Schedule outlook
UNC Greensboro basketball doesn’t have a particularly difficult non-conference schedule for the 2021-22 season, but a target will remain on their back after winning both conference crowns outright in SoCon basketball. They went 21-9 on the year and 8-4 in nonconference action this past year and with some pieces back, they could meet that win-total once again.
Things should get interesting when they face UMass basketball in the Jersey Mike’s Classic in St. Petersburg, Florida during the Thanksgiving break. They’re a team recovering from the loss of Tre Mitchell (Texas) that should give the Spartans a test.
The biggest obstacle on the schedule for UNC Greensboro basketball looks to be SEC basketball’s Tennessee Volunteers, who should prove to be more than a bear on the road. Their talented frontcourt has a load of talent led by head coach Rick Barnes.
After that though, Towson and UMBC on the road with Johson & Wales at home to close things out should give the Spartans an idea of their identity as a team before SoCon basketball starts in January.
The Spartans open things up in SoCon play on the road against Western Carolina, which should be a good measuring stick for them to open things. They’ll host Wofford and Furman before three straight road games against VMI, The Citadel, and Mercer by mid-January.
Then, they’ll host conference-favorite UT-Chattanooga in what should be must-see TV. With the potential to be 6-0 or even 5-1, it will be interesting to see how things go against the Mocs.
UNC Greensboro wraps things up in January with a home contest against Samford then two road games against East Tennessee State, another popular vote to win the SoCon, and Wofford.
The final eight games in February should tell the story in conference action as they’ll face some teams they played last month in rubber matches, dependent on the result, but they’ll also face Furman for the first time on the road on Feb. 5.
That will be another “litmus test” game of where they stand in the overall SoCon basketball landscape. Closing out February is key for them in Year 1 under head coach Mike Jones. They’ll be an interesting mid-major squad to keep an eye on, especially when it comes to being a potential bracket-buster in the NCAA Tournament as a double-digit seed.