Oct. 16, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University basketball team will officially begin its 2009-10 season Saturday at 9:30 a.m., as the Bulldogs hold their first practice of the fall semester in the Pete Hanna Center.

Samford, which is in the midst of its second season as a member of the prestigious Southern Conference, returns four starters and an additional seven letterwinners from last year's squad.

In 2008-09, the Bulldogs concluded the year with a 16-16 overall record and a 9-11 mark against conference opponents. Samford finished its inaugural season in the SoCon as the third-place team in the North Division and qualified for postseason play for an unprecedented 16th-consecutive year.

At the 2009 SoCon Tournament, the Bulldogs knocked off Furman and The Citadel to advance all the way to the semifinal round of the competitive 12-team tournament. Samford ended up losing to eventual-champion Chattanooga at The McKenzie Arena in downtown Chattanooga, Tenn.

Samford will be led this season by fifth-year seniors Bryan Friday and Trey Montgomery, as well as talented upperclassmen Josh Bedwell, Gaby Bermudez, Peter Carroll, Josh Davis and Andy King.

Friday heads into the 2009-10 campaign as the team's top returning scorer. The Bulldogs' native of Grapevine, Texas, led the team in scoring last season with an average of 12.5 points per game. He started in all 32 of the team's contests and also averaged 3.5 rebounds per game.

Montgomery, who will be a three-year starter at the point guard position this year, led the team with 30.4 minutes played per contest in 2008-09. He also led the Bulldogs in rebounding (4.4 rpg), field-goal percentage (51.2), assists (80) and steals (45). A native of Destrehan, La., Montgomery finished the campaign ranked second on the team with 11.6 points per game.

The Bulldogs' junior class consisting of Josh Bedwell, Gaby Bermudez, Josh Davis and Andy King will also play a key role is Samford's success this season.

Samford's 2009-10 sophomore class is comprised of Matthew Friday, Kaylin Johnson, Jeffrey Merritt and John Peterson. All four players earned playing time as freshmen last year.

New to the team this season are true freshmen Levi Barnes (6-10, 210, C), Drew Windler (6-9, 185, C) and Gregg Wooten (6-2, 190, G).

The Samford University basketball team will officially begin its 2009-10 practice season Saturday at 9:30 a.m. The approximated two-and-half-hour workout will be held at the Pete Hanna Center.

2009-10 Basketball Schedule