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Central Arkansas Men's Basketball Season Outlook
Courtesy: Southland.org
Release: 10/20/2009

Central Arkansas will have a decidedly different look when they take the court for the 2009-2010 season. Gone are the Bears' top scorer, top rebounder and top assist man from last year's 10-19 squad, along with several other key contributors. Seven players are missing from last year's team as the Bears return only 35 percent of their scoring and 24 percent of their rebounding.

In their place is a group of six talented newcomers who should give the Bears a lift in athleticism and scoring ability.

"Size and athleticism were both a need for us in this recruiting class," said head coach Rand Chappell, who is beginning his seventh season in Conway. "We think we addressed those needs. I think we are preparing well for the time when we're are eligible for postseason play next season."...

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/southland/home.htm?csp=34

CENTRAL ARKANSAS

GETTING INSIDE

A relative newcomer to the Southland Conference, Central Arkansas is trying to find an identity, and good players to buy in. It has veteran coach Rand Chappell and lots of want-to, but the Bears need time to get in step with their SLC brethren.

That probably won't happen this season, but Chappell hopes to make progress and settle the foundation a bit more.

The Bears have six returnees and six newcomers, including two-year starter and fifth-year senior Mitch Rueter, a forward who is the kind of veteran leader a struggling team needs.

An Arkansas native, Reuter was Central Arkansas' second-leading scorer last season at 11.7 points per game. He will pair with senior guard and Dallas native Mike Pouncy, who averaged 10 points despite missing half of last season because of a foot injury.

Any finish above fifth or sixth in the SLC East would be gravy for UCA, which doesn't figure to truly compete in the conference for at least a few more years.

Still, Reuter and Pouncy, along with a few transfers who might fit in well, could be entertaining.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Central Arkansas is in its final transition year as a provisional member of NCAA Division I. The Bears expect to complete the process and receive full D-I status in all sports (including basketball) in 2010-2011. Central Arkansas previously competed in D-II.

--Reserve G Imad Qahwash should grab more playing time after giving Chappell energetic minutes off the bench the last two seasons. He played for Jordan's national team last summer.

LAST YEAR: 10-19 overall, 3-13, tied for fifth in the SLC East.

HEAD COACH: Rand Chappell (career 338-162); seventh year at UCA.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It should be a season where we continue to grow and improve as the year goes on, and we have a chance to be a pretty good team by the time we get into conference play in January." -- Coach Rand Chappell.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: G Jared Rehmel averaged 21.3 points at Olney Central College, 12th among junior-college scorers. Central Arkansas added size with Brazilian Carlos dos Santos (6-8, 250) and 6-7 F Tadre Sheppard, both junior college transfers. PG Ryan Daniels and SG Chris Poellnitz, who averaged 15.7 points and made 54 percent of his shots, also are JC transfers.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: At Kansas, Memphis and Oakland; vs. Cal State-Fullerton and Southern in Nacogdoches, Tex.; Central Arkansas opens SLC play on Jan. 9 at home vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Only one way to go for a team making the jump to Division I.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: F Mitch Reuter, G Mike Pouncy, G Jared Rehmel, C Chris Williams, F Tadre Sheppard.

ROSTER REPORT:

--SG Marcus Pillow led Central Arkansas at 11.8 points per game, made honorable mention All-SLC, went over 1,000 career points and became the team's career three-point leader with 206. Unfortunately for Central Arkansas, Pillow left the team before his senior season.

--If Central Arkansas can utilize some size, it'll have the junior college ranks to thank. Centers Carlos dos Santos and Chris Williams are both 250-pounders, and F Quad Sanders goes 245...