11-03-2005, 04:15 PM
<a href='http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/5046174' target='_blank'>http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/5046174</a>
4. Ohio
Experienced? Check. The Bobcats return their top four scorers. Resilient? Check. Ohio rallied from 19 down to last year to defeat Buffalo in the Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship. Deep? Check. In addition to four starters, Tim O'Shea returns a key reserve and welcomes several impact recruits. Clutch? Check. Of the Bobcats final 13 victories last season, 11 were by single digits.
No academic slouch, Mychal Green (15.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg) is a versatile senior guard sure to give opposing teams fits. His partner in crime, point Jeremy Fears (11.0 ppg, 3.7 apg) looks to be much improved in his sophomore season. Forwards Sonnny Troutman (12.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and Leon Williams (11.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg) balance the Bobcats attack.
Sling and Stone: Free throws. The Bobcats know how to 'manufacture' points. Last year all five starters made at least 100 trips to the free throw line, enabling Ohio to generate more points from the charity stripe than all but seven NCAA clubs. Come postseason play, the ability to accumulate freebies will again prove invaluable.
9. Akron
Four starters return for the Zips, last year 4-2 against RPI Top 50 competition. Forward Romeo Travis (11.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg) is the team leader, but gets plenty of help from forward Jeremiah Wood (10.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg). Point guard Dru Joyce III (7.3 ppg, 4.3 apg) knows his role and is disciplined enough to distribute first and shoot second. Senior forward Darryl Peterson (12.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg) rounds out a balanced attack.
Sling and Stone: Toughness. After double-digit scorer Jeremiah Wood went down in January, the Zips lost two straight. But rather than call it a season, Akron rebounded with five wins. Here's thinking they'll do the same this year as they work their way through a deep Mid-American Conference schedule.
4. Ohio
Experienced? Check. The Bobcats return their top four scorers. Resilient? Check. Ohio rallied from 19 down to last year to defeat Buffalo in the Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship. Deep? Check. In addition to four starters, Tim O'Shea returns a key reserve and welcomes several impact recruits. Clutch? Check. Of the Bobcats final 13 victories last season, 11 were by single digits.
No academic slouch, Mychal Green (15.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg) is a versatile senior guard sure to give opposing teams fits. His partner in crime, point Jeremy Fears (11.0 ppg, 3.7 apg) looks to be much improved in his sophomore season. Forwards Sonnny Troutman (12.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and Leon Williams (11.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg) balance the Bobcats attack.
Sling and Stone: Free throws. The Bobcats know how to 'manufacture' points. Last year all five starters made at least 100 trips to the free throw line, enabling Ohio to generate more points from the charity stripe than all but seven NCAA clubs. Come postseason play, the ability to accumulate freebies will again prove invaluable.
9. Akron
Four starters return for the Zips, last year 4-2 against RPI Top 50 competition. Forward Romeo Travis (11.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg) is the team leader, but gets plenty of help from forward Jeremiah Wood (10.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg). Point guard Dru Joyce III (7.3 ppg, 4.3 apg) knows his role and is disciplined enough to distribute first and shoot second. Senior forward Darryl Peterson (12.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg) rounds out a balanced attack.
Sling and Stone: Toughness. After double-digit scorer Jeremiah Wood went down in January, the Zips lost two straight. But rather than call it a season, Akron rebounded with five wins. Here's thinking they'll do the same this year as they work their way through a deep Mid-American Conference schedule.
