Who is Z Man?

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GoMocs.com is running a weekly series on each of the newcomers to the Mocs roster this year. Each week, when the story posts on Monday, I will give my reaction to each player, and give my opinion on how much they will contribute in 2011-12.

Zaccheus Mason (who wishes to be called Z, and therefore will be called such, because a man of his size is allowed to make me call him whatever he wants) will be a physical presence for the Mocs this year inside.

By the way, I'd like to welcome all the SEC and Ole Miss football fans to the board. Glad you found us. No read in wonder as you try to understand why someone would give up a football scholarship in the SEC to play basketball in the SoCon.

As you read the article, you realize just how much Mason must love basketball. It was always his first love, but the sport he garnered more attention in was football. That's because of his size. He is a big body, but not really tall enough to play center at major conference level. But at the SoCon level, he can play center.

Probably.

He is a touch on the short side for center. Power forward? Maybe. He could do that. We'll have to wait and see.

His chances of playing this year? Nearly 100 percent. I would expect him to to be the first one off the bench most games. He will come in for Zlovaric (who I think he may beat out for a starting job at some point) or Early pretty soon in most games.

Think about this if you are a Mocs fan. Who are the two biggest pieces gone off of last year's team? Saffore (who started most often) and Jefferson (who was the better talent). With Zlovaric replacing Saffore, there is an upgrade at that starting spot, it would appear. With Mason replacing Jefferson, there may also be an upgrade there. That means, that in the top six players (even if Bell, Wattad, Taylor, and Early remain exactly the same) the Mocs should have more talent this year.

And that is reason to smile if you are a Mocs fan right there.

Mason is a key piece to this year's team. If he is game ready for basketball, then he could become the key to the whole team. He hasn't played competitively in several years. He needs to be in basketball shape when he starts playing. He needs to get the feel of the game back down. Hopefully, that will be a quick learning curve, with games against Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Butler on the out of conference schedule, not to mention an early December two game conference road swing to College of Charleston and Georgia Southern.

Mason could wind up being the MVP of this year's team.

GO MOCS!