NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware men’s and women's basketball teams each officially open their 2008-09 seasons on Friday when they begin practices at the Bob Carpenter Center.

The Blue Hen women’s team will practice from 5-7:30 p.m. at the BCC, while the men will practice from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Both teams will generally practice between 3 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 14-17 season in which the Blue Hens tied for sixth place in the CAA with a 9-9 league mark. Led by third-year head coach Monté Ross, Delaware returns four starters and seven letterwinners for the 2008-09 season.

Delaware will be led by senior Marc Egerson, a third team All-CAA selection a year ago when he led the team with 6.9 rebounds per game and ranked second with 13.4 points per contest. Senior co-captain Jim Ledsome returns to lead the Blue Hen frontcourt, while fellow captain Brian Johnson will again play point guard for the Blue Hens after dishing out a team-high 161 assists as a sophomore. CAA All-Rookie Team selection Alphonso Dawson, who poured in 11 points a game as a freshman, also returns to a talented UD backcourt.

The Blue Hen women’s team went just 7-24 last season but returns a young and talented nucleus under 13th-year head coach Tina Martin.

Sophomore guard Vanessa Kabongo and junior guard Corinthia Benison (at right), who each averaged 6.6. points per game in 2007-08, return to lead the Blue Hen backcourt, while fellow guard Tesia Harris also returns after scoring 5.4 points per contest as a freshman. Sophomore Ariene Jenkins, who scored 5.3 points per game and pulled down a team-high 5.1 boards per contest, and junior Farrah Ferguson, who added 2.0 points and 3.5 rebounds, return to lead the Delaware frontcourt.

Both Blue Hen teams open their regular seasons at the Bob Carpenter Center on Sunday, November 16. The UD women host Columbia at 12 noon at the BCC, while the Delaware men will face Big East opponent Rutgers at 4 p.m.