Stardom, confidence - Tulsa World (11-6-2005)

[ORUTerry]

Stardom, confidence

By MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer

11/6/2005

'It's been fun' to watch ORU's Green mature the last two years

Memorial basketball coach Eric Savage saw a side of Caleb Green he didn't remember from high school when Green spoke at Savage's summer basketball camp.

Green signed autographs, conversed easily with the aspiring athletes and discussed the work ethic that helped him become one of the best mid-major college basketball players in the land.

"He's more comfortable with people," Savage said. "In high school, if he had to talk in front of the student body or at a pep rally, you wouldn't get a lot out of him. It's been fun to watch him mature in the way he carries himself. I think the whole college experience has been good for him."

Green is growing into his 6-foot-8 body. The basketball ability has always been there, at least since he led Memorial to the 2003 Class 6A state title. But Oral Roberts University insiders are seeing a new maturity level in the 2005 Mid-Continent Conference player of the year.

"He's come a long way," said senior center Mickey Michalec. "He's starting to realize how teams key on him and how he has to change up his game. His jump shot has come along unbelievably. I used to just push him off and let him shoot jump shots all day. Now,

he's a threat everywhere. The kid's got an arsenal of weapons, and it just depends on what he wants to use at the time."

Green was a leader in the weight room during the offseason, and the Golden Eagles made substantial strength and conditioning gains.

"He always wants to get better," said senior guard Jonathan Bluitt. "There wasn't a day this summer when he didn't come to the weight room with that mind-set."

Green's attitude is obviously fueled by the Eagles' last-second loss to Oakland (Mich.) in the final of the conference tournament. As a recent television commercial featuring Green suggests, all the all-conference accolades won't matter if he can't get the Golden Eagles to the NCAA Tournament.

"I never leave the gym feeling like I've proven myself, especially if we haven't won the Mid-Con (conference tournament) title," Green said.

ORU won almost everything else last season, claiming an outright Mid-Con regular-season title for the first time and finishing with 25 wins, the most in men's basketball since 1972.

Green and junior teammate Ken Tutt received all-conference honors for the second straight year, and Green received honorable mention on the Associated Press All-American team.

ORU's star has been rising since Green and Tutt arrived on campus two years ago. Green was sensational on the court, but shy in the interview room and uncomfortable around adults he didn't know.

"Personally, he's matured in the two years he's been here as much as anybody I've been around," said head coach Scott Sutton, "from a guy who was very uncomfortable talking in front of cameras to a guy who is going out and making speaking appearances."

Green said he used to shy away from public speaking because he "didn't think I had done anything that people would have wanted to hear about."

After two all-conference seasons, he has more to say.

"I tell mainly about my experiences and what I've been through, just like any players here at Oral Roberts, what we go through every day," he said.

"Everybody grows up some when they go to college. You get new responsibilities. I grew up under a lot of the older players, and now I am one of the older players, so you just be yourself and the younger players will understand what they need to be."

Green has been working on his outside shot since he arrived at ORU, but more so in the recent offseason.

"I took a lot more jump shots than layups in pickup games, but I know (playing close to the basket) is still my bread and butter," he said.

Getting to the NCAA Tournament is important, but don't push it.

"People are trying to put all kinds of pressure on us," Green said. "The most important thing is for us to get out there and play hard and have fun. If we do that, things will take care of themselves."

[ORUTerry]

Mid-Con Preview

By MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer

11/6/2005

POWER POLL

1. Oral Roberts: Best talent, best team, should repeat as regular-season champ.

2. Valparaiso: Crusaders won or shared nine league titles in 10 years (1995-04).

3. Indiana-Purdue: Jaguars' fast-paced style has worked for 57 wins the past three years.

4. Western Illinois: Fifth-place finish was Leathernecks' best since 1999.

5. Missouri-Kansas City: Terrific guards return, but powerful post players must be replaced.

6. Oakland: Grizzlies may field better team than the one that upset ORU.

7. Southern Utah: Losing season was Thunderbirds' fourth straight since 2001 NCAA trip.

8. Chicago State: Cougars lost top players to transfer, expired eligibility and NBA draft.

9. Centenary: New coach has to rebuild talent level after last-place finish.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Brandon Cole

6-6, Sr., IUPUI

Led the Jaguars in scoring (14.3 ppg) and rebounding (7.5 rpg) last season.

Quinton Day

6-1, Jr., UMKC

The league's top backcourt defender

in 2004-05, ranked second in assists and steals.

Caleb Green

6-8, Jr., ORU

On pace to become ORU's second 2,000-point, 1,000-rebound player.

Dan Oppland

6-8, Sr., Valparaiso

Consistent inside/outside scorer is almost unstoppable in the low post.

Ken Tutt

6-1, Jr., ORU

Clutch outside shooter has won six games in the closing seconds over two seasons.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Mohamed Kone

6-11, Jr., Valparaiso

Top-rated junior college center led Southern Idaho to a third-place national finish.

James Mahorn, 6-7, Jr.

Western Illinois

Led Coffeyville (Kan.) to NJCAA fifth-place finish as a freshman.

Calvin Wooten

6-1, Jr., Oakland

Speedy transfer guard showed star potential as a Rutgers freshman.