Issue 58, Volume 76 Basketball Preview

THE DAILY COUGAR

速

basketball

Two new coaches usher in new eras, putting UH back to ...

SQUARE

ONE

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11 THURSDAY 11, 2010

2

■

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Thursday, November 11, 2010

The Daily Cougar

SEASON PREVIEW

Under new regime, UH looking to elevate program’s status John Brannen

THE DAILY COUGAR With the echo of a ball’s bounce, the squeaks of shoes sliding on the hardwood and the blaring of the shot clock, it isn’t hard to tell that basketball season has returned to campus.

After the Cougars finished 15-14 in regular-season play, they made an improbable run to win the Conference USA tournament and made their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 1993.

A new cast of characters will be running the show at Hofheinz Pavilion this season.

The team is without the dynamic scoring duo of Aubrey Coleman and Kelvin Lewis, who together averaged 42 points a game for the offense last year.

Former head coach Tom Penders resigned after the season, making way for James Dickey to take over the program. Dickey is the eighth head coach in the program’s history.

“We want to build on what the team accomplished on that run last year,” Dickey said. “If you look at the makeup of our squad we’re somewhat different. With the six guys we have returning, we’re really going to rely on them in a lot of areas.”

Only six of the 12 players on the team are returners from last season. The three seniors are center Maurice McNeil and guards Adam Brown and Zamal Nixon. Last season McNeil averaged 8.1 points and

7.4 rebounds per contest. Brown averaged nearly eight points per game last year.

Other returners, like sophomore forwards Kendrick Washington and Kirk Van Slyke, look to see increased roles.

Newcomers to watch out for include guard Darian Thibodeaux and forward Alandise Harris. Thibodeaux is a 6-3 175-pound guard who transferred from Navarro College, where he averaged 11 points and four rebounds a game last season.

Harris is a 6-6 230-pound freshman forward from Little Rock. As a senior at Central High School, he averaged 20.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per contest.

“Four areas we’ve focused on early in practice are toughness, defense, playing hard and shot selection,” Dickey said. “With all those certainly comes a great deal of discipline.”

With Dickey’s philosophy on offense, players will get the chance to improvise and create plays on the fly.

“We’re not going to give everybody the same freedom but we’re going to give guys opportunities to shoot,” he said. “We need to learn to understand what is their shot. We’re going to play up-tempo, we’re going to take advantage of the three-point shot, but we’re going to take good shots.”

Notable games on the schedule include non-conference matchups at TCU Nov. 27, LSU Nov. 30 and Dec. 6 when the Cougars host

Under new head coach James Dickey, the Cougars are hoping they can add on to the success of last season’s NCAA Tournament appearance.| Newton Liu/ The Daily Cougar Nevada.

The Cougars open up conference play Jan. 5 when they head to Hattiesburg, Miss., to play Southern Miss. The C-USA Championship Tournament is March 9-12 in El Paso.

“I wanted to give us a schedule that was certainly competitive, but at the same time gave us a chance to have success,” Dickey said. “We’re going to work on it as our program continues to grow.”

From 1991-2001 Dickey was the head coach at Texas Tech, and helped lead the Red Raiders to two NCAA appearances, including a

Sweet 16 appearance in 1996.

Dickey’s last coaching stint was from 2002-2008 when he was an assistant at Oklahoma State. Despite a hiatus from coaching on the college circuit, Dickey said he already feels comfortable on the sidelines.

“I don’t feel like I’ve missed a beat since Oklahoma State,” Dickey said. “I coached my son’s team. I was in the gym volunteering at the high school — I wasn’t on the major college scene, but I still got to be in the gym everyday, which I enjoyed.”

The team had a preseason matchup on Saturday with Abilene Christian at Hofheinz Pavilion and

scraped away with a 71-68 win.

McNeil and Harris led the team in scoring with 17 points each.

“We’ve still got a long way to go for defense to play the way we want to play,” Dickey said.

“We want to be stingy in the half-court. We’ve got to sustain our effort over a period of time — you have to play extremely hard when you’re tired.”

