Prime Numbers
BY JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Monday, March 04, 2013
3/04/13 at 7:48 AM
Related Story: A numerical list of ORU's top players
Earlier this season, Mark Acres became only the third player in the history of the Oral Roberts men's basketball program whose jersey has been retired.
Acres' No. 42 jersey hangs alongside the No. 15 jersey of Anthony Roberts and the No. 24 jersey of Richard Fuqua in the Mabee Center.
That's reason enough to ask this question:
Who is the best - or most accomplished - player to wear every jersey number in the history of the ORU hoops program?
The Tulsa World took a stab at answering the question by providing a stat-and-opinion-based list that appears in today's newspaper.
Poor Carl Hardaway. He's the ninth-leading rebounder in ORU history and ranks 10th in career field goals, but he had the misfortune to wear No. 15 before Roberts chose it.
For the sake of keeping the list manageable, ties were kept to a minimum - at No. 20 (worn by three of the top 25 scorers in ORU history) and No. 30 (worn by three-time honorable mention All-American Caleb Green and Eddie Woods, best rebounder in program history).
No current players were included on the list because their careers are ongoing. Are seniors Warren Niles (No. 13) and Damen Bell-Holter (32) playing their way into consideration?
Niles is the ninth-leading scorer in program history. Bell-Holter is sixth in career rebounds and third in blocks.
A look at some of the best
24
Richard Fuqua: ORU’s first All-American, Fuqua is second in career scoring
and career scoring average. Led ORU in scoring four consecutive
seasons and averaged single-season school-record 35.9 points as a
junior. Made more field goals than anyone in ORU history. Scored 40 or
more points 16 times, and 50 or more points seven times.
15
Anthony Roberts: Two-time All-American and fourth-leading career
scorer. Owns NCAA Division I-era school records for points in a
game (66) and a half (42). Scored an NCAA postseason-record 65
points in an NIT game against Oregon. Seventh in career rebounds.
42
Mark Acres: Four-time honorable mention All-American. Ranks
among ORU’s top 10 players in 10 statistical categories, including
sixth in points, fifth in field goals, third in rebounds, ninth in steals
and second in blocks. Led ORU in rebounding and scoring four consecutive
seasons.
23
Greg Sutton: All-American who played three years and set school
records for career points, single-season points, single-game points
(68), career 3-pointers made and career scoring average (29.5).
Scored 40 or more points 13 times. Ranks third in career steals.
30
Eddie Woods and Caleb Green: Woods is regarded as the top rebounder
in ORU history, and Green is the most decorated player of the Scott
Sutton era.
Jimmie Tramel 918-581-8389
jimmie.tramel@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Greg Sutton Courtesy
Anthony Roberts Tulsa World file
Caleb Green Tulsa World file
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