Tuesday, March 9, 2004
Conference USA Teams
(1) DEPAUL
(19-8, 12-4)
| Player |
Yr. |
Ht. |
PPG |
RPG |
| Quemont Greer |
Jr. |
6-7 |
12.6 |
7.3 |
| Delonte Holland |
Sr. |
6-7 |
16.5 |
5.0 |
| Andre Brown |
Sr. |
6-9 |
14.2 |
9.6 |
| Sammy Mejia |
Fr. |
6-6 |
8.5 |
4.4* |
| Drake Diener |
Jr. |
6-5 |
12.2 |
3.3 |
*- Assists per game
Coach: Dave Leitao (2nd year, 35-21)
What to watch: The Blue Demons have the best starting five in
the league, the best post player in the league in Andre Brown and the
most accurate 3-point
shooter in Drake Diener (46.7 percent). They've won 12 of their last 14
games.
(2) MEMPHIS
(21-6, 12-4)
| Player |
Yr. |
Ht. |
PPG |
RPG |
| Sean Banks |
Fr. |
6-8 |
18.0 |
6.9 |
| Antonio Burks |
Sr. |
6-0 |
16.5 |
5.3* |
| Anthony Rice |
Jr. |
6-4 |
8.9 |
3.3 |
| Rodney Carney |
So. |
6-7 |
12.6 |
5.6 |
| Arthur Barclay |
Jr. |
6-8 |
2.0 |
2.8 |
*- Assists per game
Coach: John Calipari (4th year, 92-37)
What to watch: The Tigers have the hottest player. Freshman forward Sean Banks
has scored 20 points or more in his last six games, topping the regular season
with a 28-point effort against UC. Point guard Antonio Burks is a favorite
to win conference player of the year.
(3) CINCINNATI
(21-6, 12-4)
| Player |
Yr. |
Ht. |
PPG |
RPG |
| Jason Maxiell |
Jr. |
6-7 |
14.2 |
7.0 |
| Field Williams |
Sr. |
6-4 |
12.1 |
2.4 |
| James White |
So. |
6-7 |
8.7 |
3.4* |
| Nick Williams |
Jr. |
6-4 |
7.0 |
2.6 |
| Kareem Johnson |
Sr. |
6-7 |
5.6 |
5.6 |
*- Assists per game
Coach: Bob Huggins (15th
year, 370-118)
What to watch: The Bearcats are only 8-6 since their 13-0 start, but they've
shown a knack for winning big games when they have to. They also might be playing
angry, believing they should have been afforded the No. 1 seed ahead of Memphis
because they beat the Tigers head-to-head.
(4) UAB
(19-8, 12-4)
| Player |
Yr. |
Ht. |
PPG |
RPG |
| Mo Finley |
Sr. |
5-11 |
12.7 |
2.0 |
| Gabe Kennedy |
Sr. |
6-9 |
11.9 |
5.6 |
| Demario Eddins |
So. |
6-7 |
9.6 |
4.8 |
| Sidney Ball |
Sr. |
6-6 |
7.7 |
5.4 |
| Carldell Johnson |
So. |
5-9 |
4.3 |
4.0* |
*- Assists per game
Coach: Mike Anderson (2nd year, 40-21)
What to watch: One of the most entertaining teams in the league, the Blazers
are always on the attack with their fast-break offense and full-court press.
UAB made a surprise run to the final last year behind Mo Finley. They won't
surprise anyone this year.
(5) CHARLOTTE
(20-7, 12-4)
| Player |
Yr. |
Ht. |
PPG |
RPG |
| Curtis Withers |
So. |
6-8 |
16.6 |
9.5 |
| Demon Brown |
Sr. |
6-1 |
12.6 |
4.1* |
| Brendan Plavich |
Jr. |
6-2 |
12.0 |
1.6 |
| Eddie Basden |
Jr. |
6-5 |
10.5 |
6.3 |
| Martin Iti |
Fr. |
7-0 |
6.3 |
4.7 |
*- Assists per game
Coach: Bobby Lutz (6th year,
113-73)
What to watch: The 49ers have one of the best outside shooting attacks in the
league with Demon Brown and Brendan Plavich, who will shoot - and sometimes
make - some seemingly impossible shots. Forward Curtis Withers is one of the
best players in the league. Lutz doesn't have the national profile of Huggins,
Rick Pitino or Calipari, but he's one of the league's best coaches.
(6) LOUISVILLE
(19-8, 9-7)
| Player |
Yr. |
Ht. |
PPG |
RPG |
| Francisco Garcia |
So. |
6-7 |
15.8 |
4.9* |
| Otis George |
Jr. |
6-8 |
5.8 |
5.0 |
| Alhaji Mohammed |
Sr. |
6-10 |
4.8 |
1.7 |
| Kendall Dartez |
Sr. |
6-10 |
5.8 |
4.9 |
| Taquan Dean |
So. |
6-3 |
10.9 |
3.8 |
*-
Assists per game
Coach: Rick Pitino (3rd year, 63-28)
What to watch: The Cardinals stumble into the tournament with seven losses
in their last 10 games, but remain dangerous with Francisco Garcia and
Taquan Dean. The Cardinals will press and run, but not for the entire
game. When forward
Luke Whitehead is on his game, Louisville is as good as anyone in the league.
