Quote:KSU set to tip off first D-I season

Friday, November 18, 2005 3:08 AM EST

By David Friedlander
Marietta Daily Journal Sports Writer

KENNESAW - Perhaps it is appropriate the Kennesaw State men's basketball season begins almost a half a world away when it travels to Fairbanks, Alaska, to take on Denver in the first round of the Top of the World Classic tonight at 10.

After all, the Owls are entering into a new world of college basketball.

After being one of the most dominating teams in NCAA Division II over the past four seasons, KSU (24-6 last season) enter Division I and the Atlantic Sun Conference with one of its youngest squads ever - with six freshmen and two sophomores among the 12 active players.

"We're definitely lacking experience," Owls coach Tony Ingle said. "With the number of freshmen among our top players, we've got to have experience, and we're going to get it right off the bat."

The Top of the World Classic will certainly be an eye-opening experience for a team new to Division I.

Tonight's opener pits them against a Denver team that went 20-11, including a Sun Belt Conference regular season championship and an NIT berth, last season.

And the rest of the field - including Conference USA member Southern Mississippi, Mountain West member San Diego State, three other Division I teams with a .500 or better record last year in Lamar (14-11), Illinois-Chicago (15-13) and Montana State (14-14) and Division II power Alaska-Fairbanks (21-9) - offer little chance for the Owls to get acclimated.

With only three players - sophomore guard Ronell Wooten and senior reserves Israel Ingle and ex-North Cobb Christian standout Kenan Knight - returning from last season, acclimated may be the operative word for the Owls.

But that's OK with at least one of the newcomers, JUCO transfer wing Brent Ragsdale.

"It will be a big learning process for us," the 6-foot-4 junior said. "Most teams play together two or three years. We're basically a whole new team."

Ragsdale, who averaged 16.5 points in KSU's two preseason exhibition games, will be one of two newcomers with experience that will likely play a key role on the perimeter.

Golden Ingle - Tony's son and Israel's brother - returns from a three-year Mormon mission to take over the reins as the Owls' starting point guard.

The 5-11 junior, who began his career at Western Kentucky, has proven himself capable in the past, averaging 15.1 points and 4.8 assists per game when he last played in 2001-02, and will be needed to provide leadership and stability for the young Owl fledglings.

"I've really been impressed with how quick we've adapted and molded together," said Golden Ingle, who averaged 21.5 points in KSU two exhibitions. "But we're really under a microscope (moving up to Division I). There's really no room for error."

With Golden Ingle, Ragsdale and the 6-4 Wooten (9.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg last season) providing much of the Owls' experience on the perimeter, they must also be the majority of the focal point of both the offense and defense - at least until the younger post players begin to develop.

While there is not much size for KSU on the low block, there is some potential.

Freshmen Dusty Moore (6-8, 230, Crossville, Ala.), Brandon Peterson (6-8, 230, Salt Lake City, Utah) and Ryan Nelson (6-7, 175, Rochester Hills, Mich.) all come in with strong credentials.

That's especially true for Moore, who was an all-state selection in both basketball and football at Crossville High School, averaging 23 points and 14 rebounds as a senior last season.

Still, the strength of the Owls will be on the perimeter, where fellow freshman Andre Morgan (6-3, 170, Buford) and Gaby Cruz (6-7, 205, Ponce, P.R.) will help bolster a potentially deep rotation with Golden Ingle, Ragsdale and Wooten.

"We've got to beat people with our strengths," Tony Ingle said. "We've got to maximize them and minimize our weaknesses."

dfriedlander@mdjonline.com

Best of luck to the guys in Fairbanks!!