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| By Stephen Howard, Oct. 7, 2009 - 2:14 p.m. |
The ushers at just about every Sun Belt arena can tell you everything you need to know about 6-foot-7 bruiser Kedrick Hogans. They've been retrieving the blocked shots he's sent streaking into stands for the last two seasons.
As a matter of fact, the junior has already sent back 48 career shots, and not just against pushover squads either. His career high came at Gallagher-Iba Arena last year, where he redirected four Oklahoma State shots.
Hogans' gritty defensive performances will certainly be missed for the 2009-10 season, but a quick look at the roster should put every Mean Green fan at ease. Johnny Jones & Co. will field easily the most talented group of big men since his arrival in 2001.
You already know the prowess of Eric Tramiel. Feared as much in his own locker room as he is around the league, Tramiel was firing on all cylinders after New Year. The senior scored 14.3 points per game in regular season contests after popping the cork on 2009, and is the unequaled leader of this Mean Green team.
Oh yea, he also sent back 21 shots as a junior, and somehow has himself in even better shape heading to his final campaign.
George Odufuwa is also a known commodity. One of the league's toughest rebounders, Odufuwa was the muscle in the paint last year. He will look to improve on his average of 6.1 points per game, but still hauled in 21 blocks and a healthy 6.6 rebounds per game.
The Mean Green big men we haven't seen are just as exciting. Cameron Spencer is a hoss, and at 6-foot-8 and 264 pounds, owned the lane in practice last year. He also has a nice touch around the basket and should offer a sturdy presence for the Mean Green.
If you haven't seen Ben Knox in a year, you are in for a treat. He's up to 221 pounds and counting thanks to a year-long weights program that has him looking more intimidating each day. No one has doubted the offensive credentials of Knox, but look for shot blocking numbers to rack up for one of the Sun Belt's biggest inside players.
That brings us to possibly the most athletic man on the North Texas roster - freshman Jacob Holmen. If you came to Fouts Field in May, you saw Holmen run a 50.77 400-meter dash. That was the sixth fastest time in the region for a guy who checks in at 6-foot-8 and 220 pounds. He can hoop-it-up too, garnering All-East Texas MVP honors from the Tyler Morning Telegraph.
So call me cynical when I hear folks saying that Hogans' injury will handicap the Mean Green this year. I can think of a dozen Sun Belt programs that would kill to have the inside combinations that the Mean Green will run out in 2009-10.