(7)
SAINT LOUIS
(16-11, 9-7)
| Player |
Yr. |
Ht. |
PPG |
RPG |
| Reggie Bryant (Q) |
Jr. |
6-2 |
16.9 |
4.0 |
| Josh Fisher |
Sr. |
6-9 |
11.4 |
4.4* |
| Chris Sloan |
Sr. |
6-7 |
10.4 |
4.7 |
| Anthony Drejaj |
So. |
6-2 |
5.8 |
2.4 |
| Izik Ohanon |
Jr. |
6-9 |
7.4 |
2.9 |
(Q) - Player questionable
*- Assists per game
Coach: Brad Soderberg (2nd year, 32-25)
What to watch: The Billikens feature a guard-oriented attack behind Reggie
Bryant (16.9) and Josh Fisher (11.4). They lead the league in scoring defense
at 59.2 points per game, partly because of their deliberate approach on offense
that limits the number of shots opponents get.
(8) MARQUETTE
(17-10, 8-8)
| Player |
Yr. |
Ht. |
PPG |
RPG |
| Scott Merritt |
Sr. |
6-10 |
11.9 |
6.9 |
| Steve Novak |
So. |
6-10 |
12.7 |
4.7 |
| Dameon Mason |
Fr. |
6-5 |
8.6 |
4.6 |
| Travis Diener |
Jr. |
6-1 |
18.5 |
6.0* |
| Terry Sanders |
Sr. |
6-8 |
6.5 |
4.6 |
*- Assists per game
Coach: Tom Crean (5th year, 100-51)
What to watch: One year removed from the Final Four, the Golden Eagles need
to win the tournament to get back to the NCAA Tournament. Point guard Travis
Diener leads the league in scoring at 18.5 points per game. Six-10 forward
Steve Novak, an outstanding 3-point shooter, causes matchup problems for opponents.
Everyone knew Marquette would miss 2003 C-USA Player of the Year Dwyane Wade,
but the absence of his classmate Robert Jackson has been tough to overcome,
too. Still, the Golden Eagles have been a bit of a disappointment.
(9) TCU
(11-16, 7-9)
| Player |
Yr. |
Ht. |
PPG |
RPG |
| Corey Santee |
Jr. |
6-2 |
14.6 |
4.4* |
| M. Shropshire |
Jr. |
6-0 |
13.1 |
2.5 |
| Chudi Chinweze |
So. |
6-7 |
10.7 |
4.8 |
| Nucleus Smith |
Sr. |
6-2 |
8.1 |
3.9 |
| Femi Ibikunle |
Fr. |
6-9 |
3.7 |
4.7 |
*- Assists per game
Coach: Neil
Dougherty (2nd year, 20-35)
What to watch: With wins over Louisville and Marquette, the Horned Frogs have
the ability to pull an upset or two.
(10) SOUTHERN MISS
(13-14, 6-10)
Player |
Yr. |
Ht. |
PPG |
RPG |
| Dante Stiggers |
Jr. |
6-3 |
3.6 |
4.0* |
| Jarekus Singleton |
Fr. |
6-3 |
7.0 |
2.2 |
| Clement Carter |
Sr. |
6-4 |
6.4 |
3.8 |
| Charles Gaines |
Sr. |
6-9 |
15.9 |
10.3 |
| Greg Johnson |
Sr. |
6-9 |
8.6 |
3.5 |
*- Assists per game
Interim coach: Jeff Norwood (8th
season with Golden Eagles)
What to watch: The Golden Eagles are in a state of flux after head coach
James Green resigned last week. Charles Gaines (15.9 points, 10.3 rebounds)
is a
force inside with 14 double-doubles.
(11) EAST CAROLINA
(13-13, 5-11)
Player |
Yr. |
Ht. |
PPG |
RPG |
| Erroyl Bing |
Sr. |
6-7 |
9.4 |
8.1 |
| Derrick Wiley |
Sr. |
6-4 |
15.0 |
6.0 |
| Moussa Badiane |
Jr. |
6-10 |
8.3 |
6.4 |
| Mike Cook |
Fr. |
6-2 |
10.3 |
3.5 |
| Frank Robinson |
Fr. |
6-2 |
3.7 |
1.8 |
Coach: Bill Herrion (5th year, 61-78)
What to watch: The Pirates, who won their first conference road game this
year, will attempt to win their first conference tournament game. Guard Derrick
Wiley averages 15 points per game.
(12) TULANE
(11-16, 4-12)
Player |
Yr. |
Ht. |
PPG |
RPG |
| Quincy Davis |
So. |
6-9 |
10.8 |
6.1 |
| Marcus Kinzer |
Jr. |
5-10 |
10.2 |
3.5* |
| Wayne Tinsley |
Sr. |
6-4 |
10.1 |
3.5* |
| Vytas Tatarunas |
So. |
6-5 |
9.6 |
7.1 |
| Vincent Camper |
Fr. |
6-4 |
4.7 |
2.3 |
*- Assists per game
Coach: Shawn
Finney (4th year, 50-67)
What to watch: The Green Wave enter the tournament having lost three straight
and five of their last six. Quincy Davis (10.8) and Marcus Kinzer (10.2) are
the top two scorers. One of Tulane's biggest problems has been taking care
of the ball. The Green Wave average 16.4 turnovers per game.
