French Lick Legends Battle G2 in Season Opener

The French Lick Legends begin their 2009 season's quest to earn the ever elusive ECU Intramural Championship tonight against division foe G2 at the ECU Rec Center at 9 p.m.

Season Preview
Head Coach Kyle "Doc" Holliday enters his third season at the helm of the Campus Crusade for Christ intramural hoops squad. The team name has varied during the past seasons as well has the success of the program. The 2008 squad struggled on the hardwood, posting a 1-4 regular season record. The lone win was awarded when the opposition collected to many techincal fouls over the course of the game. The Campus Crusade Baller(z) were able to capture a playoff victory, before being eliminated from the tournament.

The squad put together an impressive showing during the summer league season. The CCB(z) tripled their win total during the summer schedule - 3-1 overall - and collected two more victories to advance to the championship contest. Unfortunately they lost in the championship game, however the success provides high expectations for the 2009 campaign.

Returners
The former CCB(z) - now the Frenh Lick Legends - return four players from last season's team in Holliday, Ben Anderson, Stephen Battise and Matt Warnick.

Holliday, who will serve as player-coach, returns as a versatile forward who can provide great leadership on and off the court. The red-shirt senior has four seasons of intramural experience and understands the mindset it takes to win at this level. In two seasons as head coach, Holliday has posted an overall record of 7-7, but his coaching skills are far beyond his .500 winning percentage.

Anderson will provide energy - and lots of it - and should be a defensive nemis for the team. The senior guard will easily provide the most team spirit off the bench, as he is known for wearing his golden tuxedo at ECU home football games.

Known for his frisbee dominance, senior Stephen Battise returns as a guard for Holliday this season. An overall excellent athlete, Battise partakes in intramural soccer and is a mainstay on the club frisbee squad here at ECU. He should see plenty of action at the shooting guard position.

Sophomore Matt Warnick enters his second season as a point guard for the FLLs. Warnick provides quickness, excellence ball control and full-court defense to the team. A much improved shooter from a year ago, Warnick should look to contribute more offensively this season.

Newcomers
Eight new players join the FLLs and provide excellent depth with 12 players listed on the roster.

Upperclassmen Brett "Coach" Hickman, Chad Staradumsky and Tyler Epperley provide Holliday with great versatility. Hickman, a student-assistant for the ECU football squad will see minutes at either guard position. The senior is excellent at reading opposing defenses on the football field, will need those skills to dish out the basketball this upcoming season. He can also nail some hail marys from 3-point land.

Juniors Chad Staradumsky and Tyler Epperly each will play at the small and power forward positions. Stardumsky distributes pills to the elderly at CVS when he is not on the court and he will utilize his pill distributing skills to rack up assists. Epperley is the son of ECU assistant coach Mr. Epperley.

Underclassmen include sophomores Joseph Jordan and Robert Tant and freshman Garrison Cherry, Ian McLeod and Will Lane.

A 6'4 transfer from Mount Olive College, Jordan should provide depth to a very deep front court. Tant, who also stands 6'4, will see time at power forward and has the ability to make shots from beyond the arc. He also has massive hair.

Cherry, McLeod and Lane will all see minutes for the FLLs this season.

A 12-man roster provides Coach Holliday the depth and experience needed to make a run at an intramural championship this season.

Season Prediction
Regular Season Record: 3-2
Advance to Intramural Semifinals