Wednesday, October 19, 2011

MACON, Ga. - The 2011-12 Atlantic Sun Conference Men's Basketball Season gets underway on Friday, Nov. 11th and prior to that date the A-Sun office will preview each of the ten member institutions.

USC Upstate's Scott Larson sits down with Spartans Head Coach Eddie Payne and Preseason All-Conference member, Torrey Craig, in the Spartans season preview.

Men's Basketball Capsule
Coaches Poll Predicted Finish: 9th
Media Poll Predicted Finish: 9th
2010-11 Overall Record (A-Sun): 5-25 (4-16; 11th)
Season Schedule // Roster

Notes:
• USC Upstate enters its first season of NCAA Postseason Eligibility after transitioning to Division I. The highest the Spartans finished in the A-Sun during the four-year transition period was eighth, when they posted an 8-12 record in league play.
• Torrey Craig, the 2011 Freshman of the Year, was selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team as one of four unanimous selections. Last year, Craig averaged a team-high 14.4 points per outing and turned up his production in conference play with 16.4 each contest.
• The Spartans lost their second and third leading scorers from last season (Josh Chavis - 7.7; Mezie Uzochukwu - 6.7), but return the top-three rebounders from 2011 with Craig (7.2), Ricardo Glenn (5.6) and Babatunde Olumuyiwa (4.7).
• In the past three seasons, USC Upstate has hosted only four non-conference home games. However, this season the Spartans welcome four teams to the Hodge Center including three-straight contests from November 25 through December 1.

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The Atlantic Sun Conference is an NCAA Division I league with 10 member institutions committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun meets the challenge of maintaining the highest standards in academic and athletic achievement with a true balance between student and athlete. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.