Eastern’s men’s basketball team should enter this season with determination, showing its critics that it is better than ninth in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Last season, Eastern was picked to finish third; however, injuries hurt the team all season, and the Panthers did not have their full team for a majority of the games.

This resulted in a lack of chemistry on the court because so many different rotations were being

attempted.

That team was picked third in the OVC and this team, which is really not that much different, is picked ninth.

Senior guard Jeremy Granger said the team is eager to prove its doubters wrong. I am excited to see that.

The OVC has gotten better and there will be some tough teams like Austin Peay, but the Panthers should have no problem making the postseason tournament.

The Panthers have pieces to be successful. Granger is one of the best guards in the conference and one of the best free-throw shooters in the nation.

The team is going to get consistent play from their cornerstone Granger. This is exactly what any team needs to be play well in college basketball. If Granger can get some help, the Panthers should have a solid team this season.

Head coach Mike Miller has recruited a large class of seven new players. These players may not make an immediate impact, but they will significantly help the team’s depth. Sophomore forward Alfonzo McKinnie and red-shirt junior forward James Hollowell should provide some scoring in the low post.

Hollowell is a great defender, who says he has put in a lot of work this off-season to play more consistently on the offensive side.

McKinnie is a tremendous athlete who has the potential to be a special player. If he can develop his raw skills, his athleticism could make him one of the top forwards in the conference.

Granger and the rest of the team make the Panthers exciting to watch. So, at the very least the games will be entertaining, but I think there is a lot of success in this team’s future.

Rob Mortell can be reached at 581-7944 or at rdmortell@eiu.edu.