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--> --> SOU head coach Brian McDermott instructs his players during Tuesday's practice. Ashland Daily Tidings/DENISE BARATTA Raider men have loaded squad By Bobby Heiken Ashland Daily Tidings Southern Oregon University men's basketball coach Brian McDermott is bringing a loaded squad into the 2001-02 Cascade Conference basketball campaign. The Raiders bring three starters and a seven-player nucleus back from last year's 18-13 squad that fell in the Cascade Conference tournament semifinals. Also thrown in there is a talented group of newcomers and transfers. And the Raiders will need all of that in a more-than-ever highly competitive conference race. "The top four or five teams are all better," McDermott said. "It's a weird cycle where every team is in a second year with a group of core players and you'll be able to tell the difference in the level of play." SOU kicks off the season Friday when the Raiders face Rocky Mountain College at the Albertson College tourney in Caldwell, Idaho. The depth of the Raiders will be apparent in a loaded backcourt that contains senior Hamilton Barnes and junior T.J. Caughell. Both saw big minutes last year at the point. Barnes (5-9) led the Raiders in 3-pointers (48), 3-point percentage (.397) and assists (92). Combined the two averaged 14.6 points a game. "They are still very close," McDermott said of the talents of the two returners. "Last year they both averaged about 20 minutes a game and it will stay even this year for a while." McDermott said at the end he only wants his starting point guard to average about 24 or 25 minutes of action. "They both really stepped up their games this year," the sixth-year coach said. "Hammy is a better shooter, while T.J. is a better scorer." Also thrown into the mix is Clackamas Junior College transfer Oscar Rodriguez. The junior averaged 15 points in junior college after hitting for 22 a game at Woodburn High his senior year. Rodriguez will join the Raider team around Christmas. "Oscar is a point guard with a two-guard mentality," McDermott said. "He can play defense and is a very aggressive scorer." Starting at the off-guard spot will be junior Moses Olson (6-3). Olson was a two-time Class 4A all-tournament pick at Churchill High and was runner-up in the 1998 Oregonian's Player of the Year balloting. "He very well could be the best two-guard in the league," McDermott said. "He's a tough kid and is gonna score a bunch." Other players competing for time at the guard spots are freshman Brad Coen (6-5) from Roseburg, sophomore Matt Brown (6-3) from Crater and junior Brandon Knudsen (6-0). The depth of this year's squad will allow McDermott to move junior Martin DeGroot (6-7) and senior Matt Zosel (6-5) to different positions. DeGroot will move to the small forward slot after two years playing power forward for the Raiders. Last year DeGroot averaged 5.4 points as a Raider, but McDermott sees that number moving up. "We've been waiting for him to get to this level," McDermott said. "And I think he's ready. He's shooting the ball better, he's more aggressive off the dribble and he feels confident guarding 3's." Zosel will slide to power forward from center, where he had an impressive campaign last year. In the 2000-01 season, Zosel averaged 9.1 points and was among league leaders in field goal percentage (.659), rebounding (6.2) and blocked shots (1.2). "He's going to like playing out on the floor a lot because he's not a back to the basket type of player," McDermott said. "He'll be an even better rebounder and he can guard anybody out on the perimeter." Brown and senior Barron Lacy (6-3) will vie for time at the forward slots. Inside, McDermott will start senior Jeff Tacheny (6-7), with freshman James Tharp (6-8) coming off the bench. "Jeff is still undersized as a post, but he's going to score," McDermott said. "James will eventually be one of the best scoring posts we've had since I've been here." Cascade Conference coaches have also recognized the potential of this year's SOU squad and have voted the Raiders No. 4 in the preseason coaches poll behind nationally ranked Oregon Tech, Albertson and Western Baptist. "I think we are one of a few teams that have a shot at winning it," McDermott said. "One things for sure you won't see a team go 16-2 or anything like that this year. There are going to be a few more losses on the road." SOU's home season kicks off Friday, Nov. 23 when they face UC Santa Cruz in the opener of the annual Flagship Inn Tournament at McNeal Pavilion. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing