By MIKE BONTS
www.jaxsportsnews.com
College basketball season has arrived.
Defending A-Sun Conference champion Jacksonville University is set to begin the regular season journey on Monday, ending in what the Dolphins hope to be another conference title and post season appearance.
Jacksonville University held its Tip Off Luncheon today at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Men’s coach Cliff Warren's fifth squad at JU might be his best, with four starters returning from last year's championship team.
"We're honored to be picked to win the league, but this is a new season and we can't rest on what we did last year," said Warren. "We're no longer the hunter and the target is on our back now. I've stressed to our young men that we've got to get better each day if we want to repeat as champions."
The senior duo of Lehmon Colbert and Ben Smith and Lehmon Colbert have combined for more than 1,000 points in their careers and look to lead the Dolphins back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1986 after ending a 22-year postseason drought with a NIT bid last season.
Smith was named A-Sun Preseason "Player of the Year" while Colbert earned preseason all-conference honors.
Joining Smith and Colbert in returning is juniors Ayron Hardy and Travis Cohn. Cohn has stepped up his game after earning the starting 2- guard spot last season. Hardy is expected to take his game to a new level as well after being named A-Sun Defensive "Player of the Year" and earning preseason all-conference recognition.
The lone question mark in the starting lineup is who will replace Marcus Allen? Szymon Lukasiak and Will Alston are expected to fill the void left by the graduated Allen. Allen is reviewing offers to play overseas according to Warren.
The 2009-10 schedule has the Dolphins facing four teams expected to make the NCAA Tournament, with three of those on the road. JU will open the season on Monday at Florida State. They will also face California (Nov. 24) and South Carolina (Nov. 27). JU will host Florida for the first time since 2004 on Dec. 4.
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"Our non-conference schedule will be challenging once again this year," said Warren. "The goal in playing high-major teams is to prepare us for conference play and being able to host a two-time national champion in our building is generating excitement about our upcoming season."
The Florida game is the only non- conference home game for JU, but is one of 18 games that the Dolphins will play inside the state of Florida this season. Jacksonville will have 10 home games in Atlantic Sun Conference play, starting with Mercer on Jan. 2.
"It has been difficult to get home games this year due to our recent success and the fact that we just won the conference title last year," said JU director of athletics Alan Verlander. "We will have to go on the road more this year, but it is another indication of where Cliff, his staff and the players have taken our program. I hope our alumni and fans understand this and will come out and support our team when we are at home."
JU opens the season against the Seminoles for the second straight year, a rematch of last year's game that saw FSU come away with a 59- 57 win. The top eight teams will advance to the A- Sun Tournament which will be in Macon, Ga., hosted by Mercer.
