By Dillon Seawright
With winter athletics underway, I’m excited to announce the start of women’s and men’s basketball. Read on to find out important information as the two teams prepare to start their seasons.
Starting off with the women’s basketball team, the team came into the season with high expectations ranked at number two in the USA South Conference pre-season poll. The Lady Knights are coming off of a historic, record breaking season in the 2021–2022 school year. Last season, the Knights entered the year ranked 7th in the conference. Despite thier ranking, the team ended the season with a 25–5 record and a 17–1 conference record (where they won 16 straight games and the USA South Championship for the first time in program history). The Knights made the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever and grabbed a victory in the first round against Shenandoah University. The team ultimately fell short to Transylvania University in the second round of the tournament. This season, the Knights will be without Katie Garrish who graduated last year. Garrish was their star player last year that was a 3x All-American, totaling 1633 points, 1175 rebounds, and 325 blocks in her career along with winning the USA South Defensive Player of The Year in the 2021-’22 season. The Knights will enter the season with 10 returning players from last year’s team.
Their season started at home against Randolph Macon College on November 8, securing their first season win. With several weeks to go until conference play starts, the Lady Knights have shown their dedication in the off season and will be very competitive in the fight for another conference championship.
The men’s basketball team opens up the year with high expectations as they are also ranked number 2 in the USA South Conference pre-season poll. The Knights finished last year with a 14–12 record and 8–6 conference record with their first year in The USA South. Last season, they entered the year ranked 7th in the east division, finishing 4th and getting the most wins in a season since they joined the NCAA. They also closed out their year with victory over the number one seed Averett University. They then met Averett University in the first round of the conference tournament where they fell short 63–55. This season, the Knights return with 9 players from last year’s team, including sophomore Conner Marchant. Marchant led the team in his first year with 18 points a game including a 33 point performance against Pfeiffer University, earning him a selection to the First Team All East Division. Malakai Olson earned Second Team All East Division last season, averaging 13 points a game and 6 rebounds.
The Knights will open up in the Buzz Ridl classic on November 11 in Pennsylvania where they’ll face Westminster and Theil College. The Knights will then open up at home on November 17 against Shenandoah University.
All around, the Knights women’s and men’s basketball have what it takes to have their best season in school history and compete for their first (or second) USA South title!
Southern Virginia’s Men’s and Women’s Basketball: Season Preview was originally published in The Herald on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.