Head coach Scott Sutton welcomes what could be his best Oral Roberts basketball team since the Golden Eagles' last NCAA Tournament trip in 2008 when preseason drills open at 5 p.m. Friday. How senior forward Michael Craion and sophomore center Damen Bell-Holter respond to recent injuries will impact the outlook. The Eagles also return all-league junior forward Dominique Morrison, three other key contributors from last season and promising point guards Rod Pearson and Hunter McClintock, sidelined by early knee injuries last year.
ORU's Golden Eagle Club booster group hosts its annual Courtside Countdown barbecue at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Admission is $25 per person or $500 for a table. Three questions 1) Will Craion and Bell-Holter be at full speed Friday? Not likely, but Sutton is cautiously optimistic that both will make full recovery in time. Craion, the Summit League newcomer of the year in 2009-10, broke a bone in his foot and underwent surgery in August. He has been cleared for limited activity and awaits another X-ray to determine how well the injury is healing. Bell-Holter, coming back from a high ankle sprain, was out of his boot and doing some running before the team dispersed for fall break. How does ORU stack up to the rest of the Summit League? Most prognosticators favor defending champion Oakland (Mich.), led by MVP center Keith Benson, for another title. ORU is seen as the Grizzlies' top challenger, with always dangerous IUPUI third in line. After that, it's South Dakota State, North Dakota State, IPFW and Western Illinois, not necessarily in that order. Who are the newcomers to watch? All three scholarship athletes will have their chances. Steven Roundtree, a 6-foot-8 freshman, has explosive athleticism and finishing skills. Jake Lliteras, a 6-foot-5 freshman, is a gifted outside shooter. Chris Angsomwine is a powerfully built 6-foot-9 junior college transfer, and the Eagles need inside depth.
