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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DENVER – MARCH 19: Yemi Ogunoye #3 of the Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles takes part in practice on the eve of the first round of the Men’s NCAA Basketball East Region at the Pepsi Center on March 19, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
DENVER – MARCH 19: Yemi Ogunoye #3 of the Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles takes part in practice on the eve of the first round of the Men’s NCAA Basketball East Region at the Pepsi Center on March 19, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

Key Reserves

Ty Lazenby, 6-5 senior

Lazenby didn’t see much work at OU last season, getting just five minutes per game, but he was a solid volume scorer in his JUCO days. If he holds up on defense and can be efficient as a scorer, he’ll have a chance to carve out a nice bench role in what will be his final stop in college basketball. Lazenby may even find his way into the starting lineup if one of the frontcourt members struggles or even jsut to balance out the lineups, as this team is thin on post depth

Carlos Jurgens, 6-5 Sophomore

The label for Jurgens role would technically be backup point guard, but he may not have the ball in his hands a ton when he’s on the floor. He had a few games where he led ORU in assists last season, but coming over from Estonia his most heralded skill was his shooting. He only hit 31% form deep as a freshman, but a year of adjustment should do him well. He’ll pair well as a backcourt mate with Burns or Lazenby in bench heavy units, both as a spot-up threat and as a non-primary creator.

Elijah Lufile, 6-8 Sophomore

Lufile, a JUCO transfer, is the only pure post player on this roster. He shot 54% from the floor in one JUCO season but struggled from the free throw line. His minutes will probably vary, but if the Golden Eagles are ever faced with an upper-echelon post player on the opposing side, Lufile will most likely get a crack at defending him. If he proves capable might even earn a spot start or two depending on matchups, as well.

RJ Fuqua, 5-11 Sophomore

After starting 21 games as a freshman, Fuqua redshirted last year. He’s not a negative player on offense, but his best attribute is his defensive ability. He had nine steals in his first career game, and his defense alone can earn him minutes, given the struggles this squad has had on that end.

Francis Lacis, 6-7 Sophomore

Lacis was another player with starting experience, with 16 a year ago. A solid shooter and useful defender on the wing with his length, so long as this team stays healthy he’ll come off the bench behind the other Oral Roberts forwards.

Aidan Saunders, 6-4 Senior

Saunders got eight starts in a rough year last season, but he’s going to have to impress to earn the same compliment of minutes he got last year. Defensively looks like the place for him, because he was one of the worst players on the floor on the offensive end last year. Now a large piece of that can be attributed to him shooting just 27% from three on 5 attempts per game, so a little positive regression there could open up a lot more ways to get Saunders on the floor.