Winthrop finally shook off its Covid problems to play its first basketball game of the season, knocking off UNCG 75-67.

The game, of course, was arranged at the last minute, replacing a scheduled UNCG-Prairie View bout. Winthrop had been scheduled to square off against UNCG Sunday night, but that was cancelled, also at the last minute of course. Together with the Spartan’s first game win over Arkansas Little Rock, this gives us a picture of some of UNCG’s strengths and weakness early season.

Little Rock outplayed UNCG in a half court game, pushing out to an 11 point lead with 9:38 left in the first half. But at that point UNCG stepped up the pressure in the press and gradually turned it around the game around. This was the fiercest Spartan press we’ve seen in a couple of years. Little Rock could never figure it out. Time and again UNCG, and especially Isaiah Miller, grabbed a steal in the press and turned it into an immediate bucket.

UNCG did not shoot well from the perimeter against Little Rock (7-26 for 26.9% from 3; and 16-26 for 61.5% from the FT line). But the press generated enough turnovers and baskets to make up for it.

Winthrop did a better job handling the press especially with 6-7 Chandler Vaudrin directing things. One move that worked was this – when Vaudrin made his first pass out of the double team, UNCG defenders would all swarm to the guy receiving the pass. A simple return pass, back to Vaudrin, allowed him to move the ball forward before the defenders could turn back to him. He was on the court for 36 minutes to help navigate the problem. Winthrop did not get rattled and burned several time outs to avoid 10 second calls.

UNCG’s shooting woes continued against Winthrop as they went 7-29 from 3 (24.1%) and 16-38 from 2 for 42.1%.

The only guys hitting consistently from 3 are 7-1 Hayden Koval (5-11 .455) and Angelo Allegri (.313 5-16) as the Spartans are at .255 on the year.

7- 1 Hayden Koval is a skinny but long and effective defender. He got 7 blocks against Little Rock, but only 3 against Winthrop. The more physical Golden Eagles had some success taking it right at him.

Highly touted 6-8 225 Redshirt freshman 'Ricco Williams was a non factor in 7 minutes with 1 point, 1 rebound and 3 turnovers. He's strong and ready to battle, but raw.

Covid permitting, we’ll see more of UNCG, which is scheduled to square off against Duquesne today (12-2) and Louisville Friday (12-5).

Thank you for the insightful review. Well done

Duquesne handled UNCG fairly easily, 81-68.

Key to the effort was the Duke’s ability to break the Spartan’s vaunted press while hardly breaking a sweat. UNCG needs the press, not only to slow the opponent’s scoring, but to generate turnovers and scoring of their own, to counter their difficulties in half court offense, and in particular their limited ability shooting 3’s.

UNCG’s starters (Isaiah Miller, Keyshawn Langley, Mohammed Abdulsalam, Hayden Koval and Kaleb Hunter) were a combined 0-10 from 3. UNCG was 3-11 from 3 at the half (27%). In the second half they got a boost from subs Angelo Allegri (4-4) and true Freshman A.J. McGinnis (4-5) from long range. But Duquesne was comfortably ahead at that point and trading baskets. Together Allegri and McGinnis got 8 of the Spartan's 9 made 3's. The rest of the team was a combined 1-16 from 3. McGinnis and Allegri may see their playing time increase if others don’t show more long range shooting.

7-1 Hayden Koval had a rough evening, getting only 3 points on 1-5 shooting, 4 rebounds and 3 blocks, all well below his averages. He looked a little intimidated by some of Duquesne’s physical, muscular, athletic and very aggressive front court players. ‘Ricco Williams took a seat (coaches decision) after almost coming to blows with one of those bigs. Both drew technical for the incident.

UNCG has now beaten Arkansas Little Rock by 7. Arkansas Little Rock has beaten Duquesne by 10. And Duquesne has beaten UNCG by 13. So it might be a good idea not to put too much stock in these early season games.

Along those lines, MTSU just beat Murray St by 17, 78-61. So ETSU’s 14 point win over MTSU may be a little better than some folks thought.