Greyhounds Receiving Votes in the Preseason National Poll

After finishing last season ranked #12 in the final National Poll, the Greyhounds begin the 2021-22 season receiving votes in this year's National Preseason Poll.

The Greyhounds' season ended in the Region 2 Championship Game in 2020-21 to Southern Arkansas University Tech who finished 7th in the NJCAA National Tournament. The Greyhounds ended the season at 16-5 after advancing to the tournament final without All-American Sam Smith who missed the entire Region Tournament with an injury.

However, the Greyhounds return three starters from last season's squad and have added several key newcomers. 

Headlining the returners is forward Sam Smith, who averaged 19.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.0 steal per game while shooting 57.5% from the field, 37.3% from the three-point line, and 78.2% from the free throw line while earning Region Co-MVP honors and being named to the NJCAA All-American Second Team. Smith is the third Greyhound to earn All-American honors and first freshman to be named in school history.

Returning at point guard for his third season is 6'3" speedster J.T. Smith, who has started all 53 games in his Greyhound career and averaged 7.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and a team-best 1.4 steals per game last season. The third returning starter is 6'0" guard Jeremiah Jones who averaged 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 48.8% from the field and 37.1% from the three-point line.

The Greyhounds are back to playing a full 30-game schedule after last season's pandemic-induced short season when they finished 16-5 and fell in the Region Tournament Championship Game. The Greyhound Tip-Off Classic resumes this year November 5-6, and the Greyhounds play familiar non-conference foes Northeast Mississippi, Northwest Mississippi, Itawamba, and St. Louis while adding Southwest Tennessee and Dyersburg State to the mix this season. Region 2 play begins in January with 10 region games that conclude with the Region Tournament held February 22-27 at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.

Check out the full Preseason Poll here: https://www.njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/rankings/DII/index