Oct. 8, 2008

Official Atlantic Sun release

MACON, GA. - - Belmont University men's basketball has been named the preseason favorite to defend its Atlantic Sun Conference regular season and tournament titles, the league announced Wednesday.

The Bruins, who have represented the Atlantic Sun Conference in each of the last three NCAA Tournaments, return nine key contributors to a team that came within an eyelash of defeating three-time National Champion Duke in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

Belmont received top billing from both the conference coaches and media members. The Bruins garnered first-place votes from seven of the 11 head coaches and 25 of the 33 voting media members.

Despite losing ultra-clutch guard Justin Hare, the eighth-leading scorer in Atlantic Sun Conference history, as well as Will Peeples and Andrew House to graduation, Belmont brings back a bevy of talented and seasoned performers.

Among them is senior Shane Dansby, who was voted onto the Preseason All-Conference Team. Dansby enjoyed a stellar 2008 campaign en route to earning Second Team All-Atlantic Sun honors. The 6-4 swingman from Pegram, Tenn. ranks among the top conference returnees in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage.

Four other seniors join Dansby in forming the proven Bruin nucleus. Matthew Dotson, Henry Harris and Andy Wicke are three of only seven seniors in all of college basketball to have been part of three consecutive conference championship - and hence NCAA Tournament automatic bid - teams. And Alex Renfroe, who shined in major conference performances against Alabama, Cincinnati and Duke last year, brings back his unselfish and exciting style of play.

2008 Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year Rick Byrd will also call upon the likes of Keaton Belcher, Mike Dejworek, Jon House and Jordan Campbell, not to mention a heralded group of freshmen.

"To me, preseason polls don't mean very much," Byrd said. "No matter how seriously people take them, they're generally not the truest indicator of how teams are going to perform. This recognition is more based on what previous Belmont teams have done. That said, we are excited about this year's team and look forward to the upcoming start of practice."

"I'd like the polls better if they gave you actual points in games," Byrd added laughingly.

The Bruins will conduct a practice open to the public Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 6:00 pm CT from the Curb Event Center.

Belmont opens its 2008-09 campaign at home Nov. 14 against Samford.