USC To Face Duke In Wooden Classic
November 25, 1999 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 25, 1999
Los Angeles - The USC men's basketball team (2-2), under fourth-year head coach Henry Bibby and coming off a 1-2 performance at the Maui Invitational, including a final-round, 52-50 loss to Utah State, is set to face one of this decade's top teams when it plays No. 15 Duke in the second game of the Wooden Classic at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, Calif., at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. (No. 9 Stanford plays No. 3 Auburn in the first game at noon. USC-Duke will follow 20 minutes after.) The day will hold special significance for Bibby, of course, who played for John Wooden at UCLA from 1969-1972, winning three national championships. The Trojans are coming off three games in three days in Maui. USC opened with an 82-65 loss to No. 5 North Carolina before trouncing Memphis, 92-65, in the consolation semifinals. That set the stage for a fifth-place game against Utah State, which the Aggies won in the game's final seconds. USC, which made its sixth postseason appearance of the 1990s when it faced Wyoming in the first round of the 1999 NIT, finished 15-13 overall and 7-11 (tied for seventh) in the Pac-10 last season and returns four starters and six lettermen.
GAME #5 USC (2-2) vs. No. 15 Duke (2-2) on Sat, Nov. 27. Tip-off is set for approximately 2:30 p.m. (PST). The Blue Devils, under 20th-year coach Mike Krzyzewski, opened the season with an overtime loss to Stanford, 80-79, and a 71-66 setback to Connecticut, both in the Coaches vs. Cancer Ikon Classic. They have since evened their record with a 100-42 win over Army (Nov. 20) and a 99-52 triumph over Columbia (Nov. 23). Duke returns two starters and five lettermen from last year's national runner-up squad which went 37-2. Senior forward Chris Carrawell and junior forward Shane Battier return as starters and are averaging 18.5 and 15.5 points, respectively. Carrawell is also averaging a team-high 6.8 boards a game.
MAUI INVITATIONAL RECAPS USC finished 1-2 overall in the Maui Invitational, losing to No. 5 North Carolina, 82-65, on Nov. 22, beating Memphis in the consolation semifinals, 92-65, on Nov. 23 and falling to Utah State in the fifth-place game, 52-50, on Nov. 24. In the most recent game, the Trojans were led by junior guard Jeff Trepagnier's game-high 19 points, four blocks and a school-record 10 steals (breaking his own mark of eight set last year against Loyola Marymount). Sophomore forward David Bluthenthal contributed 14 points and nine rebounds. The Trojans led by as many as 12 points in the first half at 18-6 with 9:13 to go and led 26-16 with 3:57 to go, but went into the lockerroom only up 27-22. The Aggies quickly took control of the game at the outset of the second half and led by as much as eight points twice, the last at 44-36 with 10:11 left to play. USC whittled away at the lead and eventually regained it at 50-49 when sophomore forward/center Brian Scalabrine hit a three-pointer from the top of the key with 2:35 to play. USC had a chance to go up more, but sophomore guard Brandon Granville, who posted double digits in assists (10) for the third consecutive game, was unable to hit the front end of a one-and-one foul shot. Utah State, led by guard Troy Rolle's 11 points, hadn't scored since the 4:12 mark, but guard Bernard Rock banked in a three-pointer with 9.1 seconds left to give the Aggies the lead. USC had a final chance, but a Granville running jumper in the lane missed. USC Coach Henry Bibby did not use a sub for the entire second half.
It was a different story against Memphis, as all five USC starters scored in double figures. USC guards Granville and Trepagnier scored 19 points apiece and had five and six steals, respectively. Granville stole the show, however, dishing out a USC- and Maui Invitational-record 15 assists. Among those benefitting from Granville's generosity was Bluthenthal, who posted a career-high 18 points to go with a career-high 11 rebounds for his first career double-double. Scalabrine had 17 points and eight rebounds and sophomore forward Sam Clancy had 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. The Tigers were led by guard Keiron Shine's 18 points. USC led 42-32 at the half. Memphis got to within six points early in the second half, but the Trojans used a 25-8 run to open a 71-46 advantage with 11:45 to go. It was an up-and-down game for the rest of the contest as the Trojans cruised to victory.
