The Daily Cougar Basketball Preview by The Cougar

AR G U O C ILY A D E H T er 6, ovemb

2008

W E I V E PR

Making it fit With high season expectations, young teams add new talent and seasoned coaches in hopes of reaching NCAA tounaments

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008

THE DAILY COUGAR

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

PLAYER PROFILE

Junior readies defense for Houston play BY MATT MILLER B A S KE TB A L L P R EV I EW

Junior guard Aubrey Coleman may be new to the UH men’s basketball program, but he’s ready to become a leader on the court. Coleman, originally from

Houston, transferred to UH after playing under Bill Wallace at Southwest Mississippi Community College. He emerged as a star during his freshman year, when he averaged 23 points, four rebounds, five assists and five steals per game. However, Coleman is better known for his defensive ability. “(Wallace) would holler at me if I missed a defensive assign-

ment,” Coleman said. “He’d get on me about everything on defense, because he wanted me to be the best player I could be.” Now that Coleman is at UH, he’s ready to help lead a team that has only two seniors, guard DaS DaShaun Williams and center Ma Marcus Cousin. ““That’s what I plan on doing,” Col Coleman said. “You’ve got to have a leader in anything. Our hav tog togetherness will play a big part in h helping us win. Everybody’s on the same page and there’s no jealousy.” jeal A Along with leadership, Coleman should provide the Cougars with a defensive intensity that wit has hasn’t always existed in the past. ““I think about playing defense firs rst,” Coleman said. “My defense will help pick up my teammates, wil aand hopefully they’ll follow along with me.” Still, Coleman hasn’t forgotten about offense. He said he’s developed his jump shot during the off-season, and gained plenty of offensive knowledge when he played for k former UH basketball star Kenfo neth “Juice” Williams during his net tim time at Gulf Shores Academy in Houston. Hou ““(Williams) ran a system like the one (at UH),” Coleman said. “It was a good experience. He made it like a one-on-one game, ma which gave me the confidence to wh play to the best of my ability every night. He was a good shooter, he taught me some things so h

about that.” Coleman also played at Marshall High School in Fort Bend County, but was unable to fit in and blossom while playing there. “I liked Gulf Shores better,” Coleman said. “At Marshall there were a lot of guys, so we split time. The coaches tended to play their favorites instead of the guys who were giving their best effort.” Coleman has played basketball since he was young and considers it to be a defining characteristic of his life. “I played a lot of street ball when I was younger,” Coleman said. “I’m excited about playing the game. I wake up every morning ready to play.” While Coleman is happy to be home, he is still adjusting to the environment of a university. “(UH) is way different than junior college, but I can adapt to it,” Coleman said. “There are more people in the classes. In Mississippi, the classes were about the same size as my high school classes, so you could get special attention in the classroom.” Coleman, originally a physical education major, switched to sociology when he transferred to UH. No matter what the subject is, Coleman said he has enjoyed the teaching he’s received so far. “I enjoy going to class because I learn something new every day,” he said. Coleman’s hobbies outside of

basketball include hanging out with friends and drawing. An interest in art runs in his family. “I like art and design,” Coleman said. “I like to draw and my brother gets letters from different art institutes. I also have an uncle who can draw well.” Coleman said his goal during college is not just to have a good time, but to do his best in the classroom and on the court. “I like to chill or go to a movie,” Coleman said. “I’m not big on going out. It will keep me focused. I’m here on business, not to have the time of my life.” Now that he’s back in Houston, Coleman is ready to show his on-the-court skills in front of his friends and family. “I’m really excited to give people in my hometown a chance to see me play,” he said. “I push the ball a lot. I know that’s what coach (Tom) Penders wants, but it’s not just one person. Everyone contributes to the scoring and defense. That’s why we work so hard in practice.” Coleman, like many of his teammates, has grown tired of seeing the same color shirts every day — he said he’s ready to start playing games that count. “I’m ready to play somebody different,” Coleman said. “Everybody knows what everybody else on the team can do, so there’s no excitement. I’m ready to show the world what I’ve been working on.” sports@thedailycougar.com

