Six teams descend on Melbourne for the eight-game Challenge Friday and Saturday
MELBOURNE, Fla. (Basketball) – With both the Panther men’s and women’s basketball teams getting a few tune-ups in prior to this weekend, they now open the regular season Friday and Saturday with the Florida Tech Tip-Off Challenge. Eight games are on tap during the two day span in Tech’s Charles and Ruth Clemente Center.
After a big game under the big lights of the O’Connell Center against the Gators and a nail-biting battle in DeLand versus Stetson, Tech’s men are primed and ready to show Panther fans some improvements in 2010-11. Under the leadership of fifth-year senior Justin Sedlak and a host of other veterans, the Panthers’ quest to return to the elite of the Sunshine State Conference begins on Friday as the men play Albany State at 7:30 p.m. Tech then faces Fort Valley State at the same time on Saturday.
Also heading to Melbourne for the Tip-Off Challenge is fellow SSC foe Tampa which tied Florida Tech at 4-12 in league action just a year ago. The two programs have typically been very competitive, splitting the regular season conference series each of the last five years. However, the Spartans and Panthers will have to wait until January 26 before facing each other this season.
This will mark the first ever meeting between the Florida Tech and Albany State men while the Panthers and Wildcats of Fort Valley State have squared off once before with FVSU winning that battle. Also notable, this Friday head coach Billy Mims will be tipping off his sixth season with the Panthers, his 13th as a collegiate head coach and his 30th year of coaching overall, dating back to his days as an assistant at the College of Charleston during the 1981-82 season.
This season is a milestone for the Tech women’s team as it is set to celebrate the program’s 25th year. Over the last 24 seasons, several teams and a plethora of individuals have experienced success on and off the floor. Among the team accolades are six NCAA Division II postseason appearances and six SSC championships. Individually, four student-athletes have been named an NCAA All-American and 48 have earned All-SSC honors.
To help commemorate the banner year, a 25th anniversary logo has been designed. Shaped like a seal with a basketball in the middle, it prominently displays the Florida Tech wordmark, number 25, years of the program and the words “women’s basketball” outlines the top of the emblem.
Although the players and assistant coaches have changed over the years, one individual, John Reynolds, has held down one important spot on the Panthers’ bench. Reynolds, who enters the season with a career record of 421-240, was the team’s assistant coach in its inaugural year of 1986-87. Since that first season, he has carried a whistle, drawn plays and instructed his players as Tech’s head coach.
Over the last three years, Reynolds has molded the current squad to one that fans hope will strengthen the tradition that is Florida Tech women’s basketball. As onlookers have noticed in the team’s three exhibition games, the Panthers have shown flashes of their potential on both sides of the court. With a roster featuring eight upperclassmen and four talented rookies or second-year players, Tech is ready to tackle a 28-game schedule, which begins with the Tip-Off Challenge.
Fellow SSC member Rollins, Fort Valley State and Albany State will make the trek south to participate in their first event of the 2010-11 season. In the Panthers’ opener on Friday at 2:30 p.m., they will see the Albany State women, who they have not played in two years. They will then wrap up the tournament with a 2:30 p.m. contest on Saturday against Fort Valley State.
Admission will be charged for each day of the Challenge. For the 2010-11 season, the general admission price is $7. The ticket price for senior citizens (60 and older) and non-Florida Tech students (with ID) is $5. Florida Tech students (with ID), Florida Tech faculty and staff (with ID) plus one guest, military in uniform and children five and under are free.
Tickets can be purchased at the ticket window adjacent to the main entrance of the Clemente Center, beginning at approximately 11 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Fans who are unable to make it out to the Clemente Center to see any part of the Challenge may tune into the free live video, audio and stats feeds via the GameCentral platform at www.floridatechsports.com.
2010-11 Florida Tech Tip-Off Challenge
Friday, Nov. 12
Rollins Women vs. Fort Valley State 12 p.m.
Florida Tech Women vs. Albany State 2:30 p.m.
Fort Valley State Men vs. Tampa 5 p.m.
Florida Tech Men vs. Albany State 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 13
Rollins Women vs. Albany State 12 p.m.
Florida Tech Women vs. Fort Valley State 2:30 p.m.
Albany State Men vs. Tampa 5 p.m.
Florida Tech Men vs. Fort Valley State 7:30 p.m.
www.floridatechsports.com
No comments:
Post a Comment