Photo courtesy of Mark Campbell

NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware men’s and women's basketball teams each officially open their 2009-10 seasons on Friday when they begin practices at the Bob Carpenter Center.

The Blue Hen men’s team will practice from 5-7 p.m. at the BCC, while the women will practice from 7-9 p.m. Both teams will generally practice between 2:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. on weekdays at the Carpenter Center. Practices are open to the public.

The UD men’s team is coming off a 13-19 season in which the Blue Hens finished in ninth place in the CAA with a 6-12 league mark. Led by fourth-year head coach Monté Ross, Delaware returns three starters and six letterwinners for the 2009-10 season.

Delaware will be led by junior Jawan Carter (at right), who started all 32 games at the shooting guard spot last season during his first year as a Blue Hen. Carter ranked second on the team and sixth in the CAA by averaging 15.0 points per game, while he led the squad with 62 three-pointers made and a 77.8 free throw percentage. Also returning is fellow junior Alphonso Dawson, was ranked third on the team with both 14.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per contest a year ago.

The Blue Hen women’s team went 15-15 overall and was also ninth in the conference with a 7-11 league record. However the Blue Hens, led by 14th-year head coach Tina Martin, return virtually every significant player including all five starters and are expected to climb back into the CAA’s upper echelon.

Leading the way will be junior Tesia Harris, a third team All-CAA selection last season after leading the Blue Hens with 13.6 points per game. Harris will be joined in the backcourt by senior Corinthia Benison, who averaged 9.3 points per game, and junior Vanessa Kabongo, who was second on the team by pouring in 10.8 points per contest..

The Delaware men’s basketball team, which will hold a home exhibition game on November 2 against Philadelphia University at 7 p.m., opens its regular season on Saturday, November 14 when the Blue Hens host Temple at the Bob Carpenter Center at 12 noon.

The UD women, who open the season with seven straight road games, kick off their season on November 17 with a 7 p.m. game at St. Francis (Pa.). The Blue Hens face Navy on December 11 at 7 p.m. in their home opener.