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The Sports Network
By Frank Haynes, College Basketball Editor
DATE & TIME: Friday, March 14th, 7:00 p.m. (et).
FACTS & STATS: Site: American Airlines Center (19,100) -- Dallas, Texas.
Television: ESPN Regional. Home Record: Texas Tech 10-4, Texas 14-0. Away
Record: Texas Tech 6-6, Texas 5-4. Neutral Record: Texas Tech 1-1, Texas 3-1.
Conference Record: Texas Tech 6-10, Texas 13-3. Series Record: Texas leads,
59-50.
GAME NOTES: The No. 3 team in the land begins its quest for the 2003 Big 12
Conference Tournament title, when the Texas Longhorns battle the Texas Tech
Red Raiders in today's third quarterfinal-round game in Dallas. The Red
Raiders, who earned the seventh-seed in the tourney by virtue of their 6-10
mark in league play during the regular season, knocked off Baylor in the
opening round yesterday, 68-65. The win improved coach Bob Knight's squad to
17-11 on the year and to 4-6 all-time in Big 12 Tournament action. The win
also put the brakes on Tech's recent three-game losing streak and evened its
neutral-site record this year at 1-1. Meanwhile, Texas won its final four
games of the regular season and went 13-3 in conference to earn the second
seed in the postseason gathering. The Longhorns, who are 7-6 all-time in this
event and reached the championship game in 2001 only to fall to Oklahoma, own
a stellar 22-5 mark on the season, and while their home record of 14-0 is
impressive, their 5-4 ledger in true road games is less than inspiring. UT did
manage to go 3-1 in neutral territory and is playing with an abundance of
confidence after disposing of then-fifth-ranked Oklahoma in Norman in the
regular season finale last weekend, 76-71. Texas owns a 59-50 lead in the all-
time series with Texas Tech, and is 14-1 against the Red Raiders since the
formation of the Big 12 Conference. The winner of this contest will advance to
the semifinals tomorrow to face either Colorado or Oklahoma.
It was neither easy or pretty, but the Red Raiders exacted some revenge for
their regular season-ending loss to Baylor last weekend, by topping the Bears
in the final moments of yesterday's Big 12 Tournament opening round, 68-65.
Andre Emmett, who led the conference in scoring this year at 21.9 ppg, scored
the game-winner on a put-back of his own missed shot to allow Texas Tech to
play yet another day. Emmett finished with 23 points to lead all scorers,
while Kasib Powell added 20 points. Both players grabbed eight rebounds in the
contest, and Nathan Doudney chipped in a dozen points. The Red Raiders shot
47.3 percent from the field, while Baylor nailed 51.0 percent, but TTU turned
the ball over just four times and outscored the Bears at the free-throw line,
11-0. In addition to the outstanding play of Emmett, Powell is the only other
guy coach Knight can really turn to in a pinch. Powell averaged 14.7 points,
5.7 rebounds and a team-leading 4.3 assists per game during the regular
season, proving time and time again just how valuable he is to the team.
Led by one of the nation's top player in sophomore point guard T.J. Ford, the
Longhorns have powered their way past more than a few opponents this season,
some of which are considered major players on the national scene. Ford gets it
done both in scoring as well as getting his teammates involved, as he averages
14.8 points and 7.2 assists per game. He is just a 41.6 percent shooter from
the field and is hitting his three-point tries a poor 27.1 percent of the
time, but he is a near 80 percent free-throw shooter and paces the team with
54 steals. As good as Ford is, Texas is not a one-man show. Brandon Mouton
nets 14.2 ppg and grabs 4.4 rpg while shooting 42.3 percent from beyond the
arc. James Thomas is the third Longhorn in double figures, as he is pouring in
11.6 ppg while leading the Big 12 with 11.3 rpg. Texas is the league's second-
highest scoring team in putting up 78.8 ppg, but it sits atop the conference
in turnover margin (+6.11) and offensive rebounds (16.30 per game).
Defensively, the 'Horns are permitting an average of 67.8 ppg on typical
shooting efforts of just 40.8 percent from the floor and 33.5 percent from
downtown.
