The UAH men’s basketball team is kicking off the 2023-24 season with an exciting road trip to the South Region Crossover hosted by Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida. They’ll be facing off against BU on Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT and No. 2 Nova Southeastern on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. CT. The Chargers had an impressive 27-8 overall record in the 2022-23 campaign, clinching the Gulf South Conference Regular Season Championship with a 19-5 league record. They also made it to the NCAA South Regional final for the seventh time since 2011.
The game on Saturday will be a rematch of the 2023 NCAA South Region Championship game against Nova Southeastern, who emerged as the winners of the NCAA Division II Championships. Head coach John Shulman is back for his fifth year, leading a team that includes 10 returning players from the 2022-23 squad. One of the standout players to watch is Luke Burnett, a Preseason All-GSC selection who ranked third in the nation last season with 108 three-pointers made. The team is also welcoming back six of their top eight players in minutes played last season, with Burnett and Jack Kostel leading the pack.
Barry University, with a 12-14 overall record last season, is gearing up for the upcoming matches. Their leading returner, Malik Stanley, averaged 14.6 points per game last season, contributing to the team’s average of 80.7 points per game in 2022-23. On the other hand, Nova Southeastern is entering the 2023-24 campaign as the No. 2 team in the nation, having achieved an undefeated 36-0 overall record and winning the 2023 NCAA Division II Championship. The Sharks, under the leadership of head coach Jim Crutchfield, averaged an impressive 102.5 points per game last season.
Following the weekend’s road games, UAH will be returning home to Kelly Court at Spragins Hall for the Bill Penney Classic next Friday and Saturday. The matchups will feature games against No. 6 Lincoln Memorial and Fisk. Fans can grab their reserved tickets for the Bill Penney Classic and get ready to cheer on the Chargers in their home games.