Thursday, January 19, 2012

MACON, GA – University of North Florida Head Men's Basketball Coach Matthew Driscoll will be the guest on the weekly Atlantic Sun Insider segment, featured on the Friday, Jan. 20, edition of "The Morning Show" on FOX Sports 1670 AM.

Driscoll’s interview will air on The Insider at approximately 8:30 a.m. He brings his North Florida Ospreys (9-11, 3-4 A-Sun) to face Mercer (13-7, 5-2 A-Sun) at 4:30 p.m., at the University Center on the campus of Mercer University. The game will air exclusively on ESPN3, with Matt Stewart and Sonny Smith on the call.

Three of the four Osprey losses in A-Sun play have been by seven points or less, and two of their last three losses were by four points or less (64-63 vs. ETSU, 68-64 at Stetson). The Ospreys have depth, as UNF’s bench is averaging 35.5 points per game and has outscored the opponent reserves 17 of 20 times (including 16 of last 17 games) this season by an average of 14.7 points per game. Led by Parker Smith’s 12 points per game, four Ospreys are averaging in double figures and UNF leads the A-Sun in Field Goal Percentage (.507) and 3-Pt Field Goal Percentage (.404). While the Ospreys are 2-8 on the road, they tend to play well at the University Center. Last year UNF posted a 3-1 mark in the facility, including a regular season win over the Bears and a 2-1 record in the run to the A-Sun Championship title game.

Mercer’s defense has led the conference nearly all season long. The Bears are best in Scoring Defense (64.0 ppg), Defensive Field-Goal Percentage (.394), Three-Point Field Goal Defense (.310) and Blocked Shots (4.9). As a nice complement to the Bears’ defense, their offense has also played well at home. In A-Sun play, Mercer’s margin of victory is nearly 23 points per game. In each of their seven home victories, no opponent has come within nine points. Mercer’s only home loss came at the hands of South Dakota State, 74-61, on Nov. 23, 2011.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is partnering with the local Fox Sports 1670 AM as a part of its promotional efforts of men’s and women’s basketball leading up to the 2012 General Shale Atlantic Sun Basketball Championships, Feb. 29-March 3, at the University Center on the campus of Mercer University. Included in the partnership, The Atlantic Sun Insider is a regular segment to highlight weekly A-Sun action on the Friday edition of “The Morning Show” with Daniel Shirley and Charles Olson. A schedule of radio spots will also run during the station’s local and syndicated shows, and additional coverage will include live broadcasts during the championships from the University Center on the station’s local afternoon show, “The Bill Shanks Show.”

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. Northern Kentucky University will become the A-Sun’s newest member on July 1, 2012.