Basketball teams enter seasons with optimism
The University of North Georgia's (¶¶Òõ̽̽App) basketball teams are preparing to tip off their seasons Nov. 11 and Nov. 12 in a pair of road contests.
Women's basketball head coach enters her 29th season fresh off an NCAA Division II Final Four appearance. Her team opens the year at 1 p.m. Nov. 12 against Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina.
Despite the loss of four seniors, Burson's program maintains high goals for the 2022-23 season. It was picked to finish second in the preseason Peach Belt Conference (PBC) poll. Junior guard is a preseason All-PBC selection after securing first-team All-PBC honors in 2021-22.
"It was a great team last year. Everybody understands what we're missing," Burson said. "But at the same time, the people we brought in and the returnees we have are not trying to be anyone but themselves. I feel like we have a good nucleus of returnees."
Men's basketball coach ' team starts his fourth season at 7 p.m. Nov. 11 against Limestone College in Tigerville, South Carolina.
"The environment and the spirit of our team are where they need to be," Evans said. "Our older guys are leading and helping set the right tone on and off the floor."
The ¶¶Òõ̽̽App women will welcome Tusculum University to the Convocation Center at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 15 for their home opener, with the Nighthawks men facing Lincoln Memorial University at noon Nov. 19 for theirs.
Burson's program has earned five consecutive NCAA tournament berths and advanced to at least the regional final in the four years the tournament was played — the 2020 event was canceled at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ¶¶Òõ̽̽App women have also won four of the past five PBC tournaments. Burson knows this year's team will have to take its own path to success.
"This team has taken every challenge and accepted it, and they keep getting better," Burson said.
Evans' group is coming off a 14-14 campaign and a seventh-place finish in the PBC and is picked sixth in this year's preseason PBC poll. Sophomore forward is a preseason All-PBC selection after earning first-team All-PBC honors last season. Evans is excited to see the way his program is able to take advantage of his first typical offseason since coming to ¶¶Òõ̽̽App, and he expects versatility to be a strength.
"We have some flexibility with some guys who can play different positions," Evans said.
Reaves named national softball Player of Year
¶¶Òõ̽̽App senior center fielder Sydnee Reaves has been named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Player of the Year.
Nighthawks advance to NCAA championship
The ¶¶Òõ̽̽App softball team has punched its ticket to the NCAA Division II championship for the fifth time in six seasons. It opens the event at 6:30 p.m. May 28 against McKendree.
McGill takes reins as brigade commander
Grace McGill has been named Corps of Cadets brigade commander for 2026-27. She is also a captain on the ¶¶Òõ̽̽App women's soccer team.
Softball team bounces back into Super Regional
The ¶¶Òõ̽̽App softball team tallied four wins in a row after a loss in its NCAA tournament opener, setting up a May 21-22 home Super Regional matchup with Francis Marion.