The Cougars return to the court Friday when they host Nicholls State at Hofheinz Pavilion, which is slated for a 7 p.m. start. sports@thedailycougar.com

REA AL COUG UGA GA AR FA ANS GET THEIIR NEWS EW WS FRO OM THEDAI DA AIILYC LY YC COUG UGA GA AR.COM Make The Daily Cougar your source for Cougar basketball news online.

Get game photos, up-to-date results, quotes, discussion and more!

THE DAILY COUGAR.COM

ip and fe m

s

4Dean of Students Office 4Health Center 4International Student and Scholar Services 4Learning and Assessment Services

4Learning Support Services 4Measurement and Evaluation Services 4Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs

4Parent Education Program 4Religion Center 4Residential Life and Housing 4Student Publications 4UH Wellness

4University Career Services 4UC and Satellite 4University Testing Services 4Urban Experience Program 4Veterans’ Services Office

COOG FANS: Pull out this insert and bring it to home games!

4

â–

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Thursday, November 11, 2010

The Daily Cougar

FINAL FOUR 2011

NCAA Tournament to conclude in Houston UH, Rice to serve as co-hosts of spectacle Cougar Sports Services

With all the hysteria and fanaticism involved that surrounds college basketball, Houston will get to see the climax and resolution of the drama that is March Madness.

After hosting two Sweet 16 games and an Elite Eight matchup in March, Houston will host the 2011 NCAA Final Four at Reliant Stadium.

The semifinals will be played April 2, and the national champion will be crowned April 4.

UH and Rice will be involved as co-hosts of the event at the Houston Hardwood Tip-Off on Nov. 3 Robert Dale Morgan, president of the Houston Local Organizing

Committee for the 2011 NCAA Final Four, thanked UH for its role in the process and pumped up the crowd.

The event is expected to draw loyal followers of the teams involved as well as casual fans.

Last season, Duke played Purdue on March 26 in a 70-57 win, and Baylor blew out St. Mary’s, winning 72-49. With a spot to the Final Four on the line, Duke outlasted the Bears 78-71 to win the South Regional game.

Duke eventually advanced to the championship game and overcame Butler to become the 2010 NCAA champions.

Last season, fans in Houston saw the eventual champion. This year Houstonians have the privilege to witness the Madness unfold in person. sports@thedailycougar.com

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils emerged from Houston victorious last season en-route to winning the national championship. | File Photo/The Daily Cougar

FACILITIES

Upgrade on the way for Hofheinz Project could cost up to $70 million Cougar Sports Services

The Athletics Department hopes a renovation to Hofheinz Pavillion will reignite interest in the men and women’s teams. | Courtesy of UH Athletics

A renovation to Hofheinz Pavilion is in the works as the Athletics Department aims to increase the prestige of the University.

Home to the Phi Slama Jama and rich UH history, Hofheinz will be getting a much-needed facelift that could cost up to $70 million.

The University hopes to begin construction late 2011 or early 2012.

The new stadium will feature 100 loge box seats and 250 floor seats to cater to alumni and season ticket holders.

Head coach James Dickey said that he was excited for the renovations, and that the University wasn’t scrapping a piece of school history.

“I think Hofheinz is a great venue. It has a lot of tradition and history,� Dickey said in the spring. “I think that’s one of the things that’s great about the thought process of this project is that you preserve the history.�

The Athletics Department has ordered the upgrade J Director of to make UH Athletics Mack dominant on Rhoades a national scale.

Athletics Director Mack Rhoades has adopted the slogan of not waiting for opportunity, but making it. “It helps in terms of recruiting,�

Rhoades said, “showing prospective student-athletes the first-class

quality facilities they’ll be able to compete in. “We want to be competitive nationally. That’s our goal — and this commitment to facilities is going to help with that.�

With last year’s success in football and basketball, UH Athletics hopes to ride the wave of new enthusiasm among students and fans.

The new venue would give recruits an incentive to come play for the men’s basketball as well as provide an entertaining atmosphere for fans.

The University is currently raising the money to fund the renovations. Rhoades said the most important part of the renovation process is that students are the driving force in completing the University’s goals. sports@thedailycougar.com

ask the team What has changed the most under new head coach Todd Buchanan?

“They’ve embraced the new up-tempo style and the aggressiveness on defense that’s been given to them.

