Thursday, October 31, 2013

Preseason Preview: NC State

North Carolina State University
@ UNCG 12/30
Mascot: Wolfpack
Location: Raleigh, NC
Enrollment: 34,767
Conference: ACC
2012-2013 Record: 24-11 (11-7)
Postseason: NCAA Tournament (L 1st Round)
Coach: Mark Gottfried (3rd Season)

School Homepage
Athletics Homepage

Losses:
C.J. Leslie F - 32.4 mpg, 15.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg
Richard Howell F - 31.6 mpg, 12.7 ppg, 10.9 rpg
Scott Wood G - 34.0 mpg, 12.6 ppg
Lorenzo Brown G - 34.2 mpg, 12.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 7.2 apg
Rodney Purvis G - 25.5 mpg, 8.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg

Top Returners:
T.J. Warren F - 27.0 mpg, 12.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg
Tyler Lewis G - 12.1 mpg, 3.5 ppg, 1.4 apg

Additions:
Ralston Turner G - 6-5 205 (Transfer LSU)
Desmond Lee G - 6-4 200 (Transfer New Mexico JC)
Anthony Barber G - 6-2 270
BeeJay Anya F/C - 6-9 325
Kyle Washington F - 6-9 225
Lennard Freeman F - 6-8 245

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Preseason Preview: Virginia Tech

Virginia Polytechnic and State University (Virginia Tech)
VS UNCG December 28*
Mascot: Hokies
Location: Blacksburg, VA
Enrollment: 31,087
Conference: ACC
2012-2013 Record: 13-19 (4-14)
Postseason: N/A
Coach: James Johnson (2nd Season)

School Homepage
Athletics Homepage

Losses:
Erick Green G - 36.4 mpg, 25.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.8 apg
Robert Brown G - 27.3 mpg, 8.3 ppg, 2.1 apg
Malik Mueller^ G - 6-3 210

Top Returners:
Jarell Eddie F - 30.3 mpg, 12.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg
Cadarian Raines F - 24.7 mpg, 6.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg

Additions:
Adam Smith G - 6-1 170 (Transfer UNCW)
Ben Emelogu G - 6-5 205
Maurice Kirby F - 6-9 235
Trevor Thompson F - 6-11 210

^ - Incoming freshman declared ineligible

* - Game to be played at Cassell Coliseum on campus of Va Tech

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Preseason Preview: Wake Forest

Wake Forest University
VS UNCG December 21*
Mascot: Demon Deacons
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Enrollment: 4,815
Conference: ACC
2012-2013 Record: 13-18 (6-12)
Postseason: N/A
Coach: Jeff Bzdelik (4th Season)

School Homepage
Athletics Homepage

Losses:
CJ Harris G - 32.8 mpg, 15.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg

Top Returners:
Devin Thomas C - 27.3 mpg, 9.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg
Codi Miller-McIntyre G - 28.9 mpg, 8.1 ppg, 2.6 apg
Travis McKie F - 32.2 mpg, 13.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg
Arnaud Adala Moto F - 16.3 mpg, 5.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg

Additions:
Coron Williams G - 6-1 175 lbs(Transfer Robert Morris)
Greg McClinton F - 6-7 185 lbs
Miles Overton G - 6-4 210 lbs

* - Game to be played at Lawrence Joel Veteran's Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, NC.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Preseason Preview: James Madison

James Madison University
@ UNCG Decemebr 18
Mascot: Dukes
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
Enrollment: 19,927
Conference: Colonial
2012-2013 Record: 21-15 (11-7)
Postseason: NCAA Tournament (L 1st Round)
Coach: Matt Brady (6th Season)

School Homepage
Athletics Homepage

Losses:
A.J. Davis G - 23.5 mpg, 12.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg
Rayshawn Goins F - 27.8 mpg, 12.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg
Devon Moore G - 33.9 mpg, 11.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4.9 apg
Alioune Diouf G - 20.0 mpg, 4.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg
Andre Nation^ G - 27.3 mpg, 9.3 ppg

Top Returners:
Andrey Semenov F - 19.6 mpg, 10.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.1 apg (7 Games)

Additions:
Yohanny Dalembert F - 6-8 225
Jackson Kent G - 6-7 185
Ivan Lukic F - 6-8 220
Tom Rivard F - 6-7 205
Paulius Satkus F - 6-8 215
Tom Vodanovich F - 6-8 220

^ - Suspended for the first 15 games of the season (UNCG game included)

Preseason Preview: Rutgers

Rutgers University
VS UNCG December 14*
Mascot: Scarlet Knights
Location: Piscataway, NJ
Enrollment: 58,788
Conference: American Athletic Conference
21012-2013 Record: 15-16 (5-13)
Postseason: N/A
Coach: Eddie Jordan (1st Season)

School Homepage
Athletics Homepage

Losses:
Eli Cater G - 28.8 mpg, 14.4 ppg, 2.1 apg
Dane Miller G/F - 25.8 mpg, 6.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg
Austin Johnson F - 17.5 mpg, 5.7 ppg
Mike Poole G - 18.6 mpg, 4.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg
Derrick Randall F - 8.2 mpg, 2.1 ppg

Top Returners:
Myles Mack G - 30.3 mpg, 13.6 ppg, 2.7 apg
Wally Judge F - 22.2 mpg, pg, pg
Jerome Seagears G - 27.2 mpg, 6.5 ppg

Additions:
J.J. Moore F - 6-6 215 lbs (Transfer Pittsburg)
Kerwin Okoro G/F - 6-5 220 lbs (Transfer Iowa State)
Craig Brown G/F - 6-5 220 lbs (Transfer Broward College)
Junior Etou F - 6-7 225

* - Game to be played at Rutgers Athletics Center (RAC) on the campus of Rutgers University

Friday, October 25, 2013

Preseason Preview: Claflin

Claflin University
@ UNCG December 11
Mascot: Panthers
Location: Orangeburg, SC
Enrollment: 1800
Conference: SIAC (NCAA D2)
2012-2013 Record: 10-16 (8-10)
Postseason: N/A
Coach: Ricky Jackson (1st Season)

School Homepage
Athletics Homepage

Losses:
Michael Henry F - 21.5 mpg, 5.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg
Mounda Williams G - 7.6 mpg, 2.4 ppg
Davis Glover G - 22.3 mpg, 7.0 ppg
Brandon Curry G - 21.4 mpg, 1.7 ppg
Jerrod Denard G - 15.3 mpg, 7.9 ppg
Bradley Knox G - 3.7 mpg
Quinton Nance G - 10.2 mpg, 4.4 ppg
Barry Mullen Jr G - 5.9 mpg, 2.0 ppg
Harrison Gibson F - 10.0 mpg, 1.4 ppg
Mark Harp F - 19.7 mpg, 7.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg (6 games)

Top Returners:
Marcellus Dunn F - 27.1 mpg, 8.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg
Terrence Bowman - 28.6 mpg, 13.4 ppg
Michael Jones - 21.0 mpg, 11.8 ppg(12 games)

Additions:
Montel Williams G - 5-11
Brian Newsome G - 6-6
Calvin Long G - 6-4

Preseason Preview: UNC-Chapel Hill

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
VS UNCG December 7*
Mascot: Tar Heels
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Enrollment: 29,390
Conference: ACC
2012-2013 Record: 25-11 (12-6)
Postseason: NCAA Tournament (L 2nd Round)
Coach: Roy Williams (11th Season)

School Homepage
Athletics Homepage

Losses:
Dexter Strickland G - 27.9 mpg, 7.8 ppg, 4.3 apg
Reggie Bullock G - 31.4 mpg, 13.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.9 apg

Top Retuners:
Marcus Paige G - 29.2 mpg, 8.2 ppg, 4.6 apg
James Michael McAdoo F/C - 29.9 mpg, 14.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg
PJ Hairston^ G/F - 23.6 mpg, 14.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg

Additions:
Nate Britt G - 5-11 165
Kennedy Meeks F - 6-9 290
Isaiah Hicks F - 6-8 220

* - Game to be played at the Smith Center on the campus of UNC-CH

^ - Currently suspended for an unknown number of games

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Spartans Picked 8th by Media and Coaches

The Southern Conference media and coaches both picked UNCG to finish 8th this season. No Spartan player was selected for the preseason all-conference team.

Coaches Predicted Order of Finish
1. Elon (7)
2. Davidson (3)
3. Western Carolina (1)
4T. Appalachian State
4T. Samford
6. Wofford
7. Chattanooga
8. UNCG
9. Georgia Southern
10. Furman
11. The Citadel

2013-14 Preseason All-Conference Team
Jay Canty, Appalachian State
De’Mon Brooks, Davidson
Ryley Beaumont, Elon
Jack Isenbarger, Elon
Lucas Troutman, Elon
Raijon Kelly, Samford
Tim Williams, Samford
Z. Mason, Chattanooga
Trey Sumler, Western Carolina
Karl Cochran, Wofford

2013-14 Preseason Player of the Year
De’Mon Brooks, Davidson

Media Predicted Order of Finish
1. Elon (14)
2. Davidson (12)
3. Western Carolina
4. Samford
5. Wofford
6. Appalachian State
7. Chattanooga
8. UNCG
9. Furman
10. Georgia Southern
11. The Citadel

Preseason Preview: Presbyterian

Presbyterian College
@ UNCG December 3
Mascot: Blue Hose
Location: Clinton, SC
Enrollment: 1200
Conference: Big South
2012-2013 Record: 8-24 (4-12)
Postseason: N/A
Coach: Gregg Nibert (25th Season)

School Homepage
Athletics Homepage

Losses:
Khalid Mutakabbir G - 37.2 mpg, 15.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 24 apg
Ryan Hargrave F - 13.3 mpg, 3.7 ppg
Joshua Clyburn F - 28.8 mpg, 10.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg
Matthew Citron F - 3.8 mpg, 1.4 ppg

Top Returners:
Jordan Downing G - 34.3 mpg, 12.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg
Eric Washington G - 33.7 mpg, 8.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 6.5 apg

Additions:
Danny Herrera F - 6-5 215 (Transfer Miami Dade CC)
Markus Terry G - 6-1 200
Charlie Inclan G - 5-10 165
Ed Drew - F 6-5 205
Reggie Dillard G - 6-4 220

Preseason Preview: Louisiana Tech

Louisiana Tech University
VS UNCG November 25*
Mascot: Bulldogs
Location: Ruston, LA
Enrollment: 11,014
Conference: Conference USA
2012-2013 Record: 27-7 (16-2)
Postseason: NIT (L Second Round)
Coach: Michael White (3rd Season)

School Homepage
Athletics Homepage

Losses:
Brandon Gibson G - 19.9 mpg, 7.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg
J.L. Lewis F/C -10.7 mpg, 2.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg
Demario Johnson G - 1.8 mpg, 0.2 ppg
J.D. Wilkerson G - 1.7 mpg, 0.7 ppg

Top Returners:
Raheem Appleby G - 26.3 mpg, 14.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg
Cordaruis Johnson G - 20.7 mpg, 7.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Alex Hamilton G - 17.6 mpg, 7.8 ppg, 2.7 apg

Additions:
Josh Butler F - 6-6 225
Leo Edwards F - 6-8 230
Erik McCree^ F - 6-8 220 (Transfer Murray State)

* - Gulf Coast Showcase to be player at Germain Arena in Estero, FL
^ - Ineligible for 2013-2014 b/c of NCAA Transfer Rules

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Preseason Preview: Greensboro

Greensboro College
@ UNCG November 20*
Mascot: Pride
Location: Greensboro, NC
Enrollment: 1250
Conference: USA South (NCAA D3)
2012-2013 Record: 18-9 (9-5)
Postseason: N/A
Coach: Bryan Galuski (9th Season)

School Homepage
Athletics Homepage

Losses:
Luqman Tijani G - 29.2 mpg, 18.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.9 apg
Donald Anderson G - 22.6 mpg, 6.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg
Brian Thomas F - 27.6 mpg, 10.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg
Chakiris Moss G - 30.9 mpg, 8.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.1 apg

Top Returners:
Damian Dixon G - 28.8 mpg, 15.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.5 apg

