MACON, Ga. – Last season ETSU won its first Atlantic Sun Conference men’s basketball title, but Belmont denied the Buccaneers the conference’s automatic bid in the final of the General Shale Brick Men’s Basketball Championship. Entering the 2007-08 season, both the coaches and the media predict that the Buccaneers will again be battling the Bruins for conference supremacy. The FGCU men’s basketball team was selected 10th by the media and 11th by league coaches.

“We have prepared a very difficult schedule that will help prepare us for our first season in the Atlantic Sun and Division I,” said head coach Dave Balza.

Last season, FGCU finished 27-6 and returns four starters and eight letterwinners. The Eagles also bring back seven seniors. FGCU returns three players who averaged double figures and the top two rebounders.

Both the media and coaches chose ETSU as the favorite to win the conference and defend its regular-season title with Belmont second, the conference office announced on Wednesday. The Bucs were the clear choice by the media to win the tournament, however, the coaches were split four ways with ETSU and Belmont along with Mercer and tournament-host Lipscomb all receiving three votes from the coaches to win tournament, to be held March 5-8 at Lipscomb’s Allen Arena. The Buccaneers, who have gone 28-10 in A-Sun play in their two years in the league, will continue to be led by Courtney Pigram. The junior from Memphis, Tenn. was named the preseason Player of the Year following up his Player of the Year award for the 2006-07 season.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is a 12-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Gardner-Webb University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

FGCU will begin the season on Friday night with “Tip-Off Madness” at approximately 9:00 pm in Alico Arena after the conclusion of the FGCU vs. USC Upstate volleyball match. Both the men’s and women’s teams will scrimmage and there will be a three point shooting contest as well as a dunk contest at the event.