Despite the 17-point margin of defeat, USC's loss to North Carolina was close for most of the game and was a seven-point affair with five minutes to go. Clancy followed up a career-high 24-point outing in the season opener with 23 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Granville had 15 points and 11 assists and Scalabrine added 13 points. USC forced 19 North Carolina turnovers and had 14 steals, but shot only .397 compared to the Tar Heels' .654. The Trojans were tied at 31-31 with less than four minutes to go but saw the Tar Heels go on a 12-2 run to close out the half. USC battled back to within 54-52 with 11:25 to go on a Clancy layup and were only down 68-61 with 5:45 after a Granville three-pointer. But North Carolina guard Ed Cota took over the game, scoring most of his 13 second-half points down the stretch. USC only scored four points in the final 5:45.
RECORD BREAKING NEWS * Junior guard Jeff Trepagnier set a USC (and Maui Invitational) single-game steals record with 10 against Utah State in the final game of the tournament on Nov. 24. He broke his own record of eight set against Loyola Marymount last season on Dec. 9. Sophomore guard Brandon Granville also posted a USC and Maui Invitational single-game record. His came with 15 assists against Memphis on the second day of the tournament on Nov. 23. The record was previously shared by Larry Friend (1986) and Stais Boseman (1996), who both had 14.
CLIMBING THE CAREER CHARTS * Jeff Trepagnier, standing only 6-foot-4 but possessing great leaping ability, is now No. 9 on the Trojans' all-time Top 10 in blocked shots with 50 (Derrick Dowell is eighth with 60). Sophomore forward Sam Clancy, only a sophomore, isn't far behind. After blocking 39 shots in his first year at Troy, he now has 44. The USC record is 128 by Lorenzo Orr (1992-95). Trepagnier is also in the USC Top 10 in steals. He has 101, good for seventh place. He only needs 15 more to move into third place. Dowell is second with 179 and Stais Boseman (1994-97) owns the record with 208.
STARTERS - AND FINISHERS * USC is relying heavily on its five starters. The group of guards Jeff Trepagnier and Brandon Granville, forwards Sam Clancy and David Bluthenthal and forward/center Brian Scalabrine has accounted for 695 of a possible 800 minutes played (86.9%). That averages out to 173.8 combined minutes a game and 34.8 minutes per player per game. The quintet has scored 267 of the team's 280 points and has 122 of 145 rebounds (not counting 13 team rebounds). One reason is the ankle injury of top reserve Jarvis Turner, a senior forward who missed the last two games with a sprained ankle. The injury also limited his time in the first two USC games.
FINDING THE RANGE, HOPEFULLY * The Trojans, who lost two of their top three-point shooters of all-time to graduation last year in Elias Ayuso and Adam Spanich, have had trouble finding the basket from long range this year. The team is shooting only .242 (15-of-62) from beyond the arc, compared to its opponents' combined mark of .459 (34-of-74). Last year, USC shot a respectable .344 from three-point land (182-of-529).
SEASON STANDARDS * It's never too early to take a peek at the school season records, and the way USC guards Brandon Granville and Jeff Trepagnier are playing, who will blame us. Trepagnier already has 23 steals in four games. The season record is 62, set by Derrick Dowell in 1987. Granville already has 42 assists. The season record is 176, set by Larry Friend in 1985.
HOGGING THE BALL, IN A GOOD WAY * USC has been somewhat possessive with the basketball. The Trojans have outrebounded its opponents in three of four games and in the fourth, were outboarded by only one (against No. 5 North Carolina). Overall, USC is outrebounding its opposition, 39.5 to 32.8. But the Trojans aren't just waiting for rebounds. They're also making steals at an alarming rate. They have 50 steals in the young season, compared to the opposition's 30.
SHAQ IMPRESSIONS * After opening the season making 29-of-36 free throws (80.6%), the Trojans have made only 18-of-36 (50.0%) in their last three games combined. Overall, USC is 47-of-72 (65.3%).
MAKING FRIENDS * After never having had more than nine assists in a game as a freshman, guard Brandon Granville had had at least 10 assists in each of the last three games. He also has posted two double-doubles in that span.
