THE GOOD NEWS
A coaching change could breathe life into a program that has not won an Atlantic Sun championship or posted a 20-win season since 2002-03. The Bears gain the services of transfer Daniel Emerson, a 6-8 junior forward who started 24 games at Western Kentucky and averaged 4.9 points and 3.7 rebounds in 2006-07.

THE BAD NEWS
They lose the offense of senior guard Shaddean Aaron (1,115 career points) and the toughness of senior forward Brian Pfohl (11.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game), whose father wrestled professionally as Lex Luger. If chemistry does not develop quickly with the new coach, the Bears could get body-slammed in 2008-09.

KEY RETURNEES
Sophomore guard James Florence is a prolific scorer (1,070 points in two years), if not a particularly accurate shooter (36.2 percent career FG percentage). Inch-for-inch, 6-6 junior Calvin Henry can rebound and block shots with anybody in this league. Freshman guard Mark Hall scored in double digits six times, including a 30-point game against Loyola Marymount.

ROSTER REPORT

--Junior forward Calvin Henry became the first Mercer player to win the Atlantic Sun's Defensive Player of the Year award. He led the league in blocked shots (1.9 per game) and ranked third in rebounding (7.7 per game). He rejected at least one shot in 28 of 30 games this season and already ranks fourth in Bears history with 96 career swats.

--Sophomore guard James Florence earned second-team All-Atlantic Sun honors after becoming just the second player in Mercer history to reach the 1,000-point plateau in two seasons. He has six career 30-point games, including three in 2007-08.

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