January 5, 2009

COMPLETE GAME NOTES (PDF)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Longwood University will play at Southeastern Conference (SEC) member the University of Florida in men's basketball Tuesday night, January 6, at 7 p.m. in Gainesville, Florida.  The Lancers and Gators are meeting for the first-time ever in the sport.  Longwood (7-8) is coached by sixth-year head coach Mike Gillian, and will be led by 6-5, 225-pound redshirt-junior guard/forward Dana Smith who is averaging 15.7 points and 6.1 rebounds. Florida (12-2), with back-to-back recent National Championships (2006, 2007), is coached by 13th-year head coach Billy Donovan and is led by 6-6 sophomore guard/forward Nick Calathes (16.9 points, 6.6 assists).  The game will be televised on SUN Sports TV, available locally via DIRECTV (653) and/or the Dish Network (422), while the radio broadcast is available locally on Kickin' Country, 92.9 FM, and via the Internet at TEAMLINE.

A Look At Florida

Florida has a record of 12-2 after its 68-66 home win past North Carolina State on Saturday (1.3), its sixth-straight win. The Gators are led by sophomore Nick Calathes who averages 16.9 points, 6.6 assists, and 2.1 steals along with classmate Alex Tyus (13.6 points, 6.6 rebounds) and junior Dan Werner (10.5 points). Also expected in the starting lineup are senior Walter Hodge (7.6 points) and sophomore Chandler Parsons (8.7 points, 5.4 rebounds).

A Look At Longwood

Longwood has a record of 7-8 after its 80-78 home win past George Washington on Saturday (1.3), its biggest in school history. The Lancers are enjoying their best start to a season since first playing a Division I schedule in 2004-05, and best overall since 2002-03. Longwood is led by redshirt-junior Dana Smith with his averages of 15.7points and 6.1 rebounds, senior Ryan Bogan who averages 14.2 points and 4.5 rebounds, and junior Kevin Swecker with his 8.7 points per game. Also expected in the starting lineup are sophomore Durann Neil (7.3 points, 3.5 assists) and freshman Antwan Carter (6.9 points, 5.3 rebounds).

Head Coach Mike Gillian

Mike Gillian (North Adams State '86) was named the seventh head coach for men's basketball at Longwood on May 2, 2003. Prior to his arrival, he had been an assistant coach for Jim Larranaga at George Mason for six years (1997-2003) after a year with Coach Larranaga at Bowling Green State (1996-97). A native of Ayer, Massachusetts, Coach Gillian is 41-124 at Longwood, including 7-8 this year after back-to-back 9-22 seasons, those efforts following a record of 10-20 three years ago during 2005-06 that tied for Division I's seventh-best turnaround season that year.

Numbers & Ratings

Longwood, with an enrollment of 4,770, and counting its most-recent win over Atlantic 10 Conference member George Washington as its biggest victory … has an average rating of 260 among the 347 schools playing Division I men's basketball among the following six rating services: CBS Sportsline RPI, the CollegeRPI.com, Ken Pomeroy's College Basketball RPI, RealTimeRPI.com, RPIRatings.com, and the Sagarin Ratings. Florida, with an enrollment of 51,520 (+46,750), and two recent National Championships (2006, 2007) among its 14 NCAA Tournament appearances … has an average rating of 44 (+216).

Team Captains

Ryan Bogan and Dana Smith were named team captains by head coach Mike Gillian for 2008-09, the first year that each is serving in this team leadership role. Smith is a fifth-year team member, and Bogan is a second-year team member after his transfer from Harcum College in Philadelphia prior to last season.

The Unkind Road

Longwood has traveled to 27 different states and Washington, D.C. while playing 86 games away from Farmville during the last four-plus years, including 72 true road games (5-67). The Lancers' favorite states to visit since 2004-05 include North Carolina (7) and Nevada (4) along with the District of Columbia (4). Longwood's record is 4-10 in the 14 neutral-site games.

First-Time Opponents

Longwood is scheduled to play nine first-time opponents in men's basketball this season. They include West Virginia (11.20), Kentucky (11.24), Delaware State (11.29), Virginia Tech (12.14), Lehigh (12.28), Florida (1.6), Chicago State (1.12, 2.16), Texas-Pan American (2.11, 2.14), and Colgate (2.21).

TV Appearances

Longwood is scheduled to play two games on television this season: at Kentucky (11.24) during the Las Vegas Invitational on Fox Sports Net South, and at Florida (1.6) on SUN Sports. The Lancers have made one national TV appearance previously: at #8 Indiana last season (11.18.07) on The Big Ten Network (BTN) during the Chicago Invitational Challenge. Longwood has also played on regional TV two other times since 2004: versus #17 Cincinnati in Las Vegas (Holiday Classic) during 2004-05 (Fox Sports Ohio), and at Nebraska to open 2005-06 (Fox Sports Midwest).

For more game notes and statistical information, please download the PDF linked above ...