coach of the High Point Panthers historically his third season is when he has experienced great success which he was able to build off of at his previous schools. Tulsa 1993: 23-8 (Sweet-16), Minnesota 21-14 (NCAA First Round), Texas Tech 19-13 (NCAA First Round).

Up Next: The Panthers play a second game during this Thanksgiving Week as they will travel to Elon to face the Phoenix on Saturday (Nov 28.) with that game tipping off at 4:00 PM.

This men's basketball preview is presented by Beamer Tire and Auto.

#GoHPU