RANDOM NOTES * Jeff Trepagnier has had at least three steals in each of USC's games this year and Brian Scalabrine has had at least two steals in three of four Trojan games. Trepagnier, who has a team-high 23 steals, also is averaging a team-best 7.5 rebounds. * Sophomore forward David Bluthenthal's 11 rebounds vs. Memphis is a USC season and personal high. * Brandon Granville's four treys against Memphis marks the third time in his career he has had at least four in a game. His five steals in the game is the fifth time he has had at least that many in a game in his career. * Sam Clancy posted his second career 20-point plus outing with 23 against No. 5 North Carolina and had a career-high 11 field goals. He is USC's leading scorer, averaging 17.3 points per game. * USC received its first AP vote of the 1999-2000 season in the Nov. 15 rankings. * Sam Clancy entered the 1999-2000 season as the Pac-10's leading returning shot blocker and Granville entered it as the Pac-10's top returning assist-maker. Both have started off well in their respective categories. Clancy has five blocks and Granville leads the team with 42 assists. * Jeff Trepagnier, USC's second-leading returning scorer and rebounder, entered 2000 on a hot streak. He averaged a double-double in the Trojans' final five games of the 1999 season (16.4 ppg, 10.2 rpg) and led the team in rebounding in each game during that span. His 24-point, 17-rebound performance against Wyoming in the first round of the NIT left him three rebounds short of becoming only the seventh Trojan ever to record a 20-point, 20-rebound game. The 17 rebounds were the most by a Trojan since Jaha Wilson had 17 against California on Jan. 11, 1996. He is averaging 15.0 points and a team-high 7.5 rebounds to start this season. * Brian Scalabrine's .532 field goal percentage in 1999 was good enough to put him fourth all-time on USC's career field goal percentage chart. He has continued his fine shooting in 1999-2000 and is at a .583 clip (21-of-36) after four games. * For seasons that have spanned the change of a decade (like 1989-90 or 1999-2000), USC has had seven winning seasons and only two losing ones. * USC's 25 assists against Memphis was its most since the 1997-98 season. * USC opens its home portion of the Pac-10 schedule against UCLA on Jan. 12, the first time the Trojans face the Bruins in their home conference opener since the 1989-90 season.
PACIFIC-10 PRESEASON POLL USC was picked to finish seventh in the 1999-2000 Pac-10 media poll. Arizona (356 points), with 32 of a possible 36 first-place votes, was tabbed as the favorite to win the title this season. UCLA (307) finished second and had three first-place votes and Stanford (296) was picked for third with one first-place vote. Oregon (246) was fourth, followed by Oregon State (174), California (152), USC (151), Arizona State (129), Washington (117) and Washington State (44).
SEASON/HOME OPENERS Since its first season in 1907, USC is now 65-29 in its season openers after defeating Cal State Northridge, 73-59. Last year, USC opened with a 101-54 win over San Diego State at the Sports Arena, its largest win ever in a season opener. Incomplete records exist in home openers, but USC has now won five consecutive such games, 10 of its last 12 and 19 of 23.
TOURNEY TEAMS ON THE SCHEDULE The Trojans will face six teams this season that reached the 1998-99 NCAA Tournament (North Carolina, Duke, Washington, UCLA, Arizona and Stanford) and another three that played in the 1999 NIT (Northwestern, Oregon and California) for a combined 15 games against teams that reached the postseason a year ago.
RANKED TEAMS ON THE SCHEDULE USC is slated to play eight games against five teams ranked in the Associated Press' Preseason Top 25. They are No. 6 North Carolina, No. 9 Arizona, No. 10 Duke, No. 12 UCLA and No. 13 Stanford (all rankings preseason).
USC AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS The Trojans were 1-6 against ranked teams in 1998-99, are 0-1 against such teams this year and are 4-20 versus ranked teams since December of 1996. USC's lone win over a ranked team last year was at then-No. 6 Stanford, 86-82, in overtime. In USC's other three wins in the above stretch (all at home), USC shocked then-No. 6 (and eventual NCAA champion) Arizona, 75-62, on Jan. 16, 1997, defeated then-No. 16 Stanford, 84-81, on Feb. 6, 1997, and toppled then-No. 2 Arizona, 91-90 (OT), on March 5, 1998.
USC AT HOME Dating back to 1996-97, the Trojans are 28-13 in their last 41 games at the Sports Arena and USC is 86-37 (.699) at the Sports Arena since the beginning of the 1991 season, including a 16-game winning streak over a span of the 1992 and 1993 seasons and a nine-game winning streak spanning the end of 1997-98 and the beginning of 1998-99.
