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Gordon makes long-awaited college debut

Nov 12, 2007 - 3:25 PM Chattanooga (1-0) at No. 9 Indiana (0-0) 7:00 pm EST

BLOOMINGTON, Indiana (Ticker) - In a season that figures to deliver several hyped newcomers, Eric Gordon may be the best of them all.

One of the nation's top freshmen makes his debut on Monday when the ninth-ranked Hoosiers open the season against Chattanooga at Assembly Hall.

Gordon, a 6-4 guard, was the Indiana's Mr. Basketball last season and has already been touted as a possible lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft if he elects to go pro after one season. He joins a host of other freshman across the country in starring roles, such as Southern California's O.J. Mayo, UCLA's Kevin Love and Memphis' Derrick Rose.

Gordon will join last season's top scorer, D.J. White, in an effort to improve on the Hoosiers' 21-11 record last season which resulted in a third-place finish in the Big Ten. They were eliminated in the second-round of the NCAA Tournament by UCLA.

Indiana looks to win its 10th straight opener and 23rd consecutive home opener. The Hoosiers are also trying for their 18th straight home victory since a 70-67 loss to Iowa on February 11, 2006.

Chattanooga, which went 15-18 last season, opened the season with a 120-59 win over Covenant - a NAIA opponent - on Friday. Junior Stephen McDowell had 25 points for the Mocs.