Men's Basketball Picked 3rd; Women's Basketball Selected 8th

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The UNC Asheville men's basketball team is a preseason pick to finish in third place, while the women's team was selected eighth in the Big South Conference this year as the league announced its preseason poll and All-Conference team. The announcements were made today at the Renaissance Suites Hotel as part of the 2010-11 Basketball Tip-Off Media Luncheon.

The Bulldog men's team earned 181 votes and picked up four first-place votes. Defending regular-season champion Coastal Carolina was picked first, followed by defending BSC champion Winthrop in second place. The Chanticleers received 206 votes, while the Eagles had 191 votes.

Asheville returns four starters and 11 lettermen from last year's club that went 15-16 overall and came in fourth place in the league standings with an 11-7 worksheet. The Bulldogs recovered from a 3-12 start to the season but recovered in the second half of the year to go 12-4.

"We want to be good the entire season, not just half the year," admitted Bulldog coach Eddie Biedenbach. "I am excited about the upcoming year. We think we have a chance to be a pretty good team this year but need to stay away from injuries."

The Bulldog starters back include senior forward John Williams, junior forward Chris Stephenson and junior guards J.P. Primm and Matt Dickey. Williams averaged 11.5 ppg last year and became the school's all-time leader in blocked shots and has 209 entering his final year. Primm was Asheville's leading scorer with a 12.5 average. He also topped the team in assists with 172 and steals with 64. Dickey averaged 11.5 points per game a year ago.

"On paper, we measure up to be one of the teams to beat in the Big South," stated Biedenbach. "However, I think there are about six teams that could win the league this season. I've seen in some magazines that we've been picked to win the conference, while others have us finishing in fifth or sixth place. We don't know until we start some playing games."

Asheville plays one exhibition game and that's against Belmont Abbey on Nov. 8 at Justice Center. The Bulldogs open the regular season at Auburn on Nov. 12. It will be the first game in Auburn's new arena. The Dogs play their home opener vs. Virginia Intermont on Nov. 20.

Betsy Blose's club is looking to improve on last year's 8-22 campaign. The Bulldogs went 3-13 in the Big South and finished in eighth place in the final league standings. Blose wants her team to get back to the basics.

"I want us to get back to the basic fundaments on what this program was built on when I got here in the spring of 2002," explained Blose. "We're going to improve on our defense and be solid in the rebounding department. I want us to be disciplined, and our work ethic to be second to none this year."

Liberty, which has won 13 of the past 14 Big South Conference titles, was a preseason pick to win the title, followed by Gardner-Webb.

Asheville returns three starters from last year's club. Senior guard Kendall Shepard is back. She averaged 8.1 points per game and led the team in assists with 120. Shepard played at the point guard spot last year but will be moved to the two guard slot this year.

Also back is junior guard Lindsey Thompson. She led Asheville in three-pointers made with 53 and averaged 8.2 points per outing. Sophomore guard Grace Blaylock averaged 4.4 points and connected on 32 treys.

"I'm not surprised to be picked eighth but that's not where we want to finish," explained Blose. "We have a lot of work to do but this team is working hard and has a great attitude."

The Bulldogs play their only exhibition game on Nov. 3 against Mars Hill at Justice Center. They open the season at home vs. Montreat on Nov. 13, followed by a home date with mountain rival Western Carolina on Nov. 17.

Both teams will celebrate the start of basketball season this Friday night at Justice Center when the teams host their annual Jammin' At The Justice starting at 6 p.m. Admission is free.