Georgia Southern Men's Basketball Begins New Era
10/11/2009 1:34:00 AM | Men's Basketball
STATESBORO, Ga. -- Eleven returning Eagle players will help the transition of a brand new head coach, new assistant coaches and two newcomers for the 2009-2010 season, but perhaps the biggest infusion will be the enthusiasm of Coach Charlton "C.Y." Young. The Young era for Georgia Southern men's basketball begins with an emphasis on defense, rebounding and hustle while the Eagles adopt a new offensive playing style.
"My goal as head coach, initially coming into this program, is to focus on building championship people, every day," Young said. "We are building a family here, both on and off the court, and I think the biggest thing I want to see is our attention to detail in every aspect of the game and a new and improved emphasis on defending and rebounding."
Georgia Southern was battle-tested last year, getting valuable playing time for all returners and counting on newcomers to fill key roles. Those experiences will pay off in 2009-2010 as the Eagles look to improve upon their 8-22 record from a year ago and reenergize the program. Veterans and newcomers alike will challenge for starting positions after working hard in the offseason. Coach Young believes the team commitment and chemistry, as well as a challenging schedule, will help the Eagles prepare for Southern Conference competition and postseason opportunities.
"Our guys have really pushed themselves to get better in individual workouts, and as a program, in a short amount of time, we have accomplished a great deal both on and off the court," Young said. "We're excited about our schedule and know what it is going to take to reach our goals."
Preseason practice for the Eagles begins Friday, Oct. 16th. Georgia Southern men's basketball opens its season on the Friday of Homecoming Weekend, Nov. 13th, when the Eagles welcome Reinhardt to Hanner Fieldhouse. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m., following the Lady Eagles' season opener vs. Brewton-Parker.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN NOTES AND UPCOMING EVENTS:
Forward Perry To Miss First Month
Senior forward Sandy Perry will miss the first month of the 2009-2010 season as he regains academic eligibility. He is expected to return as early as the Dec. 12 Georgia Southern-North Carolina State game at Raleigh. The native of Perth Amboy, N.J., is allowed to practice with the team, but will not travel as a team member to road games. Perry played in 28 contests last year and started in 15, averaging 6.3 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.
First Practice, Basketball Fan Fest Set for Friday, Oct. 16th
Following the first practice for the Georgia Southern men's basketball team on Friday, October 16th, both Eagles basketball squads will participate in "Meet the Basketball Eagles" and "Eagle Basketball Fan Fest." The "Meet the Basketball Eagles" and "Eagle Basketball Fan Fest" events will be held in Hanner Fieldhouse from 8 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Members of the 2009-2010 Eagles men's and women's teams will be introduced and Coach Rusty Cram and Coach Charlton "C.Y." Young will inspire fans with a preseason pep talk.
The Eagle Rally, normally held at the Russell Union transit stop, will relocate to the front of Hanner Fieldhouse to capture the excitement of Family Weekend, "Meet the Basketball Eagles" and "Eagle Fan Fest." The Live WTOC Tailgate Show will broadcast from Hanner as well, with Tim Guidera and Melissa Makos serving as co-hosts. Both the rally and the program will begin at 7:30 p.m.
A dunk contest judged by GSU students and three-point shooting competition pitting the men's team against the women's team will take place on the historic Hanner Fieldhouse court. For those fans inclined to challenge the Eagles, a three-point contest between the men's and women's teams versus Georgia Southern students will determine the sharpshooting champions. In addition to the hoopla surrounding the Eagle basketball coaches and players, the Georgia Southern pep band, Eagle cheerleaders and GUS will entertain fans during these events.
Eagle basketball fans can prepare for the upcoming season by entering raffles to win jerseys, T-shirts and signed basketballs. Georgia Southern T-shirts will be thrown into the stands and free pizza slices from Domino's will be given to the first 1,000 individuals in attendance. Basketball schedule cards and posters will be available for the first time and fans will be able to purchase their basketball season tickets at this event. Both events are free and open to the public.
Season Tickets for 2009-2010 on Sale Now
The new era of Georgia Southern men's basketball begins on Friday, Nov. 13th of homecoming weekend when the Eagles take on Reinhardt in the home season opener. Orders for 2009-2010 season tickets are being taken now and new season ticket holders can receive the best available tickets based on their preferences. Season tickets for the 2009-10 season, which includes the three "Legends Classic" sessions, are $100 each for lower-level chair-back seats. Upper-level seats are $50 per season ticket. Single-game tickets will go on sale November 1st. Single-game tickets for adults are $8 with youth single-game tickets (ages 3-12) set at $4.
Tickets may be purchased through the Athletics Ticket Office at (912) GSU-WINS (478-9467) or online at www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com/tickets. Fans who held season tickets for the 2008-09 year are asked to renew their seats for the upcoming year by Friday, October 23rd to ensure their seat selection.
Tournament Teams Selected for "Legends Classic"
Troy, Arkansas-Fort Smith and Valparaiso have been selected to complete the "Legends Classic" tournament field at Georgia Southern November 27-29. The sub-regional in Statesboro includes three doubleheaders, begining Friday, Nov. 27th with Arkansas-Fort Smith vs. Valparaiso at 5 p.m. and Georgia Southern vs. Troy at 7:30 p.m. Troy meets Valparaiso on Saturday, Nov. 28th and the Eagles play Arkansas-Fort Smith, with times to be announced. Two final games on Sunday, Nov. 29th wrap up the tournament with Troy-Arkansas-Fort Smith at 1 p.m. and the Eagles taking on the Crusaders at 3:30 p.m.