I’m not going to be the type of coach to jump up and down, go crazy and try to control them in a halfcourt game.�

Head coach Todd Buchanan

“Longer practices have definitely been an adjustment.

Right now, we’re not used to it so we get pretty tired. Each day we get better though, so we’re getting used to it.�

Lesslee Mason Guard

“Coach Buchanan has brought to the table what I’ve been expecting of a college program. When the changes were made, and he’s still making, I’ve taken them on really well. It feels normal to me, it hasn’t been challenging.�

“It’s different, but not too hard. We just have to get used to each other. We have to learn coach Buchanan and he has to learn us, too.

It’s just a learning experience right now.�

“We’re used to going an hour and a half, now we have three- hour practices.

They are intense the whole time, running and gunning and getting after it for three hours straight.�:

Courtney Taylor Forward

Brittney Scott Guard

& &&BH B MF 4 MF 4USFF FFUU ) U )PV P TU TUPO PO 59 59 59

J JJOG OGP! P!NB P! NBZC Z FSSSZ S IP IPN NFFT N FT T OF OFU U X XXX X N BZCCFSSZIPNFT OFU

Brittany Mason Forward

“We will be more excited once we start playing games. The first two weeks of practice are always rough, because we’re just practicing everyday against ourselves.

It’s always more fun to play against other people.�

Roxana Button Guard

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

The Daily Cougar

Thursday, November 11, 2010

■

5

PLAYER PROFILE

Point guard makes move from role player to floor general Nixon plans to finish career at UH in style

from him in the time he has been here. I am grateful to have him as a coach. I am just thankful to keep working with him.”

John Brannen

THE DAILY COUGAR With a new era underway for the UH basketball program comes new obligations and opportunities.

Senior point guard Zamal Nixon has already had an important responsibility bestowed upon him for the 2010-2011 season.

“The first thing we’re going to ask out of them all is to run the club,” head coach James Dickey said. “We want him to be an extension of the coaching staff on the floor. We want him to defend and take better care of the ball. We’re going to count on him a lot.

“We’re going to count on him to handle the ball, to not turn it over, and when he has an opportunity, to take the open shot when he’s got it.

We want to give him the freedom to score.”

It will be Nixon’s first season as a full-time starter, but he has received solid amounts of playing time throughout his three years at UH. He has played a total of 92 games, 16 of which he started.

He will have to make the switch from a role player in the rotation, to a starter logging heavy minutes while also undertaking new duties as a leadership figure to his teammates. He said he is excited for the change.

“It’s definitely an honor to be one of those guys that coach considers a leader on the team,” Nixon said.

“By coach Dickey wanting me to be those things, that means he sees something in me. That’s something I’m thankful for.

“It’s a role that I’ve been embracing, and it’s something that I’ll have to keep getting better with over time.”

Dickey said that he agrees that Nixon will acclimate to the role with more experience.

“Early in practice, he was really struggling with his shot selection,” Dickey said. “Now he’s becoming a little more comfortable and as a result, he’s shooting the ball better.”

Smooth transitions With the additions of junior college transfers and freshmen, half of the roster consists of new players.

So far in practice, the adjustment to a new coaching staff and players has not been challenging for the team.

“It wasn’t a big transition,” Nixon said. “Of course things are going to be different — the style of play and teachings. Everyone has been making the adjustment pretty easily.

“It’s been a learning process.

It’s new to us and the guys that are incoming, so we’re all learning as a whole.”

With a coaching change just prior to his senior season, Nixon said he has enjoyed playing in Dickey’s system.

“It has been a great experience playing with him,” he said. “It has been a lot of change, but change is constant, and that is going to happen to you. You just have to deal with things accordingly.

“I have definitely learned a lot

Whatever it takes Nixon doesn’t have any personal goals of averaging high numbers, but he wants to set a standard by playing unselfishly in his last collegiate season. He said he would rather contribute by making plays that may not show up on the stat sheet.

“I want to do whatever it’s going to take to win basketball games,” he said. “I just have to be disciplined, keep working hard each day and keep getting better. I want to have the best year I can possibly have.”

When speaking on behalf of the team, he said its aspirations are not much different from his own.

“We want to win as many games as possible,” Nixon said. “All we can do is stay focused and gradually better ourselves.”

