Season Preview

HENDERSON, Tenn. - The Freed-Hardeman University Lions enjoyed one of the best seasons in program history in 2008-09. With two starters and a solid nucleus back on the floor for the upcoming season, Coach Jason Shelton and the Lions will look to make 2009-10 even better.

The Lions posted an overall record of 24-10 last season and a conference record of 13-3, the best in program history. They also advanced to the conference tournament finals for the first time in program history and qualified for the NAIA National Tournament for the first time since 1997.

The season ended with a pair of heartbreaking losses, to Union (Tenn.) in the conference finals and a one-point overtime loss to eventual national champion Rocky Mountain (Mont.) College in the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament. Shelton hopes those games could provide this year's team with additional motivation to make a deeper run in the postseason.

The two returning starters are one of the most potent one-two punches in the conference. Senior Zack Frey (6-8; Nashville, Tenn.) averaged 16.2 points per game and shot 55 percent from the field on his way to being named a 2nd Team NAIA All-American. As Frey gives the Lions a dominant inside presence, junior guard Jesse Moulton (6-4; Pleasant View, Tenn.) provides balance on the perimeter with his long-range shooting ability. Moulton came into his own last year, averaging 11.7 points per game while connecting on 90 3-pointers at a 44.8 percent clip.

Though only two starters return, seniors Kirtiss Brown (6-0; Antioch, Tenn.) and Logan Greer (6-9; Greenbrier, Tenn.) and junior Brian Pearson (6-3; Amory, Miss.) all averaged more than 10 minutes per game last season. Brown is a slasher with an amazing vertical that often produces crowd-pleasing dunks while Greer and Pearson both are threats to knock down shots from behind the arc.

The point guard spot will likely be shared by senior Cedric Austin (6-0; Harvest, Ala.) and sophomore Anthony Sampson (5-3; Jackson, Tenn.). Austin started 26 games there as a sophomore, averaging 7.3 points and 2.9 assists per game. Both Austin and Sampson are very tough on-ball defenders, and Sampson has the ability to create for his teammates with his floor vision.

Newcomers will also be expected to play key roles for the Lions in the upcoming season with junior college transfer Ken Bingham (6-4; Selmer, Tenn.) set to make perhaps the biggest impact. Bingham comes to FHU after spending two seasons at Three Rivers CC. He averaged 10.6 points per game as a starter for a team that went 57-13 in his two seasons. Bingham's ability to score in multiple ways will add an important dimension to the Lions' offense.

Seven freshmen join Bingham in FHU's recruiting class. Jonathan Milewski (6-0; Memphis, Tenn.) and Michael Young (6-1; Franklin, Tenn.) will both look for time in the Freed-Hardeman backcourt. Milewski played in high school for Memphis-area legendary coach Terry Tippett, averaging 16.7 points per game and shooting 43 percent from 3-point range as a senior. Young was a three-year starter at Franklin HS, averaging 14.0 points per game as a senior, and can play both guard positions. DeAngelo Williams (6-3; Columbia, Tenn.) and Jonathan Williams (6-4; Clarksville, Tenn.) could see action at both guard and forward positions.

In the frontcourt, James Haddix (6-9; Franklin, Tenn.) and Kyle Teichmann (6-6; Brentwood, Tenn.) will both be expected to provide key minutes. Teichmann averaged 22 points and 13 rebounds per game as a senior and finished his career as his school's second-leading all-time scorer. Daniel Gravatt (6-7; Memphis, Tenn.) is another newcomer who has a lot of potential to develop his game at the college level. Gravatt averaged 20.6 points per game as a senior while playing at Central Baptist School.