UNC Greensboro Spartans men's basketball
Encyclopedia
The UNCG Spartans men's basketball team represents the University of North Carolina at Greensboro
in NCAA Division I. The school's team currently competes in the Southern Conference
.
, 66–61. The five seniors from the team had their numbers honored. Scott Hartzell finished his career as the mens basketball’s all-time leading scorer with 1,539.
On March 4, 2001, the men’s basketball team won its first Southern Conference championship on David Schuck’s buzzer-beating layup. The team went on to play top-ranked Stanford in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, its second trip to the "Big Dance" in five years. Guard Nathan Jameson was named first-team Verizon Academic All-America.
On December 31, 2005, UNCG hosted top-ranked Duke at the Greensboro Coliseum in front of a record crowd of 21,124. The near capacity crowd was the largest to ever see a UNCG athletic event.
served as the architect of the program in its move to Division I. He was the Spartans' head coach from 1991-95, leading them from a team with no conference affiliation to the top of the Big South Conference
regular season standings in just four seasons. In his last two seasons at UNCG, Dement's teams went 38-18, including a school-record 23 wins in 1994-95. That year, his team won the Big South Conference's regular season title and was the runner up in the conference tournament. The team received votes in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches' polls for the first time in school history during that record-setting season.
. After four years with the Spartans, Peele was promoted to replace former head coach Mike Dement
, who had left to take over the men's basketball program at SMU
.
In Peele's first season, only the second year in which UNC-Greensboro was eligible for Division I postseason competition, the Spartans won the Big South Conference
regular season and tournament championships. In the NCAA tournament
, UNC-Greensboro were the 15th seed in the Southeast region, and fell in the first round to the Cincinnati Bearcats
.
After 1996, however, Peele had little success with the Spartans. UNC-Greensboro followed up their Big South championship with a 10-20 regular season, and then left the Big South in 1997 to join the Southern Conference
. The Spartans finished at or near the bottom of their division in both of their first two seasons in the SoCon, and after four years in Greensboro, Peele left the Spartans and took an assistant's job with the Virginia Tech Hokies
.
In McCaffery's second season, he guided the Spartans to unprecedented heights with a 19-12 record and the 2001 SoCon Tournament Championship. The Spartans defeated Chattanooga, 67-66, in the finals and received the SoCon's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The following year (2001-2002) McCaffery led the Spartans to their first 20-win season since joining the conference. It marked the first time the program claimed a share of the SoCon North Division title as well. After falling to eventual tournament champion Davidson in the conference tournament semifinals, the Spartans were awarded a berth into the 2002 NIT, where they lost to eventual champion Memphis.
In his final year in Greensboro, McCaffery brought the Spartans to the brink of the NCAA Tournament before a SoCon Championship game loss to Chattanooga. He led UNCG to a victory over Davidson
in the semifinals, defeating a team that had been 16-0 in conference play. A big part of that success was SoCon Freshman of the Year Kyle Hines. Hines set UNCG and SoCon records for blocked shots, and also broke several other UNCG single-game and freshman single-season marks.
and at home against a Gardner-Webb team that had gone right down to the buzzer with North Carolina
two weeks earlier. But like many young squads do, the Spartans had their struggles down the stretch and a 7-3 start -- one of the best in school history -- was forgotten with February's fumbles. Yet still, 10th-seeded UNCG knocked off seventh-seeded Western Carolina in the opening round of the conference tournament and then had three shots at the end of regulation to beat second-seeded Elon, only to fall in overtime in the SoCon quarterfinals.
In 2006-07, Dement guided the Spartans to a 16-14 mark, including a second place finish in the Southern Conference's Northern Division. Hines, only a junior, earned Southern Conference Player of the Year and Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention status - a pair of firsts in the history of the UNCG program. The Spartans were considered by many to be the most dangerous team in the SoCon Tournament, but were upended in the final seconds by Furman in the quarterfinal round.
In 2007-08, the Spartans began the season and ended the season with a bit of history. A season-opening win at Georgia Tech
gave the Spartans their first-ever win over an ACC team. UNCG also picked up big road wins out of conference at Fordham
and UNC Wilmington
.