It’s definitely an honor to be one of those guys that coach considers a leader on the team. By coach Dickey wanting me to be those things, that means he sees something in me. That’s something I’m thankful for.

Zamal Nixon Point Guard Nixon is a student of the game, but he said he doesn’t strive to play in the style of any other players.

“I don’t try to model my game too much after anybody,” he said.

“I just try to be myself. I definitely watch a lot of point guards and see the things they do and learn from the mistakes they might make.”

New York state of mind Nixon was born and raised in New York and went to the Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn. As a senior, he averaged 16.3 and 5.5 assists per game — earning him a spot to the All-City First Team.

He was recruited by Tulane, Wichita State, VCU and Fairfield, but ultimately chose to be a Cougar because he wanted to avoid spending his college experience in a small town.

“Being a city kid, I didn’t want to go somewhere where there wasn’t anything to do,” he said. “I didn’t want to be bored and homesick.

What drew me to Houston was it being a great city. When I got to come in on my visit, I got a good glimpse of the city and that’s what drew me to UH.” Nixon’s career-high in scoring was a 29-point performance last season against UTSA. On three occasions, he has notched seven assists in a game.

Nixon missed Saturday’s exhibition with Abilene Christian with a foot injury, but hopes he will be ready to play for Friday’s season opener. sports@thedailycougar.com

In his last season with the Cougars, point guard Zamal Nixon hopes to take his — and his team’s — game to a higher level in the most meaningful playing experience of his collegiate career. | File Photo/ The Daily Cougar

WHOSE HOUSE? 4Campus Recreation 4Center for Students with DisABILITIES 4Center for Student Involvement

4Center for Leadersh Fraternity & Sorority Li 4Challenger Program 4Child Care Centers 4Counseling and Psychological Services

S SUPPORTING O G STUDENT SUCCESS CC SS 713-743-5390 www.uh.edu/dsa 114 Ezekiel Cullen Building

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

The Daily Cougar

2O 10

■

7

OUTLOOK COMPILED BY CHRIS LOSEE

WEST DIVISION

EAST DIVISION

HOUSTON COUGARS 2009 record: 19-16 (7-9 C-USA) Head coach: James Dickey, first season Key losses: G Aubrey Coleman, G Kelvin Lewis

Thursday, November 11, 2010

EAST CAROLINA PIRATES Key returnees: G Adam Brown, F Maurice McNeil, G Zamal Nixon, F Kendrick Washington

2009 record: 10-21 (4-12 C-USA) Head coach: Jeff Lebo, first season Key losses: Greyson Sargeant

Key returnees: F Darrius Morrow, G Jontae Sherrod, G Corvonn Gaines, G Wakefield Ellison

Outlook: After making its first NCAA Tournament appearance in over two decades, the Cougars added depth with a five-man recruiting class. The Cougars have lost two of their top scorers Aubrey Coleman and Kelvin Lewis. With a new era under James Dickey, UH has scheduled 16 home games for the 2010-2011 season. The Cougars begin league play against Southern Miss on Jan. 5. The Cougars are slated for home-and-away series against the gentler side of Conference USA with a revised schedule, while non-conference play includes meetings with TCU, LSU and Nevada. Anticipated matchups include the home opener against UCF on Jan. 8 and Memphis Feb. 26.

Will be a contender if: The Cougars can replace their backcourt talent after losing two leading scorers.

Outlook: Under new head coach Jeff Lebo, the Pirates have been given a challenging schedule of non-conference foes and have talented crop of C-USA teams to contend with. ECU is returning five starters from last year with three newcomers. The Pirates are scheduled for at least 16 games against teams that made the run to the NCAA Tournament. This includes three home games that will be against NCAA tournament teams UH, Old Dominion and UTEP. The Pirates will close out the fall semester will matchups against in-state teams Campbell, Charlotte and UNC Greensboro. They begin conference play Jan. 8 against five-time champion Memphis.

