Practice Continues for Georgia Southern Men's Basketball
10/28/2009 6:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Statesboro, Ga. - Georgia Southern men's basketball continues to grind it out during the preseason, alternating late afternoon and early morning practices.
"After being in practice over the past 10 days, we have the expected dings and bumps from going full contact," Young said. "We're making adjustments to keep from depleting our ranks and even if we have to go half-speed, we've been installing our offenses and our team is concentrating on defensive execution."
Following team sessions, Young and his coaching staff take to the court and the whiteboard to work out the wrinkles and tweak practice plans. With new plays and combinations added each day, the players are learning both the physical and mental aspects of the system. As the team learns the individual pieces of the system, Coach Young ties all the pieces together each day.
"We're really taking steps toward being a good defensive team," Young said. "We're beginning to take pride in the details of defending as a five-man unit, and we're also beginning to understand the importance of contesting every shot."
Young emphasizes to both his team and to fans and community members at speaking engagements that the Eagles took away plenty of lessons from last season -- but that this is a new team that began individual workouts and preseason practice.
The "C.Y." era Eagles debut in 16 days when they take on Reinhardt at Hanner Fieldhouse Nov. 13th at 7:30 p.m.
Wohlleb Undergoes Surgery
Sophomore forward Colby Wohlleb (Boca Raton, Fla.) underwent surgery on his left ankle to determine the nature and severity of his injury. Wohlleb had been wearing an air cast after experiencing pain following an individual workout. After an MRI, doctors recommended the procedure to clean out the ankle. He is expected to be out for five weeks while he recuperates and undergoes rehab treatments.
Back to the Full Name
Junior Johntavious Rucker had requested the use of his nickname, "Tay" on the roster for the 2009-2010 season, but apparently had not cleared that decision all the way up the chain of command. Anita Carter, his mother, communicated her thoughts on the shortened version of his name and it has been changed back to his full name.
Basketball Season Tickets on Sale, Single-Game Tickets on Sale Sunday
Season tickets for the 2009-2010 men's basketball season are on sale now and single-game tickets go on sale this Sunday, November 1st, at midnight. The 14-game Eagle home slate features the three-game Thanksgiving holiday tournament, the Legends Classic, Friday-Sunday, Nov. 27-29 and Southern Conference action beginning in January. In the only home game in December, Georgia Southern plays host to Coastal Carolina, coached by Young's former head coach at Auburn Cliff Ellis, on Tuesday, Dec. 15th.
The Eagles open with the Eagles of Reinhardt on Friday, Nov. 13th of Homecoming Weekend with a 7:30 p.m. tip-off time. Single-game tickets for adults are $8 each with youth tickets (ages 3-12) priced at $4 each.
Five-game ticket flex plans are also available for 2009-10. Each flex plan is $25 and allows fans to use the five tickets, at a price of $5 a game, for considerable savings. The flex plan tickets may be used for any games or to bring five fans to a single game. The flex plan tickets are general admission and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
For fans interested in securing the same seats throughout the season, a very limited number of lower-level season tickets are available for $100 per seat. Upper-level season tickets are available for $50. A general admission season ticket provides fans with a pass to all home games for $40.
Tickets may be purchased by visiting the Athletics Ticket Office at 203 Lanier Drive in Statesboro, by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS (478-9467) or by ordering online at www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com. The Athletics Ticket Office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
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 "C.Y." 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.
GSU-GSU Rivalry Renewed
On Tuesday, December 22, the Eagles will head to Atlanta to play Georgia State at the Georgia State Sports Arena. Game time is 7:30 p.m. and the Office of Alumni Relations has organized a pre-game event for Georgia Southern alumni and friends at Six Feet Under Atlanta, adjacent to the arena.
"We are ecstatic about renewing our rivalry with Georgia State," Young said. "We felt it was important to play in Atlanta and create a "home" atmosphere with our alumni and students from the metro area."
The pre-game event at Six Feet Under Atlanta is free and open to all Georgia Southern fans. Even though the event is free, alumni should RSVP so the Alumni Relations Office can provide the caterer with an accurate head count. Tickets for the GSU-GSU basketball game must be purchased no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, December 8 through the Alumni Relations Office.
The last time the two teams met was in December 1996. In a home-and-home agreement, Georgia State will return the game in December 2010.
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 tip-off)*
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.
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