The Mountaineer men's basketball team walks out the kinks after a 12.5 mile relay race along the Oregon coast.
Mountie Hoop Squad Prepares for 2008-09
Isaac Williams
LA GRANDE, Ore. - In each of Ryan Looney's first four seasons the Eastern Oregon University Men's Basketball team has improved on the season prior.
In his first year Eastern finished just 4-22. In year two they jumped to 17-8. In 2006-2007 the Mounties were 23-11 and last year EOU won a school record 26 games, the first Cascade Conference Championship in almost four decades and advanced to the sweet sixteen of the NAIA National Tournament.
While they do have nine returners, including four starters, could the Mountaineer men really be thinking of taking another step forward?
According to Head Coach Ryan Looney the answer is yes, "This team could be the most talented group we have had. If our newcomers can blend with our returners early we may have a chance to return to the NAIA National Tournament."
Apparently the rest of the coaches in the conference agree. Monday Eastern was voted second behind defending NAIA National Champion Oregon Tech in the CCC Preseason Coaches Poll.
Former All-Conference selections Jeremy Templeton, Neil Fryer and Paul Carollo (all of whom are seniors) along with junior big man Josh Landsverk return to the squad. Each spent all or most of last season in the starting line-up for the Mounties.
Looney and his staff have added a strong class of recruits to join an already veteran club. Sacramento State University transfer Kris Groce along with Spokane Community College alum Jordan Gregg, Bellevue Community College guard Steve Wiseley, Salt Lake Community College standout Dan Stafford and Mountain View High School's Sean Dart will "all have a chance to contribute" according to Looney.
Seniors Paul Carollo and Kris Groce were both named to the CCC Preseason All-Conference Team released Monday. Carollo averaged 9.5 points and 8.4 rebounds last season for the Mounties while Groce was good for 10.8 points per while playing in the Big Sky for Sacramento State.
To prepare for the 08-09 campaign Looney took his team to the Oregon coast for four days in September. The primary reason was to "build team chemistry" according to Looney.
The team competed in a series of competitions dubbed the EOU Basketball Olympics. The events (five in total) ranged from crab fishing to a 12.5 mile relay race along the beaches of Warrenton.
Friday October 25th the Mountaineers will launch the season with their annual scrimmage against the Mountie Alum at 7:30 pm in Quinn Coliseum.
Their preseason schedule will include the annual home away from home game at Hermiston High School on October 30th against Multnomah University and the 10th annual Aramark Quinn Classic November 7th and 8th. Lewis and Clark State College, Montana Tech and The College of Idaho will all bring strong squads to La Grande for the Quinn.
The Mounties will also travel to NCAA Division I Idaho State University on November 14 to face the Bengals in Pocatello. EOU will travel East to Idaho again on the 21st and 22nd of November for the C of I Golden Rule Shootout to face Westminster College and Willamette University.