Oral Roberts (22-11): The Golden Eagles begin play in a new league but will face familiar foes in the Summit League, renamed from the Mid-Continent Conference.
ORU returns four starters from last year's NCAA Tournament team, led by junior forward Jenny Hardin (15.7).
Mariana Camargo and Rachel Watman gained valuable playing time over the summer with their respective countries which should transcend on the court this year for the Golden Eagles. Watman averaged 7.8 points a game followed by Camargo at 6.9.
Janae Voelker averaged 5.5 points before a knee injury ended her season during the league tournament.
The Golden Eagles get the regular season underway Nov. 13 at crosstown-rival TU.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS with Coach Scott Sutton, ninth season
How will preseason drills differ because of the Labor Day trip to Canada?
We’ve played three games and had 10 (extra) days of practice, so I think our new guys will understand the system a little better and won’t have the same period of adjustment new kids normally go through. We might jump into drills we did that first few days and won’t have as much teaching to do.
Can you talk about a few of the new guys you’re breaking in?
I’ve already said that I think (junior college transfer) Robert Jarvis has a chance to make a big impact on this season, and Curtis Allen (transfer from Kansas State) could if he becomes more consistent. (Freshmen) Kyron Stokes and Jonathan Dunn are going to be special players. You can throw in Marcus Lewis (transfer from Portland State). He’s gotten into better shape and if he can stay in shape, he could have a big year. And I haven’t mentioned Andre Hardy, another freshman who has a chance to be a good player.
What’s it going to be like without Caleb Green and Ken Tutt for the first time in four years?
We’ll have to put guys in different positions and have them do different things. In the past, we knew how we wanted to play because Caleb and Ken were our first options. We have guys who have played specific roles, and we haven’t needed them to score. This year, we need guys to step up their offensive production.
Who are some of the ones you have in mind?
I think (senior center) Shawn King is going to have a breakout year. I thought he showed flashes last season, especially late, of being a really well-rounded player. Obviously he did a great job of blocking shots and rebounding the whole year, but he improved and got more confidence on the offensive end. (Junior forward) Marchello Vealy is obviously a guy with a lot of ability. He just needs to show it on a daily basis.
You’ve said this may be your most talented team. With six returning lettermen and any number of newcomers expected to contribute, how do you divide the playing time?
There are so many possibilities. I couldn’t tell you right now who the top eight or nine guys are. We’ll have to determine that over the first month, and it may take longer than that. There may be chemistry issues, because we’ll have so many guys playing together for the first time. We may change our starting lineup more than ever before. There’s not much separation between the eighth and ninth players, or maybe even between the eighth and 13th players. I think our practices are going to be very competitive.
TOP RETURNING PLAYER
Shawn King
The 6-foot-10 senior is still learning offensively. He only started playing basketball six years ago. Defensively, he led the Summit League and ranked 22nd nationally with 81 blocked shots in his first Division I season. He averaged 7.1 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 64 percent.
PRACTICE IS IMPORTANT FOR
Moses Ehambe
The 6-foot-6 senior could emerge as a team leader after playing a key reserve role the past two years. He shot 43 percent from 3-point range as a junior and showed glimpses of having a more well-rounded game. He has an infectious personality and nobody worked harder in the offseason.
WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM
Robert Jarvis
The 5-foot-11 junior topped NJCAA Division I with 128 treys while leading Seminole (Okla.) State to a fifth-place national finish. He shot 91 percent from the foul line to rank second nationally. He received NJCAA thirdteam All-America honors. Jarvis can play the point or shooting guard.
KEY DATES
First exhibition game: Rogers State, Nov. 3, 7:05 p.m.
IPFW Former IU standout Dane Fife, who played on the Hoosiers' 2002 Final Four team, finally has a conference as he heads into his third season. The Mastodons will play in the Summit League and are immediately eligible for the postseason. IPFW, 12-17 last year, returns five of its top seven scorers.
Call Star reporter Jeff Rabjohns at (317) 444-6183.
IUPUI The Jaguars, who reached the NCAA Tournament in 2003, are in position to contend for another Cinderella season. Junior George Hill, limited to five games last year due to a foot injury, is healthy and might be the best player in the Summit League, formerly the Mid-Continent Conference. The Broad Ripple product was a first-team all-conference player as a sophomore, averaging 19 points, six rebounds and 3.6 assists. Thirteenth-year coach Ron Hunter also has Austin Montgomery, last year's league Newcomer of the Year, and Gary Patterson, another member of the all-newcomer team.
Call Star reporter Jeff Rabjohns at (317) 444-6183.
Where: College Basketball Experience at the Sprint Center
Notes: UMKC men’s and women’s teams also will have “UMKC Basketball Morning Madness” from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday morning at Swinney Recreation Center on campus. Both teams will practice. There will be prize giveaways, including a chance for one UMKC student to win free tuition for the upcoming spring semester.
•UMKC is so excited about it season under new coach Matt Brown the Kangaroos are launching practice twice. Tonight, the Kangaroos will work out at the new College Basketball Experience next to the Sprint Center from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Monday comes UMKC Basketball Morning Practice from 6 to 9 a.m. at Swinney Recreation Center.
NOTICE: Since I'm a Valpo Fan and Valpo is moving on to the Horizon League next season, I'm looking for some fan of one of the remaining (or new) Summit schools to take over this blog. If you are interested, email me.
I'm a retired Software Engineer with Boeing, a supply preacher with the Central States Synod of the ELCA, a White Sox fan (first), a Cardinals fan (second), and a Valparaiso University Basketball fan.