In 2008-2009, with a roster that had no seniors on it, the Spartans finished with a 5-25 mark. Still, the Spartans swept the season-series with backyard rival Elon
and split with Appalachian State
.
. The arena, which holds over 23,000 seats, is configured to hold around 7,500 spectators for most games.
As part of the move, the Coliseum remodeled a floor to become a Spartan home floor and also completely renovated a massive locker room space for the team, complete with training room, meeting facilities, coaches offices and a players' lounge.
The UNCG men’s basketball program is taking advantage of the opportunity by playing against ACC teams, Southern Conference opponents, UNC system schools and other nationally-ranked programs in the Coliseum. During the 2010-2011 season, UNCG will host ACC foes Florida State, Miami, #24 Virginia Tech
, and #1 Duke
.
became the first player in UNCG history to receive the Southern Conference Player of the Year
honor and to be named to the Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention. He became only the sixth player to score 2,000 points, grab 1,000 rebounds and block 300 shots in his college career. He joined the ranks of David Robinson, Alonzo Mourning, Tim Duncan, Pervis Ellison and Derrick Coleman.
appearance.
During the 2001-2002 season, he was ranked 9th in the Nation and 1st in the SoCon in steals, 23rd in the nation and 3rd in the conference in assists, UNCG All-Time leader in steals, 2nd All-Time leader in assists, and 5th
All-Time Leading Scorer. The Spartans won the 2002 Southern Conference regular season title and earned a bid to the NIT
.
In 1995-96, Hartzell led the Spartans to its first NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament appearance. He led UNCG to the 1996 Big South Championship, crushing Liberty by 26 points in the title game on its home floor. During that memorable run, Hartzell ran his streak of consecutive games with a three-point field goal to 42 straight. The Spartans gained a first round match-up with Cincinnati in the NCAA Tournament, nearly knocking off the No. 7-ranked Bearcats before falling, 66-61.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro , also known as UNC Greensboro, is a public university in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States and is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina system. The university offers more than 100 undergraduate, 61 master's and 26...
in NCAA Division I. The school's team currently competes in the Southern Conference
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
.
Program history
On March 2, 1996, men’s basketball knocked off Liberty, 79–53, to claim the Big South Tournament Championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in Division I. The Spartans lost to Cincinnati in the NCAA Tournament1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1996, and ended with the championship game on April 1 at Continental Airlines Arena in...
, 66–61. The five seniors from the team had their numbers honored. Scott Hartzell finished his career as the mens basketball’s all-time leading scorer with 1,539.
On March 4, 2001, the men’s basketball team won its first Southern Conference championship on David Schuck’s buzzer-beating layup. The team went on to play top-ranked Stanford in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, its second trip to the "Big Dance" in five years. Guard Nathan Jameson was named first-team Verizon Academic All-America.
On December 31, 2005, UNCG hosted top-ranked Duke at the Greensboro Coliseum in front of a record crowd of 21,124. The near capacity crowd was the largest to ever see a UNCG athletic event.
Mike Dement Era
Mike DementMike Dement
Mike Dement is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro...
served as the architect of the program in its move to Division I. He was the Spartans' head coach from 1991-95, leading them from a team with no conference affiliation to the top of the Big South Conference
Big South Conference
The Big South Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I. The conference's football teams are part of the Football Championship Subdivision...
regular season standings in just four seasons. In his last two seasons at UNCG, Dement's teams went 38-18, including a school-record 23 wins in 1994-95. That year, his team won the Big South Conference's regular season title and was the runner up in the conference tournament. The team received votes in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches' polls for the first time in school history during that record-setting season.
Randy Peele Era
In 1991, Peele accepted an assistant's job at the UNC-GreensboroUniversity of North Carolina at Greensboro
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro , also known as UNC Greensboro, is a public university in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States and is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina system. The university offers more than 100 undergraduate, 61 master's and 26...
. After four years with the Spartans, Peele was promoted to replace former head coach Mike Dement
Mike Dement
Mike Dement is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro...
, who had left to take over the men's basketball program at SMU
SMU Mustangs
The SMU Mustangs is the name of the athletic teams representing Southern Methodist University. The Mustangs participate in the NCAA's Division I as a member of Conference USA. In 2005, SMU accepted an invitation to the Western Division of Conference USA, and left the Western Athletic Conference...
