The athletics around UNCG has been very busy since the end of the fall semester. Both women’s and men’s basketball were in their peak by the time winter break began. While women’s have been more of an average team as they are barely over .500, the men’s basketball team have enjoyed a nice 16-8 record, having one of the best seasons they have had in a long time. Recently they have been on a three game skid losing to Wofford, Furman and Chattanooga. Before their losing streak they were sitting atop the southern conference division at 16-5. Now they have fallen to number four in their fluctuant division.
UNCG has been averaging over 75 points per game while giving up an average of 75 to their opponents. Those stats are both good and bad as the team as a whole has been better than last season by far. The defense needs to tighten up in order to get back to their winning ways. They have a knack of not having the ability to close out in the paint when defenders drive. They not only have the propensity to foul but also allow the bucket, which really takes a toll throughout the game. They have been losing the turnover differential (-3) due to their inability to hang onto the ball in key situations such as the last four minutes of the game.
(Picture Courtesy of Morgan Collins)
Sophomore guard Francis Alonzo and Senior guard Diante Baldwin have been doing very well as of late. They are both averaging a respective 14 and 15 points per game for their team and have been shooting very well from behind the arc. Baldwin has been shooting a nice 38 percent from behind the arc while Alonzo has been shooting a stellar 48 percent from three-point land. Those two guards have been doing their part in terms of assisting their team on offense. It will be interesting to see if they will be able to continue their streak and help UNCG get back to their winning ways.
While UNCG has been in a three game slump, they have also been having a sensational season by far in all aspects of the game. They have been scoring a lot more on offense and have been able to drive it into the paint with their guards. They have also been able to shoot a lot better from the perimeter to complement the big men scoring in the paint. Both R.J. White and James Dickey are contributing as White is averaging a little over 12 points per game and Dickey is doing his part and securing the ball for UNCG by averaging 6 boards a game. Even though UNCG is in a slump they will look to bounce back and fight to get back to that mentality they had during their six game winning streak from January 2nd-January 21st of this 2017 year. The Spartans will look to get back atop of the southern conference and again lead the division in hopes of a playoff run.