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Coach Mills taking the "all is not lost; next man up" attitude re: Kevin's departure: he's no way suggesting KO's loss won't be felt; just reminding there are still arrows in the quiver.

I suspect that Herron will be in the rotation and will by himself provide the 5-10 minutes per game (or more) that you mentioned.

That's coach speak for were focusing on this year's team with the guys we have. If that was really his "best statistically" line up last year why did he play KO 40 minutes a game in the tourney where he was our best scorer and rebounder. Coach is just moving on and pumping up this years team like he's supposed to do.

DJ is kinda like Roundtree and Vealy.....sometimes amazing and sometimes invisible.....

One of the "Other People" here, checking in... Best takeaway from the day? After the scrimmage was over the guys were taking extra shooting practice, I was making my way out alone along the sideline in the corner where the visitor's bench ends, keeping my head down as I tend to do when I lope along, when I hear a voice from the corner of the court: "Thank you for coming out and watching us play today." I look up, and it's Max Abmas, taking time from draining another corner three, just to speak to a total stranger. I stopped dead in my tracks, and felt myself grinning widely. I couldn't help myself: I walked right onto the court, and sticking out my hand, I said: "Hey, man, let me tell you something: I've been coming to games in this buiding for 50 years. I watched Richard Fuqua play in this building. But let me tell you, man, I was DONE this time last year, I had had it up to here, but what you guys did in March made me do a compete 180. Not just the wins, but the way you represented the school in the media and all, it was nothing short of a MIRACLE. So, THANK YOU for that, and THANK YOU for coming back for another year. I'm all in now; I've got my season tickets, and I can't wait." "Oh well, thank you very much," Max said, no doubt by now questioning the logic of speaking to obviously crazy old men at scrimmages. "I'll be looking for you at the games!" he nodded with a big smile. And before we fit Max for a crown, I feel compelled to point out that ALL the members of this team seem like SUCH GREAT GUYS. Another case in point: just before my fan-gramp moment with Mid Court Max, the practice ended with what I assume is a tradition: a bespectacled manager was celebrating a birthday, and was given a basketball for one halfcourt shot with team and coaches all around, for what I presumed was some sort of prize. Sure enough, despite a flat shot lacking any rotation, he swished his attempt clean through, prompting an eruption that would rival a buzzer-beater in the Sweet Sixteen. The players mobbed him all the way down the court and even hoisted him up on their shoulders in celebration. From what we could tell, his shot had earned some sort of reward for the entire team, which based on the reaction I assume includes some sort of really good food. That's the stuff I love about watching practices: seeing how the team - and coaches - all interact. And while this squad may not be so different in that regard from other schools across the land (or previous ORU regimes, for that matter), it's still great to see that CLASS and RESPECT and TEAM are all still alive and well in this age of college players with agents, websites, and car dealership sponsorships. ORU simply has a lot of great guys, and they comprise a true team, and I'm really looking forward to supporting them this year, win or lose.