12.12.2002 C-USA Men's Basketball Notebook
Reece Gaines |
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Reece Gaines, Louisville
G, 6-6, Sr., Madison, Wis./Madison West
Gaines scored a season-high 26 points and handed out seven assists in the Cardinals' 90-79 home win over South Alabama last Saturday. For the second time in as many games, Gaines has recorded seven assists, two of his best career performances. Louisville's assist leader the past three seasons, Gaines is now among the school's top 20 scorers with 1,437 points and needs three three-pointers to move into second all-time in the U of L recordbook.
AROUND C-USA
CHARLOTTE (2-3, 0-0): Charlotte fell at local rival Davidson, 76-56, on Dec. 7. It was only the 49ers ninth loss to the Wildcats in the last 31 meetings. Junior guard DEMON BROWN led Charlotte with 15 points, all on three-pointers. Freshman forward CURTIS WITHERS chipped in with nine points and sophomore guard CHRIS SAGER and freshman swingman VINCENT GRIER both added eight points each. The 49ers hosts Miami (Fla.) on Sunday in their only game action of the week.
CINCINNATI (3-2, 0-0): Cincinnati dropped a 50-44 decision to cross-town rival and 16th-ranked Xavier on Dec. 7. The 94 combined points was the fourth lowest total in series history and UC?s 44 points were the lowest output by a Bearcat team since a 47-44 loss to Marquette on Jan. 10, 2001. Bearcat senior guard LEONARD STOKES notched a team-high 13 points, while backcourt mate, junior FIELD WILLIAMS added 12 points. On the boards, sophomore forward JASON MAXIELL pulled down a game high 13 rebounds. Cincinnati entertains La Salle on Saturday.
DE PAUL (4-0, 0-0): DePaul improved to 4-0 for the first time since the 1990-91 season with a 73-65 home win over Ohio on Tuesday. For the second-straight game, junior forward DELONTE HOLLAND led all scorers with 22 points, including 6-of-6 from free-throw line. Seniors, center SAM HOSKIN and guard JOE TULLEY, scored 20 and 12 points, respectively. Tulley for the second-consecutive game hit four treys, giving him 100 for his career and moving him into ninth in the DePaul record books. The Blue Demons conclude their week?s schedule at 10th-ranked Notre Dame on Saturday.
EAST CAROLINA (6-0, 0-0): For the first time since the 1954-55 campaign, East Carolina has opened the season with a 6-0 record after a 76-60 home win over Virginia Tech on Tuesday. Freshman guard BELTON RIVERS paced the Pirates with a career-high 18 points. Junior guard DERRICK WILEY added 17 points and sophomore center MOUSSA BADIANE scored a career-high 13 points. Badiane also became the school?s all-time blocked shots leader with 105 career rejections, surpassing Herb Grey?s (1976-80) mark of 103. The Pirates will try to tie the best start in school history of 7-0 set in 1953-54 season, when they host Mount Olive on Saturday.
HOUSTON (2-4, 0-0): Houston suffered a 68-59 road setback to Southwest Texas State on Monday. The Cougars were led by sophomore guard ANDRE OWENS with 20 points and double-double by senior forward LOUIS TRUSCOTT, who posted 15 points and pulled down 13 boards. It was Truscott?s third double-double of the year. UH went to the half tied with Southwest Texas State, 34-34, but a 7-of-28 shooting slump, combined with 18 turnovers hampered the Cougar efforts. Houston returns to action on Dec. 21, when they host San Diego State.
LOUISVILLE (2-1, 0-0): Louisville senior guard REECE GAINES scored 26 points to move into the Cardinals top 20 all-time scorers and help U of L to a 90-79 home victory over South Alabama on Dec. 7. Gaines now has 1,437 points in a Louisville uniform. Sophomore LARRY O?BANNON was perfect in every shooting category en route to a career-high 16 points. O?Bannon was 5-of-5 from the floor, 2-of-2 from behind the three-point arc and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. Junior forward LUKE WHITEHEAD notched 17 points in the win. Louisville travels to Seton Hall on Saturday, marking the latest since 1987 U of L has gone into the season with just its third game.