The "Legends Classic" is included in Georgia Southern men's basketball season ticket packages for 2009-2010. Session tickets are $8 for adults with youth session tickets (ages 3-12) set at $4. Session tickets cover admission to both games of a single tournament day.
Hanner Fieldhouse Celebrates 40 years
The Georgia Southern men's basketball team played in its 500th game at Hanner Fieldhouse last winter and the 2009-2010 season will mark another milestone. December 1, 2009, will mark the 40th anniversary of the first game played at Hanner Fieldhouse. The December 1, 1969, contest vs. Louisiana Tech opened the $1.381 million Fieldhouse addition to the original Hanner Gymnasium (completed in 1955). The Hanner Gym and Fieldhouse were named after W.S. Hanner, a professor of chemistry and chair of the Division of Exact Sciences for 30 years at Georgia Southern, known then as Georgia Teachers College. Hanner also served as chairman of the faculty committee on athletics and added duties as assistant football coach and assistant tennis coach. He passed away unexpectedly in 1959.
A half-million dollar renovation in 1995 added modern chair-back seats to the lower level and in 2003 the court was completely refurbished. The largest crowd to attend a game in Hanner Fieldhouse, post-renovation, occurred January 17, 2009 with 4,360 fans in attendance. Georgia Southern won its last conference championship title in 1992, at Hanner Fieldhouse. The Eagles defeated Georgia State 95-82 in the Trans America Athletic Conference Championship game as Dexter Abrams and Wendell Charles scored 21 points each and junior point guard Charlton "C.Y." Young added 20 points and eight assists to lead the team to victory. Georgia Southern would compete in the NCAA Tournament against Oklahoma State, falling to the Cowboys in the first round.
Hanner Hooligan Tailgate, Pack the House in Pink Among Promotions Slated for 2009-2010 Season
Two of the most popular promotional events, the Hanner Hooligan Tailgate and 'Pack the House in Pink' return for 2009-2010 to attract fans to Hanner Fieldhouse and cultivate spirit and awareness. The 9th annual Hanner Hoolgan Tailgate, set for the January 23rd game against Davidson, brings students and the community together to enjoy pre-game fun and food. In a partnership with the Statesboro Service League and Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, Georgia Southern has selected the Saturday, Feb. 20th doubleheader games vs. Wofford as the date for "Pack the House in Pink" event. With Hanner Fieldhouse decorated in pink and all fans asked to wear pink, the Eagles honor breast cancer victims, celebrate survivors and help raise funds for research.
The Thursday, Jan. 28th game vs. The Citadel will be "Military Appreciation Day" allowing free admission for all members of the Armed Services. "Cheerleader for a Day" for basketball is set for Saturday, Jan. 30thand the Southern Explosion Kids Camp will be held on Saturday, Jan. 23rd. Details on these events will be released at a later date and additional promotions will be announced.
Savannah Eagle Club Business Luncheon Oct. 22
Coach Young will be the guest speaker for the October edition of the Savannah Eagle Club monthly business luncheon on Thursday, October 22nd. Just a week after starting preseason practice for his first season as head coach, Young will give Eagle fans an update on the team's progress and preview the 2009-2010 season. The luncheons are held at the Johnny Harris Banquet Facility on Victory Drive at with the buffet lines opening at 11:45 a.m. and the program beginning at 12:15 p.m. and concluding at 1 p.m.. Tickets are $10 each and may be purchased at the door.
Young and Cram Speak at Bulloch County Eagle Club Tip-Off Dinner
Eagle basketball fans in Bulloch County will have the opportunity to hear both head coaches, Charlton Young and Rusty Cram, speak about their upcoming seasons on Tuesday, November 10. The Bulloch County Eagle Club will hold its annual Tip-Off Dinner with Young, a 1994 Georgia Southern alum, and Cram, who earned his 200th win at the helm of the Georgia Southern women's program last year. Both teams open the season on Friday, Nov. 13th, the Friday evening of Homecoming Weekend.
The Center for Wildlife Education, University Store, Georgia Southern cheerleaders and GUS will be available for fans prior to the start of the Tip-Off Dinner program. A buffet dinner, provided by R.J.'s, will start the evening at 6:30 p.m. with the program beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 each and are available through the Georgia Southern Alumni Relations Office at (912) 478-2586 (GSU-ALUM) or online at http://alumni.georgiasouthern.edu.
Georgia Southern Tip-Off Club Sets Dates for Socials
The Georgia Southern Men's Basketball Tip-Off Club has set four dates for pre-game socials for its members with three events in January and a final social date in February. A dedicated group of Eagle basketball fans, the Tip-Off Club serves to help raise funds for Eagle men's basketball for various expenses, program-enhancing items and other resources. The Tip-Off Club, founded in 2000, has assisted with several projects in previous years. Annual membership dues are $50 per couple, $35 per individual and $20 for current students. For more information on Tip-Off Club membership and upcoming events, contact Tip-Off Club President Jimmy Durrence at (912) 288-4201 or jdurrence@yahoo.com.
Tip-Off Club Pre-Game Socials (90 minutes prior to tipoff)*
Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010 vs. Western Carolina (3:30 p.m. game time)
Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 vs. Davidson (2 p.m. game time)
Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010 vs. College of Charleston (1 p.m. game time)
Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010 vs. Wofford at (2:30 p.m. game time)
*Game times may be subject to change.