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UH women’s head coach Joe Curl’s most vivid memory from years of recruiting trips doesn’t involve discovering a basketball player. While Curl was traveling to Albuquerque, N.M. in October 2007, he suffered a heart attack that forced him to miss the entire 2007-08 season. As he makes his return to the Cougars, Curl said his 11th season as head coach may be his best one yet. “It’s been an absolute breath of fresh air to be back with the kids. They give you life and energy,” he said. “It’s been about a year…that I had that heart attack, and I’m still not at a hundred percent, but I’m getting closer to it.” When he had the heart attack, Curl didn’t immediately realize what happened. “I was on the road recruiting, so I didn’t know it was actually a heart attack. I thought it was severe heartburn,” Curl said. “I got up to go to the bathroom and actually passed out. Didn’t know that either, until I woke up. “I actually drove my rental car back, flew back (to Houston), and the doctor said I should have died at any one of those points, but I guess He has a plan for me. I think it’s taking care of kids and dealing with Cougars.” Curl’s family convinced him to go to the hospital when he

Head coach Joe Curl returns for his 11th season with the Cougars after missing the 2007-08 campaign recovering from a heart attack. | Photo courtesy of UH Athletics Department returned to Houston, and he was taken by helicopter to Methodist Hospital, where doctors diagnosed him. “I just took it like a coach would take it,” Curl said. “When they started telling me to do rehab, I did more. I got out of the hospital quicker than most that were in my position.” Curl said that recovery was a difficult time for him, but the thought of returning to coaching motivated him. “It was a very painful time. It » CURL continues on Page 3

THE DAILY COUGAR

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008

PLAYER PROFILE

Game in senior’s blood BY ZANETA LOH B A S KE TB A L L P R EV I EW

UH senior forward Zane Jakobsone’s path to Houston started when she was in the third grade in a gym in Riga, Latvia. “My dad took me to my first basketball practice. He was a basketball player (for Sana, a professional Latvian team),” she said. “I grew up in the gym. He had games twice a week and one on the weekend, so anytime he went to practice I went with him just playing on the sideline. He said, ‘You want to try?’ and I said, ‘Why not?’” From the moment she picked up the basketball at that practice, Jakobsone felt at home on the court. “I tried it, and the coach was like, ‘She knows it already.’ It was automatic for me,” she said. Jakobsone’s skills continued to develop, and when she was in eighth grade she transferred to High School No. 47, a school that focuses specifically on basketball. American recruiters noticed her talent and offered her scholarships to play col-

Curl Continued from Page 2 » wasn’t so much the pain of the heart attack, but just not having the interaction with the kids,” he said. Curl got his start in coaching as the head coach of Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas in 1990. Before coming to Houston, Curl also had stints at Stephen F. Austin and Blinn College coaching both men’s and women’s teams. However, his connection to coaching stretches back to the years he played junior high basketball in Nebraska. “I didn’t have a great family life when I was growing up. I had no father, so coaches I had in junior high…that was my first encounter with a coach,” Curl said. “Believe it or not, three of my junior high coaches have been to a game every year since I’ve been in Houston, and they live in Nebraska. So they make it a point. “They were so instrumental in my life that I could not even put a weight of measure. They’re the ones who turned me to coaching, and what they did for me I’m trying to do for other kids.” Curl emphasizes community service and sportsmanship to his players — each player is required to spend at least 50 hours volunteering every year and the team remains on the court at Hofheinz after each home game to sign autographs for fans. In the last decade, the Cougars have made back-to-back appearances in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament in 2001-02, falling to Oregon in the WNIT Championship game in 2002. Houston also clinched the regular-season C-USA title in 2003-4 and made NCAA Tournament appearances in 2004-5 under Curl, but he said he isn’t ready to hang up his hat just yet. “I would love to work past my 65th birthday, as long as God will let me have the energy,” he said. “I really feel that I have a lot left to give.” sports@thedailycougar.com

lege basketball, but Jakobsone was unsure about leaving Riga. “The University of Alabama was the first one who recruited me, but I was too scared to go,” she said. “I told them no. I spent a year after high school at home (and) I went to university there.” When opportunity came knocking again, though, Jakobsone stepped through the door. “Then (Trinity Valley Community College head) coach (Michael) Landers called me and he was all funny and nice. He made me feel safe,” she said. “He’s like, ‘If you don’t like it, you can go back anytime.’ And I was like, ‘Well, that’s true.’ So why wouldn’t I take a chance? And I did. I’m happy. It’s a great opportunity (to play in America), and I couldn’t be more thankful.” Although she looks back on that choice with gladness now, her transition to American life was difficult. “Language-wise, the first three months was horrible. Nobody else speaks your language, so you have to learn and pay attention,” she said. Even basketball didn’t come as