MARQUETTE (5-1, 0-0): Marquette broke the 100-point barrier for the first time this season as the Golden Eagles defeated Appalachian State, 101-78, at home on Dec. 7. Junior guard DWYANE WADE scored 31 points in the winning effort, while the forward tandem of senior ROBERT JACKSON and junior SCOTT MERRITT each recorded double-doubles. Jackson had a 25 point-13 rebound effort, while Merritt notched a 17 point-12 rebound performance. Sophomore guard TRAVIS DIENER also recorded a double-double with 10 points and a career-high 10 assists. The last time a Marquette player had 10 or more assists in a game was Feb. 21, 2001, when Cordell Henry had 10 handouts against DePaul. The No. 13 Golden Eagles hosts in-state rival Wisconsin on Saturday.
MEMPHIS (4-1, 0-0): Memphis wrapped up its four-game homestand with a 72-55 win over Furman on Dec. 7. The Tigers were 3-1 during their homestand. Four Memphis starters scored in double figures led by senior JOHN GRICE with 16 points. Grice also had a team-high eight rebounds at the forward spot. Freshman forward RODNEY CARNEY had 15 points and senior center EARL BARRON added 14 points. Freshman guard CLYDE WADE rounded out the scoring with 10 points. Memphis travels to Columbia, Mo., to face 10th-ranked Missouri on Saturday.
SAINT LOUIS (2-3, 0-0): Saint Louis collected its first home win of the season, a 57-42 win over Texas-Pan American on Dec. 7. Senior guard MARQUE PERRY scored 20 points and senior forward CHRIS BRAUN had 16 points off the bench. Perry was 6-of-7 from the field and 3-of-4 from the line, while Braun hit 7-of-10 shots from the floor and was 4-for-4 from the line. Junior swingman CHRIS SLOAN grabbed a career and game-high eight boards. The Billikens face Dayton at home on Saturday.
SOUTH FLORIDA (4-2, 0-0): South Florida suffered its first loss of the season, a 68-52 setback at eighth-ranked Florida on Dec. 8. Junior JIMMY BAXTER led USF scorers with 13 points and senior center WILL McDONALD added 11. The contest saw the Gators gain an advantage at the free-throw line, hitting 9-of-13 attempts, while the Bulls connected 1-of-2 attempts. South Florida returns to action on Saturday at Wright State.
SOUTHERN MISS (5-1, 0-0): USM dropped from the ranks of the C-USA unbeatens with a 65-63 loss to Iowa at the Gazette Hawkeye Challenge on Dec. 7. Junior swingman GREG JOHNSON earned all-tournament honors after recording a game 21 points against the host Hawkeyes. Johnson also had 15 points in the Golden Eagles? 62-61 tournament?opening win over Jacksonville on Friday. Sophomore forward DAVID HAYWOOD recorded a career-high 13 points and freshman swingman JASPER JOHNSON netted 12 points. Southern Miss returns home to host Arkansas State on Saturday.
TCU (4-2, 0-0): TCU earned its second-straight road win with an 87-80 decision at North Texas on Tuesday. The Horned Frogs were led by C-USA top returning scorer from last season, senior guard JUNIOR BLOUNT with 24 points, including 4-of-8 from behind the arc and 8-of-10 from the line. Blount is currently third in C-USA in scoring, averaging 20.5 points per game. Sophomore guard COREY SANTEE contributed 22 points and senior forward JAMAL BROWN nabbed his first double-double of the season with 20 points and 12 rebounds off the bench. TCU returns home to host Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday.
TULANE (3-5, 0-0): Tulane dropped its second straight contest to a SEC foe with a 76-60 loss to 12th-ranked Kentucky on Tuesday at the New Orleans Arena. It was a reunion of Green Wave head coach SHAWN FINNEY and Kentucky head coach Tubby Smith, who Finney worked for as a Wildcat assistant for three years prior to taking over the reigns at Tulane. A trio of Wave players scored in double figures led by senior guard WATARI MARSH with 19 points. Fellow seniors, guard BRANDON SPANN and forward NICK SINVILLE, each added 12 for Tulane. The Green Wave will take an exam break with its next contest coming on Dec. 20, when it hosts Savannah State.
UAB (3-2, 0-0): UAB fell 72-68 to Richmond on Dec. 4. Senior guard ERIC BUSH led all scorers with a career-high 22 points. Bush was 8-of-13 from the floor, including 3-of-4 from the free throw line. Senior forward SIDNEY BALL grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. The Blazers have a 13-day break before facing Nicholls State on December 17 in the first game of a three-game homestand.
C-USA TO FOREGO DIVISIONS IN 2003-04
Conference USA announced that it will change its current two-division alignment in men's basketball and go to a 14-team division, beginning with the 2003-04 season. The league also announced it will modify its current 16-game conference scheduling format for next season.
