Green Wave to Battle No. 6 Florida
Dec 1, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 1, 2001
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Tulane University puts its undefeated men's basketball record on the line in a big way on Sunday afternoon. The Green Wave, with a 4-0 record, will meet the University of Florida, ranked No. 6 in the nation in a 12 p.m. (Central) contest at the O'Connell Center.
Tulane has posted wins over Loyola, Centenary, Norfolk State and VCU to post its first 4-0 mark since the 1991-92 season. It is just the third time since 1961 that the Wave has been perfect through four games. Florida, meanwhile, has a 3-1 record, with its lone loss coming to the University of Arizona.
The Wave had a thrilling victory over VCU on Tuesday evening on the road. In a tight battle throughout, neither team led by more than four in the second half, Tulane edged the Rams when Waitari Marsh scored with eight-tenths of a second remaining to break a 72-72 tie. Following the clinching basketball, VCU called an extra timeout and was charged with a technical foul, giving Brandon Spann a pair of free throws to account for the final margin of 76-72.
"We're coming off a big win against VCU," Tulane had coach Shawn Finney said. "It was a really big win for our team. It brought a lot of confidence, we needed a road win like that.
"But now we are on to the next step to play Florida, a top 10 program," Finney continued. "It is what this team needs to see where we stand now. In order to compete in Conference USA, you have to see what it is like to compete against the best. Night in and night out in our league, we have to be prepared for that."
Finney will be looking to a strong junior class to lead his team on Sunday. Brandon Brown, Nick Sinville, Marsh and Spann are all averaging in double figures this season. Spann leads the way with 16.5 points per game, including 10 three-pointers. Sinville had 16.0 points per game, while connecting on 60.5 percent of his shots from the field. Marsh has 15.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. The 6-8 Brown has 15.3 points and a team-high 8.3 rebounds per outing.
Florida defeated the Green Wave last season, 103-85, at The New Orleans Arena in the Nokia Sugar Bowl Classic. The Gators have been ranked a school-record 46 consecutive weeks in the Associated Press listings - the fifth longest active streak in the nation.
"Florida will be a tough challenge in a tremendously tough place to play," Finney said. "Our guys will have the opportunity to really measure themselves."
Following Sunday's game, the Wave returns home to Fogelman Arena to host crosstown rival New Orleans at 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening. The teams will be battling for the Senators Cup, presented to the winner by either Francis Heitmeier (UNO alum) or John Hainkel (Tulane alum), both Louisiana senators.
