Busting Brackets
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Oral Roberts Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for Golden Eagles

By Austin Hamm

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 31: A detail of a basket hoop, net and backboard as the Duke Blue Devils play against the Louisville Cardinals during the Midwest Regional Final round of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 31, 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 31: A detail of a basket hoop, net and backboard as the Duke Blue Devils play against the Louisville Cardinals during the Midwest Regional Final round of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 31, 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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NORMAN, OK – DECEMBER 12: Buddy Hield #24 of the Oklahoma Sooners tries to block Obi Emegano #15 of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles during the first half of NCAA college basketball game at the Lloyd Noble Center on December 12, 2015 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK – DECEMBER 12: Buddy Hield #24 of the Oklahoma Sooners tries to block Obi Emegano #15 of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles during the first half of NCAA college basketball game at the Lloyd Noble Center on December 12, 2015 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /

Starters

Point Guard

Sam Kearns, 6-1 Senior

A capable shooter at every level, Kearns is the best passer on this roster. Going into his third season as a full-time starter, he’ll provide consistency at the point of attack. Given the other mouths to feed on offense, he’ll probably spend as much time off the ball as on, but as a career 37% three-point shooter he’s well suited to space the floor.

Shooting Guard

Deondre Burns, 6-3 Senior

Burns was a sniper his sophomore year at UALR but saw his efficiency dip as he moved to a more on-ball role last year. At Oral Roberts, he’ll be able to move back to the 2, allowing him to get more of the spot-up looks that he’s so effective with. His experience at the point a year ago will make him more dangerous as a secondary playmaker as well. He was part of some very solid defenses in Little Rock and hopefully can bring some of that to an Oral Roberts team that desperately needs improvement on that end.

Small Forward

DJ Weaver, 6-8 Sophomore

Weaver was fourth on the team in scoring and third in minutes per game a season ago. He also led the Golden Eagles in three-point attempts and percentage. He started 25 of the 32 games he played a year ago, and that should be a full-time situation this year. He might get the fifth-most shots in this lineup, but his size and skill make him, at a minimum, a useful 3-and-D role player in nearly any lineup

Power Forward

Emmanuel Nzekwesi, 6-8 Senior

Nzekwesi led Oral Roberts in points per game a year ago, and will absolutely get a shot to do that again. A preseason first-team all-conference pick, Nzekwesi is also getting some buzz for Summit League Player of the Year as well. Averaging 14.8 points and 8.5 rebounds last year, he shot a tidy 57% from two a year ago. The struggles came at the free throw line (69%) and from three (27%). Tick both of those up a few percentage points, and he might be the best scorer in the Summit League this year.

Center

Kevin Obanor 6-8 Sophomore

I list Obanor here as a center, but that’s more an homage to him likely being the biggest starter. Obanor’s ideal spot, realistically, is as a small-ball 4. In just over 22 minutes per game, he averaged 14.4 points and 7.2 rebounds on scintillating shooting (58% FG, 41% 3PT, 82% FT). Obanors skill and shooting give him an advantage against most traditional bigs. He may be tested defensively, though there aren’t many elite post scorers in the Summit League this year. It will be interesting to see if other post players develop on the bench for coach Mills to give them a chance to get to some lineups with Obanor at the 4 or even the 3.