The Post found it impossible to pick just one Newcomer of the Year with the arrival of the two freshmen that joined the men's basketball team this season.
Although it was expected that the addition of Leon Williams and Jeremy Fears would have an impact on the team, no one but Fears knew how much potential it had.
I had a feeling from the beginning when I came here on my visit and saw the talent and players OU had coming in
Fears said. I knew Leon and I could be factors right off the bat so I had it in my head and was telling all the players and the coaches from day one that we could be MAC champs.
Fears turned out to be correct in all aspects as he and Williams immediately entered the starting lineups and both averaged close to 30 minutes per game. The two made their presences known in the stat sheets as well as around campus as they turned the basketball program around right before the fans' eyes.
But they found out leading the Bobcats was not all fun and games when having to balance school work and a collegiate basketball schedule.
It's was difficult at first to balance school work and basketball Williams said. But as the year progressed I got used to it and started to understand what I had to do on and off the court.
Along with the balancing act, the two also learned to deal with being away from home and their families. Fears found his way to Athens from Illinois and Williams from Maryland.
If my parents didn't make 25 out of the 32 games we played it would been a lot harder being away and playing so far away from home
Fears said. It was always cool to have my family there.
Fears and Williams led the Bobcats to a record of 21-11, a Mid-American Conference Tournament championship and entry to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 11 years. The two both earned places on the MAC All-Freshman team and Williams became the first freshman to earn the MAC Tournament MVP.
Williams said the transition to college basketball was a big jump and he owes a lot of credit to his coaches.
The coaches helped me with everything
if I ever had a question or problem they helped me
Williams said. I feel like I have done okay so far
and it feels great to be a part of something special to come here and win a championship my first year.
While the modest Williams has done much better than okay, Fears continues to exude confidence as he matures as a player.
As a freshman
I think I have grown as a player and have met my goals to establish myself and get to the NCAA Tournament
Fears said. Now my next goal is to get national respect
not just in the MAC or the mid-major conference
I want to be labeled as one of the best point guards across the country to lead my team to victory and to help out the Ohio program as much as possible.
With one successful season in the bank, the two Newbies of the Year have plans for much more.
As a team
