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ECU hoops gains ground in coaches' eyes
From C-USA and staff reports
No big surprises were sprung in the Conference USA coaches' preseason poll.
Of note to East Carolina fans, though, the Pirates were not picked last in
their branch of the family this time around.
CONFERENCE USA COACHES PRESEASON
POLL
AMERICAN DIVISON
1. Cincinnati
2. Marquette
3. Louisville
4. Charlotte
5. Saint Louis
6. East Carolina
7. DePaul
NATIONAL DIVISION
1. Memphis
2. Tulane
3. Houston
4. TCU
5. South Florida
6. Southern Miss
7. UAB
PRESEASON ALL-LEAGUE TEAM
*Dwyane
Wade, Marquette, G, Jr., Oak Lawn, Ill.
Reece Gaines, Louisville, G, Sr., Madison, Wis.
Jason Maxiell, Cincinnati, F, So., Carrollton, Texas
Marque Perry, Saint Louis, G, Sr., Chicago, Ill.
Andre Brown, DePaul, F/C, Jr., Chicago, Ill.
*PRESEASON
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dwyane Wade, Marquette, G, Jr., Oak Lawn, Ill.
A year ago, the coaches prognosticated that ECU would bring
up the rear in the tough American Division, a prediction the Pirates foiled
by winning five conference games and finishing sixth in the seven-team
division — the same spot the coaches have deemed they will occupy this
season.
Coming off its seventh straight regular-season league
championship, Cincinnati was picked as the favorite to win the crown again.
Marquette's Dwyane Wade was tabbed as the Conference USA
Preseason Player of the Year.
The Bearcats, who also captured the 2002 C-USA Tournament title, are the
favorites to win the American Division. Cincinnati made its 21st appearance
in the NCAA Tournament and set a school record for single-season victories
with 31 during the 2001-02 season. Defending NIT Champion Memphis was the
coaches' pick to win the National Division.
Wade, an All-Conference USA first team selection last season, averaged a
team-best 17.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last season to lead the
Golden Eagles to their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1997. Wade, a 6-4
guard, helped Marquette to a 26-7 record, its best finish since the 1975-76
campaign and the sixth-highest single-season victory total by a Conference
USA squad. Wade also led the league in steals with 79.
Louisville's Reece Gaines, another All-C-USA first team member last season,
was selected to the league's preseason all-conference team. Gaines, a 6-6
guard, led the Cardinals with a team-high 21.0 points, 114 assists and 44
steals. The conference's top returning scorer, Gaines led Louisville back to
the postseason with an NIT appearance.
Cincinnati's Jason Maxiell, the 2002 Conference USA Sixth Player of the
Year, provided the Bearcats with a spark off the bench in their run to the
C-USA regular-season and tournament titles last year. Maxiell, a 6-7
forward, averaged 8.1 points while grabbing 6.8 boards a game. Maxiell
ranked among the conference leaders in blocked shots (50) despite coming off
the bench.
Saint Louis' Marque Perry was an all-conference second team pick last year
after leading the Billikens in scoring (14.1) and minutes played (32.8).
Perry, a 6-1 guard, is Saint Louis' first returning all-conference selection
since Erwin Claggett and Scott Highmark embarked on their senior season in
1994-95.
Rounding the 2002-03 Conference USA Preseason All-Conference team is
DePaul's Andre Brown. The 6-9 forward/center led the Blue Demons in scoring
(14.5), rebounds (9.4) and field goal percentage (.503). Over DePaul's final
nine contests last season, Brown logged 36 minutes per game while averaging
15.5 points and 12.0 rebounds per outing.
The University of Louisville and Freedom Hall will be the hosts for the 2003
Conference USA Tournament, March 12-15. The first round, quarterfinals and
semifinals will be carried on ESPN2 and ESPN Plus, while CBS will air the
championship game on Saturday, March 15 at 11:40 a.m. EST.
