Mens basketball playing with a chip on their shoulder

         Despite being picked as the second worst team in the Colonial Athletic Association's annual preseason poll, Georgia State (11-4, 3-1 CAA) has played with poise, toughness and a will that has catapulted them into being the second best team in the conference.

"We were predicted to be last," Hunter, said. "Every coach in (the CAA) decided that we were the last place team."

The lowly expectations placed on the Panthers seem to have fired the team up.

"I coach with a chip on my shoulder and theses kids play with a chip on their shoulder. And we will continue to do that all year."

         This season the Panthers were suppose to struggle as first year coach Ron Hunter began to implement a new system with a team that featured three seniors, three redshirt seniors and one junior who were all returning from a team that finished 12-19 last year.  Hunter, however, decided that this team is supposed to be great and his team has bought into it.

        After taking down preseason favorite Drexel 58-44 Jan. 2, Hunter didn't seem as surprised as most that his team has flew so high above expectations.

        "We're supposed to win," Hunter said after the victory over Drexel. "We're expected to win.  So all we did was do what we are supposed to do today. Now we have to go t some things that people don't expect us to do and that' win on the road."

        The Panthers kept up their campaign of shock and awe as they took out 2011 Final Four participant, VCU (11-4, 3-1 CAA), 55-53 on the road before finally having their 11-game win streak snapped by George Mason (12-4, 4-0 CAA) 61-58 in one of the most intense games of the season.

        Defense is one of the many things the Panthers are doing right. The team has picked up Hunter's style of pressing and zoning very quickly and the improvement of the team's communication has made things easier.

       "It has been an evolution," Hunter said with a laugh. "We didn't talk for the first three months but in what we do you have to communicate.  More than that, my guys are having fun and when you are having fun you want to communicate."

        Georgia State at least fourth in the CAA in six different defensive statistical categories and they lead the CAA in blocked shots while allowing the fewest points per game and the lowest field goal percentage.

        Even a 10-day layoff due winter break was not enough to slow Georgia State's intense defense.

 "Over the break we have just been practicing very hard," defensive juggernaut Eric Buckner said. "We are trying to work on d. We are trying to get better. And that's what we do every practice. Try to get better."

Buckner has led the way on the defensive by averaging a CAA best 2.8 blocks per game. He also leads the CAA in field goal percentage with an impressive 62.3 percent.

       The Panthers next contest will come against division foe UNC Wilmington Thursday Jan. 12 at the Sports Arena. Thursday's game will have added meaning, as Hunter will coach the entire game barefoot to raise money for Samaritans Feet—an organization that provides shoes for underprivileged children around the world.