UNC-Asheville’s Drew Pember Latest Challenge to Hogs

Razorback fans have heard that name before when he was with Tennessee

Author:
Andy Hodges
Updated:
Dec 20, 2022 7:04 PM EST
Original:
Dec 20, 2022

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas will face something they haven't seen much in a hot start to the regular season.

UNC-Asheville rolls into Bud Walton Arena on Wednesday night with a 6-10 guy that has played in the SEC before. He's also having a big start to their season.

Drew Pember dropped 40 in their season opener against UCF and has four double-doubles, scoring more than six times.

For good measure, he's also having an impact on their defense.

"Pember, especially offensively, is just having an absolutely phenomenal year," Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman said Monday. "He’s averaging a double-double. He presents a lot of problems. Obviously the 17 made threes at 41.%. He’s an excellent free throw shooter at 85 plus. Then 89 free throws attempted.

"He’s blocked a lot of shots ... 30 blocks is a lot. A high steal rate. He can really run the floor. He’s done a good job as an assist player as well from the center spot. It’s not often you see somebody second on a team or third on a team in assists with 23. He’s a player that is definitely a guy that can score the ball in multiple ways."

Pember transferred from Tennessee and he's seen the sights in Fayetteville before. He knows what to expect.

In their last game against East Tennessee State, he nailed a game-winning three-pointer.

"He’s a player you can’t give air space to and you’ve got to crowd him," Musselman said. "He’s got a pretty good first step off the bounce. That’s why he’s a tough cover, but that was a shot that — under presser, under duress, game-winning shot — that’s why he’s one of the top guys in his league if not the top player in their league."

The biggest thing, though, maybe somehow figuring out a way to make sure they don't start lighting up the scoreboard with three-pointers. That can cause a lot of problems for the Hogs.

"They’re a great three-point shooting team, they really are," Musselman said. "They shoot deep shots, they shoot quick shots in transition. They shoot shots with confidence."

It's going to put pressure on the Hogs' defense they haven't seen this season.

"They like to get out and run," Musselman said. "We’ve got to have great transition defense and obviously we like to run as well. Transition defense will be a big part of this game as I think they average 83 a game."

Tip-off for the game will be at 8 p.m. and televised on the SEC Network and fuboTV.