The future for Tulane’s basketball team - shooters and speed
October 17, 2008
Posted by Ted Lewis, The Times-Picayune October 17, 2008 10:00AM
Categories: Basketball
Michael DeMocker / The Times-PicayuneReturning point guard Kevin Sims averaged 12.2 points per game last season, and may play a larger role as Tulane tries to become more of a perimeter team.The future — a planned practice facility — is right there on the artist renderings in Tulane Coach Dave Dickerson’s office. The past — both the good (seven NCAA or NIT appearances between 1992 and 2000) and the bad (the residual effects from Hurricane Katrina) — is fading into memory.
What matters is the present. Is the Green Wave prepared to become a contender in improving Conference USA?
“We’re well aware of what we need to rejuvenate this basketball program, ” Dickerson said. “And I feel like we’re on the right track.”
Whether or not Dickerson, entering his fourth season, is proven correct will be known soon enough. But going into the first day of practice today, there is more optimism around the locker room than has been seen in years.
“Everybody is champing at the bit, ” senior forward Daniel Puckett said. “We want to make Tulane basketball matter again.”
The Green Wave looked on its way to doing that last season, winning 15 of its first 21 games. But the team’s lack of strong guard play, particularly perimeter shooting, caught up to it, and the Green Wave had an eight-game losing streak in February.
Tulane finished 17-15, giving the program its first back-to-back winning seasons since 1997. But the Green Wave stayed home for the eighth consecutive postseason after its elimination by Memphis in the quarterfinals of the C-USA Tournament.
The Green Wave begins this season as the ninth pick in the league by the conference coaches.
“Our main focus is to make the transition from a predominately inside team to a predominately perimeter team, ” Dickerson said. “To win in our conference, you’ve got to have good guard play. That was one thing we were lacking in last year. We couldn’t make plays on the perimeter.”
Two freshmen are expected to improve that. Kendall Timmons, a 6-foot-5 swing guard who was the Texas Class 4A Player of the Year, and Trent Rogers, a 6-3 combo guard who was on the All-Greater Houston team, should both see extensive playing time.
They join returning point guard Kevin Sims, who averaged 12.2 points per game last season and led the team in assists and steals, and the trio of Johnny Mayhane, Eric Vianney and Kris Richard, who started 10 games among them last season, averaging 3.9, 3.7 and 3.2 points per game.
“Everybody is shooting the ball better, ” Sims said. “We know we’ve got to. The new guys have shown some flashes, but all freshmen struggle with their adjustment. But having more competition in practice makes us all better players.”
Inside, Puckett and Robby Louisme are returning starters, and David Booker, a transfer from Charlotte who sat out last season, looks ready.
None are likely to have statistics like departed senior David Gomez, the team’s top scorer (14.4) and rebounder (6.2) last season.
“We’re still going to look to pound the ball inside, ” Dickerson said. “But the emphasis will be on our guards stepping up and making plays both off the dribble and from the perimeter.”
Dickerson said his main goal in the first two weeks of practice will be to build an attitude of tough-mindedness and eliminating mistakes.
Tulane begins practice with all players cleared medically and academically. Puckett’s offseason knee surgery is the only lingering question mark.
“We were dealt an ugly hand (by Katrina) when we got here, ” Dickerson said. “And that’s forced us to take some baby steps. We need to continue to improve our talent level and our facilities in order to compete with the other teams in our conference. But I feel like we’re getting there.”
CUsa Mens Notebook
October 17, 2008
Enjoying the past : Memphis will celebrate Friday’s opening day of practice with a Final Four banner raising at the FedExForum.
http://www.topix.com/ncaa/tulane-basketbal…
CBS College Sports Network To Feature Exclusive, Live Coverage From C-USA Basketball Media Day
October 16, 2008
C-USA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Seasons to be PreviewedOct. 15, 2008
• Complete Coverage of C-USA Basketball Media Day (including free live streaming video)
CBS College Sports Network kicks off the 2008-09 Conference USA basketball season with the C-USA Basketball Media Day Show, featuring the head basketball coaches of both the men’s and women’s programs from all 12 Conference USA schools. The women’s show airs live on Thursday, October 16, at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT, while the men’s show immediately follows at 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT.
The shows will offer fans an inside look at C-USA basketball and previews the 2008-09 season, featuring interviews with the coaches and select players. The women’s show will be hosted by Debbie Antonelli and Ann Schatz, while Seth Davis and Pete Gillen will host the men’s show.
