Men's Basketball Season Tips-Off Tonight
Nov 1, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 1, 2001
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Tulane University will open its 2001-2002 men's basketball season Thursday evening, hosting VASDA in an exhibition game at Fogelman Arena. It will be the first contest for the new-look Green Wave, which features eight new players.
In addition, it will be the first game in renovated Fogelman Arena. After nearly 70 years, the arena has had air conditioning installed. In addition, a full paint job and a refurbished floor make Fogelman a perfect home for the Green Wave.
Head coach Shawn Finney will look to his four top returnees to anchor the attack this season. The lone senior on the squad, captain Linton Johnson (Chicago, Ill.) is one of the more versatile and exciting players in the nation. Johnson averaged 13.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game last year, while leading the Wave in dunks, blocked shots and three-point percentage. Junior sharp-shooter Brandon Spann (New Orleans, La.) will look to boost his scoring this season. The top returning scorer on the team, Spann averaged 15.9 points, while pacing the team in three-pointers, assists and steals. Junior big man Brandon Brown (Houma, La.) will be expected to be a major presence in the paint, both offensively and defensively. Brown tallied 11.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last season and is one of the hardest working players in Conference USA. The final starter returning from last year is sophomore swingman Wayne Tinsley (Fontana, Calif.). Tinsley proved to be one of the better freshmen in school history and, with a year of experience, hopes to improve on his stats of 7.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.
While the returning starters are key, Finney's biggest asset may be two players who redshirted last season. Junior Waitari Marsh (Chicago, Ill.) was Tulane's starting point guard two years ago, but redshirted last season due to academic reasons. Marsh could return to a starting role this season. In addition, 6-6, 230-pound junior Nick Sinville (Shreveport, La.) is a transfer from Minnesota who sat out last season. While practicing with the Wave during his redshirt season, Sinville showed toughness and skills and is expected to be a major asset to the Wave.
"The guys are really coming together and starting to understand what it's going to take to win at the highest level," Finney said. "Practice has been good, they've been working hard. With the addition of Waitari Marsh and Nick Sinville, it gives us great experience and great depth for our program."
"We've also added six newcomers, one junior college transfer, Byron Parker, an incredible athlete, and five freshmen, who are great shooters and scorers," Finney said. "We're looking forward to the season and I think we have a chance to have an outstanding year."
The Wave's season-opening exhibition opponent is VASDA, which stands for Value And Satisfaction Delivered Always. VASDA USA squads are comprised of former college players who have completed their NCAA Eligibility and are playing professionally overseas and in the US, as well as those who are attempting to play basketball at the professional level and are using the tour to gain some experience and exposure.
In last season's exhibition contest against VASDA, the Green Wave used a ferocious full-court press to claw back into the game. Despite trailing by 11 in the second half, Tulane held the visitors to just nine points in the final seven minutes to earn a 65-60 victory. Ledaryl Billingsley led the Wave with 18 points and 16 rebounds, while Brandon Brown also had a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Following Thursday's game, the Wave will practice for another week, then host Global Sports next Thursday, Nov. 8 in its final tune-up for the regular season. The regular season slate tips off Friday, Nov. 16, when the Wave hosts Loyola at Fogelman Arena as part of a Green Wave basketball doubleheader. The Tulane women battle High Point beginning at 6 p.m., followed by the men's game.
