Ohio Valley Conference report

SportsLine Report
March 12, 2000

In the Paint

Picked to finish sixth in the preseason, the Panthers were somewhat of a surprise team. Even with the loss of senior power forward Merve Joseph to a mid-season knee injury, the Panthers were a dangerous bunch, finishing 17-12 and tied for third in the OVC with an 11-7 record.

After losing three double-overtime games during the regular season, the fourth-seeded Panthers beat fifth-seeded Austin Peay, 107-100, in two overtimes in the first round of the OVC Tournament. Their semifinal loss to Murray State didn't diminish what the Panthers accomplished during the season.

It would have to be termed a successful season for the Panthers.

A Glance at 2001

Eastern Illinois will be a team to watch next season. With veteran coach Rick Samuels running the show, the Panthers will again be a contender for an upper-tier finish in the OVC race.

The Panthers will have one of the league's best guards in Kyle Hill, who will be a senior. If Joseph returns in good health, the Panthers should have good balance, but will once again be a perimeter-strong team.

The Coach

Rick Samuels has spent 20 season as the Panthers' coach, and he knows what he's doing. Don't look for the Panthers to sway from their plans of running a motion offense and looking for good shots. Samuels has now been in the OVC for four years, and he's gotten a good feel for what it takes to win in the league. He's 292-282 in 20 years with the program, and Samuels seems to be getting better with age.

Who'll Be Back

Kyle Hill, a first-team All-OVC player, is the key returnee for the Panthers, but he's got a good group coming back with him. Merve Joseph, a starter at power forward, should be full speed after missing half of his junior season with a knee injury. Point guard Matt Britton returns as the starter, too, along with sophomore Todd Bergmann, who replaced Joseph as the starter at power forward. Henry Domercant, a shooting guard, returns after playing a key role off the bench as a freshman. Look for Luke Sharp and Jan Thompson to get more minutes in the low post.

Who'll Be Gone

Marc Polite, a 6-5 swing player, will be a key loss for the Panthers. Polite was a versatile player who could score from the perimeter or on slashing drives to the basket. He averaged 13.5 points. Also gone is starting center John Smith, a wide body in the middle, and backup point guard Michael Forest, who actually played as much as starter Matt Britton.