Additions:
Devan Gregory G - 6-2
Edric Roberts F - 6-3

* - Game is being played as part of the Gulf Coast Showcase

Preseason Preview: Chowan

Chowan University
@ UNCG Novemebr 11
Mascot: Hawks
Location: Murfreesboro, NC
Enrollment: 1260
Conference: CIAA (NCAA D2)
2012-2013 Record:7-20 (0-16)
Postseason: N/A
Coach: Brett Vincent (2nd Season)

School Homepage
Athletics Homepage

Losses:
Quinton McDuffie F - 26.8 mpg, 14.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg
Alray Blackmon G - 9.8 mpg, 4.8 ppg
Rickey Lamb G/F - 20.8 mpg, 6.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg
Chris Williams F - 15.2 mpg, 5.ppg, 13.2 rpg
Jerry Fairley G - 10.5 mpg, 1.7 ppg

Top Returners
Kyree Bethel - 33.1 mpg, 13.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg
Ashante Ross - 29.9 mpg, 10.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg
Kortez Smith - 25.8 mpg, 9.1 ppg, 3.1 apg

Additions:
Carlos Arroyo G - 6-2
Tiron Brown G - 5-11 (Transfer Miles CC)
Warren Powers F - 6-6
Aaron Linton G - 5-7
Alex Tharp F - 6-8

Monday, October 21, 2013

Preseason Preview: East Carolina

East Carolina University
@ UNCG November 12
Mascot: Pirates
Location: Greenville, NC
Enrollment: 27,400
Conference: Conference USA
2012-2013 Record: 23-12 (9-7)
Postseason: CollegeInsiders.com Tournament (Champion)
Coach: Jeff Lebo (4th Season)

School Homepage
Athletics Homepage

Losses:
Miguel Paul G - 33.1 mpg, 13.3 ppg, 6.7 apg
Maurice Kemp F - 34.3 mpg, 18.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg
Shamarr Bowden G - 15.2 mpg, 4.6 ppg
Robert Sampson F - 29.9 mpg, 9.1 ppg, 9.2 rpg
Ty Armstrong F - 20.3 mpg, 9.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg
Corvonn Gaines G - 17.0 mpg, 2.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg

Top Returners:
Paris Roberts-Campbell G - 25.6 mpg, 5.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.8 apg
Akeem Richmond G - 20.1 mpg, 10.9 ppg, 1.1 apg

Additions:
Brandan Stith F - 6-7 215
Greg Alexander G - 6-4 200
Caleb White G - 6-7 190
Keith Armstrong* F - 6-7 240 (Transfer Robert Morris)
Michel Nzege* F- 6-7 215 (Transfer WSSU)
Terry Whsnant* G - 6-3 180 (Transfer Florida St)

* - Ineligible for 2013-2014 b/c of NCAA Transfer Rules

Friday, October 18, 2013

Preseason Preview: High Point

High Point University
@ UNCG November 8
Mascot: Panthers
Location: High Point, NC
Enrollment: 4500
Conference: Big South
2012-2013 Record: 17-14 (12-4)
Postseason: CollegeInsider.com Tournament (L 1st round)
Coach: Scott Cherry (5th Season)

School Hompage
Athletics Homepage

2012-2013 Stats
PPG: 71.6
RPG: 37.3
APG: 14.7
FG %: 44.7
3 Pt %: 31.2
FT %: 71.8

Losses:
Corey Law G - 14.6 mpg, 5.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg
Jarius Simms G - 16.8 mpg, 1.9 ppg, 3.2 apg
Landon Harris F - 3.4 mpg, 1.3 ppg
Branimir Mikulic F - 12.2 mpg, 3.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg

Top Returners:
Jon Brown F - 25.5 mpg, 16.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg
Allan Chaney F - 26.3 mpg, 14.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg
DeJuan McGaughy G - 22.8 mpg, 6.9 ppg, 2.5 apg

Additions:
Tarique Thompson F - 6-5 210
Jorge Perez-Laham - G 6-1 187
Anthony Lindauer - G 6-3 170
Matteo Bellusci G - 6-3 170 (Transfer Univ of Calgary)

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Preseason Preview: Lees-McRae

Lees-McRae College
@ UNCG Nov 2 (Exh)*
Mascot: Bobcats
Location: Banner Elk, NC
Enrollment: 882
Conference: Carolinas Conference (NCAA D2)
2012-2013 Record: 3-23 (3-17)
Postseason: N/A
Coach: Steve Hardin (3rd Season)