After reviewing recommendations from the Men's Basketball Task Force, which is comprised of athletic directors and head coaches, the conference's Board of Directors approved the switch to one division and the following scheduling format.
Each school will play each other for a total of 13 games. Additionally, three mirror games will be added to each team's schedule, based on geography, rivalries, and television, to account for 16 conference games.
This season, Conference USA will play in two seven-team divisions. The American Division includes: Charlotte, Cincinnati, East Carolina, DePaul, Louisville, Marquette and Saint Louis, while the National Division is comprised of Houston, Memphis, South Florida, Southern Miss, TCU, Tulane and UAB.
THE UNBEATENS
There are only two teams in Conference USA that are still unbeaten this season: East Carolina is 6-0, while DePaul is 4-0.
ECU improved to 6-0 with its 76-60 win over Virginia Tech on Tuesday. The last time the Pirates opened the season at 6-0 was the 1954-55 season, finishing with a 16-8 record that year. East Carolina?s best start in school history is 7-0 to open the 1953-54 campaign.
DePaul is off to its first 4-0 start since the 1990-91 season, when it finished with a 20-9 mark and an NCAA appearance. The Blue Demons defeated Ohio, 73-65, on Tuesday at Allstate Arena.
TRANSITION DEFENSE
Defense has been key to the 4-0 and 6-0 starts that DePaul and East Carolina, respectively, are experiencing this season. Both squads rank among the NCAA statistical leaders in field goal percentage defense and scoring defense (based on stats through Dec. 9).
The Blue Demons are No. 1 nationally in field goal percentage defense with their opponents shooting only 32 percent from the floor, while the Pirates are ranked 10th in the country, allowing their opposition to shoot 36 percent from the floor.
DePaul is tied for second in scoring defense, giving up just over 49.7 points a game. ECU is tied for 17th in the category, holding their opponents to 56.5.
In Conference USA, DePaul is the top team followed by ECU in terms of field goal percentage and the Blue Demons are also the top team in C-USA in scoring defense, while the Pirates are third.
MOVING UP THE CHARTS
South Florida senior guard REGGIE KOHN is rapidly closing in on becoming Conference USA?s all-time assists leader. Former Marquette standout Aaron Hutchins? (1996-98) holds the C-USA record with 491 assists. With 33 assists this season, including three against Florida on Sunday, Kohn currently has 485 handouts.
FAMILIAR FACES
Saturday?s meeting between Louisville and Seton Hall will not only be a matchup Conference USA versus the Big East, but it also will be a reunion of Cardinal mentor RICK PITINO and Pirate head coach Louis Orr. Pitino coached Orr twice at Syracuse (1976-78) and with the New York Knicks (1983-85), when Pitino served as an assistant for both teams. In fact, Pitino, who was hired by Syracuse head Jim Boeheim on his wedding night, postponed his honeymoon to go recruit Orr to play for the Orangemen.
DISHING IT OUT
Five times this season, a Conference USA player has posted double-figure assists during a game. Check out the list below of the players that have accomplished this feat:
Player Date Opp. Assists
Chris Sager, CHA 11/22 Long Beach St. 11
Reggie Kohn, USF 11/22 Nova Southeastern 11
Taron Barker, CIN 12/2 Valparaiso 11
Dante Stiggers, USM 11/30 South Alabama 10
Travis Diener, MAR 12/7 Appalachian State 10
COACHING MILESTONES
Memphis head coach JOHN CALIPARI is five wins shy of 250 as a collegiate head coach. He currently owns a 245-96 (.718) career ledger in 12 seasons as a head coach. Calipari secured his 50th win earlier this season on Nov. 25, when his Tigers defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff , 78-54.
NAISMITH CANDIDATES
Marquette junior guard DWYANE WADE and Louisville senior guard REECE GAINES have been selected as preseason candidates for the 2002-03 Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year Award. The Naismith Award, now in its 35th year, was founded by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, an organization dedicated to recognizing the achievements of student-athletes in basketball.
C-USA TRIO ON WOODEN WATCH LIST
A trio of Conference USA stars have been chosen as members of the Wooden Award Preseason All-America Team, a list of 50 student-athletes who, based on last year's individual performance and team records, are the early favorites for college basketball's coveted Wooden Award, symbolic of the nation's top player. The announcement was made by the Wooden Award Preseason Selection Committee. The list is comprised only of returning players -- transfers and freshmen are not eligible, though they are evaluated and considered for the midseason top 30.
