Earlier than his s took the ground for an Oct. 16 exhibition sport at e, the place he was head males's basketball coach for 17 years, g was joined at midcourt by about 40 of his former Wofford gamers and crew managers.
There have been gamers from a few of Younger's early Wofford groups — groups that struggled towards Southern Convention rivals, dropping extra video games than they received — in addition to guys who had been with him throughout his glory years in Spartanburg.
Younger, who began as an assistant coach in 1989, when Wofford was an NCAA Division II program, received 5 Southern Convention championships over a decade. His run included the 2019 Wofford crew, which went y and superior to the second spherical of the NCAA event.
Following the disclosing of a banner honoring his accomplishments at Wofford and a video presentation highlighting his championship years, Younger borrowed the PA announcer's microphone to thank the followers who turned out to point out their appreciation and assist.
"God is aware of I like Wofford School," he stated.
And pointing towards the previous gamers gathered close by, he was emotional. "(They) poured loads of blood, sweat and tears into Wofford. I like these guys."
A kind of former gamers was r, who’s now in his second season as Wofford's head coach.
Giltner was a strong off-the-bench contributor on Younger's first two Southern Convention championship groups.
He was an assistant coach throughout later title runs, together with the historic 2019 crew. He then went with Younger as an assistant at Virginia Tech, the place he labored for six seasons earlier than taking up at Wofford in 2024 after former coach Dwight Perry was dismissed below murky circumstances.
Giltner is "one in all my favourite gamers and assistant coaches of all time, and he's doing a powerful job," Younger informed the gang.
Sitting courtside was Younger's spouse, Margaret. Sporting Virginia Tech colours, her basketball allegiance was clear. However she's additionally a Wofford graduate of the 1992 class and a present member of the faculty's s. The Youngs raised their youngsters in Spartanburg and preserve friendships in the neighborhood.
After reflecting on his love for Wofford and Spartanburg, Younger introduced, "We're right here to play. Virginia Tech is right here to play basketball and get higher as a crew, as is Wofford."
The sport: It was a back-and-forth affair, with by no means greater than 10 factors separating the 2 groups.
It's the period of the switch portal and NIL (title, picture and likeness) offers, and each groups had been enjoying quite a few newcomers.
For Wofford, freshman massive man Cutter Sisk, from outdoors of Nashville, Tennessee, made a splash. He scored 20 factors in his debut and gave the impression to be a fan favourite of the coed part, which was at full capability.
"It's so enjoyable — we're doing so good," stated Rebeka Brewer, a Wofford junior, at halftime.
Virginia Tech surged to a 7-point lead late within the sport earlier than Wofford mounted a livid comeback.
Sisk missed a last-second shot to tie. Virginia Tech received the sport, 78-76.
"They're extra athletic than us — they're greater," Giltner stated in a post-game interview.
"However I beloved the way in which we responded to that. We've acquired powerful youngsters, man. I used to be actually proud of that. I used to be actually proud of how exhausting we performed. I'm actually fired up about what we may very well be."
Wofford has been picked to complete third within the 2026-2027 Southern Convention preseason, with Furman predicted to complete on the high of the league.
Requested about competing towards his former participant and assistant coach, Younger stated Giltner is "a heck of a basketball coach, and I’m so pleased that he’s the top coach right here at Wofford. He's off to an incredible begin."
The sport occurred on the Friday kicking off Wofford's homecoming weekend.
There was actually a sense of homecoming for Younger's former Wofford gamers.
"I in all probability haven't been on campus in eight or 9 years," stated Corey Godzinski, a ahead on the 2010 Wofford crew — Younger's first to win a Southern Convention title.
He drove from Orlando, Florida, to Spartanburg.
Godzinski retains up together with his outdated teammates, "however I haven't seen Coach Younger in years, so it's nice to see him again on this constructing," he stated.
Drew Crowell, who performed on the 2010 championship crew with Godzinski and Giltner, stated, "I like the environment right here. There's undoubtedly a household tradition."
Matt Pegram, who lives in Greenville, was a backup heart on the 2019 championship crew. "It was a really, very cool second to have Mike Younger right here. It was his first time again since my final sport right here. Mike might be the perfect man within the enterprise. He's a mentor. He's a father determine."
Pegram was nonetheless pulling exhausting for the Terriers, and he was happy by what he noticed from the crew. "I actually like this crew this 12 months. It appears to be like like we're going to have a particular crew, and I'm excited to comply with them."
Wofford's first regular-season sport will likely be on Nov. 3. The Terriers are scheduled to face the College of Tennessee in Knoxville.
The preseason exhibition was a particular alternative for Giltner to check his crew towards a robust opponent whereas rallying group curiosity in this system.
Younger stated he and Giltner mentioned the concept of an exhibition sport final spring. "Something I may do to assist Kevin, Wofford basketball and the Spartanburg group to advertise basketball, I wished to try this. I'm glad it labored out."
Younger's present crew is picked to complete in concerning the center of the Atlantic Coast Convention.
There wouldn't be time to remain for the weekend in Spartanburg and go to with outdated mates. Younger stated he deliberate to return to the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg together with his gamers proper after the sport towards Wofford.
Nonetheless, he stated it was a particular evening — teaching towards his former participant and assistant, Giltner; being honored by the Wofford group; and connecting with gamers from his outdated Wofford groups.
"These had been nice years," Younger stated.
"I’m grateful to look again right here. After 41 years on this great enterprise, I look again with nice, nice recollections."
"
This text initially appeared on Herald-Journal: h