TROJANS ON TELEVISION USC will be quite visible throughout the year. Currently, USC has 16 games that will be televised live in Los Angeles. Two of those games (against North Carolina and at Long Beach State) will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and five other games will be aired nationally on FOX Sports Net (FOX Sports Net West locally). Nine other games will be televised by FOX Sports Net West 2 and the Duke game will air on KCAL Channel 9 (and may be picked up regionally).
HENRY BIBBY Henry Bibby, a coach with 17 years of college and professional experience and the only player to ever play for an NCAA, NBA and CBA championship team, is in his fourth full season as the head coach of the USC men's basketball program. Last season, he directed the Trojans to a 15-13 overall mark (7-11 in the Pac-10, tied for seventh) and a first-round appearance in the NIT. USC went 9-19 the previous season, but closed out the year with a stunning 91-90 overtime victory over then-No. 2 Arizona and a 117-71 rout of Arizona State. In his first full season at the helm of the Trojan program, Bibby did not waste any time in moving Troy in the right direction. The 1996-97 campaign saw the Trojans finish second in the Pacific-10 Conference and make their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1992. The previous year, the Trojans went 11-19 and finished ninth in the conference. The seven-game improvement is the third-biggest turnaround in USC history and the seven spot increase in the standings matches a school best. In addition, Bibby's 17-11 mark in 1996-97 is the best by a Trojan coach in his first full year since Forrest Twogood went 21-6 in his debut season in 1951. Bibby was named USC's head coach on March 15, 1996. Bibby joined the Trojan program in May of 1995 as an assistant coach. He was named USC's interim head coach on Feb. 7, 1996, replacing Charlie Parker. Bibby came to USC after coaching a club team in Venezuela in 1995. He was a head coach for eight seasons in the Continental Basketball Association. His teams made it into the CBA playoffs six times and posted a 223-213 regular season record, making him only the fourth CBA coach to post 200 wins.
BRIAN SCALABRINE Junior o forward/center o 6-foot-9 o 250 pounds * Averaging 14.5 points and 7.0 rebounds (both third best on the team) in USC's first four games. * 1999-2000 Top-50 Wooden Award and All-American candidate. * 1998-99 Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year and also received All-Pac-10 honorable mention honors. * Scored 18 points in USC's 1999-2000 season opener and had 17 points and eight rebounds against Memphis. * Led USC in scoring (14.6), rebounding (6.4) and field goal percentage (.531, 152-of-286) last year. Was second in assists (68) and third in blocks (25). * Had career-high 26 points, seven rebounds and two blocks against American last year. * Scored 25 points and had five assists against Arizona State at home last year, making his first eight shots en route to a 10-of-12 performance. * "The most impressive newcomer (in the Pac-10), by far, is USC forward Brian Scalabrine. Scalabrine is skilled, athletic and plays with limitless energy." - Jon Wilner, Los Angeles Daily News * "(Scalabrine) is an all-leaguer. He's the closest thing I've seen to Detlef Schrempf since Detlef Schrempf. He can bring it on the break. He can pass it and he can shoot it. He's a pro, no question." - Arizona Coach Lute Olson * "(USC) is well-rounded with a great inside guy (Scalabrine) who will be a professional player. He's as good as it gets." - Arkansas State Coach Dickey Nutt * "Scalabrine is a great Division I player. I think he's terrific." - Long Beach State Coach Wayne Morgan
JEFF TREPAGNIER Junior o guard o 6-foot-4 o 195 pounds * One of the top athletes and best leapers in the nation whose dunks and athleticism often land him on Play of the Week highlight reels around the country. * Had a spectacular game against Utah State in defeat at the Maui Invitational. Tied his season high of 19 points, broke his own USC single game steals record with 10 steals (the old mark was eight), blocked four shots and had seven rebounds. Overall in Maui, Trepagnier averaged 15.