Cincinnati sophomore forward JASON MAXIELL, Louisville senior guard REECE GAINES and Marquette junior guard DWYANE WADE represent C-USA on the list.
GAINES ON SENIOR CLASS AWARD LIST
Louisville?s REECE GAINES is among 36 senior Division I men?s basketball players named as candidates for the 2002-03 Senior CLASS Award. The award, which stands for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, is presented annually to the nation?s premier senior player-of-the-year for NCAA Division I men?s and women?s basketball. The inaugural award winners were Maryland?s Juan Dixon and Connecticut?s Sue Bird, who both led their respective squads to NCAA Championships.
A FAMILY AFFAIR
Fans and the media that follow Conference USA basketball may think everywhere they look, they?re seeing the name Diener. That?s because there are four members of the Diener family playing basketball in C-USA.
The Dieners in Conference USA are comprised of brothers DREW and DRAKE and their cousins, the brother-sister duo of TRAVIS and RACHEL.
Drew is a 6-6 senior guard at Saint Louis, while younger brother Drake is a
6-5 sophomore guard at DePaul. Travis is a 6-0 sophomore guard at Marquette and younger sister, Rachel, a 5-9 freshman guard, who has joined older cousin, Drew, at Saint Louis as a member of the women?s team.
Last season, Travis was a member of the Conference USA All-Freshman team.
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
Conference USA is one of the most geographically diverse athletic conferences in the United States, but its reach is definitely international. This season, seven C-USA teams have a total of 13 players on their rosters from foreign countries. East Carolina is the most culturally diverse team with four international players on its roster. Here?s the breakdown of the rest of the international players in Conference USA:
Player School Class Country
Chris Exilus DePaul Jr. Canada
Moussa Badiane East Carolina So. France
Garth Grindley East Carolina Jr. Jamaica
Luke McKay East Carolina Jr. Australia
Gabriel Mikulas East Carolina Jr. Argentina
Anwar Ferguson Houston Jr. Bahamas
Otis George Louisville So. Dominica
Simeon Naydenov Louisville Jr. Bulgaria
Modibo Diarra Memphis Jr. West Africa
Almany Thiero Memphis Fr. West Africa
Izik Ohanon Saint Louis So. Isreal
Vytautas Tatarunas Tulane Fr. Lithuania
Ivan Pjevcevic Tulane So. Yugoslavia
BIG GAINES
In the Southern Miss media guide, Golden Eagle head coach JAMES GREEN says the following about CHARLES GAINES:
?Charles is a player who plays hard all the time. He can score around the basket and he?s a tenacious rebounder who will give us some leadership, just because he plays hard every day.?
Evidently Green had some insight on what the junior could do on the court because Gaines recorded four straight double-doubles in USM?s first four games, all wins. Seeing his first game action after sitting out more than a year after transferring from Southwest Missouri State, the starting forward posted a 33-point, 11-rebound effort in the season-opening win over Alcorn State (78-70, Nov. 22), a 34-point, 13-rebound outing in a defeat of Jackson State (80-62, Nov 25) and a 13-point, 13-board showing in a win over Troy State (77-70, Nov. 27). Gaines? final double-double saw him notch 19 points and 13 rebounds in a victory over South Alabama (89-78, Nov. 30). Gaines had his string of double-doubles end on Friday when he scored 15 points and grabbed three rebounds to help USM improve to 5-0 with a 62-61 win over Jacksonville. Gaines was held scoreless against Iowa on Saturday, a 65-63 loss, the first of the year for the Golden Eagles.
QUOTEABLES
Check out what?s being said around Conference USA:
East Carolina head coach BILL HERRION on his team?s wins this season:
"We've beat an SEC (Mississippi) team and a Big East (Virginia Tech) team so far this year. These wins will hopefully keep our heads above water come March."
Marquette head coach TOM CREAN on his team?s continued improvement on defense throughout the season:
"That's a great thing for this team to realize. That is what we have to be better at every day. We have to guard, we have to rebound. I thought we defended really well, and it turned into a lot of points."
Louisville head coach RICK PITINO on his team?s progress this season:
"We made some adjustments and we made some switches. Some of our rotations we did not do a good job on. We did a good job executing offensively. We're not great but when you aspire to be, you'll get better. I'm happy our basketball team got a victory."
Saint Louis head coach BRAD SODERBERG on his team playing defense to win:
"We've been trying to convince our guys that if we are to win at a high level, then we must defend at a high level. Any time that you hold a team to 25 percent and allow their leading scorer only one shot, that's huge."