Texas is clearly the superior team in this matchup, and while the Red Raiders
are sure to put up a fight, they are overmatched in virtually every aspect of
this game. Emmett and Powell will get theirs, but the Longhorns will move on
as they take another step toward their first Big 12 Tournament title.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Texas 79, Texas Tech 65
By Frank Haynes, College Basketball Editor
DATE & TIME: Friday, March 14th, 7:00 p.m. (et).
FACTS & STATS: Site: American Airlines Center (19,100) -- Dallas, Texas.
Television: ESPN Regional. Home Record: Texas Tech 10-4, Texas 14-0. Away
Record: Texas Tech 6-6, Texas 5-4. Neutral Record: Texas Tech 1-1, Texas 3-1.
Conference Record: Texas Tech 6-10, Texas 13-3. Series Record: Texas leads,
59-50.
GAME NOTES: The No. 3 team in the land begins its quest for the 2003 Big 12
Conference Tournament title, when the Texas Longhorns battle the Texas Tech
Red Raiders in today's third quarterfinal-round game in Dallas. The Red
Raiders, who earned the seventh-seed in the tourney by virtue of their 6-10
mark in league play during the regular season, knocked off Baylor in the
opening round yesterday, 68-65. The win improved coach Bob Knight's squad to
17-11 on the year and to 4-6 all-time in Big 12 Tournament action. The win
also put the brakes on Tech's recent three-game losing streak and evened its
neutral-site record this year at 1-1. Meanwhile, Texas won its final four
games of the regular season and went 13-3 in conference to earn the second
seed in the postseason gathering. The Longhorns, who are 7-6 all-time in this
event and reached the championship game in 2001 only to fall to Oklahoma, own
a stellar 22-5 mark on the season, and while their home record of 14-0 is
impressive, their 5-4 ledger in true road games is less than inspiring. UT did
manage to go 3-1 in neutral territory and is playing with an abundance of
confidence after disposing of then-fifth-ranked Oklahoma in Norman in the
regular season finale last weekend, 76-71. Texas owns a 59-50 lead in the all-
time series with Texas Tech, and is 14-1 against the Red Raiders since the
formation of the Big 12 Conference. The winner of this contest will advance to
the semifinals tomorrow to face either Colorado or Oklahoma.
It was neither easy or pretty, but the Red Raiders exacted some revenge for
their regular season-ending loss to Baylor last weekend, by topping the Bears
in the final moments of yesterday's Big 12 Tournament opening round, 68-65.
Andre Emmett, who led the conference in scoring this year at 21.9 ppg, scored
the game-winner on a put-back of his own missed shot to allow Texas Tech to
play yet another day. Emmett finished with 23 points to lead all scorers,
while Kasib Powell added 20 points. Both players grabbed eight rebounds in the
contest, and Nathan Doudney chipped in a dozen points. The Red Raiders shot
47.3 percent from the field, while Baylor nailed 51.0 percent, but TTU turned
the ball over just four times and outscored the Bears at the free-throw line,
11-0. In addition to the outstanding play of Emmett, Powell is the only other
guy coach Knight can really turn to in a pinch. Powell averaged 14.7 points,
5.7 rebounds and a team-leading 4.3 assists per game during the regular
season, proving time and time again just how valuable he is to the team.
Led by one of the nation's top player in sophomore point guard T.J. Ford, the
Longhorns have powered their way past more than a few opponents this season,
some of which are considered major players on the national scene. Ford gets it
done both in scoring as well as getting his teammates involved, as he averages
14.8 points and 7.2 assists per game. He is just a 41.6 percent shooter from
the field and is hitting his three-point tries a poor 27.1 percent of the
time, but he is a near 80 percent free-throw shooter and paces the team with
54 steals. As good as Ford is, Texas is not a one-man show. Brandon Mouton
nets 14.2 ppg and grabs 4.4 rpg while shooting 42.3 percent from beyond the
arc. James Thomas is the third Longhorn in double figures, as he is pouring in
11.6 ppg while leading the Big 12 with 11.3 rpg. Texas is the league's second-
highest scoring team in putting up 78.8 ppg, but it sits atop the conference
in turnover margin (+6.11) and offensive rebounds (16.30 per game).