easily to her in the United States. “American basketball is different from European basketball. Basketball here is quicker. In Europe, they like to think. They try and slow it,” she said. “In America, as soon as somebody grabs a rebound you already know what’s going to happen.” Jakobsone said spending her first two years at a junior college eventually helped make her adjustment to UH easier. “(Trinity Valley is) a small school, so I knew everybody and everybody knew me,” she said. “Everybody was really nice. I had foster parents, too, and they were very nice people. That’s why I’m glad I went to a junior college first.” Still, she found herself longing to be in a city similar to the one she grew up in. “I wanted to be in the city. I grew up in a big city, in Riga. Athens is kind of too small for me. I’m a city girl,” she said. In her first year as a Cougar, Jakobsone played in 19 games, averaging a .378 percent shooting percentage » JAKOBSONE continues on Page 6

Forward Zane Jakobsone, who played in 19 games and scored 51 points for the Cougars last year, is the only senior of the 2008-09 squad. | Mauricio Lazo/The Daily Cougar

Please join me in wishing the Cougars a great basketball season!

Go Coogs!!!

From Renu Khator UH System Chancellor UH President www.uh.edu

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008

THE DAILY COUGAR

PIECING IT Coach Curl returns after missing last season to lead young team BY MATT MILLER B A SK E T BALL PR EVI EW

Although the UH women’s basketball team lost a highly-touted backcourt in Twiggy McIntyre and Tye Jackson, head coach Joe Curl is back and the Cougars are ready to begin the 2008-09 season. Curl returns to the coach’s box after sitting out last season because of medical complications. Curl has made a few adjustments to his routine and said the entire experience helped him realize what is truly important in life. “I’m trying to rest more,” Curl said. “I’m eating healthier, heal and I’m trying to avoid some of the stress.” Expectations are not high for this season’s team, which was picked to finish ninth in the Conference USA preseason coaches’ poll, but Curl is still pumped about his team’s potential. “I think we’re better than ninth,” Curl said.

Cobilyn Hil Sophomore

“The greatest thing about preseason more than usual this season. rankings is that they get you riled up.” “We’re going to play 94 by 50 (feet) This season, the Cougars will be led on defense,” Curl said. “One of our by sophomores forward/guard Courtney strengths defensively is our ability to use Taylor and center Cobilyn Hill, who both a full court press. We’re going to play earned C-USA All-Freshpressure defense as long man team honors last as we can stay out of season. Curl is particu- “I think we are better than ninth. foul trouble.” larly excited about what Although the Cougars The greatest thing about preTaylor brings to the won’t play as many table. season rankings is that they get powerhouse teams as “I think Taylor could they did last season, you riled up.” average a doublethey have retained a double this season,” challenging non-conferhe said. “She’s really ence schedule. JOE CURL improved and sh she can After an exhibition Women’s head coach game against the play three differ different rent positions.” Houston Jaguars, the Curl also said d he Cougars begin the seafeels good aboutt the son with a home game talent of his und derclassmen, especially against Southeastern Louisiana on Nov. underclassmen, the six sophomo res on the roster. The 14. After that, the Cougars will play sophomores Cougars’ depth should s lighten the load road games against Oregon State (Nov. for Taylor and Hi Hill. ill. 19) and TCU (Nov. 25). Sandwiched “We’re very d deep eep this season,” Curl between is a home game against Miami said. “All of the p players l are on Nov. N 21. 21 practicingg really h hard. I Houston will also take a trip to New think ourr strength h is York to play Boston College in in our sop phomoree the St. John’s-Chart twells Holisophomore John’s-Chartwells class.” day Classic (Dec. 20 0-21) and will 20-21) Lawrence, Curl p plans lans to meet Kansas in Law wrence, Kan. utilize a n nine-play nine-player yer on New Year’s Eve. Evee. “I want the rotation press rotatio on and d pr ress res th he first game w to come, and I want to take it 40 minutes at a a time,” “We Curl said. “W We play a lot of » WOMEN’S continues on Page 6

