NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State men's basketball starts the 2022-23 campaign at No. 20 in the College Insider Preseason Mid-Major Top-25 poll, the website announced Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Spartans finished the 2021-22 season ranked No. 16; the team's highest-ever finish in the poll.  The recognition came after the Spartans concluded one of their strongest seasons in program history, posting a 24-7 overall record and winning a second consecutive MEAC championship.
 
The website also named head coach Robert Jones the 2022 Hugh Durham Award winner, presented annually to the top Division I mid-major coach in college basketball. He was also named a finalist for College Insider's Skip Prosser man of the Year Award, Jim Phelan Award, and Ben Jobe Award.
 
NSU opens the season at Echols Hall on Monday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. against Virginia University of Lynchburg.