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Friday Practices Signal Basketball Season Around Corner
10/13/2005
The first signs that college basketball season is approaching appear Friday evening when the Vanderbilt men and women’s basketball teams begin their first official practices.
Melanie Balcomb’s Vanderbilt women’s squad features the return of three Commodore starters in juniors Carla Thomas (15.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg), Dee Davis (13.3 ppg, 6.0 apg) and Caroline Williams (5.5 ppg). Last season’s group posted a 24-8 overall record and 10-4 Southeastern Conference mark en route to reaching the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
Seniors Mario Moore and Julian Terrell headline the veteran leaders on Kevin Stallings’ men’s unit that comes off back-to-back 20-win seasons. Moore averaged a team-high 13.5 points and 3.7 assists a year ago, while Julian Terrell recorded 6.8 points and a team-best 5.1 rebounds.
Friday practices are closed to the public.
The practices tip off a busy preseason schedule for both teams.
PRESEASON CALENDAR
October 26 — SEC Media Days
Balcomb, Stallings and two student-athletes from each team will travel to Birmingham, Ala., for Vanderbilt’s annual appearance at SEC Media Days. Vanderbilt’s two-hour session with print, television and radio media members across the southeast begins at 2 p.m. CT.
Davis and Thomas will accompany Balcomb while Moore and Terrell will join Stallings in Alabama.
October 27 — Hoop Jam
Both squads again unite to play host to Commodore basketball followers at “Hoop Jam” Thursday evening at Memorial Gymnasium. The two-hour event allows Vanderbilt fans the opportunity to interact with players and coaches, collect autographs, witness skill competitions and more. The event starts at 6:30 p.m.
November 5 – Exhibition Day-Night Doubleheader
The men and women’s teams both take to the court in exhibition contests Saturday, Nov. 5 at Memorial Gymnasium. The women’s squad takes on Anderson College beginning at 2 p.m. CT. The men’s unit will battle Northern State at 7 p.m.
Regular Season Openers
The women’s team opens the regular season at Arizona State on Nov. 11 in the opening-round of the WBCA/BTI Classic. The Commodores will play either Clemson or Missouri the following day at the two-game event. The women’s first regular season home game is on Nov. 22 against Alabama A&M. Tip-off is 6 p.m.
The men’s team opens the 2005-06 campaign against Jacksonville State at Memorial Gymnasium. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
Season Ticket Information
For the third consecutive year, Commodore season ticket prices for men and women’s basketball will remain unchanged. Ticket prices start at only $75 for both teams. New this year for men’s games is a family season ticket package on the second level of Memorial Gymnasium. The family package includes two adult tickets and two youth (17 and under) tickets in sections 2G-2K for only $675. That’s less than $10 per person each game. Also new this season, purchasing season tickets in sections 2G-2K will no longer require fans to contribute to the National Commodore Club.
Tickets can be purchased on-line at vucommodores.com or by calling 615-322-GOLD (option 2) between 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Ticket orders also can be made at the Vanderbilt ticket office at the McGugin Center. Office hours are 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday.
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