l #51 center, 6-3

Courtney Taylor #24 Sophomore guard/forward, 6-0

Zamal N i Sophomo xon, #2 re guard,

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

TOGETHER

2 , 6-1

Talented recruits add depth; UH hopes to make NCAA tournament

“Rebuilding year.” In most cases the term would be used to label a coming season for a team that lost five seniors, all of whom were starters at one point and received considerate amounts of playing time. Maybe that’s the reason the Cougars were picked as the seventh-strongest team in the Conference USA Preseason Poll. Losing a scorer like Robert McKiver has to set a team back at least one year. In any other case, those circumstances would validate a sense of panic. In any other case, coaches, fans and even athletic directors would expect at least a slight decrease in performance. UH head coach Tom Penders and his coaching staff don’t consider this a rebuilding year. In fact, the 2008-09 Cougars have the same components that made Penders’ 2005-06 team an NCAA Tournament-caliber program. He doesn’t buy into the preseason poll, but Penders doesn’t mind if the rest of the league does. “Everybody has us picked low, and I like that for a change,” Penders said. “The sign of a good program is a program that doesn’t fall apart when you lose five seniors, but you also have to be realistic as a coach. “I believe I am very realistic, but I am also, and always have been, confident of my ability as a coach and my staff’s abilities,” he said.

more Zamal Nixon have all been practicing running the offense to fit that mold. “In Aubrey Coleman, Desmond (Wade) and Zamal (Nixon), we have three point guards that could start on a lot of basketball teams in this country,” Penders said. “At all times, we will probably have a couple of them on the floor at the same time. Late in the game, we might have three of them out there.” Wade and Coleman have been putting in a lot of time running the first team offense and have a kind of chemistry that can’t be taught. Wade is a three-time All-State First Team point guard from Linden High School in New Jersey. He stands a hair under 5 feet 8 inches, but is a great on-ball defender with the speed and court vision to run the fast break, which Penders has placed heavy emphasis on this season. Coleman will be a breath of fresh air for Cougar fans who have grown tired of 30 three-point attempts per game by Penders’ teams. He’s an athletic combo guard with Hornets’ guard Chris Paul-like speed and excellent court vision. Coleman relies on those characteristics to get to the rim for either the finish or the drive and dish, and should pull off some nice no-look passes around the basket. “Right now, if we were starting a season tomorrow, Desmond Wade and Aubrey Coleman would both be starting,” Penders said. “They share it with each other to run a really effective fast break.”

Two point guards are a must Penders has reason to be confident. With the addition of true freshman Desmond Wade and junior college transfer Aubrey Coleman, the Cougars go three legitimate players deep at the point guard position. He has always wanted to run an offense with two point guards on the floor at all times. Wade, Coleman and sopho-

Lewis and Williams to pick up where they left off Were it not for the timely emergences of shooting guards Kelvin Lewis and DaShaun Williams around the two-thirds mark of last season, the Cougars would not have been a 24-win team. wis, a junior ju slasher, slasher became a conLewis, sistent scoring sist tent sco oring threat for

BY CHRIS ELLIOTT B A S KE TB A L L P R EV I EW

sin #50 u o C s u c 1 Mar nter, 6-1 e c r o i n e S

Houston when teams decided to key up on McKiver, while senior Williams made it a point to defend first and score later. Both were entrusted with starting roles by the end of the season, and both will probably have increased responsibilities as Houston looks to make its first NCAA Tournament under the reign of Penders. Neither, however, expects to have to change much in terms of playing style. “I’ve been used to pushing the ball,” Lewis said. “I really didn’t have to make an adjustment at all, because the way that I play is so high paced. It will be an added plus running the floor hard this year, because I got guys that can run with me at the same speed.” Lewis averaged 10.2 points per game last year, and as the season progressed he proved he could be an elite scorer as his minutes increased. In big games against Rice, the C-USA Championship and the College Basketball Invitational, Lewis scored 20-plus points as he became the go-to-guy in the offense o as McKiver struggled. struggle ed. Williams Willi iams will not asked be aske d to do much on the offensive o end this yea ar, although year, proved he prov ed to be a threat d during the 2008-09 9 season, but he’ss fine with because that bec cause scoring had never been a priorit ty of his. priority William ms emerged as Williams defense the defe ense voice and leader of o the Cougars during late l April and early M arch. March. “We’re “We’ ’re going to turn a lot of defen nsive points into ofdefensive fensive points, which means » MEN’S continues on Page 6

