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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern men’s basketball team will kick off the 2011-12 season in the 6th annual NSU Tip-Off Classic at the NSU Arena in the Don Taft University Center. The Sharks will kick off the year against Columbus State on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. and follow up with a game against Valdosta State on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 4 p.m.

The Sharks kick off the season against two tough opponents as head coach Gary Tuell has prepared a rigorous start in order to prepare his squad for a Sunshine State Conference schedule that has no breaks.

“I don’t know of a Division II team in America that opens with three tougher games that what we’re facing,” said Tuell. “Columbus State is certainly one of the top teams in the Peach Belt Conference, loaded with great athletes and strong perimeter shooters. Valdosta State is as good as anyone in the Gulf South Conference and boasts terrific shooters, talented and experienced big men and in Drew Maynard, a Division I transfer from Oakland University, they have perhaps the most talented player in D-II basketball. He’s 6-7, 240 and a human highlight show, as he proved playing at Syracuse when he had two or three dunks that were featured on ESPN.

“After this weekend we travel up the road to Northwood University with an opportunity to play Rollie Massimino’s squad, which is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation in the NAIA and features a couple of All-Americans of their own. So these three games will definitely expose our weaknesses and show us some of the areas where we need to improve before we get into conference play in December.”

The Sharks will play an unfamiliar opponent in Columbus State as it will be the program’s first game against the Cougars. Despite going 11-15 last season the Cougars picked up seven wins in the PBC, arguably the nation’s toughest basketball conference.

The Sharks do have history against Valdosta State as the Sharks are 1-4 against the Blazers all-time. Last season, the Sharks had one of their most dramatic contests of the season against Valdosta State as they took the Blazers to double overtime before falling, 113-103. Former All-SSC forward Alex Gynes had his marquee game, picking up career-highs with 30 points and 15 rebounds.

Despite not starting the season, the Sharks’ greatest opponent this fall has been the injury bug. The Sharks are forced to start the year without several players that were expected to start.

“I wish we were starting the season with a healthy, full roster, but that’s not the case,” said Tuell. “Shaun Pratl (Jr., Chicago Ridge, Ill.) and Jacob Reed (So., Perth, Australia) will be out until late November or early December. Robert Huntington (Sr., Perth, Australia) is questionable this weekend and perhaps longer as he nurses a recent injury back to health. Raj Prabhakar (So., Miami, Fla.) has been sick and missing practice this week. And of course we lost Yann Charles when he returned to Canada for surgery there.

“Sometimes you’re the pigeon and sometimes you’re the statue, and right now it’s obvious which one we are. But you can’t have a picnic without ants. We’ll be fine. Our guys are working hard and improving. If we have to tread a little water until we’re back to full strength, then that’s what we’ll do.”

As the Sharks aim to start the year 2-0, fans will get the chance to see a brand new NSU team in action. Tuell’s squad will have to replace four of the team’s starters from last year. Players such as Louie Schonauer (Jr., Lincoln, Ill.), Justin Jeangerard (Fr., Weaverville, Calif.) and Tim Traversa  (Jr., Chicago, Ill.) will have their first opportunity to make a name for themselves in the Shark Tank.

“I’ve been pleased with our progress,” said Tuell. “Defensively, we’re much further along than at any point last year. And we have enough good guards that we can play with four guards and a forward if that’s what it takes for us to compete in the early season without Shaun and Rob. It may not be pretty, and we may have to try our best to control tempo and shorten the games, but I’m confident that our guys will do whatever it takes to be competitive. Hopefully by December we’ll be able to start putting the pieces together and have a better idea of who we are. In the meantime – regardless of the strength of our opponents – we’re just happy to be playing somebody other than ourselves.”

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