The UNH men's and women's basketball teams jump started their season last Saturday with the Basketball Season Tip-Off.
The event, which took place immediately after the Wildcat football team defeated Northeastern, consisted of exciting contests, prizes for the crowd and a chance for fans to meet the student athletes on each team.
The Tip-Off started with men's head coach Bill Herrion and women's head coach Kristen Cole addressing the crowd.
Each coach had a similar message: both teams want to win nothing less than an NCAA championship this season.
"Our main goal at the start of every season is to win an NCAA championship," said Herrion in an interview on Monday. "But a lot has to happen between now and March for that be a possibility."
After the coaches spoke, coach Herrion had former Vermont head coach and current ESPN analyst Tom Brennan address the crowd.
Brennan, a close friend of Herrion's, said that UNH is his "second favorite college basketball team [behind UVM of course]."
Following Brennan's speech, there were various contests, such as a three point shootout, a free throw contest and a dunk contest.
In each contest, a student was paired up with one of the athlete participants. Depending on which athlete won the contest, his or her student partner would receive a prize.
In between the contests, Herrion asked basketball related trivia questions to the crowd with the winner receiving various prizes and giveaways.
There was even a dance-off between the student-athletes, in which junior Tyrone Conley displayed his flashy dancing skills to the tune of Michael Jackson's "Thriller."
Towards the end of the event, a handful of students were selected to play the popular basketball game "knockout." The winner received a Nintendo Wii.
The Basketball Tip-Off was a fun way to kick off the season, but with the opening game of each team's season approaching fast, the Wildcats will need to get focused on the upcoming competition.
The Lady Wildcats will be led by its four seniors, particularly captain/foward Candace Williams and guard Amy Simpson.
The team will look to improve upon last season's 8-23 record and are poised to surprise some teams in the America East.
On the men's side, the Wildcats will be led by a combination of juniors and seniors, particularly senior captain Colby Santos and junior Alvin Abreu.
The men's team is hoping to continue its improvement this season, after recording a 14-16 record last year, one of the best seasons for men's basketball in recent history.
"The older guys have to step up [for us to have success]," said Herrion. "Colby Santos is a senior, but Dane Diliegro, Tyrone Conley and Alvin Abreu are all juniors who have played a lot of basketball and need to contribute as well."
The UNH women's team will play in an exhibition game against Bentley on Sunday, November 8, in the Lundholm Gymnasium at 7 p.m. The Wildcats then begin the regular season against St. Joseph's on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m.
The men's team begins its regular season schedule when they take on Suffolk University on Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Lundholm Gymnasium at 7 p.m.
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