East Tennessee State (0-0) vs. Abilene Christian (0-0), 11:30 AM EST*
The season debut is finally upon us after Covid-19 brought an abrupt end to the college basketball season back in March – today’s game is the first on the docket involving a pair of Division 1 basketball teams. The Bucs of East Tennessee State enter this season with a completely overhauled roster from last season after graduation and the departure of Steve Forbes (now the head coach at Wake Forest). Serrel Smith Jr. is a transfer from Kansas State who will be immediately eligible for ETSU; he averaged 5.3 points a game and 2.3 rebounds a game for K-State last season.
Abilene Christian is coming off of a season in which they finished 15-5 in the Southland Conference; they finished 4 games behind SFA for the regular season crown. Among their returning players, Joe Pleasant averaged over 11 points a game for the Wildcats last season and was a 3rd-team All-Southland player last season. Today’s game will be the first of three games both teams will play in the Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Florida.
*All times and game status subject to change at any time this season