Monday, November 3
Neutral Site: Rock Hill, South Carolina
Event: Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon
Series & Setting
Nearly 200 miles and a straight shot down Interstate 85 separate these two “purple bloods,” but the similarities extend well beyond shared colors and “P” mascots.
Furman has been one of the Southern Conference’s most consistent winners and finally broke through in 2023 for its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 43 years. The Paladins then made the most of that opportunity by stunning Virginia in the opening round.
Fresh off High Point’s own trip to the Big Dance, the Panthers open the season against Furman in Rock Hill. It is a fitting showcase for two of the most entertaining and analytically sophisticated offenses in the mid-major ranks.
The programs arrive through very different roster-building paths. High Point turns the page with a new coaching staff and only one returning starter, while Furman continues leaning on continuity under a coach who has been on campus since 2011 and in the head chair since 2017.
Overview
Under Bob Richey, Furman has become the standard for sustained success in the Southern Conference.
The Paladins have produced multiple 20-win seasons, captured the 2023 SoCon championship, and authored one of that NCAA Tournament’s signature upsets. After a brief dip in 2024, Furman responded with a 25–10 overall record and an 11–7 mark in conference play last season.
Richey enters this season with a career record of 181–81 overall and 99–42 in SoCon play.
This year’s roster looks unmistakably like a Furman team: skilled players at all five positions, size across the wings, and a developmental core strengthened by one natural portal fit and a promising freshman class.
Team Identity: Commitment, Consistency & Continuity
Commitment to Concept Basketball
Furman operates a Princeton-inspired, five-out hybrid built around burn cuts, dribble handoffs, split actions, and constant “attack-the-catch” reads.
The goal is not simply to run a set play. Furman’s offense is designed to manufacture layups, assisted three-pointers, and free throws by forcing defenders to make repeated decisions within the same possession.
Consistency in Decision-Making
The Paladins rarely allow an action to die. One movement flows directly into the next, creating double and triple gaps while punishing overhelp with skip passes, back cuts, and quick reversals.
The ball rarely sticks, and the spacing remains disciplined even when the initial action fails.
Continuity Across the Program
Furman’s veterans understand the spacing, timing, and reads required within the system. Newcomers are not asked to reinvent the offense. They are plugged into an established framework with clearly defined responsibilities.
That continuity extends to the coaching staff, which has spent years refining the same principles on both ends.
Defensively, the Paladins prioritize guarding without fouling and protecting the rim through positioning rather than pure shot-blocking. It is a scheme built on discipline instead of gambling.
Key Returners
- Cooper Bowser (Jr., 6’11”, F/C) — The interior anchor. An efficient roller and finisher who has continued developing as a face-up driver. Quietly central to many of Furman’s best offensive actions.
- Ben VanderWal (Sr., 6’7″, F) — The ultimate connective piece. He slashes, screens, rebounds, and consistently wins 50/50 possessions. Furman wants him attacking gaps rather than simply occupying the perimeter.
- Tom House (Sr., 6’7″, G/W) — A high-level floor spacer who has shot approximately 40% from three across the past two seasons. His gravity dramatically alters opposing help responsibilities.
- Charles Johnston (Sr., 6’11”, F/C) — A healthy stretch big capable of punishing defenses that lose track of him in pick-and-pop situations.
- Eddrin Bronson (So., 6’4″, G) — The next Furman combo guard being developed into a primary organizer. Brings strength, physicality, and pace in the open floor.
New Faces to Know
- Asa Thomas (R-So., 6’7″, W) — Clemson transfer and pure catch-and-shoot wing. Thomas played a limited offensive role in the ACC but possesses the size, release, and spacing value to fit seamlessly into Furman’s five-out system.
- Abijah Franklin (Fr., 6’5″, G/W) — Explosive downhill scorer with the athleticism to create paint pressure. His immediate impact will depend on how quickly he learns Furman’s read-based offense.
- Alex Wilkins (Fr., 6’5″, PG) — Big guard with advanced ball-screen instincts and the vision to deliver passes from one corner to the other.
