Thursday, November 10, 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.

Belmont's Greg Sage sits down with the Bruins Head Coach Rick Byrd and Preseason All-Conference member Mick Hedgepeth in the Belmont season preview.

Men's Basketball Capsule
Coaches Poll Predicted Finish: 1st
Media Poll Predicted Finish: 1st
2010-11 Overall Record (A-Sun): 30-5 (19-1; 1st)
Season Schedule // Roster

Notes:
• Belmont's 30 wins last season set the league record for wins in a season en route to its fourth A-Sun Championship in the past six seasons. Along the way, Bruins Head Coach Rick Byrd earned his 600th career victory and 500th win as the Bruins’ front man.
• Last season, eight student-athletes averaged at least five points per game with Ian Clark (12.2), Mick Hedgepeth (10.8) and Scott Saunders (9.9) led the way for the Bruins. Belmont only lost two players from last year's squad; Jon House (5.3 PPG) and Jordan Campbell (8.4 PPG).
• Hedgepeth was named the 2010-11 National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year last season. This preseason, Hedgepeth was one of 30 men's basketball student-athletes nominated for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.
• A tough two games awaits the defending A-Sun Champions at the beginning of this season as the Bruins open at Cameron Indoor Stadium against No. 6 Duke and then travels to No. 9 Memphis on Tuesday, Nov. 15. Both games are part of the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

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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.