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By Joel Welser
jwelser@collegehoops.net
Eastern Kentucky Colonels
Atlantic Sun (21-11, 13-7)
Seed: #16
East Region
RPI: 126
Big Wins:
11/13 East Tennessee State (70-53), 2/3 at Tennessee Tech (92-90), vs
Austin Peay (63-62)
Bad Losses:
1/2 Southeast Missouri State (74-88), 1/18 at Jacksonville State
(56-66), Tennessee State (62-63)
Last NCAA
Appearance: 2005, First Round loss to Kentucky
Coach:
Jeff Neubauer (First NCAA appearance)
Probable
Starters:
Adam Leonard,
Freshman, Guard, 12.4 ppg, 1.8 apg
Mike Rose,
Sophomore, Guard, 15.2 ppg, 2.7 apg
Julian Mascoll,
Senior, Guard, 11.1 ppg, 4.9 apg, 3.9 rpg, 2.2 spg
Michael Brock,
Senior, Forward, 5.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg
Darnell Dialls,
Junior, Forward, 8.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg
Key
Roleplayers:
Harrison Brown,
Sophomore, Guard, 1.7 ppg, 1.0 rpg
Jamaal Douglas,
Junior, Forward, 6.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg
Josh Daniel,
Freshman, Forward, 3.0 ppg, 0.6 rpg
Josh Taylor,
Freshman, Forward, 2.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg
Why They Can
Surprise:
Eastern
Kentucky will not play fast and Coach Jeff Neubauer has three players on the
perimeter that will dictate his tempo. Mike Rose has become the big scorer
as a sophomore and averages 15.2 points per game. The 6-3 Chicago native is
a good three-point shooter, but will attack the basket as well.
Co-Freshman of
the year in the OVC, Adam Leonard, is the long range specialist. Leonard
knocks down 3.2 long balls per game, but is not much of a threat to get to
the rim. Julian Mascoll, who averages a team high 4.9 assists, is the third
scoring option on the perimeter and the much needed senior leader.
Why They Can
Disappoint:
Rebounding is
the main problem for the Colonels. Nobody averages more than 5.3 rebounds
per contest and any work the team gets done on the glass is by committee.
Michael Brock has used his toughness to lead the team in rebounding, but is
not a threat to do a lot of scoring. Darnell Dials has developed into a
decent scoring option under the basket, but should be grabbing more than 4.1
boards per game.
Who To
Watch:
At 6-7 and 250
pounds, Jamaal Douglas is a good option off the bench. The part-time starter
is a decent scorer and rebounder and the most prolific shot blocker on the
team. Dialls will get into some foul trouble and Douglas becomes a very
valuable player. Douglas will get into his fair share of foul difficulties
too, and that only leaves a pair of freshmen down the bench. Josh Daniel and
Josh Taylor averages less than ten minutes per game and if EKU starts
playing faster or runs into major foul problems, the freshmen are not ready
to see major minutes.
Joel’s
Bracket Says: First Round loss to North Carolina
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2007 NCAA Tournament Bracket
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