October 17, 1997
GREENVILLE -- Furman University men's basketball team will open its pre-season Saturday with two practices scheduled for 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on campus.
First year head coach Larry Davis, who last year served as an assistant coach at Final Four participant Minnesota, will direct a squad of 11 players in preparation for the Paladins' season opener, scheduled for Nov. 15 against Newberry in Greenville.
"This is an exciting time for me personally and for Furman's basketball program, because it's my first year as a collegiate head coach and because of our program's move into Timmons Arena in December," Davis said Friday afternoon. "We're anxious to get started."
Davis, whose first Paladin squad returns four starters, in all welcomes the return of eight lettermen, including consensus All-Southern Conference senior forward Chuck Vincent. A year ago, Vincent led Furman in scoring (16.2 ppg) and averaged a league leading 9.7 rebounds per game. Davis will also look to redshirt sophomore forward Andre Kerr, who missed almost all of the 1996-97 campaign with a back injury. As a freshman two years ago, Kerr averaged 12.1 ppg and 5.6 rpg.
"With hard work and dedication, this could be a good basketball team, and that's what we'll work to become," added Davis.
In addition to Davis' hiring, Furman basketball will soon make the long-awaited move into a new home, as the school will open Timmons Arena, an on-campus, 5,000-seat, multipurpose facility, in December. Furman, which is scheduled to play its first game in the arena when it hosts Northeastern Illinois on Dec. 30, will officially dedicate the new facility on Jan. 17 when it hosts Davidson. The Paladins are also scheduled to host the University of South Carolina in Timmons Arena on Jan. 26.
"The impact Timmons Arena will have on our basketball program and university at large will be phenomenal," said Davis. "It will give us a true home court advantage and will greatly assist us in recruiting and in scheduling. The excitement accompanying the construction of this beautiful facility is incredible."