Spotlight missing Green - TW (1-13-2006)

[ORUTerry]

Spotlight missing Green

By MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer

1/13/2006

Eagles' standout is still one of nation's best-kept secret.

On Dec. 28, Caleb Green helped Oral Roberts University to a near-upset of Oklahoma by outscoring and outrebounding the Sooners' All-American candidate, Taj Gray.

Three days later, Green had 24 points and 15 rebounds in a loss at Minnesota of the Big Ten, prompting Gophers head coach Dan Monson to say, "Green could play on any team, in any league, in the country."

Time and again, the junior forward has shown what he can do against teams from the so-called power conferences.

"It's hard to say how many points he would average (in a major conference), but he'd be a good player in anybody's league," said OU coach Kelvin Sampson.

Green has played so well over the past nine games -- averaging well over his career numbers -- that ORU head coach Scott Sutton wonders if any player in the country has been better over the same span.

But don't look for Green's name on any All-American teams. Unless the Golden Eagles pull out of their current struggles to reach the NCAA Tournament, Green will probably remain the best-kept secret in college basketball.

Green is one of only 17 returning players from last year's Associated Press All-American team (he received honorable mention). But in CBS.Sportsline.com's player ratings, Green is only ranked 186th in the nation.

That places the Mid-Continent Conference's 2005 Player of the Year behind two current players in the league -- Oakland (Mich.) guard Calvin Wooten and Valparaiso forward Dan Oppland.

"If he was at a major school, he wouldn't be under the radar," Sampson said. "People around here know how good he is. Caleb has a knack for scoring, great rebounding instincts and he's a smart kid who plays hard. And he's one of those kids that the bigger the game is, the better he is."

What must Green do to rise above mid-major obscurity?

"Win a game in the NCAA Tournament, that's the short answer, or something that makes people sit up and take notice," said ESPN analyst Jay Bilas. "People in the national media pay attention to what's in front of them. They aren't interested in what's going on in the Mid-Con, although maybe they should be."

The Eagles were achingly close to a berth in the Big Dance last year before losing to Oakland on a last-second shot in the final of the conference tournament.

Bilas said the 6-foot-8 Green has believers where it counts.

"NBA people know who Caleb Green is and people who pay attention," Bilas said. "He's always been on my most-underrated-players list, he and (injured guard Ken Tutt). They may be under the national radar, but there are plenty of people who appreciate and understand how good they are."

Tulsa-based sportscaster Bob Carpenter, who worked the OU-ORU game, said Green is "the most consistent big man we have in the state this year, and that's not meant as a knock on Taj Gray. I just think Caleb brings it every night."

Green's career averages of 19.0 points and 9.6 rebounds have him on pace to join Mark Acres, a four-time AP Honorable Mention All-American (1982-85), as only the second player in school history to reach 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.

Green leads the Mid-Con in scoring (21.9) and rebounding (9.4) and ranks 14th and 31st nationally in the same categories.

But Green has ramped it up to play the best of his career -- averaging 25.1 points and 10.3 rebounds, with six double-doubles, in the past nine games.

"Our team is struggling, and you try to give your best when your team is struggling," he said.

Senior guard Jonathan Bluitt recalled a 14-point, 14-rebound game at Utah State, when Green and Tutt willed the Eagles back from a 16-point deficit.

ORU led in the closing seconds, but a foul put the Aggies at the line to score the winning points.

"That right there kind of sparked the fuel in Caleb and he just realized he can do it every night," Bluitt said. "He's always been a good player, but he's been incredible since the Utah State game, with his attitude and leadership. He's really taken control of this team."

Green was nearly unstoppable in an 84-79 win at Southern Utah, scoring 18 points in the first nine minutes of the second half en route to tying a career high with 33. Three days later in Tulsa, he had 32 points and 13 rebounds against Western Illinois -- the first time he has scored 30 or more in successive games.