by Sports Xchange

Austin Peay's veteran coach had a roster of just 10 healthy players and one senior -- all-OVC pick Wes Channels -- on Halloween. The team's other senior, forward Ernest Fields, is out two months with a knee injury.

Whether it's because of Channels, who averaged 16.9 points and canned nearly 39 percent from the 3-point line, or because of Loos, the Govs are tabbed to threaten Murray State and Morehead State for the OVC crown.

Channels is one of the top five players in the league, but will need help. Last year's leading scorer, F Drake Reed, took his 21.9 points per game and 7.5 rebounds with him to a pro league in Germany. There's no one on the roster who can come close to equaling those numbers.

The hope has to be that the likes of Anthony Campbell (7.8 points per game, 37.6 3-pointers), Caleb Brown (5.1 points per game), Tyrone Caldwell (4.0 points per game, 40.6 3-pointers) and Marcel Williams (3.3 points per game, 29 blocked shots) can step up to fulfill larger roles.

If not, Austin Peay's offense might mimic a late-night TV watcher -- lots of Channels-surfing but not much else happening.