Kelvin J u n i o r L ew i s # 0 guard, 6-4

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008

THE DAILY COUGAR

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Wade reaching for more than net “They go up and down (the court). I just felt like this was the right system for me to come in and play right away,”” he said. Wade, who also played football for two years at Linden High School in Linden, N.J., was a four-year letterman forr the basketFans who were worried that Dion Dowell’s graduation would ball team. He scored 1,500 career points and helped the Tigers mark the end of Cougar slam dunks — making the list of Top 10 achieve a 103-20 record while he was there. plays on ESPN — may find rescue in freshman guard As floor general, Wade said he enjoys ys being Desmond Wade. “The first time (I dunked) able to include his teammates in the offense. ffense. Listed at 5 feet, 9 inches, Wade may not be the first “The best thing I like about being point oint guard person one would look to for footage or the highlight was probably my junior is getting everybody involved, seeing other reels, but Wade has proven he has what it takes to hold year in high school. “ players make shots that’ll make you get et the his own against anyone on the court. assist,” he said. “The first time (I dunked) in a game was probably my DESMOND WADE Wade isn’t sure he’ll be able to pull off a junior year in high school,” Wade said. “I mean, outside on the courts at home I always tried. I did it once, but I n’t freshman guard dunk in a game for the Cougars, but isn’t concentrating on individual statistics. didn’t really think I could do it in an actual game.” Instead, his main goal is to contribute Wade, who estimates his vertical at “30-something” to the team’s success any way he can. inches, said being at Houston will help him improve as a total player “I’m not too focused on dunking. I just want and athlete. to win,” he said. “I just expect to come in and “Working out with (performance enhancement) coach (Michael) help the team win any way possible — playing Young in the weight room (is) helping me jump a little higher than I defense, passing, scoring — whatever’s going to used to be (able to),” he said. “Every day we go in the weight room, get it done to make the (NCAA) tournament this do squats and work on our legs, and that’s probably helping me year.” jump a little higher.” Wade said Penders’ style of play attracted him to the program sports@thedailycougar.com because he feels he can have an immediate impact as a point guard. m BY ZANETA LOH TH E DA I LY CO UGA R

Men’s Continued from Page 5 » getting steals and traps on the floor and up and running,” Williams said. “That’s going to be the strength of our team this year — transition defense and offense.” That style suits seems to suit Williams more than anyone on the team. “I’m never going to come out thinking I have to score 20 points for our team,” Williams said. “What I’m looking for is to make defensive stops and guarding the other team’s best player.” Since the Cougars’ offensive and defensive styles will be so up-tempo, expect Penders to extend his rotation to keep fresh

legs on the floor. Sophomore guard Brockeith Pane, who’s shown glimpses of being an elite scorer when given playing time, should see consistent time on the floor during the early part of the schedule. Big boys Penders is confident his frontcourt will show increased production thanks to the additions of Juco transfer forwards Qa’rraan Calhoun and Sean Coleman, as well as the developed games of centers senior Marcus Cousin and junior Nick Mosley and sophomore forward Yan MouKoury. The players feel the same way, especially Nixon. “Qu’rraan is very versatile. He can do a little of everything

BASKETBALL PREVIEW S TA F F

— handle, shot, post up,” Nixon said. “Then you’ve got Sean Coleman. He can really shoot the ball. Not too many people got to see just how good Marcus Cousin is. He’s 6-10, really strong and he’s been doing well in the post as far as scoring and things like that.” Penders will probably start Cousin at center and Calhoun at the four position. The Cougars will get an opportunity to put their new look and style to the test on Nov. 10 in the first round of the 2K Sports College Classic against Georgia Southern in Durham, N.C. Houston opens play Nov. 15. at Hofheinz Pavilion against Western Kentucky. sports@thedailycougar.com

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Women’s Continued from Page 4 » good teams and there’s enough of those (teams) in there to scare you into a stroke,” Curl said. The Cougars start a difficult conference schedule at Tulane on Jan. 9 and will take on reigning regular season C-USA champion University Texas – El Paso on Jan. 11 in a nationally televised game on ESPN2. The team faces cross-town rival Rice Owls at Rice on Feb. 4 and at home on Feb. 7, which is the beginning of a five-game home stand. The game will be a pivotal part of the schedule in deciding how well the Cougars finish in C-USA. “We haven’t finished below

fourth (in the conference) many years,” Curl said. “We should be hungrier than most (of the other teams in C-USA), and we’ve got a lot to prove.” With the season opener right around the corner, the Cougars are ready to see their hard work come to fruition. “I think (the players) are a little (antsy), and we’re going to satisfy that with scrimmages,” Curl said. “We started practice on (Oct.) 17 and we start the season on (Nov.) 14, so we really don’t have (enough) time to get bored.” The Cougars kick off the 2008-09 campaign in an exhibition game with the Houston Jaguars at 7 p.m Nov. 10 sports@thedailycougar.com

