GREENSBORO, N.C. – Back in the early part of this century, former rapper 50 Cent had a popular song called "21 Questions."
Consider this a remixed title called "21 Things To Know" about the upcoming 2020-21 UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's basketball season. Some of these facts and numbers you may know already, but some you may not be aware of.
The Spartans have been in the sanctuary of the practice gym fine-tuning all aspects of their game for over two weeks now. The practices have been strong and intense. They are thrilled for the challenges of a season-opening five-game slate in Louisville beginning on Wednesday, Nov. 25 against Little Rock at the KFC Yum! Center.
"The best part of being back on the floor is just going to war with your brother everyday," redshirt junior
Kaleb Hunter said. "We are preparing, focusing, and growing everyday to get ready for these five big-time games in Louisville."
- UNCG has led the Southern Conference in steals per game and turnover margin in consecutive seasons.
- With 241 career thefts, Isaiah Miller has 27.3 percent of UNCG's 881 steals over the last three years. The Spartans were sixth nationally with 299 steals last season, which was the second most single-season total in program history. Miller starts the season needing 94 steals to become the all-time leader in that category in SoCon history.
- The Spartans will be meeting Louisville, Duquesne, and Little Rock for the first time in program history.
- UNCG led the nation in turnover margin (16.4) last season.
- Since the start of the 2015-16 season, UNCG is 67-18 in home games (78.8 winning percentage). The Spartans have won at least 12 games in each of the last five seasons. They won't have that opportunity this season as they are only scheduled for 11 home games beginning with North Carolina Wesleyan on Friday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.
- Keyshaun Langley, the 2019-20 SoCon Freshman of the Year, made a team-best 38.2 percent from beyond the arc. His 36 steals were second on the Spartan roster last season.
- Langley scored in double figures 10 times last season, including a career best 17 in a win against The Citadel.
- UNCG has compiled a 67-23 regular season record (74.4 percent) against Southern Conference competition since the start of the 2015-16 season. The Spartans have won at least 13 conference games in each of the last four years.
- The Spartans have won 53.8 percent of their games (56 out of 104) in the last four years by double digits.
- Kaleb Hunter averaged 10.3 points per game, which was second on the team. He also shot 51.0 percent from the floor. Hunter scored in double digits 13 times. His season best was 24 points against Averett. He also scored 21 points in UNCG's regular season finale against Chattanooga.
- Angelo Allegri enters the season with 70 career 3-pointers. Last season, he had 17 games in which he made at least two 3-pointers, including seven of UNCG's last eight games. He made four 3-pointers in a road victory over Wofford.
- Langley, Allegri, and Michael Hueitt, Jr. combined to make 136 3-pointers last season, which was 48.7 percent of UNCG's season total of 279.
- Junior Mohammad Abdulsalam averaged 16.3 minutes over 31 games last season. He made 50.5 percent of his shots from the field and was one of three Spartans to shoot 50 percent or better last season. He contributed 3.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per contest. His 14 blocked shots were third on the team.
- UNCG has a four-game conference homestand starting on Saturday, Jan. 30 when it hosts VMI. The Spartans will also host The Citadel (Feb. 3), Samford (Feb. 6), and Furman (Feb. 10).
- Transfer Hayden Koval from Central Arkansas is immediately eligible this season for UNCG. The seven-foot center ranked fourth in the country with 95 rejections last year, while averaging 12.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game last year. He earned Southland Conference All-Defensive Team honors for a third consecutive season and finished his career at UCA with a career program record of 272 blocks.
- Under head coach Wes Miller, UNCG has won 96 Southern Conference contests.
- The Spartans led the SoCon in field goal percentage defense (42.2), blocked shots per game (4.3), steals (9.3) and offensive rebounds (12.9). They were also tied for the conference lead in scoring defense (63.1) and scoring margin.
- The top returning scorer in the league, Isaiah Miller was named the SoCon Preseason Player of the Year. He was second in the SoCon in scoring last season at 17.8 points per game and led the conference in steals for the second straight season, totaling 89 and averaging 2.8 per contest to rank second and fourth, respectively, in NCAA Division I.
- Isaiah Miller has scored in double figures 73 times in his career. He has topped 20 or more points 21 times in his career.
- The Spartans were 21-2 when holding teams under 70 points and 18-1 when limiting opponents to below 45 percent shooting last season.
- UNCG received a vote in the Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll.