- Owen Ritger (Fr., 6’9″, F) — Skilled left-handed forward who can operate as a pick-and-pop threat or score from the post. Reportedly adapted to Furman’s system quickly.
- Cole Bowser (Fr., 6’6″, W) — Competitive wing who adds positional size and developmental depth.
By the Numbers
| Category | Result |
|---|---|
| 2024–25 Overall Record | 25–10 |
| 2024–25 SoCon Record | 11–7 |
| Conference Finish | 5th in SoCon |
| Postseason | NIT Bid |
| Returning Starters | 3 of 5 |
| Program Trend | Six approximately Top-100 seasons during the Richey era |
| SoCon Outlook | Tier-one contender |
Furman once again enters the season with one of the highest floor-and-ceiling combinations in the Southern Conference.
Coaching Breakdown: Bob Richey
Bob Richey enters his eighth season as Furman’s head coach and his 14th year with the program.
His “Further the Man” philosophy informs nearly everything the Paladins do, from identity-driven recruiting to their commitment to year-round individual development through the program’s “365” approach.
Offensively, Furman toggles between dribble-handoff chains, pistol actions, delay sets, split cuts, and constant attack-the-catch concepts. Defensively, the staff emphasizes accountability, positional discipline, and limiting unnecessary fouls.
Recent staff additions have strengthened both player development and defensive structure, with Cooper Bowser among the most notable beneficiaries.
Matchup Outlook vs. High Point
Transition Offense vs. Floor Balance
Furman frequently spaces all five players beyond or near the three-point line. That spacing creates offensive advantages, but it can also leave the Paladins vulnerable in transition after missed shots.
If High Point secures the initial rebound and delivers decisive outlet passes, the Panthers should have opportunities to attack before Furman’s defense becomes organized.
DHO Chains & Back Cuts
Expect Furman to string together multiple dribble handoffs before flowing into slips, back cuts, and weak-side actions.
High Point’s communication must remain sharp. Guards such as Rob Martin and Conrad Martinez will need to navigate handoffs without forcing excessive help from the back line.
One breakdown can quickly become a layup or an uncontested corner three.
Stretch Frontcourt
Cooper Bowser and Charles Johnston will challenge High Point’s big men away from the basket.
The Panthers must close out under control, deny clean pick-and-pop threes, and remain balanced enough to contain straight-line drives. Overcommitting to the perimeter could create open cuts and offensive rebounding opportunities behind the defense.
High Point’s Pressure Points
High Point’s clearest advantages should come from point-of-attack creation, downhill rim pressure, and bench depth.
Forcing Furman’s newer ballhandlers to defend in space could expose some of the uncertainty within the Paladins’ evolving guard hierarchy. Drawing early fouls on Furman’s frontcourt would also shift the rotation battle heavily in High Point’s favor.
Furman’s Counters
Expect Furman to use early drag handoffs, quick leak-outs, and rapid ball reversals to create corner threes for Tom House and Asa Thomas.
If High Point collapses too aggressively on drives or rolls, Furman has enough shooting to punish the extra help.
Keys for High Point
- Win the defensive glass to limit second chances and create transition opportunities.
- Eliminate back-cut layups through top-locking, communication, and disciplined weak-side positioning.
- Create paint touches early before searching for kick-out threes later in possessions.
- Win the bench minutes and use depth to separate during the final 15 minutes.
Toothsayer’s Take
Furman will be polished, connected, and difficult to disrupt. The Paladins already understand exactly how they want to play, and their continuity should matter considerably in an opening-day environment.
However, the ballhandling hierarchy is still taking shape. If High Point can limit the perimeter impact of Tom House and Asa Thomas while keeping Cooper Bowser from dominating the offensive glass, the Panthers should be able to apply pressure to Furman’s less-established creators.
High Point’s advantages in guard creation and overall depth may not show immediately, but they should become more apparent as the game progresses.
On a neutral floor, expect a close, well-played opener between two programs with legitimate postseason aspirations. Furman’s execution keeps the game tight, but High Point’s ability to generate offense late should provide the difference.
Prediction
High Point 78, Furman 73