Defensively, the 'Horns are permitting an average of 67.8 ppg on typical
shooting efforts of just 40.8 percent from the floor and 33.5 percent from
downtown.
Texas is clearly the superior team in this matchup, and while the Red Raiders
are sure to put up a fight, they are overmatched in virtually every aspect of
this game. Emmett and Powell will get theirs, but the Longhorns will move on
as they take another step toward their first Big 12 Tournament title.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Texas 79, Texas Tech 65
The Sports Network
By Ralph Lauro, College Basketball Staff Writer
DATE & TIME: Friday, March 14th, 9:35 p.m. (et).
FACTS & STATS: Site: University of Dayton Arena (13,266) -- Dayton, Ohio
Television: Local. Home Record: Dayton 15-1, Saint Joseph's 13-1. Away Record:
Dayton 7-4, Saint Joseph's 8-4. Neutral Record: Dayton 0-0, Saint Joseph's
2-0. Conference Record: Dayton 14-2, Saint Joseph's 12-4. Series Record: Saint
Joseph's leads, 10-9.
GAME NOTES: The 22nd-ranked Dayton Flyers and the 25th-ranked Saint Joseph's
Hawks do battle in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Tournament from the
University of Dayton Arena tonight, with the winner advancing to tomorrow's
championship game. Dayton entered the tournament with a 14-2 mark in the A-10
which landed it the second-seed out of the West Division. The Flyers were
matched up in the quarterfinals on Thursday against the Rhode Island Rams,
which were the third-seed out of the East. The game proved to be no contest,
as Dayton was clearly the better team and cruised to a 74-57 victory. It was
the 15th win in the last 16 games for the Flyers, who improved to 15-1 at the
UD Arena this season. As for Saint Joseph's, it earned the top-seed in the
East with a 12-4 league ledger. The Hawks also had an easy quarterfinal game
on Thursday, as they ousted the La Salle Explorers, 68-48. It was the fifth
victory in the last six games for St. Joseph's, which last won the tournament
in 1997. The Hawks owns a 10-9 series advantage over Dayton, but has lost two
straight to the Flyers, including a 66-56 defeat at UD Arena on February 15th
of this year.
Dayton knocked in 46.0 percent from the floor, while holding Rhode Island to a
dismal 35.6 percent shooting effort in an easy 74-57 victory. The Flyers also
held a 43-33 rebounding advantage, but connected on just 28.6 percent from
behind the arc. The Rams hit on 40.0 percent from three-point land while the
Flyers held a 10-7 edge in free-throw points. Dayton also turned the ball over
14 times, while taking it away just 12 times. Keith Waleskowski led the Flyers
with a double-double that consisted of 16 points and 10 boards. Waleskowski
also knocked in 5-of-10 from the field and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-
throw line. Sean Finn turned in a solid performance as well with 15 points on
6-of-7 shooting from the field to go with nine boards. Mark Jones knocked in
3-of-6 from three-point land on his way to 11 points, while D.J. Stelly added
10 points and six rebounds in the winning effort.
Saint Joseph's defense clamped down on La Salle, holding it to a dismal 32.7
percent shooting from the field and an even worse 25.0 percent from behind the
arc in an easy 68-48 victory. The Hawks struggled from behind the arc,
knocking in only 37.5 percent, but made up for it by connecting on 46.4
percent from the floor overall. Saint Joseph's used its size advantage to
dominate the boards, 40-31. Neither team had many free-throw opportunities,
with the Hawks converting 7-of-10 and the Explorers 10-of-16. Jameer Nelson
led Saint Joseph's with a game-high 15 points, despite only hitting on 5-of-14
from the floor and 1-of-5 from three-point land. Pat Carroll added 14 points
and eight boards, while connecting on 5-of-10 from the field and 4-of-8 from
behind the arc. Dwayne Jones came off the bench and ripped down a game-high 13
rebounds, and also chipped in eight points.
Dayton turned in an outstanding regular season, and since the tournament is
being played on its home court, has to be considered a favorite to win it all.