RICE OWLS

SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES

2009 record: 8-23 (1-15 C-USA) Head coach: Ben Braun, third season (18-45 at Rice) Key losses: Laurence Ghoram Key returnees: G Tamir Jackson, F Arsalan Kazemi, G Connor Frizzelle, C Trey Stanton Outlook: After a disappointing 2009 season, the Owls look to improve on conference play with the new C-USA scheduling format. Rice is scheduled for non-conference matchups against Pac-10 program Arizona, as well as opponents from the ACC, Big 12 and SEC. The Owls begin regular season play against St. Thomas Nov. 12, and begin conference action Jan. 5 in a matchup with Tulane.

Will be a contender if: They can make a complete turnaround from last year’s performance. The Owls need to take advantage of their home floor and come away with wins at Tudor Fieldhouse.

TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE

2009 record: 20-14 (8-8 C-USA) Head coach: Larry Eustachy, seventh season (95-90 at Southern Miss) Key losses: Buchi Awaji

Key returnees: G Angelo Johnson, G R. L. Horton, F Gary Flowers, G Maurice Bolden

Outlook: The Eagles are returning their top-five players for the 2010-2011 season with seven newcomers. Southern Mississippi is slated to play 14 games against 11 teams that participated in post-season play last March. The Eagles are also playing 14 non-conference games. They begin the season with a road trip against South Florida in a non-conference bid. After that, the Eagles return with a four-game homestand. The most anticipated matchup of the year is a nationallytelevised game against Memphis on Feb. 12.

MEMPHIS TIGERS

2009 record: 5-7 (3-5 C-USA) Head coach: Doug Wojcik, 5th season; (104-65) Key losses: Ben Uzoh, Jerome Jordan Key returnees: G Justin Hurtt, C Steven Idlet, F Joe Richard

2009 record: 24-10 (13-3 C-USA) Head coach: Josh Pastner, second season (24-10 at Memphis) Key losses: Elliot Williams, Roburt Sallie, Doneal

Outlook: The Hurricane are scheduled for a grueling 13-game non-league schedule. Tulsa will face off against tough teams — eight of 13 non-league opponents have posted 20 wins or more. Tulsa will look for leadership with its three returning starters from last year’s NIT-qualifying squad. The Hurricane are slated to begin conference play against defending regular league champion UTEP Jan. 5. If Tulsa can get wins over conference foes Memphis, Houston, UTEP and UCF. Will be a contender if: They can make it through their non-conference schedule with some significant wins that will carry over into league play.

Outlook: The five-time champion Tigers will make 15 national television appearances in the 2010-2011 season as they look to re-establish C-USA dominance. Memphis is scrambling to find talent in its guard play after losing three of their top-five players. The Tigers will begin the season with two big matchups against non-conference opponent Miami and LSU. Conference action starts Jan. 8 when they host East Carolina at FedEx Forum. After losing to Houston 65-66 last year, the Tigers will look to get revenge on the Cougars Feb. 18 followed by a showdown against UTEP, another NCAA tournament participant.

TULANE GREEN WAVE

UCF GOLDEN KNIGHTS

2009 record: 8-22 (3-13 C-USA) Head coach: Ed Conroy, first season Key losses: Kevin Sims, Asim McQueen Key returnees: G Kris Richards, G Kendall Timmons, F David Booker, G/F Aaron Holmes

2009 record: 15-17 (6-10 C-USA) Head coach: Donnie Jones, first season Key returnees: G A.J. Rompza, F Keith Clanton, G Marcus Jordan, G Isaac Sosa, G Taylor Young

Outlook: First-year head coach Ed Conroy and the Green Wave will host 15 games at the Fogelman Arena this upcoming season. The Green Wave will go on the road to face off against non-conference opponents that includes a meeting with Georgetown in the month of November. Tulane will look to use these games as a dress rehearsal for league play that will open up against Rice on Jan. 5. The team will be looking to their freshman four-man recruiting class to add depth to the backcourt and in the paint.

Will be a contender if: Ed Conroy turns the program around with his coaching philosophy. Tulane will need its returning players to lead the team in conference action.

Outlook: The Knights are returning five of its starters from last season. Three of the starters have been ranked as the top players in Conference USA. In his first year as head coach, Donnie Jones will host a school record of 17 home games scheduled at the UCF Arena including matchups with UAB, Memphis and Tulsa. The Knights will square off in 12 in-state contests including a meeting with Miami and crosstown foe Stetson. UCF opens up conference play with a visit from Jones’ previously coached program Marshall Jan. 5.

