Atlantic Sun - Men's BB Tourney Preview

[Tacachale]

^Moore lit it up last night. He had to have scored over 30 points. He definitely led that team to victory.

It's an exciting time to be an Osprey right now. The crowd was tremendous, one of the biggest and most excited we've ever had. USC Upstate can't stop us now!

[Downtown Osprey]

I'll be there, along with ESPN2! Can't wait.

[BridgeTroll]

Awesome Baby!   

[spuwho]

If you decide to go to the game, there are 3 ways to enter.

On ground level there is the main entrance if you already have your tickets.

The ticket office is outside with will call and yes you can order tickets online.

There is a second floor entrance above the tix office but it is cash only!

The student entrance is at the east end of the Arena for easy access to the student sections.

The parking garage across the drive is free but you have to be very patient after the game to get out as lines back up.

You might consider parking in an open lot and walk over instead.

If you are concerned with traffic, UNF has a "back door" entrance on Central Parkway south of Beach that can get you to Eco Drive with no worries.

Concessions has everything and there is a beer counter on the second floor if you need a brew with your Bball.

General Admission opposite the players benches usually fills up first, but to be honest, you can see the game really well from any seat.

Looking forward to seeing you all there. Go Ospreys!

[edjax]

Someone had tweeted Brent Martineau that all reserved seating had been sold and approx 400 GA was all that was left. Not sure how accurate that info was....

[spuwho]

I assume some of the GA tickets are held back for USC Upstate. I will ask if/when they get released.

[spuwho]

From the Twitter universe

[I-10east]

^^I love it. Sunday 2:30 PM on the 'deuce' I can't wait!!!

[spuwho]

Stores are reporting a run on scarce UNF tshirts and stuff.  UNF bookstore selling hats and shirts at a brisk pace.

USC Upstate team arrived last night. They are offering fan buses from Spartanburg for $50 a head. Their ticket allotment comes back this afternoon.

Apparently some zealous FGCU fans called the USC Upstate players hotel rooms all night before the game. Hopefully we wont fall into that level of gamesmanship.

The USC players are showing good attitude in the press so far.

[edjax]

Game is sold out.

[spuwho]

Game is sold out.

Is this the first ever for UNF?

[edjax]

Game is sold out.

Is this the first ever for UNF?

I am pretty sure it is. If not first sold out, at least first sold out in advance.  Perhaps one of the JU games sold out with walk ups a couple of years ago. 

[Tacachale]

I'll check, but I'm almost certain this is UNF's first sellout for sports (we sometimes have sellout for concerts and such, but to my knowledge we've never seen these numbers for any sport).

[spuwho]

Too funny. I ran into the Upstate team tonight at SJTC.  Nice guys. Said people were giving them friendly "smack" but otherwise were being treated really well.

I asked them about the hotel late night phone calls down at FGCU and they said it was pretty crazy.

This is the second time I have run into the team while they were in Jax.

[spuwho]

Per First Coast News:

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A shot was fired into the air and a UNF men's basketball player had minor injuries after an argument broke out at a party off Kernan Boulevard early Saturday morning, UNF PR confirmed.

A track athlete and a non-student were arrested after the incident, which took place at The Flats, a UNF-owned apartment complex, Sharon Ashton, Vice President of Public Relations said in an email.

The track athlete has been charged with armed burglary to a structure, battery, and resisting a police officer without violence, and the non-student was charged with armed burglary to a structure and resisting a police officer without violence.

The unnamed basketball player is recovering from minor injuries to the face and did not require hospitalization.

According to the release, early reports show that at least one player was on the balcony of an apartment when a verbal dispute began with individuals below.

Sometime after that, the non-student and track athlete forced their way inside the apartment.

The report says that witnesses told police the non-student had a gun.

The track athlete then punched a basketball player in the face. Both suspects then ran from the apartment. As the non-student left the apartment he shot a gun into the air, witnesses told police.

Other university officials, including Osprey men's basketball head coach Matthew Driscoll, did go to the scene while police were there.

"I am saddened that such an incident took place," University of North Florida President John Delaney said in a statement. He also said that police are treating the party attendees as victims and that there is no information on whether or not there is any need for disciplinary actions toward any other UNF student.

University Police Department officers are still investigating the incident.

According to UNF President Delaney:

"The basketball players were victims," he said. "They were minding their own business," when the assailants attacked. He said the basketball player was punched by the track student and given a bloody nose.

That student is expected to be able to play tomorrow.

Delaney adds that security will be increased in the next few days.