A new coach, a new season, as the men’s team hosts North Carolina A&T (Nov. 9), Coppin State (Nov. 15), North Carolina Wesleyan (Nov. 24), Vermont (Nov. 27) and Elon (Nov. 30) this month in the Greensboro Coliseum.
“Fans can expect a team that competes hard each and every time it takes the floor,” Coach Mike Jones said. “Intensity and effort are non-negotiables in our program and we will challenge our players to bring both of those qualities into each workout, practice and game this year.”
Jones served as head coach at Radford (Va.) University, where he led his teams to three Big South regular season championships and to the NCAA tournament. A two-time Big South Coach of the Year, the Howard graduate was an assistant coach at VCU when it went to the 2011 Final Four.
UNCG enters this year having recorded five consecutive seasons of 20 or more victories. The Spartans are the defending Southern Conference Tournament champions. UNCG returns eight players from last season’s team, which went to the NCAA Tournament under Coach Wes Miller, now at Cincinnati.
Jones is excited about the challenge ahead.
“The key to reaching our goals, like reaching any goal, is to work,” Jones said. “We must have a relentless work ethic to have a chance to achieve anything we want in life of value, and we must all be willing to hold each other accountable to putting in that work.”
To purchase tickets, call 336-334-3250 or visit uncgspartans.com. Ask about a special discount offer for faculty/staff.
By Rob Knox
Photography by Martin W. Kane