To say the Eastern men’s basketball team had a dismal season would be an understatement.

The fact is they failed to qualify for the Ohio Valley Conference tournament for the first time since joining it in 1996. The Panthers went 6-21 on the season with a 4-12 conference record.

“None of us have a good feeling about this season,” Eastern head coach Rick Samuels said. “I think that’s motivation to work hard in the offseason.”

Samuels said the biggest problem this season was the inability to finish games. In fact, Eastern led 12 games at halftime but ended up losing seven of the 12.

Samuels said the Panthers were inconsistent as a whole, but they also lacked a single player who they could rely on every game.

“If you look at Josh Gomes’ statistics you see he had a good year for a sophomore,” Samuels said. “But he needs to be more consistent and make big plays at the right times.”

Although Gomes was inconsistent at times, Samuels said he and senior Jesse Mackinson would be the team’s most valuable players if he had to choose.

“Jesse came out and played hard every night,” Samuels said. “He was our emotional leader and leader by example.”

The Panthers will be without Mackinson next year, but he and David Roos will be the only two players departing.

“We will return a lot of experience next year,” Samuels said. “We got a good group of kids who care.”

Samuels believes the turning point this past season was on Jan. 17 when the Panthers played Tennessee State at Lantz. Eastern was up 56-50 with 2:07 left to play when Bruce Price sank a three pointer to start a 10-3 run. When Price’s 10-point run ended at the final buzzer, the Panthers had lost 60-59.

“Frankly, the Tennessee State loss here haunted us,” Samuels said. “It took our confidence away from us.”

The confidence Samuels meant was the confidence to win close games.

Samuels didn’t give up hope until Feb. 21, when the Panthers lost their final home game to Eastern Kentucky.

“If we win that one we go on the road perhaps needing only one win to make the OVC tournament,” Samuels said.

There isn’t much good a team can take from such a disappointing season, but Samuels said the Panthers will respond to this year’s experience and work hard to get better.

Samuels pointed out wins against Southeast Missouri State and Morehead State as indications of the success this team could obtain.

Samuels has asked his players to evaluate themselves in the off season. He said he wants each of them to come to the coaching staff with the two most important things they can improve on.

Then the coaching staff will identify what they think each players two greatest weaknesses are and then develop individual workouts based on those four things.

Samuels said as a whole the Panthers will be in the weight room quite a bit in order to get stronger for next season.

“Next year we will be tougher as a team, more confident and more exciting to watch,” Samuels said.