Photographers | Gregory Bohuslav, Mauricio Lazo Production | Mariah Davis

Cover | Mariah Davis, Matt Dulin

Jakobsone Continued from Page 3 » (.364 from three-point range). This year, she will be the only senior on the team, but doesn’t necessarily see that as a disadvantage. “Other teams usually have five or six (seniors), or at least two or three. I’m the only one, but I kind of like it. I feel kind of special,” she said. “Our team’s pretty young, but I think by the time they’re seniors they will be good. I’m going to be the only one who leaves next year, so they’re going to be the same people, so that’s good for basketball,” she said. After she graduates, Jakobsone plans to earn her master’s degree, but would also like to play professional basketball if the chance arises. “In a second I would (play professionally). I’ve been playing basketball for so long, I can’t see how you can drop it like that,” she said. “I know I’m going to keep basketball on the side no matter what. Its what I’ve been doing all my life.” Before the end of her collegiate career, however, there is one more thing Jakobsone would like to do. “I would like to win conference championships and go to a national championship,” Jakobsone said. “That would be a dream come true.” sports@thedailycougar.com

THE DAILY COUGAR

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008

CONFERENCE USA OUTLOOK

MEMPHIS TOPS CONFERENCE RANKS MEMPHIS TIGERS 2007-08 record: 38-2 (16-0 C-USA; first place) Head coach: John Calipari (219-65; ninth year at Memphis) Outlook: The Tigers will be hardpressed to make ma a return trip to the national chamna pionship game pio after afte Derrick Rose, Chris DouglasRoberts and Joey Dorsey to the Do NBA, NB but a highly-talented hi h recruiting class gives them a strong shot at a fourth consecutive C-USA regular-season crown. Freshman shooting guard Tyreke Evans, one of the nation’s top six recruits, should pick up some of the scoring slack, and senior guard Antonio Anderson and senior forward Robert Dozier have the experience needed to carry this team. ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM BLAZERS 2007-08 record: 23-11 (12-4 C-USA; second place) Head coach: Mike Davis (38-27; third year at UAB) Outlook: UAB made some strides last season with a second-place finish in C-USA and a trip to the National Invitation TournaInvitat ment, ment where it was wa eliminated in the t second round. This team’s squad has aspirations of asp reaching the reac 65-team NCAA Tournament, and it has the talent needed to get there. Senior guard Robert Vaden (averages of 21.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists last season) and senior forward Lawrence Kinnard (11.1 points, 6.8 rebounds) helped carry last season’s squad. Senior guard Paul Delaney III, who missed nearly all of last season with a knee injury, brings a nice scoring touch (15.5 points per game in 2006-07). TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE 2007-08 record: 25-14 (8-8 C-USA; tied for sixth place) Head coach: Doug Wojcik (56-42; fourth year at Tulsa) Outlook: The Golden Hurricane could be primed to have a breakout campaign after coming on strong near the end of last season. Tulsa will live and die with the play of junior guard Ben Uzoh and junior center Jerome Jordan. Uzoh led the Golden Hurricane in H scoring with 15.6 points per game last season, and sea seven-foot Jordan was an all-around solid performs er (10.5 points, ( 7.9 7 9 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game). Look for this team to finish in the top four in C-USA and compete for at least a berth in the NIT. HOUSTON COUGARS 2007-08 record: 24-10 (11-5 C-USA; third place) Head coach: Tom Penders (81-49; fifth year at Houston) Outlook: The Cougars hit rock bottom last season after getting off to 15-3 start and ended up playing in the lowly College Basketball

Invitational. The Cougars graduated a lot of talent from that squad, including includ All CUSA first-team guard gua Robert “Fluff” McKiver (23.6 points per game), so they’ll have to break in a b lot of new faces. Freshman guard Desmond Wade and junior guard Aubrey Coleman should lead the newcomers. Junior guard Kelvin Lewis averaged 10.2 points per game last season and should be the team’s best shooter this year. This team might not have “NCAA Tournament” stamped the outlook, but it should still be fun to watch. SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES 2007-08 record: 19-14 (9-7 C-USA; tied for fourth place) Head coach: Larry Eustachy (60-63; fifth year at Southern Miss) Outlook: The Golden Eagles stumbled to a disappointing finish last season, but there’s too much talent on this squad for the same thing to occur this season. Junior guard Jeremy Wise, the 2006-07 CUSA Freshman of the Year, will lead the way after averaging 18.7 ave points and 4.2 poi assists last a season. Senior guard Courtney Beasley (10.5 (10 points) and d sophomore guard R.L. Horton (11.9 points) make up a strong supporting cast. CENTRAL FLORIDA GOLDEN KNIGHTS 2007-08 record: 16-15 (9-7 C-USA; tied for fourth place) Head coach: Kirk Speraw (247-202; 16th year at UCF) Outlook: UCF is fortunate to have senior guard Jermaine Taylor (20.8 points per game last season) back

