UNCG Men’s Basketball Voted Second in SoCon Preseason Poll
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men’s basketball team was voted to finish second in The Southern Conference (SoCon) Preseason Coaches Poll and fourth in the media poll, announced by the league on Wednesday.
Graduate student Keyshaun Langley and senior Mikeal Brown-Jones were selected to the SoCon Preseason All-SoCon team.
Head Coach Mike Jones, reigning SoCon Coach of the Year, will lead the Spartans during his third year with the Blue & Gold. Jones and UNCG finished third in the regular season at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season.
With eight returners and six newcomers, three of them transfers, UNCG will showcase some familiar faces from last season. Reigning SoCon Defensive Player of the Year, Kobe Langley, and his twin brother Keyshaun, who was named to the SoCon Coaches and Media All-SoCon first teams, both led the way in the conference with 57 steals last season ranking 82nd in the nation.
Kobe was the SoCon leader in assist/turnover ratio (2.58). Keyshaun’s 41.9 three-point percentage was second in the conference and 11th in the nation, while his 14.3 points per game led the team. Brown-Jones also returns for the Spartans, as he is one of two returners that averaged double figures last year, tallying 10.1 in his first year with the Blue & Gold.
Last season, the Spartans finished 20-12 overall and 14-4 in the SoCon. This was the first time under the direction of Coach Jones and first time since the 2020-21 season that the Spartans won 20 or more games. Nationally, the team finished in the top 50 in three categories, including 21st in field goal percentage defense, 35th in scoring defense, and 49th in scoring margin.
UNCG begins its 2023-24 season against Greensboro foe NC A&T on Friday, November 10 at 7 p.m. inside the Greensboro Coliseum.
To purchase tickets for the 2023-24 UNCG men’s basketball season, click here to learn more or call the UNCG Athletics Ticket Office at (336) 334-3250.
2023-24 Southern Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Team (1st-place votes)
Total
1. Furman (8) 80 2. UNCG (1) 68 3. Western Carolina 62 4. Samford 61 5. Chattanooga (1) 53 6. Mercer 38 7. ETSU 34 8. Wofford 24 9. The Citadel 21 10. VMI 9
2023-24 Preseason Southern Conference Player of the Year
Vonterius Woolbright, Sr., G, Western Carolina
2023-24 Preseason All-Southern Conference team
Marcus Foster, R-Sr., G, Furman
JP Pegues, Jr., G, Furman
Jalyn McCreary, R-Sr., F, Mercer
Mikeal Brown-Jones, Sr., F, UNCG
Keyshaun Langley, Gr., G, UNCG
Jermaine Marshall, Sr., F, Samford
Honor Huff, So., G, Chattanooga
Tre Jackson, Sr., G, Western Carolina
Russell Jones Jr, Sr., G, Western Carolina
Vonterius Woolbright, Sr., G, Western Carolina
2023-24 Southern Conference Preseason Media Poll
Team (1st-place votes)
Total
1. Furman (8) 153 T2. Western Carolina (4) 134 T2. Samford (1) 134 4. UNCG (2) 126 5. Chattanooga 107 6. ETSU (1) 89 7. Mercer (1) 77 8. Wofford 54 9. The Citadel 41 10. VMI 20
Courtesy of Denise Archetto
Assistant Athletic Director For Strategic Communications
UNC Greensboro