Spring Break
Men's Basketball: Rose could be a pain in Panthers' side
Colonel senior guard is league threat
Dan Cusack / Staff Reporter
Issue date: 1/15/09 Section: Sports
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The Panthers will square off against senior guard Mike Rose and the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at 8 p.m. today at Lantz Arena in an Ohio Valley Conference game.
Rose is the catalyst for the conferences most explosive offense that averages 11 three-point field goals a game.
Rose is averaging 20.1 points per game, which is second in the conference in points.
Eastern head coach Mike Miller said the Panthers (6-9, 3-2 OVC) would not change their defensive scheme, but must keep an eye on the senior guard.
"We definitely have to be conscious of him," Miller said. "If he gets going, he really sets off that team."
Eastern junior center Ousmane Cisse said the key will be to contest his shots and get a hand in his face throughout the game. He said he knows they cannot stop him from scoring his points completely, but they can slow his scoring with pressure throughout the game.
Senior forward Billy Parrish was a teammate with Rose at Nequa Valley High School.
Parrish said Rose used to primarily be a shooter, but he has expanded his game.
Parrish said he is still friends with Rose, but the two have not spoken this week.
"When I see him we talk about a lot of stuff, not just basketball," Parrish said.
Rose is a strong three-point shooter (third in the conference with a .472 field goal made average), but also excels at driving the ball to the lane to the right.
He has led the Colonels (9-7, 3-3) in scoring 12 of their 17 games this season including 30 points in a 75-67 win against Jacksonville State last Thursday, but has shown he can be contained on the offensive end.
He was limited to nine points against Austin Peay in an 82-79 loss on Jan. 5 and held to two points in a 58-50 loss against Murray State on Dec. 4.
Miller said the Colonels are an efficient team, and the Panthers have little room for error if they want to win.
Stats back this up as they lead the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio with 1.4 per game and are second in the conference in 3-point percentage with .392 (169-431).
Cisse said that they rely on 3-pointers and layups on the offensive end.
On the defensive side, the Panthers will see different looks throughout the game.
Miller said EKU changes its defense throughout the game anywhere from a 1-3-1 trap, a 3-2 zone and man-to-man.
The Panthers will play in Lantz Arena for the first time in 2009 as four of their six games during winter break were played on the road.
Cisse said the team improved during break and became closer as a team both on and off the court.
Martin said the team is stronger and is a lot more confident after the three road tests.
Miller said he is excited to be home and hopes the team can pull out a victory.
"Our guys have been grinding it out," Miller said. "I think the guys are excited to be at home again and play in front of their fellow students."
Dan Cusack can be reached at 581-7944 or at dscusack@eiu.edu.
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