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.3 steals, 2.7 assists and 1.7 blocks in 39.0 minutes per game. * Posted 19 points, six steals and four assists against Memphis. * Scored 14 points and had four steals in 1999-2000 season opener against Cal State Northridge and had game-high nine rebounds against No. 5 North Carolina to go with three steals. * Averaged 11.8 points and 5.4 rebounds in his first season as a regular in 1998-99 and was also second on the team in blocked shots (30) and steals (54). * Was the only Pac-10 player to finish in the Top 10 in steals, blocks and field goal percentage (.492, 125-of-154) last year and he averaged a double-double in his final five games (16.4 ppg, 10.2 rpg). * Was also a two-sport athlete in 1999, competing in the high jump for the track and field team in a dual meet with UCLA and at the Pac-10 Championships. New to the sport, he won the event against the Bruins (6-9 3/4) and finished second at the Pac-10s (7-0 1/2). * Had at least one block 16 times, at least two blocks 10 times and at least two steals 13 times in 1998-99. * Posted fifth double-double of season with career-high 24 points and career-high 17 rebounds at Wyoming in the first round of the NIT. * "Trepagnier is a sensational athlete who has improved his fundamentals and gives the Trojans' backcourt some much-needed size." - Jon Wilner, Los Angeles Daily News
BRANDON GRANVILLE Sophomore o guard o 5-foot-9 o 175 pounds * Earned 1998-99 Pac-10 All-Freshman honorable mention honors. * Posted USC single-game record 15 assists against Memphis in the Maui Invitational, also setting a tournament record. He also had 19 points and five steals in the game. He is averaging 10.5 assists per game in the young season and has three double-digit assist efforts and two double-doubles. * Scored 15 points and had 11 assists against No. 5 North Carolina. * Leading returning assist-maker in the Pac-10 (5.0). Also led USC in steals (1.9). * USC's third-leading returning scorer (7.7) and the Trojans' top returning three-point threat (41-of-118, .347). * Made 5-of-9 three pointers en route to season-high 22 points at UC Santa Barbara last year, adding eight assists and three steals. * Made 5-of-10 treys at No. 6 Stanford, scoring 21 points to go with seven assists. * Had at least two steals 13 times last year and at least seven assists 11 times.
SAM CLANCY Sophomore o forward o 6-foot-7 o 240 pounds * Pac-10's leading returning shot blocker (1.4) and USC's third-leading returning rebounder (5.3). He also averaged 5.5 points. * Scored career-high 24 points on 8-of-9 field goals and 8-of-9 free throws and also had eight rebounds in USC's 1999-2000 season opener. He is USC's leading scorer (17.3). * Had 23 points (including career-high 11 field goals) and had three steals against No. 5 North Carolina and had 15 points and seven boards against Memphis. * One of only three freshmen in Pac-10 with at least four double-doubles in 1998-99. * Got fourth double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds at No. 6 Stanford. * Posted third career double-double with personal and USC season-best 14 rebounds to go along with 11 points against Oregon at the Sports Arena. He also had two blocks and three assists.
JARVIS TURNER Senior o forward o 6-foot-8 o 240 pounds * USC's lone senior, he was fourth on team in scoring (5.6) and rebounding (3.5) in 1998-99 in only 13.1 minutes per game. * Missed the last two games of the Maui Invitational with a sprained ankle after playing in USC's first two games and is listed as day-to-day. * Started three times last season but has 23 career starts to his credit. * Scored season-high 16 points and had six rebounds against St. Bonaventure last year. * Came off bench to score 13 points, grab seven rebounds, dish out four assists and make three steals in only 15 minutes against Loyola Marymount last year. * Scored 13 points, including 9-of-12 from the foul line, against UCLA at home, adding two blocks and two steals last year. * Scored 10 points and had four steals at Arizona.
DAVID BLUTHENTHAL Sophomore o forward o 6-foot-7 o 220 pounds * After coming off the bench last year, has earned a starting role in 1999-2000 at small forward. * Posted career highs in points (18) and rebounds (11) against Memphis in the Maui Invitational for first career double-double. He shot 9-of-12 in the game. * Scored 14 points and had nine rebounds against Utah State in the final game of the Maui Invitational. He averaged a team-high 8.7 rebounds in the tournament and also averaged 12.7 points. * Played in 20 games and averaged 7.6 minutes, 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds per game as a freshman.
KONSTANTINOS CHARISSIS Freshman o center o 6-foot-11 o 250 pounds * A talented big man with a traditional European game, he will challenge for time as a reserve center. * Has played six minutes in three games and has two points (vs. Memphis) and two rebounds overall. * Also goes by the first name Kostas. * Was a reserve center on the mid-level Greek club team Papagou-Athens in 1999 and averaged 3.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in limited action.
