The Francis Marion women’s basketball season does not begin in earnest until the Patriots host Converse on Nov. 15. But please forgive the Patriots if they’re excited about tonight’s exhibition game. After all, it’s not every day a Division II team gets to play one of the nation’s elite Division I programs.

Francis Marion has been picked to finish sixth in the race for the Peach Belt Conference men’s basketball title, according to the annual preseason coaches’ poll. 
Coming on the heels of back-to-back Elite Eight appearances, Augusta State University has been selected the preseason favorite to win the PBC men’s championship.

Barton College has been voted by Conference Carolinas head coaches as this year’s preseason league favorite, while Coker College was picked seventh.
Barton has played in three of the last six NCAA Division II tournaments.

Clemson says the times have been changed for three men’s basketball games, including two at Littlejohn Coliseum.

Former Wilson standout Carlos Powell was released by the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.

The Coker men’s basketball team was picked ninth in the Conference Carolinas poll, released Wednesday.

Hartsville area sports news

Without football, sports fans at Coker count down the days until basketball season.  On Tuesday night it officially began.

CCU is under a month away from starting the 09-10 basketball season.  On Monday night in Kimbel Arena, Coastal fans showed how excited they were for hoops season to begin.

Coker College will officially the start of the 2009-10 basketball season 8:30 p.m. Tuesday with Midnight Madness. This annual tradition gives Cobra fans, friends and media a small preview of the season to come.

Coker College will officially the start of the 2009-10 basketball season on Tuesday, October 20 at 8:30 p.m. with Midnight Madness. This annual tradition gives Cobra fans, friends and media a small preview of the season to come.

Coker Sports Roundup

When the Francis Marion men’s basketball team opens practice this morning, there will be plenty of new faces on the court. FMU coach Gary Edwards has brought in 14 players, the most new faces he’s had in his career, to help fill the void of players lost from last season.

A few college basketball publications picked CCU to finish third in the Big South.  Apparently the Big South media does not have as much faith in Cliff Ellis’s crew.

Coker College Sports Roundup