.
In Peele's first season, only the second year in which UNC-Greensboro was eligible for Division I postseason competition, the Spartans won the Big South Conference
Big South Conference
The Big South Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I. The conference's football teams are part of the Football Championship Subdivision...
regular season and tournament championships. In the NCAA tournament
1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1996, and ended with the championship game on April 1 at Continental Airlines Arena in...
, UNC-Greensboro were the 15th seed in the Southeast region, and fell in the first round to the Cincinnati Bearcats
Cincinnati Bearcats
The Cincinnati Bearcats are the NCAA athletic teams representing the University of Cincinnati. Since July 1, 2005, the school's athletic teams have been members of the Big East Conference....
.
After 1996, however, Peele had little success with the Spartans. UNC-Greensboro followed up their Big South championship with a 10-20 regular season, and then left the Big South in 1997 to join the Southern Conference
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
. The Spartans finished at or near the bottom of their division in both of their first two seasons in the SoCon, and after four years in Greensboro, Peele left the Spartans and took an assistant's job with the Virginia Tech Hokies
Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball
The Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Home games are played at Cassell Coliseum, located on Virginia Tech's campus in Blacksburg.-History:...
.
Fran McCaffery Era
McCaffery guided UNC-Greensboro from 1999 to 2005, where he posted a 90-87 record in six seasons. In his first year at the helm, Greensboro compiled a 15-13 record overall and a 9-7 Southern Conference mark, good for third place in the North Division. It was the 18th-most improved record nationally among NCAA Division I teams.In McCaffery's second season, he guided the Spartans to unprecedented heights with a 19-12 record and the 2001 SoCon Tournament Championship. The Spartans defeated Chattanooga, 67-66, in the finals and received the SoCon's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The following year (2001-2002) McCaffery led the Spartans to their first 20-win season since joining the conference. It marked the first time the program claimed a share of the SoCon North Division title as well. After falling to eventual tournament champion Davidson in the conference tournament semifinals, the Spartans were awarded a berth into the 2002 NIT, where they lost to eventual champion Memphis.
In his final year in Greensboro, McCaffery brought the Spartans to the brink of the NCAA Tournament before a SoCon Championship game loss to Chattanooga. He led UNCG to a victory over Davidson
Davidson Wildcats men's basketball
The Davidson Wildcats basketball team is the basketball team that represents Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina, in the NCAA Division I. The school's team currently competes in the Southern Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2008. The...
in the semifinals, defeating a team that had been 16-0 in conference play. A big part of that success was SoCon Freshman of the Year Kyle Hines. Hines set UNCG and SoCon records for blocked shots, and also broke several other UNCG single-game and freshman single-season marks.
Return of Mike Dement
In his first season back at UNCG, Dement led a young Spartan squad to a 12-19 mark. He had two players earning all-conference status in Ricky Hickman and Kyle Hines, and another earning SoCon All-Freshman honors. Early in the season, UNCG won on the road at East CarolinaEast Carolina Pirates men's basketball
The East Carolina Pirates men's basketball team represents East Carolina University in NCAA Division I college basketball and competes in Conference USA...
and at home against a Gardner-Webb team that had gone right down to the buzzer with North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball
The North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is considered one of the most successful programs in NCAA history...
two weeks earlier. But like many young squads do, the Spartans had their struggles down the stretch and a 7-3 start -- one of the best in school history -- was forgotten with February's fumbles. Yet still, 10th-seeded UNCG knocked off seventh-seeded Western Carolina in the opening round of the conference tournament and then had three shots at the end of regulation to beat second-seeded Elon, only to fall in overtime in the SoCon quarterfinals.
In 2006-07, Dement guided the Spartans to a 16-14 mark, including a second place finish in the Southern Conference's Northern Division. Hines, only a junior, earned Southern Conference Player of the Year and Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention status - a pair of firsts in the history of the UNCG program. The Spartans were considered by many to be the most dangerous team in the SoCon Tournament, but were upended in the final seconds by Furman in the quarterfinal round.
