Full Release and Game Notes in PDF Format
 
Friday, November 11 vs. Albany State – 4:30 p.m.
Live Video
Saturday, November 12 vs. For Valley State – 1:00 p.m.
Live Video
 
PENSACOLA, Fla. – The University of West Florida men's basketball team is set to begin NCAA Division II competition this afternoon at 4:00 p.m. against Albany State. UWF will follow that game with a contest tomorrow against Fort Valley State at 1:00 p.m.
 
This is the 33nd season of West Florida Basketball. UWF has an all-time record of 438-420 in 858 games. UWF is 125-199 in 22 seasons of Gulf South Conference play. The Argonauts have made nine conference tournament appearances.
 
FIRST-YEAR IMPROVEMENTS
- Last year was head coach Jeff Burkhamer's first year as head coach, and the team saw numerous immediate statistical improvements under Burkhamer's direction.
 
Statistic                                    2014-15         2015-16                     Difference
Home wins                                   3                     5                                   +2
Conf wins                                     3                     5                                   +2
PPG                                            71.1                73.4                              +2.3
Margin                                        -7.5                 -5.7                               +1.8
3-PT FG%                                 32.20%          36.20%                           +4.00%
3-PT FG per game                       5                     6.7                               +1.7
FT %                                          63.80%          69.50%                          +5.70%
Turnovers per game                    16.3              13.8                                -2.5
Turnover margin                          -4.1                -0.4                               +3.7
Steals per game                            4.9                6.3                               +1.4
 
SEASON-OPENING EXHIBITION
- West Florida played an exhibition against NCAA Division I Louisiana on Nov. 3, and dropped a 94-72 decision to the Ragin' Cajuns.
- Deangleo Legrier led the way offesnively, going 7-of-8 from the floor with 16 total points.
- In a 45-point second half, Austin Somerfield led the team with 10 points.
- UWF outrebounded Louisiana in the second half by a 20-17 margin, led by Darryl Tucker who had six boards in the second half.
 
SCOUTING FORT VALLEY
- UWF is 2-2 all-time against the Wildcats, which includes a 82-81 overtime setback last year.
- Fort Valley posted a 6-23 record in 2015-16, including a 4-14 SIAC mark.
- In a season-opening exhibition, Fort Valley fell to Georgia 94-38. Yante Maten recorded 19 points to lead the effort for FVSU against the Bulldogs.
 
SCOUTING ALBANY STATE
- The Golden Rams head into 2016-17 after a 5-22 performance in 2015-16.
- UWF has earned wins in each of its two meetings against Albany State, including a 88-76 decision in 2014.
- Albany State fell in a pair of preseason exhibitions, including a 86-59 setback against Middle Georgia State and a 76-69 loss to Thomas University.
 
NEWCOMER SUMMARY
- UWF has eight newcomers on the 2016-17 roster, coming from two different countries and seven different states.
- The eight newcomers include three freshmen, a sophomore and four juniors.
- Marvin Jones, the 2015-16 NJCAA Alabama Community College Player of the Year and Second Team Junior College All-American, joins UWF after avveraging 19.4 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game at Shelton State CC.
- Other newcomers iclude Moter Deng (College of DuPage), Brett Carter Jr., Darryl Tucker (Central Georgia Tech), DJ Thrope (Western Texas College), Jamal Clarke, Henri Ventoniemi (Patrick Henry CC) and Michael Torre.
- Freshmen Torre, Clarke  and Carter Jr. are expected to redshirt the 2016-17 season.
 
SOPHOMORE STANDOUT
- Sophomore Rashaan Benson returns after an impressive freshman campaign, where he was third in the GSC in assists per game (4.0), eighth in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.3) and 11th in the league in steals per game (1.3).
- Benson tallied three GSC Freshman of the Week awards last season, good for the second most in the league. Only Christian Brothers' Adam Dieball, the eventual GSC Freshman of the Year, had more FOTW nods with six last year.
 
SOMERFIELD VS FORT VALLEY
- Austin Somerfield  posted arguably his most impressive individual performance against Fort Valley State last year, posting 35 points with 18 rebounds which both set career-highs for the Michigan native.
- Somerfield went 14-for-22 from the floor, and converted on 7-of-12 free throws against FVSU.
 
2016-17 SCHEDULE ANALYSIS
- UWF is scheduled to play 29 games this year, divided between 22 GSC contests and seven non-conference games.
- 13 of UWF's 29 games will be played at the UWF Field House.
- 19 of UWF's 29 games this upcoming year are against opponents who posted a 2015-16 record above .500.
 
UWF PICKED 10TH IN GSC POLL
- UWF was picked 10th by league coaches in the GSC's preseason poll. The Argos accumulated 34 total points and finished ahead of Mississippi College and Lee.
- The Argos received a sixth place, three eighth place, three ninth place, two 10th place and three 11th place votes.
- UWF was ranked 11th in the 2015-16 poll.