FACT BOX-

Romain Martin

Hometown: Minneapolis, Minn.

Stat:15.3 ppg (leads Eastern in scoring), 20.1 ppg in OVC play

Fact: chose Eastern over three Missouri Valley Conference schools nominated for Minnesota Mr. Basketball as a senior

Ousmane Cisse

Hometown:Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Stat: 5 ppg. 4.9 rpg, 52 FG%

Fact: averaged 14 ppg. 15 rpg and 4 blocks at Community Christian School in Stockbridge, Ga.

For the first time since being a Division I program, Eastern’s leading scorer and rebounder could both be freshmen.

The future appears bright for a team with no seniors, as head coach Mike Miller brought in the top-ranked Ohio Valley Conference recruiting class.

In that recruiting class is a freshman that could help Eastern have its third straight conference freshman of the year.

“I think we’re moving in the right direction in regards to bringing in quality talent,” Miller said.

Since the sixth game of the season, Eastern guard Romain Martin has earned a spot in the starting lineup and quickly turned into the go-to offensive option. The left-handed shooting guard is averaging 15.3 points per game (20 points per game in OVC contests), is the only Panther making 80 percent of his foul shots (87.5 percent) and has earned four OVC player of the week honors.

“He is one fine player,” said Austin Peay head coach Dave Loos after Martin scored 26 points in Eastern’s 81-76 overtime loss to the Governors Saturday night. “He has all the tools.”

Martin was the Panther newcomer that Miller and coaching staff quietly pointed to as the most likely to have a breakout season. Pairing him in the backcourt with last year’s conference freshman, Mike Robinson, also excited the coaching staff.

At 25.6 points per game, the duo of Robinson and Martin are the most productive starting backcourt in the league.

“When you have seven guys that have never played Division I basketball, it takes time to mesh together and learn how we need to play,” Miller said.

Inexperienced post players take time to develop and mid-major programs generally don’t get at 19-year-old, 6-foot-8 inch, 250-pound freshman. But Eastern has one.

Ousmane Cisse has started six games for the Panthers and averages nearly 20 minutes on the floor, having some good performances (12 points and 11 rebounds against Iowa State) and some poor ones (two points, four fouls and five turnovers against Wisconsin-Green Bay).

“I will continue to play aggressive because that’s what I have to do,” Cisse said. “I think I’m more comfortable with everything including the triangle (offense).”

The recruit, born in the Ivory Coast, is averaging five points and five rebounds per game, while shooting 52 percent from the field.

“The way I feel about my play is the same as the team,” Cisse said. “We need to win and continue to improve.”

The only thing he’s struggling with early in his Eastern career is from the free throw line. Cisse is only making 41 percent of his foul shots.

The quandary for Eastern head coach Mike Miller is after having three outstanding freshman come through the program (Martin, Robinson and 2004 OVC Freshman of the Year George Tandy, who transferred at the end of last season), how much longer will be it be before Eastern gets its first winning season since 2000-2001?

“Eventually it’s going to pay off because a lot of these young guys are getting experience now,” Miller said.

For information on Romain’s recruiting information click here.