In 2007-08, the Spartans began the season and ended the season with a bit of history. A season-opening win at Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball team represents the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in NCAA Division I basketball. The team plays its home games in Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Under the tenure of Bobby Cremins, Georgia Tech established itself as a national force in basketball...
gave the Spartans their first-ever win over an ACC team. UNCG also picked up big road wins out of conference at Fordham
Fordham Rams
The 22 Fordham University varsity sports teams are known as the Fordham Rams. Their colors are maroon and white. The Fordham Rams are members of NCAA Division I and compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference for all sports except football. In football, the Rams play in the Patriot League of NCAA...
and UNC Wilmington
UNC Wilmington Seahawks men's basketball
The UNCW Seahawks men's basketball team represents the University of North Carolina Wilmington. The team plays in the Colonial Athletic Association and is currently coached by Buzz Peterson...
.
In 2008-2009, with a roster that had no seniors on it, the Spartans finished with a 5-25 mark. Still, the Spartans swept the season-series with backyard rival Elon
Elon Phoenix Basketball
Elon Phoenix is the name that denotes the 16 intercollegiate co-ed athletics played at Elon University. These men’s and women’s sports are all in the NCAA Division I. They are a part of the Southern Conference as well. Aside from the intercollegiate sports, Elon also offers 18 intramural sports and...
and split with Appalachian State
Appalachian State Mountaineers men's basketball
The Appalachian State Mountaineers basketball team is the college basketball team at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. The Mountaineers have competed in the Southern Conference since 1972, and are currently a Division I member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association ....
.
Move to Greensboro Coliseum
Beginning with the 2009–10 season, the men's basketball team plays all of their home games in the Greensboro ColiseumGreensboro Coliseum
The Greensboro Coliseum Complex is an entertainment complex located in College Hill neighborhood of Greensboro, North Carolina. Opening in 1959, the arena was one of the largest venues in the South, with a seating capacity of over 7,000...
. The arena, which holds over 23,000 seats, is configured to hold around 7,500 spectators for most games.
As part of the move, the Coliseum remodeled a floor to become a Spartan home floor and also completely renovated a massive locker room space for the team, complete with training room, meeting facilities, coaches offices and a players' lounge.
The UNCG men’s basketball program is taking advantage of the opportunity by playing against ACC teams, Southern Conference opponents, UNC system schools and other nationally-ranked programs in the Coliseum. During the 2010-2011 season, UNCG will host ACC foes Florida State, Miami, #24 Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball
The Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Home games are played at Cassell Coliseum, located on Virginia Tech's campus in Blacksburg.-History:...
, and #1 Duke
Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
.
Retired Numbers
Kyle Hines #42
In the 2006-07 season, Kyle HinesKyle Hines
Kyle Tyrrell Hines is an American former college basketball player for the University of North Carolina Greensboro Spartans and current professional player internationally.-Personal:...
became the first player in UNCG history to receive the Southern Conference Player of the Year
Southern Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The Southern Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is a basketball award given to the Southern Conference's most outstanding player. The award was first given following the 1951–52 season. Fred Hetzel of Davidson is the only player to have won the award three times...
honor and to be named to the Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention. He became only the sixth player to score 2,000 points, grab 1,000 rebounds and block 300 shots in his college career. He joined the ranks of David Robinson, Alonzo Mourning, Tim Duncan, Pervis Ellison and Derrick Coleman.
Courtney Eldridge #23
Lead the Spartans to the 2001 Southern Conference Tournament championship against University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and their second NCAA Tournament2001 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2001 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 2001 with the play-in game, and ended with the championship game on April 2 in...
appearance.
During the 2001-2002 season, he was ranked 9th in the Nation and 1st in the SoCon in steals, 23rd in the nation and 3rd in the conference in assists, UNCG All-Time leader in steals, 2nd All-Time leader in assists, and 5th
All-Time Leading Scorer. The Spartans won the 2002 Southern Conference regular season title and earned a bid to the NIT
2002 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Temple 65, Syracuse 64...
.