in the fold, but it will have to break in suitable replacements for point guard Mike O’Donnell, who quarterbacked the offense for the last three seasons, and shooting Noel, the guard Dave N team’s secondteam leading scorer lead in 2007-08. The Golden Knights have just two seniors and seven freshmen. sev If this h young team struggles early, it won’t come as much of a surprise. TEXAS-EL PASO MINERS 2007-08 record: 19-14 (8-8 C-USA; tied for sixth place) Head coach: Tony Barbee (33-31; third year at UTEP) Outlook: The Miners are set for a breakout season. They have one of the league’s most dynamic scorers in senior guard Stefon Jackson (23.6 points per game in 2007-08), sophomore shooting and sophomo guard Randy Culpepper (12.8 Cul points per game) poin is a good complement. Junior center Kareem Cooper, Kar who transferred after spending two seasons at Memphis, is a 7-0, 290-pound giant who could provide a dominant presence in the middle. With the addition of Cooper and the return of seven letter winners, UTEP will have a much more experienced lineup than the one that took the court last season. TULANE GREEN WAVE 2007-08 record: 17-15 (6-10 C-USA; ninth place) Head coach: Dave Dickerson (46-45; fourth year at Tulane) Outlook: The Green Wave graduated one of its most consistent players, forward David Gomez, but

junior guard Kevin Sims (12.2 points and 3.8 assists per game) is capable charge. But of taking cha can this tteam be a force in C-USA for this season? thi Probably not. The likelihood is that the Green Wave Gre will be no better than a middleof-the-pack squad in this league. SOUTHERN METHODIST MUSTANGS 2007-08 record: 10-20 (4-12 C-USA; 11th place) Head coach: Matt Doherty (24-37; third year at SMU) Outlook: SMU lost three starters and enters the season with five sophomores and five mo freshmen on fres its roster. Senior 7-1 center Bamba Fall (11.8 points, (11. 5.6 5 6 rebounds, 2.1 blocks per game) and 6-9 forward Papa Dia will be the big guys in the middle, but won’t be able to carry the team by themselves. MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD 2007-08 record: 16-14 (8-8 C-USA; tied for sixth place) Head coach: Donnie Jones (16-14; second year at Marshall) Outlook: The Thundering Herd improved in Jones’ first year on the job, and could have an even better campaign this season. Senior forward Markel Humphrey (13.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game) and ssophomore guard Tirrell Baines (11.5 points,

COMPILED BY RONNIE TURNER 5.8 rebounds) are the top returning scorers, and should have some extra assistance in that area this year. Transfers junior guard Chris Lutz and sophomore guard Brandon Powell, are talented shooters, but Marshall still needs to find a way to get more production from its big men. EAST CAROLINA PIRATES 2007-08 record: 11-19 (5-11 C-USA; 10th place) Head coach: Mack McCarthy (11-19; second year at ECU) Outlook: Chances are it’ll be another long season in Greenville, N.C. The Pirates Pira have a lot of inexperienced enc players, and they’ll need some time to grow. Senior guard Sam Hinnant was the team’s leading scorer a season ago with 11 points per game, but will have to be better than that if the Pirates plan on improving on this year. RICE OWLS 2007-08 record: 3-27 (0-16 C-USA; 12th place) Head coach: Ben Braun (first year at Rice) Outlook: The Owls will be in a rebuilding season under Braun, hired after the sch school fired Willis Wilson Wils after 16 years. yea Braun went we 219-154 in 12 seasons at California, leading his squads to five v NCAA Tournament berths and three National Invitation Tournament appearances, but it’ll probably take some time for him to get the program turned around. Senior guard Rodney Foster is probably the Owls’ best offensive player, but he’ll need to work on his shooting percentage (29.9 percent last season).

GO COOGS! We would like to wish both the men’s and women’s basketball team good luck in their 2008 - 2009 season

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008

THE DAILY COUGAR

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

2008 BASKETBALL SCHEDULE WOMEN’S

MEN’S

2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer Nov. 10 Georgia Southern Nov. 11 at Duke/Presbyterian Nov. 15 Western Kentucky Nov. 18 Alcorn State

3 p.m. 5 p.m./8 p.m. 3 p.m. 7 p.m.