Saint Joseph quietly put together a solid season of its own and is out to
prove it is the top team in the conference. The Flyers have a big advantage
playing in front a predominantly hometown crowd and that will make the
difference in a victory over a tough Hawks squad tonight.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Dayton 77, Saint Joseph's 70
By Ralph Lauro, College Basketball Staff Writer
DATE & TIME: Friday, March 14th, 9:35 p.m. (et).
FACTS & STATS: Site: University of Dayton Arena (13,266) -- Dayton, Ohio
Television: Local. Home Record: Dayton 15-1, Saint Joseph's 13-1. Away Record:
Dayton 7-4, Saint Joseph's 8-4. Neutral Record: Dayton 0-0, Saint Joseph's
2-0. Conference Record: Dayton 14-2, Saint Joseph's 12-4. Series Record: Saint
Joseph's leads, 10-9.
GAME NOTES: The 22nd-ranked Dayton Flyers and the 25th-ranked Saint Joseph's
Hawks do battle in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Tournament from the
University of Dayton Arena tonight, with the winner advancing to tomorrow's
championship game. Dayton entered the tournament with a 14-2 mark in the A-10
which landed it the second-seed out of the West Division. The Flyers were
matched up in the quarterfinals on Thursday against the Rhode Island Rams,
which were the third-seed out of the East. The game proved to be no contest,
as Dayton was clearly the better team and cruised to a 74-57 victory. It was
the 15th win in the last 16 games for the Flyers, who improved to 15-1 at the
UD Arena this season. As for Saint Joseph's, it earned the top-seed in the
East with a 12-4 league ledger. The Hawks also had an easy quarterfinal game
on Thursday, as they ousted the La Salle Explorers, 68-48. It was the fifth
victory in the last six games for St. Joseph's, which last won the tournament
in 1997. The Hawks owns a 10-9 series advantage over Dayton, but has lost two
straight to the Flyers, including a 66-56 defeat at UD Arena on February 15th
of this year.
Dayton knocked in 46.0 percent from the floor, while holding Rhode Island to a
dismal 35.6 percent shooting effort in an easy 74-57 victory. The Flyers also
held a 43-33 rebounding advantage, but connected on just 28.6 percent from
behind the arc. The Rams hit on 40.0 percent from three-point land while the
Flyers held a 10-7 edge in free-throw points. Dayton also turned the ball over
14 times, while taking it away just 12 times. Keith Waleskowski led the Flyers
with a double-double that consisted of 16 points and 10 boards. Waleskowski
also knocked in 5-of-10 from the field and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-
throw line. Sean Finn turned in a solid performance as well with 15 points on
6-of-7 shooting from the field to go with nine boards. Mark Jones knocked in
3-of-6 from three-point land on his way to 11 points, while D.J. Stelly added
10 points and six rebounds in the winning effort.
Saint Joseph's defense clamped down on La Salle, holding it to a dismal 32.7
percent shooting from the field and an even worse 25.0 percent from behind the
arc in an easy 68-48 victory. The Hawks struggled from behind the arc,
knocking in only 37.5 percent, but made up for it by connecting on 46.4
percent from the floor overall. Saint Joseph's used its size advantage to
dominate the boards, 40-31. Neither team had many free-throw opportunities,
with the Hawks converting 7-of-10 and the Explorers 10-of-16. Jameer Nelson
led Saint Joseph's with a game-high 15 points, despite only hitting on 5-of-14
from the floor and 1-of-5 from three-point land. Pat Carroll added 14 points
and eight boards, while connecting on 5-of-10 from the field and 4-of-8 from
behind the arc. Dwayne Jones came off the bench and ripped down a game-high 13
rebounds, and also chipped in eight points.
Dayton turned in an outstanding regular season, and since the tournament is
being played on its home court, has to be considered a favorite to win it all.
Saint Joseph quietly put together a solid season of its own and is out to
prove it is the top team in the conference. The Flyers have a big advantage
playing in front a predominantly hometown crowd and that will make the
difference in a victory over a tough Hawks squad tonight.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Dayton 77, Saint Joseph's 70
