He may be just four games into his collegiate career, but Oakland University center Corey Petros is already showing Golden Grizzly fans that they don’t need to worry about post play in the post Keith Benson era. While he may not be at Benson’s senior year level of ability, he’s definitely ahead of where Benson was when the now-Atlanta Hawk was a freshman, which should signify good things for the Sterling Heights native.
In 2007-08, Benson’s redshirt freshman season, the rail-thin center averaged 5.2 points and 3.5 rebounds in just over 13 minutes per game. In just three seasons, Benson bulked up through conditioning and playing elite level teams.
Petros came into Oakland at 6’9” and a solid 243 pounds, meaning he’s been well-suited to playing in the post since he suited for head coach Greg Kampe. In his first career collegiate game against a nationally-ranked Alabama squad, Petros had a solid game, posting seven points and seven rebounds. He followed that up with a career-high 14 rebound effort against a speedy Arkansas team.
Those two games were both losses, albeit not terribly unexpected ones. In OU’s two wins thus far in 2011, Petros has 10-plus shot attempts, scoring 16 in wins over Grambling State and Houston. He has also averaged 10 rebounds in those victories.
Again, it’s still early in the young big man’s career, but to have such a promising athlete in the post for his team must be an encouraging sign for Kampe.
After their 10-day, 4-game road trip, the Grizzlies will have a seven-game home stand that includes a nationally televised (ESPNU, 9 p.m.) game against Tennessee on Monday, Nov. 28; a matchup with MAC East-leading Ohio on Dec. 7, 2012; and a “home” game against Michigan at the Palace of Auburn Hills (FSN Detroit, 4 p.m.) on Dec. 10, 2012.
Ref: OUGrizzlies.com, ESPN.com, OUGrizzlies.com (image)