Scott Hartzell #5
Inducted into the UNCG Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006, Hartzell led UNCG in three-point field goals, three-point shooting percentage, and free throw shooting percentage all four seasons. He graduated in 1996 as the school’s all-time leader in points 1,539 and assists with 552. His scoring mark now sits fifth on the all-time list, while his assist total sits second. He still holds the UNCG records for career three-pointers made (309), attempted (704) and shooting percentage (43%).In 1995-96, Hartzell led the Spartans to its first NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament appearance. He led UNCG to the 1996 Big South Championship, crushing Liberty by 26 points in the title game on its home floor. During that memorable run, Hartzell ran his streak of consecutive games with a three-point field goal to 42 straight. The Spartans gained a first round match-up with Cincinnati in the NCAA Tournament, nearly knocking off the No. 7-ranked Bearcats before falling, 66-61.
Season-by-season results
2010-11 Roster
| # | Name | Position | Ht | Wt | Class | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | David Williams | G | 6-6 | 200 | FR | Jacksonville, FL |
| 1 | Drew Parker | G | 6-2 | 178 | FR | LaPorte, TX |
| 2 | Darrius Sellers | F | 6-7 | 230 | JR | Smyrna, GA |
| 3 | Robby Dilmore | G | 6-2 | 160 | SO | Pfafftown, NC |
| 4 | Kendall Bethea | G | 6-3 | 208 | FR | Lincolnton, NC |
| 11 | Korey VanDussen | G | 6-2 | 175 | SO | Zeeland, MI |
| 12 | Kyle Randall | G | 5-11 | 165 | SO | Youngstown, OH |
| 13 | Aloysius Henry | F | 6-10 | 235 | JR | St. Lucia, |
| 15 | Trevis Simpson | G-F | 6-4 | 186 | FR | Douglas, GA |
| 20 | Brandon Davis | G | 6-2 | 165 | JR | McLeansville, NC |
| 21 | Elhanan Bone | F | 6-8 | 220 | JR | Sandersville, GA |
| 22 | Brandon Evans | G | 6-2 | 210 | SR | Jackson, TN |
| 33 | Tyler McNeely | F | 6-6 | 220 | FR | Princeton, NJ |
| 34 | Cody Henegar | F | 6-9 | 200 | FR | South Pittsburg, TN |
| 41 | Aaron Brackett | F | 6-8 | 230 | JR | Virginia Beach, VA |
| 50 | Brian Cole | F-C | 6-8 | 220 | SO | Dacula, GA |
| 51 | Taylor Hoffer | F | 6-7 | 215 | FR | Poulsbo, WA |
Current coaching staff
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Mike Dement Mike Dement Mike Dement is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro... |
Head Coach |
| Corey Gipson | Associate Head Coach |
| Wes Miller | Assistant Coach |
| Kevin Oleksiak | Assistant Coach |
| Brian Judski | Director of Basketball Operations |
Notable former players
| Name | - |
|---|---|
| Ronnie Burrell Ronnie Burrell Ronnie Burrell is an American professional basketball player, currently playing for the German team EWE Baskets Oldenburg.- Biography :... |
Playing for Poland's Asseco Prokom Gdynia in the Euroleague. Named the 2006-07 Euroleague Week-4 MVP...won the 2008-09 Polish National Championship with Asseco Prokom...won the 2007 German National Cup with RheinEnergie Cologne...named to the 2004-05 All Southern Conference 2nd Team. |
| Courtney Eldridge | Playing in Italy for A.B. Latina. (2009-10 season) |
| Josh Gross | Drafted by Albuquerque Thunderbirds in the 2007 NBA development league draft. Played on part of the 2008 NBA Development League Ambassadors. |
| Scott Hartzell | Inducted into the UNCG Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006 |
| Ricky Hickman | Playing in Finland for Namika Lahti and averaging 24.8 ppg through 13 games. (2009-2010 season) |
| Kyle Hines Kyle Hines Kyle Tyrrell Hines is an American former college basketball player for the University of North Carolina Greensboro Spartans and current professional player internationally.-Personal:... |
Playing in Italy for Prima Veroli. (2009-10 season) |
| Jay Joseph | Playing for Feytroun (Lebanon). (2008-09 season) |
| James Maye | In 2006-07, started 33 games and averaged 15.8 ppg for the NBA's D-League Dakota Wizards. Went on to win 2006-07 Championship. |
| Ronnie Taylor | Playing in France for Le Portel. (2009-10 season) |
| Bart Tooms | Playing in Netherlands for Upstairs Weert. (2009-10 season) |
External links
- UNC Greensboro official athletics website