3.8.2004 2004 C-USA Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams
Curtis Withers |
Three underclassmen, one junior and one senior comprise the 2004 All-Conference USA First Team, which features Memphis freshman forward Sean Banks, Charlotte sophomore forward Curtis Withers, Louisville sophomore forward Francisco Garcia, Marquette junior guard Travis Diener and Memphis senior guard Antonio Burks. Diener was a second team selection last season and Burks was named to the third team while the other three players are earning all-league accolades for the first time. The awards are voted on by the league?s coaches and media.
Banks burst on the Conference USA scene this season, leading the league?s freshmen in scoring (18.0) and in rebounding (6.9), while also ranking among the league?s leaders in three-point field goal percentage (.392) and blocked shots (27). He has scored 20 or more points 12 times, including each of the last six outings. He scored a career high 29 points against Charlotte on Jan. 17 and nearly matched that at Cincinnati on Saturday, netting 28. The 6-8 Banks is the only player in Memphis basketball history to hit at least six three-pointers in a game on four different occasions. Over his last six games, Banks is averaging 25.5 points per game.
After earning a spot on last season?s All-Freshman team, Withers has blossomed as a sophomore. He has posted a league-high 15 double-doubles, including eight in league play. Withers has scored in double figures and pulled down at least seven rebounds in all but two games. For the year, he is averaging 16.6 points (fourth in C-USA) and 9.5 boards (second in the league). Additionally, he is shooting .498 from the floor, third-best in Conference USA among players with 10 or more shots per game.
Garcia leads the Cardinals and ranks in the Top 10 of Conference USA in scoring (15.8, 9th in C-USA), assists (4.9, third in C-USA) and steals (46, fourth in C-USA). He has reached double figures in 19 of the 25 games that he has played in this season and also set a school record with 15 assists against Murray State on Jan. 3. A first team NABC District 7 selection, Garcia is a finalist for the Wooden Award, which is given to the nation?s top college player.
Diener is one of only two players in Division I currently averaging 18.0 points and 6.0 or more assists. His 76 three-point field goals this season are a new Marquette record for a junior and he is just the seventh player in school history to score 1,000 points and dish out 400 assists in a career. He leads Conference USA in scoring (18.5), ranks third in three-point field goals made (76) and second in free throw percentage (.884). Diener has also been named as one of 20 finalists for the Wooden Award.
The Tigers floor general, Burks joins Diener as the only two players on this year?s all-conference team that were on last year?s squad. He ranks fifth in Conference USA in scoring (16.5) and three-point field goal percentage (.432), is second in assists (5.3) while leading the league in steals (2.5). Burks enters the C-USA Tournament needing just seven points for 1,000 in his career. When he reaches the 1,000-point plateau, he will become only the fourth player in the storied history of Memphis basketball to have 1,000 points, 450 assists and 170 steals. Burks is one of the finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, an accolade given to the nation?s top point guard.
The Conference USA second team includes DePaul senior forward/center Andre Brown, Saint Louis junior guard Reggie Bryant, Southern Miss senior forward Charles Gaines, DePaul senior forward Delonte Holland and Cincinnati junior forward Jason Maxiell.
C-USA?s third team is comprised of Cincinnati senior guard Tony Bobbitt, UAB senior guard Mo Finley, USF junior forward Terrence Leather, TCU junior guard Corey Santee and Louisville senior forward Luke Whitehead.
Nine of the 15 all-conference picks were forwards, including three first-team members and four on the second team.
Eleven teams had at least one player named to one of the all-league teams. Cincinnati, DePaul, Louisville and Memphis each produced two selections.
2003-04 C-USA MEN?S BASKETBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
2003-04 ALL-CONFERENCE USA FIRST TEAM
Sean Banks, Memphis, F, 6-8, 210, Fr., Oradell, N.J. (Bergen Catholic)
Antonio Burks, Memphis, G, 6-0, 200, Sr., Memphis, Tenn. (Hiwassee College)
Travis Diener, Marquette, G, 6-0, 165, Jr., Fond du Lac, Wis. (Goodrich)
Francisco Garcia, Louisville, F, 6-7, 185, So., Bronx, N.Y. (Winchendon)
Curtis Withers, Charlotte, F, 6-8, 230, So., Charlotte, N.C,. (West Charlotte)
2003-04 ALL-CONFERENCE USA SECOND TEAM
Andre Brown, DePaul, F/C, 6-9, 245, Sr., Chicago, Ill. (Leo)
Reggie Bryant, Saint Louis, G, 6-2, 185, Jr., Baltimore, Md. (Calvert Hall)
Charles Gaines, Southern Miss, F, 6-7, 220, Sr., Houston, Texas (Southwest Missouri St.)
Delonte Holland, DePaul, F, 6-7, 220, Sr., Greenbelt, Md. (Vincennes Univ.)
Jason Maxiell, Cincinnati, F, 6-7, 240, Jr., Carrollton, Texas (Newman Smith)
2003-04 ALL-CONFERENCE USA THIRD TEAM
Tony Bobbitt, Cincinnati, G, 6-4, 185, Sr., Daytona Beach, Fla. (Southern Idaho)
Mo Finley, UAB, G, 5-11, 174, Sr., LaFayette, Ala. (LaFayette)
Terrence Leather, USF, F, 6-9, 221, Jr., Tampa, Fla. (Robinson)
Corey Santee, TCU, G, 6-2, 193, Jr., Flint, Mich. (Maine Central)
Luke Whitehead, Louisville, F, 6-6, 220, Sr., San Francisco, Calif. (Oak Hill Academy)