Will be a Contender if: Starters stay healthy, and the Knights take advantage of their home schedule.

UTEP MINERS

Mack, Willie Kemp Key returnees: F/G Wesley Witherspoon, F Will Coleman, G Angel Garcia

MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD

2009 record: 26-7 (15-1 C-USA) Head coach: Tim FLoyd, first season Key losses: Derrick Caracter, Arnett Moultrie Key returnees: G Randy Culpepper, F Jeremy Williams, G Christian Polk, G Julyan Stone

2009 record: 24-10 (11-5C-USA) Head coach: Tom Herrion, first season Key losses: Tyler Wilkerson, Hassan Whiteside, Chris Lutz

Key returnees: G/F Dago Pena, G Damier Pitts, G Shaquille Johnson, F Tirrell Baines

Outlook: Defending regular-season champion UTEP is returning three starters from last year’s squad. The Miners will look to replace C-USA Player of the Year Randy Culpepper. In non-conference play, the Miners are set up for nine possible meetings with teams that have posted a 20-plus win record last year. With a revamped C-USA schedule, UTEP is looking forward to their series against Rice instead of playing SMU. UTEP faces Memphis in February in a nationally televised game after the Miners crushed the Tiger’s 64-game conference win streak.

Outlook: Marshall’s rigorous 15-game non-conference schedule includes an in-season tournament and four matchups with post-season participants will have the Herd prepared for conference play. The final game in their non-conference schedule will be against Final-Four participant West Virginia Jan. 19. Conference action opens up Jan. 5 when Marshall travels to Florida for a showdown against UCF. With the revised setup of C-USA, Marshall will play foes Houston, Rice, SMU, UTEP, Tulsa and Tulane one time during the 16-game conference schedule.

Will be a Contender if: The Herd can make an impact in conference play with their tenuous road schedule.

SMU MUSTANGS

UAB BLAZERS

2009 record:14-17 (7-9 C-USA) Head coach: Matt Doherty, fifth season (47-75 at SMU) Key losses: Mouhammad Faye, Derek Williams Key returnees: F Papa Dia, F Robert Nyakundi, G Jusin Haynes

2009 record: 25-9 (11-5 C-USA) Head coach: Mike Davis, 5th season, 85-48 at UAB Key losses: Howard Crawford, Elijah Millsap Key returnees: G Aaron Johnson, G Jamarr Sanders

Outlook: With a returning senior class, the Mustangs are looking to take advantage of its 19-game home schedule. SMU hosts NCAA Tournament participants UH and UTEP as well as NIT qualifiers Memphis and Tulsa.

After entering the league in the 2005-2006 season, the Mustangs are coming off of a successful season. Nonconference play includes a meeting with rival TCU and SEC program Mississippi on Jan. 5. If SMU’s senior players provide help in leading the team to wins, and All-Conference USA forward Papa Dia continues his domination on the court, the Mustangs could find themselves in the mix come February.

Will be a contender if: The Mustangs can get some wins at home and over non-conference opponents.

Outlook: Returning from one of the most successful seasons in program history, the Blazers are scheduled for 29 games this season. The problem facing UAB will be developing depth with a team that is returning only two starters from last year’s squad. The Blazers begin their 2010-2011 campaign with four of six games being played at Bartow Arena. The non-conference schedule includes a meeting with national champion Duke, Arizona State, Georgia and Arkansas. UAB is slated to begin conference play by hosting defending league champion UTEP Jan. 8.

Will be a contender if: They can mimic the same performance as they did the year before.

8

■

Thursday, November 11, 2010

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

WEE WEEKEND

EVENTS Saturday, November 13, 2010 Charcoal Challenge at Homecoming (Sponsored by Frontier Fiesta Association) 12:00PM – Tailgate Pavilions Homecoming Parade 3:30PM – Route: Cullen Boulevard and Tailggate g area Live Cougar Exhibit 5:00PM – 7:00PM – Robertson Stadium Paarking Lot Homecoming Game Houston Cougars v. Tulsa Hurricanes 7:00PM – Robertson Stadium

For info and more highlights, check out

www.uh.edu/homecoming

The Daily Cougar