The Hawks officially open the season Friday afternoon in the annual GSC/SIAC Conference Challenge. This year the four-team tournament will be hosted by Lemoyne-Owen in Memphis Tenn., and will feature Shorter and Union from the GSC; while Spring Hill joins LOC from the SIAC.

Shorter enters the year with something to prove. Picked to finish 13th in the annual preseason coaches' poll, the Hawks will look to make a name for itself with a fresh new squad. Amonte Potter and Mike Wickliff are the lone returners from last year's team that finished 17-12 overall and 11-11 in the conference play; falling in the GSC Tournament Quarterfinals to Delta State.

Potter averaged 8.4 points per game last year, seeing action in 26 of the Hawks 28 games, making 23 starts. Wickliff will be sidelined to start the season, with a knee injury, that could likely keep him out all year. Last season, however, he added five points per game and was the only player to play in all 28 games.

Of the new additions, four are transfers and four are freshmen. While, Jonathan Mason returns to the team after playing golf at Shorter for the last two seasons. Josh Burnett and TayVaughn Major were tabbed as the Hawks' picks for newcomers to watch. Both, come to Shorter from DI programs in Kennesaw State and Charleston Southern, respectively. Burnett saw time in 11 game for the Owls last season; whereas, Major played in four games for the Bucs in 2016-17.

The Hawks will have a tough schedule ahead of them this season, with three games against top-25 teams during the first month – twice against preseason no. 4 Lincoln Memorial, and a Thanksgiving weekend clash against preseason no. 24 Kentucky Wesleyan. Shorter also takes on former head coach Chad Warner's new team, Flagler College, on the road on Nov. 14. The home opener for the team will be on Nov. 21 vs. Lincoln Memorial. And, the Hawks open conference play against West Georgia on Nov. 30 at the Winthrop-King Centre.