The Union University men’s basketball team enters the 2010-11 season with a new excitement. It is David Niven’s second season as head coach of the Bulldogs. Union is coming off of back-to-back TranSouth Conference Titles and a second straight appearance in the NAIA National Tournament.
Union graduated five players, including NAIA All-American Greg Truvillion. However, a solid group of three returning starters will help Union with a run at a third straight conference title. Union also brings in four impact newcomers to the floor this season, led by redshirt sophomore guard CJ Davis.
Stan McNeil returns after being named a second team all-conference performer in 2009-10. Samuel Danache returns for his sophomore year after being named to the TranSouth all-freshman team a year ago. Antoine Joseph and Roland Banhoro join McNeil as the three returning starters from last season.
Niven says, "We’re excited about 2010-11. We have a great group of returning players along with a solid recruiting class. It should be a fun year at Union!”
The senior class has four players, including three players that are completing their fourth year at Union. Joseph, Banhoro and Veljko Petrovic each look for their third conference title. Joseph and Banharo have started during their career and will be called on to be leaders in their final season. McNeil returns after leading Union last season in three pointers made.
Three juniors, all newcomers to the program, will look to make immediate impacts this season. Shane Burrell, Skyler Vaden and Antoine Hall will also see plenty of action this season as they look to help offset the offensive lost last season to graduation.
The sophomore class has four players, all of which were at Union last season. Danache, Daniel Kelley and Brady Sheppard return and will look to take advantage of increase opportunities to contribute this season. Davis was a red-shirt last season, but is expected to play a major role in Union's success from the point guard position this year.
The lone freshman on the roster in Jacob Owens who will work to increase his skills and contributions to the program over his first season.
Union again will navigate through one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the NAIA. Union faces NAIA powers and national tournament participants including McKendree (Ill.) twice, Life (Ga.) twice, Campbellsville (Ky.) twice, William Carey (Miss.) twice, Faulkner (Ala.) and Tougaloo (Miss.) once. Union also faces tough competition in the TranSouth with teams such as Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.), Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.), Cumberland (Tenn.) and Martin Methodist (Tenn.), all of which have made trips to the national tournament in recent years.
