UNC Greensboro Spartans: Get the Chance to turn the Orange Green
The UNC Greensboro Spartans have an unexpected chance to humble a Hall of Fame coach in his own building.
“Spartans! What is your profession?” The good folks at the National Invitation Tournament have a sense of humor. The second tier post-season tournament gets the teams that did not make the NCAA ranks. This year that meant the Syracuse Orange, who received a one seed in the NIT. Their opponent will be the UNC-Greensboro Spartans of the Southern Conference.
Jim Boeheim quite famously trashed the need to hold the ACC Tournament in Greensboro after being eliminated in the second day of games this year in Brooklyn. Well, now the city gets its shot at him. The only more fitting solution would have been for Boeheim to come to Greensboro to play the game. Of course that would be against the higher seed hosting rule.
The Spartans are coached by UNC alum and former national champion Wes Miller. The team went 25-9 this past season and won a share of the Southern Conference regular season title. They also went deep into the Southern Conference Tournament, losing to East Tennessee State in the final round.
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The team is led by senior forward R.J. White and senior guard Diante Baldwin. Baldwin is a local Greensboro product, potentially making the matchup more meaningful for the 39% three point shooter. Sophomore Spaniard Francis Alonso leads the team in scoring at fifteen per game.
Syracuse is famous for their 2-3 zone, and that will put a premium on outside shooting from the Spartans. Fortunately Baldwin, Alonso, Demetrius Troy (an incredible appropriate name for a Spartans-Syracuse clash), and Malik Massey are all good three point shooters. White and Marvin Smith aren’t terrible either (32%, just south of what you would want). This means that the Spartans absolutely have the guns to matchup with the zone.
The trouble will likely be the interior of the Syracuse offense. There is where Tyler Lydon will be. There is no matchup for Lydon and he could go inside or shoot from outside. Greensboro will have to hustle to limit second chance points and that will be all the harder with hustler Tyler Roberson working the boards.
This NIT matchup will take place Tuesday Night. Support your Spartans for tomorrow night they dine at the Carrier Dome.