Men’s Basketball Picked Fifth by Coaches and Media

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Men’s Basketball Picked Fifth by Coaches and Media

The Big Sky released is 2021-22 preseason polls on Thursday

By Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com

https://bit.ly/3aYLTWF

Quick Facts Attached

FARMINGTON, Utah – Returning all five starters from last year’s team, Northern Colorado Men’s Basketball expects to compete for the Big Sky title in 2021-22. The conference released its preseason media and coaches poll on Thursday with the Bears pegged to finish fifth in both.

UNC returns a pair of All-Conference players for head coach Steve Smiley’s second season in Bodie Hume and Matt Johnson II. Hume was the team’s leading scorer last season with 15.9 points per game including ending the year with two straight 30-point games. Johnson II wasn’t far behind Hume with 13.0 ppg and led the team in 3-point shooting (44.7%) and assists (2.9).

Along with Hume and Johnson II, Daylen Kountz, Kur Jongkuch and Tre’Shon Smoots return. Kountz was the team’s second-leading scorer with 14.1 ppg while Jongkuch enters 2021-22 with a streak of six straight double-doubles. Smoots took over a starting spot mid-year averaging 6.5 points and 2.3 assists.

Along with the returning starting five, Smiley and the Bears welcome a pair of dynamic newcomers in sharpshooter Dru Kuxhausen, and NJCAA All-American Dalton Knecht.

Northern Colorado opens the season on November 10 against Pacific in Hawaii as a part of the Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic. UNC’s home opener is set for Monday, November 15 against Colorado College at 6 pm. The Big Sky season starts in December when the Montana schools come to Greeley on December 2 and 4.

Season tickets for the 2021-22 season are on sale now. Visit UNCBears.com/Tickets to purchase.

To stay up to date on all things UNC Men’s Basketball, visit UNCBears.com, follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.