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Western Athletic Conference Preview
Posted: Thursday October 24, 2002 6:36 PM
Updated: Wednesday November 06, 2002 12:25 PM
Blue Ribbon Forecast
No.
Team '01-02 Conf.
Rec. (Overall)
1. Tulsa 15-3 (26-6)
2. Louisana Tech 14-4 (20-9)
3. Hawaii 15-3 (27-5)
4. SMU 10-8 (15-14)
5. Fresno State 9-9 (19-14)
6. Nevada 9-9 (17-13)
7. Boise State 6-12 (13-17)
8. Rice 5-13 (10-19)
9. UTEP 3-15 (10-22)
10. San Jose State 4-14 (10-22)
All-Conference Team
Did You Know?
F: Kevin Johnson
SR, Tulsa
F: Antonio Meeking
SR, Louisiana Tech
G: Quinton Ross
SR, SMU
G: Carl English
JR, Hawaii
F: Michael Harris
SO, Rice
Player of the Year
Quinton Ross
SR, SMU
Newcomer of the Year
Antonio Lawrence
FR, San Jose State
Top Backcourts
1. Tulsa
2. Hawaii
3. Nevada
Top Frontcourts
1. Louisana Tech
2. Tulsa
3. Fresno State
2002-03 Conference Tournament
March 11-15, Reynolds Center, Tulsa, OK
2001-02 Champions
Hawaii (Tied overall and won conference tournament)
Tulsa (Tied overall)
2001-02 NCAA Tournament
Postseason Record
2-4 (.333)
NCAA
Tulsa (Second round)
Fresno State
University of Hawaii forward Carl English was one of 50 players selected nationwide to the Wooden Award Preseason All-America team. The Canadian is from a town better known for hockey than hoops, but he played well enough last year to finish second-team All-WAC, averaging 15.5 points and 5.1 rebounds a game. He helped Hawaii to a 27-6 record and second consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament.
Tulsa advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, before losing to Kentucky in a hard-fought game. The Golden Hurricane returns nearly every key ingredient from that team. Tulsa will be looking for its 14th NCAA tournament appearance. The Golden Hurricane has gone four times since joining the WAC. Two years ago, Tulsa won the postseason NIT.
Look out for Louisiana Tech and we don't mean the women's program. Like Hawaii and Tulsa, the Bulldogs return four starters. The Bulldogs advanced to the second round of the postseason NIT. It was the fifth time the Bulldogs have been in that postseason event. They would like a trip to the Big Dance come March and they may have the team to do it.
Fresno State, San Jose State and Boise State open with new head coaches. The Bulldogs said goodbye to Jerry Tarkanian, who decided to retire after 38 collegiate campaigns. San Jose welcomed back Phil Johnson, who left three years ago to be an assistant for the Chicago Bulls. The new kids on the block should offer an interesting perspective, including Boise's Greg Graham. He made a name for himself as an assistant at Oregon the last five years. Ray Lopes takes over at Fresno after eight successful seasons as an assistant at Oklahoma.
Nevada broke a school record last year with 644 free throws. The Wolf Pack also won six road games, one more than the previous three years combined.
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