NATE HAIR Freshman o guard o 6-foot-3 o 195 pounds * An athletic guard, Hair could add a strong presence to USC's perimeter game. * Made collegiate debut in final minute of game against No. 5 North Carolina. He also played two minutes against Memphis, getting his first rebound. * Missed most of the preseason and both exhibition games recovering from a stress fracture in his knee. * Was a 1999 Street & Smith's All-American honorable mention, an All-Stater Sports 1999 West Regional Dream Team fourth teamer and a 1999 Best in the West and 1999 Orange County Register Fab 15 second team pick as a senior at Capistrano Valley (Calif.) High. * Averaged 15 points and five rebounds his senior year.
RASHAD JONES Junior o guard o 6-foot-2 o 195 pounds * A hard-working point guard, he will back up Brandon Granville in the backcourt in his first year as a Trojan. * Played 24 minutes off the bench in USC's 1999-2000 season opener against Cal State Northridge, scoring six points (all on free throws) and grabbing six rebounds to go with two steals. He also played 21 minutes against Memphis and had three rebounds and two points. * Averaging 13.8 minutes as a reserve guard. * Averaged 15.7 points, 6.0 assists and 3.1 steals per game in leading the Jaguars to a 19-10 mark as a 1999 sophomore at San Jose (Calif.) City College. He made 50.4 percent of his field goal attempts (120-of-238) and shot 80.1 percent from the foul line (125-of-156).
LUKE MINOR Freshman o center o 7-foot-3 o 320 pounds * USC's tallest player ever, he may redshirt as a true freshman. * Minor averaged 7.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks as 1999 senior at Blue Ride Academy in Dyke, Va., leading his team to a 19-6 mark and an appearance in the state semifinals of the Virginia Association of Independent Schools. * He broke the school's season block record with 67 and the career block record with 124. Minor was named Virginia's 10th best prospect by the Roanoke Times.
MALACHI THURSTON Freshman o guard o 6-foot-4 o 200 pounds * An athletic swingman, he will compete for minutes as a reserve in the backcourt. * Made his Trojan debut playing two minutes and scoring one point in USC's 1999-2000 opener against Cal State Northridge. Had one block and one steal in one minute against No. 5 North Carolina and also played two minutes against Memphis. * He averaged 24 points, nine rebounds and three assists last year at the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn., and earned the William Duryee Award as the top player in the Tri-State League.
Game 5 Duke
November 27, 1999 Arrowhead Pond Anaheim, CA - 2:30 p.m.
On the Air The USC-Duke game will be broadcast live in Los Angeles (and syndicated nationally) on KCAL Channel 9. The game will also be aired on KXTA-AM 1150. Rory Markas handles the radio play-by-play, while ex-USC assistant coach Jim Hefner adds the color commentary. All of USC's radio broadcasts feature short pre- and post-game shows immediately before and after the game.
Series USC is 2-2 against Duke. The Trojans won the first two games in the series, 87-69, in the 1952 season and 87-81 in overtime in the 1978 season. Duke avenged that loss the following year with a 79-65 win and downed the Trojans, 85-83, in 1985.
Last Game The Trojans last faced Duke under Stan Morrison's tutelage in the 1984-85 season, losing 85-83 in the final game of the Trojan-Bud Light Classic. The Trojans were led by forward Derrick Dowell's 22 points and 14 rebounds while forward Wayne Carlander had 16 points and eight boards. The Blue Devils were paced by David Henderson's 17 points. Duke led 40-29 at the half and for most of the game, staving off a late Trojan rally when a Ron Holmes' shot missed at the buzzer.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski is in his 20th season at the helm of the Duke Blue Devils. He has posted 471 total wins, 220 weeks in the Top 25, 115 weeks in the Top 10 (including 43 of the last 45 polls), 51 weeks ranked No. 1 in the country (including three times in the final regular season polls in 1986, 1992 and 1999), 48 NCAA Tournament wins, eight Final Fours in the last 14 years, six NCAA championship game appearances and the only back-to-back national championships in the past quarter century of college basketball in 1991-92.
Probable Starters pts. reb. F 23 Chris Carrawell (6-6, Jr.) 18.5 6.8
F 31 Shane Battier (6-8, Jr.) 15.5 5.5
C 4 Carlos Boozer (6-9, Fr.) 9.0 4.8
G 14 Nate James (6-6, Jr.) 9.0 1.8
G 22 Jason Williams (6-2, Fr.) 13.8 *5.0
*assists
