GAME 1: #3 SBU BEARCATS (26-5 in '08-09)
vs. SAINT LEO LIONS (15-16 in '08-09)
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2009 • 6:00 PM CENTRAL
GAME 2: #3 SBU BEARCATS
vs. #25 PHILADELPHIA RAMS (25-6 in '08-09)
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2009 • 3:45 PM CENTRAL
GAME 3: #3 SBU BEARCATS
vs. LAKE SUPERIOR STATE LAKERS (22-9 in '08-09)
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2009 • 6:00 PM CENTRAL

DISNEY EAST COAST TIP-OFF CLASSIC • ORLANDO, FL
DISNEY'S WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS COMPLEX  • THE MILK HOUSE
RADIO: KBFL 99.9 FM (Josh Thompson, play-by-play)
INTERNET AUDIO: www.radiospringfield.com
LIVE STATS: Available through SBU/Sidearm

SBU SEASON OUTLOOK | MEDIA GUIDE

SBU NOTES

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The third-ranked SBU Bearcats begin their 2009-10 season at the Disney East Coast Tip-Off Classic in Orlando, Fla., at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. The Bearcats will jump right into the thick of things, with three games in three days against quality opponents in Saint Leo, #25 Philadelphia and Lake Superior State. The Bearcats have won back-to-back MIAA regular season crowns (and three in four years) and last year, set an MIAA record with 17 conference wins. They were ranked in the top ten all season and currently have the nation's second-longest D-II home court winning streak at 30 games. In preseason polling, the Bearcats were number three in both the NABC coaches poll and the D2 Bulletin ranking. In the MIAA polls, the 'Cats were tabbed for first by the coaches and second by the media.

A QUICK LOOK AT THE BEARCATS
National Player of the Year candidate Matt Rogers returns for his senior season, looking to lead the Bearcats to greater heights. He averaged 18.3 points and 8.7 rebounds for the Bearcats and was named the MIAA MVP. Rogers also had a Division II-leading 123 blocked shots in 2008-09. He was named to four All-American squads and was named Daktronics South Central Region Player of the Year, unanimous MIAA MVP, first team All-MIAA and MIAA Defensive Player of the Year. The other returning starter for SBU is junior point guard Tomas Brock, who started every game last season while averaging 7.9 points and 3.6 assists per game. Ryan Dougherty was a major contributor to last year's title team, as was Tristan Steele during the 2007-08 season. Both return as sophomore guards.

The Bearcats had to replace a very successful senior class and have added several new faces, who bring height and athleticism to the team. Among the transfer newcomers are 6-8 Thijin Moses, who played his freshman year at DePaul, guard Mayse Walker, forwards Kurt Koenig and Tim Baines. New freshmen for the Bearcats expected to see action are Jacob French, Stephen Cotten and Ivan Cropotov.
     
THE COACHES AND THE ALL-TIME SERIES
Jeff Guiot begins his sixth season with the Bearcats and continues to guide teams to success. He's 107-43 (.713) at SBU and is 325-136 in 15 seasons overall at all divisions. He's never had a losing season in those fifteen years, has won 20 or more games ten times and led teams to a conference title eight times.

Head coach Mike Magadan guides the Saint Leo Lions and is 81-148 in his ninth season overall. Legendary coach Herb Magee is his 43rd year with Philadelphia University and has amassed a career record of 880-346 (.717) with the Rams. The 880 wins are an NCAA Division II record. Steve Hettinga is the head coach for the Lake Superior State Lakers and is 34-25 at LSSU and 129-132 overall. Saint Leo University won 56-54 in the only meeting with SBU during the 1982-83 season. SBU has never faced Philadelphia or Lake Superior State.

SCOUTING THE WEEKEND OPPONENTS
The Saint Leo University Lions are located in Saint Leo, Florida, which is 90 minutes west of Orlando. The Lions went 15-16 last year and were 7-9 (7th place) in the Sunshine State Conference. They return three starters including all-region forward Jordan Prais who averaged 17 points and 8 rebounds per game. Philadelphia (Pa.) University enters this season ranked by several publications, including #25 in the NABC/Division II Preseason Coaches Poll and #12 in the Basketball Times Preseason Poll. The Rams went 25-6 last year and won the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference with a 14-2. PhilaU lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but returns four starters including preseason All-Americans Malcolm Ingram (6-4, forward) and Russell Frederick (6-1, guard). Lake Superior State located in Sault Sainte Marie, Mich., went 22-9 and won the North Division of the GLIAC with a 17-5 record. The Lakers reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Two starters return for the Lakers including guard Scott Perkins who averaged nine points and four rebounds per game.

NEXT UP FOR THE BEARCATS
The Bearcats will have a week off before heading down the road to take on local rival Drury on Monday, November 16 at 7 p.m. The Panthers of coach Steve Hesser are playing their final season in Weiser Gym with a new arena set to open next year. Drury leads the all-times series 27-20 with SBU dominating last year's matchup in Bolivar, 96-77. Drury's top returning player is Dominique Long, a guard/forward who had a promising freshman campaign cut short due to injury. Long averaged 12.2 points and 5.2 rebounds in a partial season.