It got pretty messy there for a second.
Heading into Dec. 28, 2022, Samford men’s basketball was on a seven-game losing streak. In addition, impact players, including Ques Glover and Jaden Campbell, suffered injuries that severely affected their playing time.
But, sometimes, adversity builds character and, in the case of sports, a championship DNA. That appears to be the case for the Bulldogs because, as of Jan. 7, 2023, the team is riding a four-game conference win streak, and the team currently sits first overall in the SoCon with a 4-0 record.
The Bulldogs have defeated Mercer, The Citadel, VMI, and, most recently, UNC Greensboro in a 70-68 nailbiter. What makes these victories so impressive is that they were all accomplished without Ques Glover, who has remained sidelined since the Nov. 30 matchup against DePaul with a knee injury. With Glover’s absence, someone had to fill the void.
Logan Dye has not only filled the void, he has been otherworldly in Samford’s past four games. Here are Dye’s past four statlines: 23 points, three rebounds (vs. Mercer), 20 points, eight rebounds (vs. the Citadel), 19 points, eight rebounds (vs. VMI), 17 points, eight rebounds (vs. UNCG). In an era of college basketball defined by guard play, Dye is a true throwback center: a beast on the boards and a natural paint scorer with, surprisingly, a green light from the perimeter.
Another player who has stepped up in Glover’s absence is Jaron Rillie. While Rillie’s stats do not pop off the page (5.9 ppg, three apg), he has provided a veteran presence in a newfound starting role. Rillie doesn’t need to be the star of this team for Samford to be successful; he has been a great distributor and pacesetter that Samford has desperately needed since Glover’s injury.
Outside of Dye and Rillie, Samford has used a consistent team effort over the past four games. Nathan Johnson has proven to be a constant scoring threat, while Jermaine Marshall has continued to be the sparkplug and emotional heart of the team. A.J. Staton-McCray shined in the UNCG game, as the sophomore forward had 17 points off the bench.
Despite the recent hot streak, Samford still needs to continue to take it game by game to ensure their recent success becomes a common theme. Health will be critical down the stretch, and if the team wants to make a run in March, Ques Glover will likely need to return. Yet, there is a lot of mojo surrounding Samford men’s hoops.
After a seven-game losing streak, it would have been easy for the Bulldogs to come unglued. Yet, they didn’t blink and are in prime position to run the table in the SoCon. Samford will look to build on a promising start in conference play this Wednesday, Jan. 11, as they will face the Wofford Terriers at home in the Pete Hanna Center.
Sports Editor
