Streaking Green Wave Host UTEP Wednesday
Jan 11, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 11, 2011
NEW ORLEANS - Having won six straight games, including the first two Conference USA contests, has put the Tulane men's basketball team in first-place in the league standings, but the Green Wave put that to the test Wednesday when defending conference champion UTEP invades Fogelman Arena at 7 p.m. CST.
"I'm very excited to get into Fogelman Arena tomorrow night and feel the excitement," Tulane head coach Ed Conroy said. "The fan support has been tremendous this season and I expect nothing but the best tomorrow night."
Tulane (12-3, 2-0 C-USA) swept both conference games last week, winning 85-81 at Rice on Wednesday and extending the home-court winning streak to nine straight games with a 79-70 victory over SMU on Saturday in Fogelman Arena.
"We are two games into conference play with 14 more to go," Conroy added. "We just have to focus on what we do each day at practice and keep getting better."
UTEP (13-4, 1-1 C-USA), coached by former UNO and New Orleans Hornets head coach Tim Floyd, opened conference play with a 69-59 victory over Tulsa at home on Wednesday, but lost, 100-97, in triple overtime at UAB on Saturday.
"Coach Floyd does a great job," Conroy said. "They run a number of sets and their guys do a great job of executing on the court. There is no one match-up that you can focus on."
C-USA's second leading scorer Randy Culpepper leads UTEP into the game. The senior guard is scoring 19.8 points per game, while fellow seniors Christian Polk (12.2) and Jeremy Williams (10.2) also are scoring in double figures.
The Miners as a team are scoring 74.3 points per game and allowing 65.4. UTEP also is shooting 47.4 percent from the floor and holding opponents to 38.8 percent.
Two-time defending Louisiana Player of the Week Kendall Timmons leads the Green Wave. The sophomore forward is averaging 17.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game and has scored in double figures in 14 straight games.
Senior guard Kris Richard leads three other Tulane players in double figures with 13.9 points per game, while Jordan Callahan (12.9) and Aaron Holmes (10.7) also post double digits.
As a team, the Green Wave score 75.9 points per game and allow 63.3, both ran fourth in the conference. Tulane has also improved to 45.5 percent shooting from the floor and is up to 73.7 percent from the free throw line.
This will be the seventh meeting between the two schools. UTEP owns a 4-2 series lead, but Tulane is a perfect 2-0 against the Miners in Fogelman Arena. UTEP leads the series, 3-2 in C-USA games since joining the league prior to the 2005-06 season.
The official celebration of the first 100 seasons of Tulane basketball continues on Wednesday with the announcement of the All-Decade team of the 50's. Tulane will honor the decade by recognizing the top five players from 1950-59 during halftime of the game. The players were decided by a fan vote at www.tulanegreenwave.com/100years.
In addition to honoring the players from the 50's, the first 100 fans to arrive at Fogelman Area will receive a commemorative pint glass highlighting the era. The glass is the second of eight collectable glasses handed out at the remaining home games this season to commemorate the first 100 seasons.
Tulane is offering $5 faculty/staff tickets for Wednesday's game and their children will receive free admission.
Tulane hits the road following the game and travels to Greenville, N.C., to face East Carolina on Saturday at 4 p.m. CST.
GREEN WAVE PROBABLE STARTERS
G 5 Jordan Callahan 6-0 184 So. 12.9 ppg 3.0 rpg 4.3 apg
G 0 Kris Richard 6-5 178 Sr. 13.9 ppg 6.1 rpg 1.7 spg
G 10 Aaron Holmes 6-5 200 Sr. 10.7 ppg 4.0 rpg 1.5 apg
F 22 Kendall Timmons 6-5 200 So. 17.7 ppg 8.9 rpg 2.1 spg
F 2 David Booker 6-7 239 Sr. 8.3 ppg 3.6 rpg .853 FT%
MINERS' PROBABLE STARTERS
G 3 Randy Culpepper 6-0 165 Sr. 19.8 ppg 3.1 rpg
G 5 Julyan Stone 6-7 200 Sr. 9.4 ppg 6.4 rpg
G 41 Christian Polk 6-4 190 Sr. 12.2 ppg 2.8 rpg
F 34 Jeremy Williams 6-7 220 Sr. 10.2 ppg 6.0 rpg
C 21 John Bohannon 6-10 210 Fr. 6.4 ppg 6.3 rpg
