Thursday, October 27, 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.

Kennesaw State's Art Eckman sits down with the Owls Head Coach Lewis Preston and Preseason A-Sun Player of the Year, Markeith Cummings, in the Owls season preview.

Men's Basketball Capsule
Coaches Poll Predicted Finish: 7th
Media Poll Predicted Finish: 7th
2010-11 Overall Record (A-Sun): 8-23 (6-14; 9th)
Season Schedule // Roster

Notes:
• Marketing Cummings was tabbed as the Atlantic Sun's Preseason Player of the Year by the league coaches after averaging a league-best 18.3 points last season, while adding 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest. Cummings currently is tied in 83rd place for career scoring in A-Sun history with 1,180 points through his first two years.
• Head Coach Lewis Preston enters his first season as the Owls frontman as he was introduced as Kennesaw State's fourth head coach in program history. Preston previously served at Penn State, Florida and Notre Dame.
• Senior guard Spencer Dixon returns to the team after averaging 13.9 points last season, while dishing out 3.4 assists each outing. The Owls also return their top rebounder and shot-blocker in LaDaris Green, who pulled down 8.4 boards and swatted 1.8 shots last season.
• The Owls will be looking to appear in their third-straight A-Sun Championship this season in only their third year of eligibility. Two years ago, Kennesaw State took down top-seeded Lipscomb in their first championship appearance, while last season they battled Belmont.

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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.