BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford Athletics is continuing the Student-Athlete Spotlight series, presented by Coca-Cola, which, this week, will highlight Logan Dye, and junior forward on the men's basketball team.
 
Dye had been on the team for two seasons when current head coach Bucky McMillan was hired. Dye talked about his reaction when he heard who the new coach was going to be, and what the transition was like when the new coaching staff was brought in.
 
"When I caught wind that Coach Buck was about to get the job, it kind of changed my whole outlook on leaving or what I was going to do," Dye said. "I was just completely already bought in because I kind of knew him before he got the job. I had kind of known him through a friend of a friend and I just kind of was around him, knew what he was about, saw his culture at Mountain Brook. I really liked the way he played, it was fast and kind of dominated everybody. He had called me as soon as he got the job and was like, 'look, I don't know what your plans are, but I'd really love to have you and keep you here. I feel like you could be a really important piece to this team.' I really have enjoyed being a part of it. It's been great to build on his beliefs and his values on how to get a winning program, and you can see it's really taken off."
 
Dye's season got off to a rocky start with a preseason hand injury keeping him out of the first 10 games. Since returning, however, he has been one of the leaders of the team. He is currently second on the team in both scoring (12.6 ppg.) and rebounding (4.9 rpg.) as the Bulldogs have won eight of their last nine games.
 
"It really killed me when I broke my finger before the season started," Dye said. "When that happened, it really took a toll on me mentally, because I was like, 'man, I really don't want to miss these games.' I knew we had some Power 5 schools we were going to play. But, I just rehabbed back and knew if I did what I was supposed to I was going to be back for the Ole Miss game and the Kennesaw State game and then we would be rolling right into conference. I really got to get stronger in the weight room a little bit more. It kind of helped me preserving my body for this point in the season, because everybody else has played all of these games and I've missed 10 games, so I may be a little bit fresher than everybody else."
 
After starting the SoCon season at 1-6, the Bulldogs have won eight of their last nine to improve to 9-7 in league play. Dye talked about what he sees as the keys to the turnaround.
 
"Coach Buck's always stressed, when we're healthy and we have everybody together, we're really, really good," Dye said. "He believes that we're the best team in the conference and we're very tough to beat when we have everybody. So, we started conference going to Furman, a very good team, especially on their home floor and we don't have Jermaine (Marshall), we don't have Cooper (Kaifes), we don't have Ques (Glover). So, we went up there and we knew we were going to face adversity, we've talked about it for all these months that we've practiced, how are you going to respond when adversity hits? Because everyone's going to go through it in a season, it's just how you respond to it. So, when we had that adversity come, we just kept our heads down, got to work, got guys healthy and got back to playing, and then you're one win away from getting on a streak like we're on. It really has taken off in the right direction. I feel like when we're healthy and we have everybody, it's just really hard to beat."
 
The fan support has grown throughout the conference season as well. Dye talked about the affect having the bigger, louder crowds has had on the team.
 
"I've been here for four years, and I've never seen a crowd like this, or fans and students that really are bought in to the program," Dye said. "It doesn't feel when we're out there like it's just us against them, it feels like we've got the whole university and all the students behind us, playing against whoever we're playing. So, it's really been amazing, those guys come out there every night just like we do, and the students are really laying it all on the line. It's an awesome atmosphere to play in."
 
The Bulldogs will play at home tonight against Furman at 7 p.m. in the Pete Hanna Center. Tickets are available at the following link: PURCHASE TICKETS. The game can also be seen live on ESPN+ by clicking here: WATCH LIVE, and live stats will be available at the following link: LIVE STATS.



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