GETTING INSIDE

There is reason for optimism as honors candidates Benny Valentine and Brandon Moore are among five lettermen who return.

Valentine was selected second-team all-Big Sky a year ago after transferring from Texas Tech. He averaged 15.1 points per game, which ranked third in the league, and also ranked among the conference leaders in assists (3.07 average) and steals (1.47).

Moore is a 6-9, 260-pounder who uses that wide body to his advantage. He averaged 6.8 rebounds per game last season, which ranked second in the league. Moore is a reliable performer who started 29 of Eastern Washington’s 30 games last year and scored in double digits 19 times while averaging 11.2 per game.

The Eagles were 12-18 last season and this is Year Three of the Kirk Earlywine era, so improvement would seem to be expected. Eastern Washington has failed to make the Big Sky tournament so far under Earlywine. Anything less this season would be a disappointment.

Last year’s team was built on its backcourt stars, but it didn’t work.

Eastern Washington finished near the bottom of the league in such key statistical categories as scoring offense (eighth), field goal percentage (seventh) and three-point field goal percentage (eighth).

Earlywine recruited three junior college transfers in hopes of beefing up the roster.

NOTES, QUOTES

• At times last season, C Brandon Moore was one of the league’s best players. In the season finale against Portland State, for example, Moore had 18 points and 14 rebounds. The Eagles have lacked a consistent inside game for several years and need Moore to stay healthy this season.

• F Mark Dunn may be asked to play a larger role. He shot 49 percent from the field and averaged 5.6 points a year ago. He is one of five seniors on the roster and, with 24 starts under his belt a year ago, has kind of experience necessary to provide help for Moore on the front line.

• The Eagles have failed to qualify for the Big Sky tournament the last three seasons. Eastern Washington has been a member of the league for 22 years and made only one trip to the league tournament in their first 10 seasons. The program then qualified nine consecutive times for the postseason.

Last Year:   12-18 overall, 6-10 in the Big Sky.

Head Coach:   Kirk Earlywine (career 44-44); third year at Eastern Washington (23-37).

Quote To Note:   “Somehow, somewhere, an alien invaded his body for two months and I think we got the real Brandon Moore back tonight. Hopefully we’ll have him for a full season next year.”—Coach Kirk Earlywine after Moore had 18 points and 14 rebounds against Portland State in Eastern Washington’s final Big Sky game last season.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Scouting The Newcomers:   Treymayne Johnson, a 6-7 transfer forward from Los Angeles Southwest College, was recruited out of high school by the likes of Arizona and San Francisco. The Los Angeles native averaged nine points and five rebounds two years ago as a freshman at Southwest, then sat out last season and will have three seasons of eligibility at Eastern Washington. Also new to the roster several intriguing transfers, including guard Alden Gibbs of College of the Siskiyous, guard Morgan Hyslop of Columbia Basin Community College and forward Laron Griffin of Los Angeles Southwest College.

Key Early-season Games:   The Eagles play at Washington State on Nov. 16 and at Gonzaga on Dec. 28. Both games are important as Eastern Washington seeks to carve out more respect and awareness in the Spokane area. An upset either of the Pac-10 Cougars and Top 25 Zags would be big news in the Palouse.

Program Direction:   Rising. At least, it had better be for third-year coach Kirk Earlywine’s sake. Eastern Washington needs to qualify for the league tournament to validate Earlywine’s work. While there will be no predictions of a championship, the Eagles should contend for one of the six available postseason spots.

Probable Starting Lineup:   PG Benny Valentine, SG Gary Gibson, SF Treymaye Johnson, PF Mark Dunn, C Brandon Moore.

Roster Report:  

• F Matthew Brunell has been a reliable reserve for two seasons and could play a more prominent role as a senior. He played in all 30 games last season and averaged two points and two rebounds.

• G Benny Valentine was a second-team All-Big Sky selection last season when he hit 55 three-pointers and shot 72 percent from the foul line. Only 5-foot-7, Valentine is one of the league’s quickest players.