Additionally, fans can enjoy more coverage of the 2008 Conference USA Basketball Media Day as opening press conferences will be streamed live via C-USA All-Access on the C-USA website on the Basketball Media Day page. Click on the Media Day graphic at the bottom of the front page or click here. Links to these press conferences and the CBSC show are available there. Men’s coaches will take the podium at 12:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. CT, while women’s press conferences will begin at approximately 1:45 p.m. ET/12:45 p.m. CT.
Following the completion of the event, check Green Wave All-Access for video clips from C-USA Basketball Media Day.
Season Tickets for both Tulane Men’s and Women’s Basketball Now on Sale
October 16, 2008
Official Athletics Site of the Tulane University Green Wave
Renewals have been mailed to 2007-08 season ticket holders; ability to buy online now availableOct. 10, 2008
New Orleans - Season tickets for both the Tulane men’s and women’s basketball are now available, Tulane Athletics announced today. Season ticket renewals for both sports have been mailed to 2007-08 season ticket holders and should be arriving in mailboxes soon. In addition, new season ticket holders are encouraged to act quickly in order to guarantee themselves the best seats in the house at Fogelman Arena.
Renewals and new orders can also be placed using the “My Account Manager” program that Tulane recently introduced. This exciting program makes it easy for customers to manage their Tulane ticket account, including the ability to update account information, renew season tickets, purchase additional tickets and forward tickets to family and friends via email, all from their computer. For more information, please visit www.tulanegreenwave.com and go to “My Tulane Account” under the “Schedules/Tickets” header on the main page.
The Green Wave men’s slate features 15 exciting home games including non-conference match-ups with Western Kentucky, Albany State (coached by former Green Wave standout Chris Cameron), North Carolina A&T, Binghamton and a trio of games against in-state schools McNeese State, Nicholls State and Grambling State. The Conference USA home schedule features Tulsa, Southern Miss, UTEP, UAB, Marshall, UCF, East Carolina and Rice.
The Tulane women’s season ticket package includes games from four home tournaments, beginning with the Preseason WNIT, continuing through the holidays with the Tulane DoubleTree Classic and the UNO-Tulane Big Easy Classic, and culminating with the 2009 Conference USA Tournament. The non-conference home schedule features Illinois State, Temple, and South Florida.
Season tickets for men’s basketball begin at just $125 while the Family Pack, which provides 2 adult and 2 youth tickets, is only $300. Women’s basketball season tickets start at only $65 while the Family Pack is just $150.
Green Wave Basketball is the best entertainment deal in town so fans are encouraged to renew or buy new season tickets today by going online to www.tulanegreenwave.com or calling 504-861-WAVE.
Tulane Notes, Quotes
October 14, 2008
The Green Wave has notched back-to-back 17-win seasons, marking the first time the school has had consecutive winning seasons in 11 years.
http://www.topix.com/ncaa/tulane-basketbal…
Tulane Strategy and Personnel
October 13, 2008
SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: The Green Wave adds a pair of freshmen to add to the depth in the backcourt.
http://www.topix.com/ncaa/tulane-basketbal…
Hornets hold final workout
July 26, 2008
The Hornets held their final pre-draft workout at Tulane’s Fogelman Arena on Tuesday, bringing in six prospects: Chris Douglas-Roberts , DeVon Hardin , Sonny Weems , David Gomez , Gavin Grant and James Mays .
http://www.topix.com/ncaa/tulane-basketbal…
Tulane’s Gomez Named to All-Louisiana First Team
July 26, 2008
Tulane senior forward David Gomez added one more accolade to his already extensive season resume with his selection to the All-Louisiana first team by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association . via NOLA.com
http://www.topix.com/ncaa/tulane-basketbal…
Tulane Women’s Hoops Posts Win at Alabama in Season Opener
July 26, 2008
Sophomore guard Chassity Brown scored a career-high 15 points, including six-of-six from the free throw line late in the second half as the Tulane women’s basketball team opened the 2007-08 season with a 64-56 … via NOLA.com
http://www.topix.com/ncaa/tulane-basketbal…
Tulane’s Gomez Named to All-Louisiana First Team
July 26, 2008
Tulane senior forward David Gomez added one more accolade to his already extensive season resume with his selection to the All-Louisiana first team by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association . via NOLA.com
