2011 TOURNAMENT PREVIEW
Wide-open field highlights 2011 Shootout
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fter 34 years, the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout has become a statewide tradition unlike any other, bringing Alaskans from around this vast state to Anchorage for a week-long feast of holiday hoops. And with a plethora of storylines this year, the Shootout is guaranteed to serve up plenty of drama again in 2011. On the women’s side, the first round will offer a matchup of nationally ranked programs when reigning ACC champion Miami faces Division II power and host Alaska Anchorage, while Central Michigan and South Florida pose another strong matchup. In the men’s field, there is no clear favorite, but a handful of rising programs that could draw national attention as Central Michigan (Mid-American), Murray State (Ohio Valley), New Mexico State (Western Athletic), San Francisco (West Coast) and Southern Mississippi (Conference-USA) all have been predicted to finish among the top halves of their respective leagues. New Mexico State returns to Anchorage for the first time since winning the 1992 title, while Dartmouth, from the Ivy League, and Murray State will become the first teams to represent their conferences at the Shootout. Here’s a look at the 2011 fields: WOMEN’S FIELD ALASKA ANCHORAGE: With a 9-1 record and four titles in the last five tournaments, host Alaska Anchorage is unlikely to sneak up on any of its foes in 2011. The Seawolves are ranked No. 12 in the NCAA Div. II preseason top-25 poll as they come off their fifth straight NCAA Tournament and a 27-7 record in 2010-11. Head coach Tim Moser, who enters the year with the best current winning pct. (.833) among D-II coaches, has several veterans to rely on once again, including preseason All-American Hanna Johansson at center and junior Alysa Horn – a Kodiak native – at small forward. CENTRAL MICHIGAN: Head coach Sue Guevara’s team won 20 games last year for just the fourth time in program history, but it appears the Chippewas might be a rising program in the MidAmerican Conference. CMU returns three starters from its
Hurricanes enter the year with their eyes on a Shootout title and much more. Guard Shenise Johnson, who averaged 19.6 points and 8.3 rebounds last year, is a preseason AllAmerican on everyone’s list, and she wasn’t even UM’s leading scorer. Backcourt mate Riquina Williams returns with her 21.7 average. Anchorage native Sylvia Bullock, the sister of UAA men’s all-time scoring leader Peter Bullock, also comes home after starting every game last year. SOUTH FLORIDA: The Bulls are making their first Shootout appearance but are the third women’s team in four years to visit from the powerful Big East Conference. With 10 juniors and seniors on the roster, head coach Jose Fernandez brings a veteran club to Anchorage, including high-scoring sisters Andrea and Andrell Smith. Junior point guard Kaneisha Saunders should also give the Bulls a boost as she returns from injury.
Anchorage native Sylvia Bullock helped Miami to the Atlantic Coast Conference title and is one of five starters returning for the Hurricanes.
WNIT team of a year ago, including AllMAC honorable mention and triple-double threat Brandie Baker and reigning MAC Freshman-of-the-Year Niki DiGuilio. The Chippewas are trying to make it back-to-back titles for the MAC after Kent State captured the 2010 Shootout. MIAMI: With all five starters returning from the team that won an Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season co-title, the
MEN’S FIELD ALASKA ANCHORAGE: Nationally ranked in the preseason polls for the first time since their Final 4 season of 2007-08, 8thyear head coach Rusty Osborne has another squad capable of pulling D-I upsets. Senior center Taylor Rohde averaged 16.1 points and 6.5 rebounds after transferring from Arizona State last year, and the Phoenix native is on multiple preseason All-America lists this fall. UAA also features four more seniors, including All-GNAC honorable mention guard Mario Gill (10.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg, .463 3FG) and Anchorage native Lonnie Ridgeway (6.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg). CENTRAL MICHIGAN: One of five Shootout newcomers in this year’s men’s field, the Chippewas are looking for a breakthrough season under 6th-year head coach Ernie Zeigler. Zeigler will have a familiar face to rely upon as son Trey Zeigler is a rising star. As a freshman last year he averaged 16.3 ppg – the best mark among returning MAC players this year. Guard Derek Jackson, also just a sophomore, returns after finishing strong with 10.1 ppg in the final 13 contests a year ago.
2011 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout
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