Gipson Promoted, Miller Hired

According to the UNCGSpartans.com website, assistant coach Corey Gipson was promoted by UNCG to associate head coach. Gipson replaces Rod Jensen who left to be the head coach at the College of Idaho. Gipson is a graduate of Austin Peay. He also has an associate's degree from Three Rivers Community College. This is the same school that incoming player Aloysius Henry has attended the last 2 seasons. Corey came to UNCG before the start of last season.

Also from the UNCGSpartans.com website, Wes Miller has been hired to fill the final UNCG coaching spot. Miller comes to the Spartans after serving as an assistant coaching stints at Elon and High Point in the past 2 seasons. After starting his playing career at James Madison, Miller played 3 seasons at UNC-Chapel Hill. He was a member of the 2005 UNC national championship team. He was a team captain on the 2006-2007 squad.

Congrats Corey and welcome to the Spartans, Wes !!!

Jensen Takes Head Coaching Job

First let me apologize for taking some time off from blogging. I've been quite busy with the birth of my first child a few weeks ago. Obviously, the newest Spartan fan has demanded a lot of my attention lately. But now that mommy and new baby are both doing well, I have a few minutes to make some posts updating things that have slipped by me since the end of basketball season.

Associate head coach Rod Jensen has left UNCG to take the head coaching position at the College of Idaho. Jensen had already spent many years in the state of Idaho as an assistant and head coach at Boise State. As you might remember, Jensen was the interim head coach for the Spartans win against Elon as coach Mike Dement was serving his one game suspension after being ejected from the UNCG-Samford game.

Good luck, coach Jensen in your new position and thanks for your time with the Spartans.

Spartans Pick Up 2 JUCO Big Men

The UNCG Athletics website has announced the signing of 2 more players to National Letters of Intent (NLI). Aloysius Henry (PF 6'-9" 235 lbs) is originally from St. Lucia, but has played the last 2 seasons at Three Rivers C.C. in Poplar Bluff, MO. Aaron Brackett (PF 6'-8" 245 lbs) is originally from Virginia Beach, VA and has spent his last 2 years at Allegany College of Maryland in Cumberland, MD.

Henry (Rivals, Scout) helped his team reach the NJCAA finals this season before falling to Howard College. Henry picked the Spartans over Colorado, Iowa State, Wright State, Tennessee Tech, and UT-San Antonio. He is a graduate of Bocage Secondary in St. Lucia and has spent the last 2 seasons playing for Gene Bess, the winningest coach in NJCAA. Assistant coach Corey Gipson also spent 2 seasons at Three Rivers. Henry's brother, Arnold, played basketball at Vermont and North Florida. This season he averaged 11.5 pts, 7.3 rebs, 1 assists & 1.2 blocks per game. This St. Lucia Sports Blog has kept up with Henry's progress.

Brackett (Rivals) is a NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American this past season that attended high school at Kempsville. In his freshman season at Allegany, he helped lead his team to the NJCAA tournament. This past season he averaged 12.1 pts, 10 rebs, 1.1 assists & 0.9 steals a game.

Here is a YouTube video of Aaron from high school.


Welcome to the Spartans, Aloysius and Aaron !!!

This should end this recruiting cycle for the Spartans. In addition to Henry and Brackett, UNCG signed David Williams (SG/SF 6'-6" 200 lbs Jacksonville, FL) to NLI's this spring. Drew Parker (PG 6'-3" 180 lbs Houston, TX), Trevis Simpson (SG/SF 6'-5" 180 lbs Douglas, GA) and Cody Henegar (PF/C 6'-9" 210 lbs Jasper, TN) signed NLI's this past fall. Another fall signee, Mike Liabo (SG 6'-6" 185 lbs Carbondale, IL), is heading to UT-Martin according to this OVCSports.com article.

Williams is Newest Spartan

According to this Indiana basketball blog, David Williams (6'-7" G/F, Jacksonville FL) has verbally committed to UNCG.

Taylor said that David Williams, who verbally committed to Indiana before opening up his recruitment, will play for North Carolina-Greensboro.

- ESPN has Williams rated at 83.

- Rivals & Scout both rate Williams as a 2-star player.

- Williams previously gave a verbal commitment to Indiana, before re-opening his recruitment. He was also receiving attention from Clemson, Florida State and several SEC schools.

Welcome to the Spartans, David !!!

Opponents & Postseason

Here is a list of 2009-2010 UNCG opponents. Beside of the names are the postseason tournament that they are competing in, if they were invited.

Duke (NCAA)
Va Tech (NIT)
Clemson (NCAA)
USC-Upstate
East Carolina
Samford
Charleston (CBI)
Princeton (CBI)
Akron (CBI)
Richmond (NCAA)
Wake Forest (NCAA)
NC State (NIT)
Maryland (NCAA)
Wofford (NCAA)
Furman
Chattanooga
Western Carolina (CIT)
App State (CIT)
Chattanooga
Samford
Elon
Furman
Wofford (NCAA)
App State (CIT)
Western Carolina (CIT)
Elon
Citadel
Davidson
Ga Southern
Furman
Wofford (NCAA)

17 games (out of 31) against postseason teams.

NCAA = NCAA Tournament
NIT = National Invitational Tournament
CBI = College Basketball Invitational
CIT = CollegeInsider.com Tournament

Terriers Ends UNCG's Run

UNCG 47 - Wofford 59

News & Record
Charlotte Observer
UNCG Athletics
Wofford Athletics

#4N UNCG (8-22) vs #1S Wofford (23-8)

When: Saturday, March 6 4:30 pm*
Where: Bojangles Coliseum (9,605)
TV: None/SoConTV.com

* This game is scheduled to start approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Western Carolina-Elon game. That game will tip at 2 pm.

- The winner of today's game will advance to take on the winner of the 2 pm at approximately 6 pm tomorrow at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Wofford Athletics
Wofford Forum

Spartan Notes:
- Yesterday, UNCG got the benefit of a mistake by Furman's Amu Saaka. Saaka went for a 2 point basket when the Paladins needed a 3 pointer to tie. Even though he made the basket, the Spartans won 66-65.
-The Spartans have now won 2 games in a row and 3 of their last 4 games.
- The Spartan lost both contests to Wofford this season.
- Ben Stywall leads UNCG in scoring (14.2) and rebounding (10.4) . Kyle Randall leads the team in assists (2.6).
- For the year, UNCG is shooting 38.8% from the field, 29.2% from behind the arc and 69.4% from the free throw line.

Terrier Notes:
- Last time out, Wofford lead all the way en route to a win over Citadel, 75-66. Noah Dahlman lead Wofford with 18 points.
- Dahlman was named Southern Conference Player of the Year by the coaches. Wofford coach Mike Young was named Coach of the Year by the media and the coaches.
Wofford will get the SoCon automatic bid to the NIT should they not win the conference tournament.
- Dahlman leads Wofford in scoring (17.4). Tim Johnson leads in rebounds (7.8) and Brad Loesing leads the team in assists (3.1).
- For the season, Wofford is shooting 44.1% from the field, 35.2% from behind the arc and 67% from the free throw line.

My Thoughts:
UNCG has got to continue to survive and advance. The Spartans haven't played well against Wofford this season. Hopefully, they will this time.

Go Spartans !!!