Findlay not to be overlooked

The Xavier University men's basketball team begins their 2008-09 campaign on Friday, Nov. 7 at Cintas Center with an exhibition against the Findlay Oilers, a Division II squad from central Ohio.
While the Oilers don't pose the imposing profile of a division one squad, they are the class of Division II, being voted the top team in the country by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
The Oilers, who knocked off Ohio State in an exhibition a year ago, return Division II Preseason All-American Josh Baltic on the wing. Baltic, a 6'5", 230 lb. senior out of Columbus averaged 13.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game in being named a first-team All-American in 2007-08.
"They are an extremely well coached team that went to Columbus last year and beat Ohio State," Miller said. "They will have better players at times than some of our early season opponents, including an individual player (Baltic) that can play on any team in the country."
Baltic is not the only Oiler on the preseason All-Conference first team either, as 6'4" senior wing Morgan Lewis returns after averaging 12.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 points per game in 07-08.
Baltic and Lewis are joined by 5'9 lightning bolt Marcus Parker, a junior point guard that figures to apply some defensive pressure to Xavier's backcourt.
"To me, they have two wings and a point guard that can play at a lot of division one programs. That is why they are so successful,"
The point guard spot has been the main area of question entering the season at Xavier, and Miller seems to have decided on sophomore Dante Jackson starting and playing about 15 minutes at the point guard spot, with a rotation of freshmen Terrell Holloway and Brad Redford taking up the remaining 25 minutes.
Obviously, Miller has been impressed by Jackson to merit him the minutes at the beginning, and likely the end, of each game.
"He has earned that [role] in his performance in practice, and that is a tribute to Dante," Miller said. "Early on [in the season] Dante Jackson is the most reliable [point guard] because he is so much further ahead defensively."
With Jackson at the point guard spot, Miller sees B.J. Raymond getting significant minutes at the shooting guard spot, opening more time for the likes of Jamel McLean and Kenny Frease off of the bench - two players that Miller included in his group of the most impressive newcomers, along with Terrell Holloway.
The 2008-09 Xavier team still has a lot of issues to be settled, and Friday's matchup with Findlay will likely go a long way in revealing answers to those questions because of some of the aspects that the Oilers bring to the table.
"Being that they are well coached, it is going to be a real good challenge for our defense because they have a system on offense, and if we are not hitting on all cylinders, then they are going to be difficult to defend," Miller said. "Conversely on our offense, it is an opportunity to improve against a solid team."