School Homepage
Athletics Homepage

2012-2013 Stats
PPG: 68.1
RPG: 36.2
APG: 11.8
FG %: 38.9
3 Pt %: 34.6
FT %: 68.1

Losses:
Jeremiah Henry F - 20.2 mpg, 6.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg
Daniel Sepokas G - 25.2 mpg, 16.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.1 apg
DJ Brown G - 21.7 mpg, 6.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg
Corey Young G - 17.5 mpg, 2.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.9 apg
Chad Epply G - 13.1 mpg, 4.2 ppg
Juan Urbina F - 8.9 mpg, 2.2 rpg
Asad Lamont G - 23.8 mpg, 10.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.5 apg
Jeremi King G - 6.7 mpg, 1.5 ppg
Will Lopez G - 8.8 mpg, 3.3 ppg
Aaron Bluitt G - 10.4 mpg, 3.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg
Gideon Oji C - 8.1 mpg, 1.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg
Charles Clarke F - 20.6 mpg, 7.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg
Robert Hathorne G - 5.3 mpg, 1.8 ppg

Top Returners:
DeAndre Tillman F - 14.6 mpg, 3.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg
Kyle Burton-Harper G - 8.2 mpg, 1.8 ppg, 1.4 rpg
James Saint Marc C - 8.0 mpg, 1.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg

Additions:
Josh Gaither G - 6-3 185
Jacquise Moore G - 6-3 175 (Transfer Wallace State CC)
Chad Hicks F - 6-4 210
Darius Smith G - 5-10 165 (Transfer UVA-Wise)
Donte Falls F - 6-6 190
Rishad Felton G - 5-10 170
Raul Tutton F - 6-6 195 (Transfer Motlow College)
Mike Chambers G - 6-2 170
Avery Wallis G - 6-4 175
Chase Arnold F - 6-5 205
Darius Malbon G - 6-4 175
Darryl Bond F - 6-8 215 (Transfer Motlow College)
Marcus Hash F - 6-6 175
Shakir Arnett G - 5-11 160
Damian Edwards G - 6-1 170
Sandy Elliot - G 5-9 175
Pharon Johnson G - 6-1 170
Dwain Jones G - 5-9 165
Jordan Michael G - 6-2 185
Justice Singletary G - 6-3 170
Tashan Thornton G - 6-0 160
Jordan Turner G - 6-2 160

* - Game to be played at Fleming Gym on the campus of UNCG

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Get Ready for the New Rules

In case you haven't heard, There will be several new rules in place for College basketball this season. Here are two ESPN.om articles about the new rules. The main changes relate to hand checking and the block-charge call. There was talk of shortening the shot clock from 35 seconds, but that never happened.

Here's the charge rule now ...

Defensive players will no longer be able to slide into the path of a player with the ball in an attempt to draw a charge once he has "started his upward motion" to pass or shoot. If the player is not set before the player begins that motion and leaves his feet, it will be a block.

As far as hand checking ...

A video was sent out to all Division I coaches last week with all the rules changes. Art Hyland, the secretary rules editor of the NCAA men's basketball rules committee, highlighted the proper enforcement of hand-checking rules, which has been moved from a guideline into the official rule book. These rules include:
• Keeping hand or forearm on an opponent.
• Putting two hands on an opponent.
• Continually jabbing an opponent by extending an arm or placing a hand or forearm on the opponent.
• Using an arm bar to impede the progress of a dribbler.

There are also some slight changes changes to the elbow rules and the times that the referees can go to the monitor for reviews. Read the articles for those changes.

The main reason for these changes is to increase the offense during college games this season. I'd expect it to really just increase the number of free throws and the length of games for quite a while at the beginning of the season. I guess we'll see how it goes from there.

Spartans to Face LA Tech in Florida Tournament

UNCG will face off with potential NCAA Tournament squad Louisiana Tech to start off the Gulf coast Showcase in Naples Florida. The pairing were announced in mid September. In the second of three games UNCG will play, the Spartans will face either San Diego or Illinois-Chicago.

UNCG will also face Greensboro College on November 20th at the Greensboro Coliseum as part of the Showcase.

The entire bracket can be found here.