FMU, Coker ready to hit hardwood

FLORENCE — 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.

The Patriots return four lettermen from last year’s 16-12 squad.

“We are anxious to see what we have and how we can blend all these players,” said Edwards, who is entering his fourth year at FMU. “This class will make us stronger not only this year but down the road.”

Edwards said he hopes he can stockpile talent by redshirting some of the players, a luxury he didn’t have a couple seasons ago when Simel Boyd and David Turner had to play as freshmen.

Boyd and Turner, now seniors, will be key components of this year’s team to go along with the newcomers that include Camden’s Erik Gray, Hemingway’s Bryant Julious and Florida native Michael Highsmith.

“If I could use a baseball analogy, we don’t have any home run hitters but a lot of singles hitters,” Edwards said. “We just have to piece them all together.”

The Patriots will scrimmage twice against Brunswick Community College and at Clemson on Nov. 6 before opening the season in the Florida Tech Tip-off Classic on Nov. 15.

The FMU women are coming off a 27-5 season and their second straight Peach Belt Conference regular-season championship, and second straight NCAA tournament appearance.

Patriots coach Heather Macy can’t wait to get started on a third straight bid.

“Next to Christmas, the first day of practice is my favorite day. I won’t sleep too much from now until March,” Macy said.

Macy’s team could be primed for another tournament run. The Patriots have a blend of experience with four starters from last year’s team and four new players, including a pair of Division I transfers.

Simone Trice comes to FMU after playing last season at Georgia Tech, while Monica Mann spent last year at Georgia State.

“We got a really competitive group of players, and I have a really tough job in determining who will be starting for us,” Macy said. “But that is a good problem to have. ... I’m just ready to see how things shake out.”

Both Coker teams will be practicing today. The Coker men have 11 new players.

The highlight of the Cobras’ preseason will be a Nov. 8 exhibition game at Pittsburgh, which reached the Elite Eight last year. The Panthers are coached by Jamie Dixon, who played at TCU when Coker coach Dan Schmotzer was an assistant.