Eastern Michigan

Carlos Medlock is healthy, hopeful

David Goricki / The Detroit News

Ypsilanti -- Three times Carlos Medlock has entered a basketball season with high hopes.

Twice he has been handed disappointment in the form of season-ending injuries.

This season, he believes he's past that, and Year Three in the Medlock run at Eastern Michigan is ready to go.

"I have no word to describe how frustrating it was, thinking it was my last go-round, then finding out I had a broken foot," Medlock said of last season, which was his senior year (he was granted a fifth year of eligibility).

"I came back quicker this time because I had a foot specialist and that really helped. I was back playing in the summer and it feels 100 percent. Sure, it's sore, but there's no pain, no worries."

And why should he worry?

Eastern returns a solid 1-2 inside punch in 6-foot-8, 245-pound senior center Justin Dobbins (10 points, five rebounds) and 6-6, 235-pound junior power forward Brandon Bowdry (14.8, 7.2). But the Eagles also added two junior college transfers -- 6-6 small forward Jay Higgins and 6-3 guard Quintin Dailey.

Medlock, however, isn't too shabby himself.

A preseason All-Mid-American Conference selection, he averaged 13.2 points his sophomore year before breaking his foot for the first time 18 games into the season. He averaged 14.8 points his junior season.

Then, last season, Medlock again broke his foot.

"I just want to win," he said. "We've been under .500 since I've been here and I've always been used to being over .500. We made it to the state semifinals my sophomore year in high school (Murray-Wright).

"I want to win the MAC title. We got the depth. We just have to go out and perform like we're capable of."

The Eagles are 42-81 since Medlock -- and coach Charles Ramsey -- stepped on campus.

But with the supporting cast, that could change.

"I want to be a good floor leader because we have a lot of guys who can score," Medlock said. "Antonio (Green) started to come on at the end of his freshman year and he's probably our best shooter. We also have Q (Dailey), who is a shooter, and (Jay) Higgins, who is a scorer."

david.goricki@detnews.com