2K Sports Classic Championship Rounds Nov. 20 TBA (Semifinals) Nov. 21 TBA (Championship/Colsolation)

6 p.m./8 p.m. 4 p.m./6 p.m.

Nov. 29 Dec. 2 Dec. 13 Dec. 20 Dec. 28 Dec. 30 Jan. 3 Jan. 6 Jan. 10 Jan. 14 Jan. 17 Jan. 21 Jan. 24 Jan. 28 Jan. 31 Feb. 4 Feb. 7 Feb. 11 Feb. 14 Feb. 18 Feb. 21 Feb. 25 Feb. 28 March 4 March 7

North Texas at Middle Tennessee Mississippi Valley State at Toledo Iowa State Massachusetts at Mississippi State Texas A&M Corpus Christi UAB at UTEP at Southern Miss East Carolina at Arizona UTEP at Memphis UCF Rice at SMU Tulane Marshall UCF at Tulsa at Rice Memphis SMU

7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 6 p.m. 5 p.m. 7 p.m. 3 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 8 p.m. 4 p.m. 7 p.m. 5 p.m. 7 p.m. 12 p.m. 6 p.m. 8 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 3 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m.

Nov. 10 Nov. 14 Nov. 15 Nov. 19 Nov. 21 Nov. 25 Dec. 2 Dec. 5 Dec. 14

Houston Jaguars (Exhibition) Southeastern Louisiana Gardner-Webb at Oregon State Miami at TCU at North Texas Texas Southern Cal Poly

7 p.m. 5:30 p.m. Noon 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 2 p.m.

St. John’s Chartwells Holiday Classic Dec. 20 Boston College Dec. 21 TBA Dec. 28 Dec. 31 Jan. 9 Jan. 11 Jan. 16 Jan. 18 Jan. 22 Jan. 25 Jan. 29 Jan. 31 Feb. 4 Feb. 7 Feb. 12 Feb. 14 Feb. 20 Feb. 22 Feb. 26 Feb. 28

Akron at Kansas at Tulane at UTEP UAB Memphis at Southern Miss UCF at SMU at Tulsa at Rice Rice Tulane UTEP SMU Tulsa at Marshall at East Carolina

Noon TBA 2 p.m. 2 p.m. 7 p.m. 1 p.m. 7 p.m. 2 p.m. 7 p.m. 2 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 5 p.m. 7 p.m. Noon 7 p.m. 2 p.m. 7 p.m. 1 p.m.

San Jacinto College South announces an Adjunct (part-time) Faculty JOB FAIR Opportunities for adjunct (part-time) teaching exist at San Jacinto College South. Scheduling is flexible with classes starting as early at 7 a.m. and as late as 7 p.m., as well as on weekends. Online classes may also be available. San Jacinto College South will hold an Adjunct Faculty Job Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Saturday, November 8, in the second-floor Banquet Room of the J.D. Bruce Student Center at 13735 Beamer Road, Houston, TX 77089. Interested persons should bring completed applications, if possible, résumés, and copies of transcripts (if available). Application forms are available at https://jobs.sjcd.edu. Contact Joseph Hebert at 281-922-3407 or joseph.hebert@sjcd.edu for information about the JOB FAIR, and Human Resources at 281-998-6115 for assistance with the application. Teaching requirements and fields are as follows: Associate degree + 3 years work experience: • Accounting - Technical courses • Air Conditioning Technology - HVAC-R • Automotive Collision Repair • Business Management

• Business Office Technology • Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) • Computer Information Systems • Engineering Design Graphics • International Business and Trade • Real Estate

Associate degree + License/Certificate + 3 years work experience: • Cosmetology

• Pharmacy Technician • Vocational Nursing Bachelor’s degree + related teaching experience: • Development English (Writing) • Developmental Mathematics

• Developmental Reading • English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Master’s degree with 18 graduate semester hours in teaching field: • Accounting • Anthropology • Art • Business • Economics • English • Foreign Language • Geography • Government • History • Mathematics

• Music • Philosophy • Physical Education • Psychology • Science - Biology - Chemistry - Geology - Physics • Sociology • Speech

Master’s degree with 18 graduate hours in teaching field + License + 3 years work experience: • Mental Health Services

It is the policy of San Jacinto Community College District not to discriminate on the basis of sex, disability, race, religion, color, age, national origin, or veteran status.