2011-12 Final Statistics - Oral Roberts University Athletics

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ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S BASKETBALL PROSPECTUS OUTLOOK The 2012-13 season will be a first in a lot of ways for the ORU men’s basketball team. Most notably, it will be the first season of competition in the Southland Conference for the Golden Eagles, having played in the Mid-Continent/Summit League for the previous 15 years. As many as nine players could see the court in an ORU jersey for the first time, with six of those seeing their first collegiate action. That said, hopes are high for the Golden Eagles coming off a record-breaking 27-7 season and a regular season conference championship, which earned ORU a berth in the NIT. With two starters returning (Warren Niles and Damen Bell-Holter), there is experience in the wings, led by 2012 Summit League Sixth Man of the Year Steven Roundtree. Mikey Manghum and Jake Lliteras, both of whom averaged around 10 minutes per game last year, will also return. “I think we have a really good nucleus coming back,” said Head Coach Scott Sutton. “ I think we are really good at positions two through five, when you look at Warren Niles, who I think will really blossom, a transfer in Shawn Glover who is extremely talented and then Steven Roundtree and Damen Bell-Holter who have a ton of experience inside, it gives us a great group coming back. Those four give us a good core coming back. We need the other guys, Mikey, Jake and D.J. to have a great off season. We signed a number of guys that have a chance to come in and play immediately. And I’m excited about Korey Billbury, I think he can come in and play because of his toughness and he has good strength for a young player.” Perhaps the most notable incoming freshman is Oklahoma product Corbin Byford, who was named the Jim Thorpe Award winner as the best player in the state after the All-State game. He is only the second player to attend ORU after winning the award, with three-time All-American Caleb Green being the other. Point Guard The point guard position went up for grabs with the graduation of Roderick Pearson, who started all 34 games last year. The early favorites would have to be Tramel White, a junior college transfer, or Jackson, who was able to practice with the team last year during a redshirt season. “The point guard position is our biggest question mark going into the season,” said Sutton. “We are really high on D.J. and Tramel but neither has played a minute of Division I basketball. D.J. was able to practice with us and gained some valuable experience and probably has a better grasp on how we operate and how we want to run things, but Tramel has a little more game experience, playing at a JuCo last year. The first month of practice is going to be very important to see how they get acclimated to our system.” Shooting Guard The starting spot likely belongs to the 1,000-point scorer Niles, who started all 34 games last season and should easily move into the top-10 in career scoring at ORU in his senior season. Billbury and Manghum will also see significant minutes at the two-guard position. “We have one of the most experienced players in the conference in Warren Niles,” said Sutton. “He has started every game since his freshman year and has scored a bunch of points. We feel good about what he can accomplish this year after having played in the shadow of Dominique Morrison for the past few years. I think you’ll see his points per game average increase this year. Behind him we have Billbury, who is very talented and very strong for a freshman. He has a lot of confidence and will continue to improve. We also have a great combo guard in Manghum, who is probably our best perimeter defender and will be in the rotation as well.” Small Forward Perhaps the biggest loss and most promise come at the same position. The departure of Dominique Morrison, who finished his four-year career with honorable mention All-American honors and as the fifth-leading scorer in the history of ORU, opens the door for Glover, who has shown the ability to take over the role of the main scorer. Newcomers Byford and Brandon Conley could see time at either of the forward positions. “We lost a special player in Dominique Morrison, but we feel good about what we return in Glover,” said Sutton. “He is an excellent scorer with great size and great experience. He will step in and make an immediate impact. Jake was a part of our rotation last year and has good experience and I think will continue to get better. Then we have two guys who may play multiple positions in Conley and Byford. Both are tremendous athletes for freshmen. Again, it will probably depend on that first month but both have a very high ceiling. One or both will definitely be in the rotation this year.”
ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S BASKETBALL PROSPECTUS OUTLOOK Power Forward Selflessly giving up his starting spot last year, Roundtree was rewarded with Sixth Man of the Year honors from the conference. He will move back into the starting role this year and will be depended on heavily around the basket. “Steven is a tremendous talent and had a great freshman year,” said Sutton. “Last year he took a very unselfish approach to our team and like Niles I think will blossom this year. Glover, Byford and Conley will also provide depth for us at the four. Center Bell-Holter battled a back injury early in the season last year, but started the final 25 games of the year, and will continue to be a force in the middle. Already seventh in career blocks, another season like 2010-11 would put him near the top of the charts in ORU history. “Damen is another guy who has a ton of experience,” said Sutton. “He had a great sophomore year and then battled injuries last year. I think of all of the guys, he had the best summer and lost a lot of weight, which I think will not only help his stamina, but also help prevent some of the nagging injuries. I expect Damen to have a break-out year. Behind him is Jorden Kaufman, who we are extremely high on. He will have to play for us this year, but is a big body and is very skilled for a center. He has gotten a lot better just through weights and conditioning and I think he will make great strides as we begin practice.” Schedule The 2012 schedule has a mix of new opponents and old rivalries, highlighted by home games against Tulsa and Oklahoma. The Golden Eagles will also hit the road to face Arizona and Memphis, along with the Great Alaska Shootout during the nonconference season. Once January hits, it is all Southland Conference, with exception of a home game as part of the ESPN BracketBuster series. “It is a tough schedule, but we are excited about it, especially our home games,” said Sutton. “The opportunity to host Oklahoma and Tulsa is attractive. We have had some success at home against some big name teams in the past, and it isn’t often you have the chance to host a Big 12 team. Then our non-conference schedule is tough as well with possibly nationally ranked teams in Memphis and Arizona. We’ll also make a trip to UTEP and have a regional matchup with Missouri State.” “The other thing I’m excited about is taking Damen home to play in Alaska. The Great Alaska Shootout is a tremendous event and one of the first tournaments of its kind. It will be a real treat for him to be able to go back and play in front of his friends and family.”
Page 2 and 3: GENERAL INFORMATION Location: Tulsa
Page 4 and 5: ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN
Page 8 and 9: SCOTT SUTTON Head Coach 14th Season
Page 10: 2012-13 MEN’S BASKETBALL PROSPECT

2011-12 Final Statistics - Oral Roberts University Athletics

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