That was the case with the two junior college players who joined the Colonels last year. Guards Papa Oppong and Dayvon Ellis became part-time starters last season, each averaging more than 20 minutes per game. Oppong tied for the team lead in rebounding average (5.3), and Ellis was the leader in assists per game (3.0).
"They were able to come in last year ... and really contribute, and our 7-3 start could be directly attributed to that. We're hoping for something similar from Spencer," Neubauer said.
Perrin spent two years at Lake Land (Ill.) College after graduating from Boyle in 2007. He was named to the all-Great Rivers Athletic Conference and all-Region 24 first teams last year.
Joining veteran Eastern team
He joins a veteran Eastern team that returns three starters and 10 players from an 18-13 campaign in 2008-09, but Neubauer said he already has a specific role in mind for Perrin on a team whose calling card has been its outside shooting.
The Colonels averaged 25.7 3-point attempts per game last season, and Neubauer said they were the only team in the nation to make more than 10 3s per game (they averaged 10.3) and shoot better than 40 percent from behind the line. They averaged 10.3 long-range baskets and shot 40.1 percent.
"But we do need that balance, we need people who can score inside around the basket," Neubauer said. "Spencer is one (player) who's been very effective around the basket for us so far. We do need him to score inside and get offensive rebounds as shooters step out and shoot it back in."
Perrin is one of only two new faces on the Eastern roster, along with freshman guard Willie Cruz.
"There's a certain sense of 'veteran-ness' about our group," Neubauer said.
Senior forward Josh Taylor (10.9 points) and senior guard-forward Justin Stommes (10.1) are the top returning scorers for the Colonels, who were picked fifth out of 10 teams in the OVC's preseason poll of coaches and sports information directors.
Neubauer said such predictions "mean very little," noting that Eastern teams that reached the NCAA tournament in 2005 and 2007 were picked sixth and eighth, respectively.
"I really put very little into those projections," he said. "You start with a thesis of who should win the league, and then you play the games."
