Spring Break
Column: Hudson presents threat for men's basketball team
Dan Cusack / Columnist
Issue date: 2/18/09 Section: Sports
The Eastern men's basketball team will have its hands full against Tennessee Martin on Wednesday night at Lantz Arena.
Not only will the Panthers be playing against the top team in the Ohio Valley Conference - the Skyhawks - but they also have the task of trying to contain one of the nation's top scorers.
Skyhawk senior guard Lester Hudson is second in the nation in scoring, behind Davidson guard Stephen Curry, with 27.9 points per game. More impressively, Hudson is the only player in the nation to score 20 points a game.
In addition to being a force on the scoreboard, Hudson is also a force in the paint averaging 7.6 rebounds per game and 4.1 assists per game.
Hudson is projected by draftexpress.com as a late second round pick in this year's NBA draft and the 18th best senior in the country.
In Eastern's 65-51 loss to the Skyhawks on Jan. 18 in Martin, Tenn., Hudson finished with a game-high 29 points.
The senior ignited the Skyhawks on a 19-2 second half run in the second to come back and put away the Panthers after Eastern had led the game 31-20 at halftime.
Eastern coach Mike Miller said one of the most impressive things about Hudson is that he makes his teammates better.
He knows the Panthers will not be able to shut him down 100 percent, but it is important to limit Hudson's teammates from scoring.
The Skyhawks are averaging a league high 81.1 points per game, which means, although Hudson is a huge part of the Martin's game, the rest of the team is also a threat to score a lot of points.
The Panthers and the Skyhawks are entering the games on different streaks.
The Skyhawks have won their last 10 games, which ranks third in the nation.
The Panthers have lost their last three games.
The Panthers will not limit Hudson completely as no team in the nation has been able to so far. Eastern's coaching staff is right on keeping an eye on Hudson, while trying to limit the Skyhawks' other players in giving them the best chance to win the game.
It will also be important for the Panthers to get going early and get out to a lead because Martin can score in bunches and get up quick. And the Panthers don't want to continue their losing steak.
Eastern has qualified for the OVC Tournament, and can finish no worse then seventh.
But the Panthers have an opportunity to win out and possibly host a first-round game in the conference tournament.
Dan Cusack can be reached at 581-7944 or at dscusack@eiu.edu.
Not only will the Panthers be playing against the top team in the Ohio Valley Conference - the Skyhawks - but they also have the task of trying to contain one of the nation's top scorers.
Skyhawk senior guard Lester Hudson is second in the nation in scoring, behind Davidson guard Stephen Curry, with 27.9 points per game. More impressively, Hudson is the only player in the nation to score 20 points a game.
In addition to being a force on the scoreboard, Hudson is also a force in the paint averaging 7.6 rebounds per game and 4.1 assists per game.
Hudson is projected by draftexpress.com as a late second round pick in this year's NBA draft and the 18th best senior in the country.
In Eastern's 65-51 loss to the Skyhawks on Jan. 18 in Martin, Tenn., Hudson finished with a game-high 29 points.
The senior ignited the Skyhawks on a 19-2 second half run in the second to come back and put away the Panthers after Eastern had led the game 31-20 at halftime.
Eastern coach Mike Miller said one of the most impressive things about Hudson is that he makes his teammates better.
He knows the Panthers will not be able to shut him down 100 percent, but it is important to limit Hudson's teammates from scoring.
The Skyhawks are averaging a league high 81.1 points per game, which means, although Hudson is a huge part of the Martin's game, the rest of the team is also a threat to score a lot of points.
The Panthers and the Skyhawks are entering the games on different streaks.
The Skyhawks have won their last 10 games, which ranks third in the nation.
The Panthers have lost their last three games.
The Panthers will not limit Hudson completely as no team in the nation has been able to so far. Eastern's coaching staff is right on keeping an eye on Hudson, while trying to limit the Skyhawks' other players in giving them the best chance to win the game.
It will also be important for the Panthers to get going early and get out to a lead because Martin can score in bunches and get up quick. And the Panthers don't want to continue their losing steak.
Eastern has qualified for the OVC Tournament, and can finish no worse then seventh.
But the Panthers have an opportunity to win out and possibly host a first-round game in the conference tournament.
Dan Cusack can be reached at 581-7944 or at dscusack@eiu.edu.
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