Tulane Basketball on Hot Seven-Game Winning Streak 1
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THE TULANE HULLABALOO I JANUARY 24, 1997 SPORTS 7 Tulane basketball on hot seven-game winning streak 1. Kansas (18-0): The Jayhawks began the week with a 80-67 victory over a conference rival, David Gereighty and followed that with a win against fifth-ranked Iowa Sta.te. On Sunday, Kansas overcame a 16- Staff Writer point deficit to narrowly edge unranked UConn 73-65. The Jayhawks were led by forwards Raef Lafrentz and Paul Pierce, who each poured in 14 points and kept the Jayhawks' record unblemished. The semester break was both bad and good for the Tulane 2. Clemson (16-1): The suprise of the ACC and perhaps the entire country continues to be the Green Wave. Their performance Clemson Tigers. Though doubt continues to shroud the Tigers, this week Head Coach Rick has ranged from the low of the Barnes proved that his club is deserving of its ranking. Clemson went on the road twice in what loss to UNLV on Dec. 21 to the is unquestionably the most powerful conference in the land. After knocking off N.C. State in high of the victory over 14th- Raleigh, the Tigers traveled to Maryland, where, behind a 16-point effort from Greg Buccaneer, ranked Xavier on Jan. 16. they squeaked out a 67-63 victory. Through all of the struggles of the past weeks, the team seems to 3. Wake Forest (13-1): The team with the best player in the country showed that it is not the have found its identity. The Wave best team in the country. This week, Wake fell from the ranks of the unbeaten with Sunday's loss is currently on a seven-game to conference foe Maryland. Despite a 28-point effort from all-world center Tim Duncan, Wake winning streak and is 12-5 suffered a crushing three-point loss at home. This loss came on the heels of an unimpressive 58- overall and 2-0 in conference 54 victory against unranked Virginia. play. The Wave have five 4. Kentucky (16-2): The defending national champs cruised through the week, knocking off remaining home games before conference opponets Auburn and Georgia. The Wildcats handled each team by over 20 points, the Conference USA tournament while the SEC witnessed the emergence of perhaps the next great Wildcat. Sophomore center to be held March 5-8 in St. Louis. Nazr Mohammed chipped in 14 points and 11 boards in the 86-65 rout of Georgia. The win Senior forward Rayshard marked Head Coach Rick Pitino's 200th career victory at Kentucky. Allen returned to the Wave lineup against Nevada-Las 5. Utah (12-2): The Runnin' Utes added two more wins this week, proving that they indeed Vegas. He has been slowly are the best of the west. After escaping Texas Christian with a 81-77 victory, Utah easily handled working his way back into the Southern Methodist 74-57. All-American forward Keith Van Hom led the way with 23 points and form which made him an second nine boards. team All-Conference USA player last season. 6. Cincinnati (16-2): While Danny Fortson, Rueben Patterson and Damon Flint appear to have "Allen needs to get some the talent to take their games to the NBA, the talented Bearcats have not completely gelled as a game time. He is struggling with unit. While they easily took care of Arkansas 92-57, Cincy was upset 70-55 by unranked Temple. the flow of the game:· Wave The Cats could easily have the most talent in the country, though their team chemistry remains a Assistant Coach Greg Gary said. question mark at this point. Allen ·s presence has helped 7. Louisville (15-1): The Cardinals chalked up two more wins with impressive outings against Tulane in ways not directly Texas and Houston. Senior guard Dejaun Wheat continues to lead an impressive squad that has noticeable in the game statistics. already superseeded preseason expectations. His defensive presence, rebounding and consistent 8. Maryland (15-2): The Terps began the week on a downer, as number two Clemson marched double-figure scoring has taken in and stole a road win over the upstart Terps. However, the talented Terps, who were picked to pressure off of both junior center finish last in the ACC, rebounded with a 54-51 victory over previously unbeaten Wake Forest. Jody Nelson and senior forward Sophomore guard and three-point specialist Sarunus Jasikevicous led the way with 19 points as Jerald Honeycutt. Maryland shocked top-ranked Wake. Honeycutt has often stated that he has not played his best 9. Minnesota (16-2): The Golden Gophers struggled mightily through what was games yet this sea<;on. However. unquestionably a disappointing week. They eked out a six-point victory over a weak Ohio State he had a historic performance in squad after losing to unranked Illinois. Minnesota looks to rebound this week against fellow big IO rival Iowa. Tulane's upset of Xavier. FlLEPHOTO Honeycutt broke the all-time ]e d oneY.cutt has more than roved himself on the court this year, 10. Duke (14-4): The Blue Devils climbed back into the top ten with three impressive wins Sf oo scoring recor ormer y including a record-breaking 38 point performance against Xavier. over Cambell, UNC Greensboro and Virginia. Duke was helped out tremendously by the return held by Anthony Reed. He of sharpshooter Trojan Langdon to the starting lineup. In addition, blue chip recruit Nate James scored a career-high 38 points came back from an early season injury and contributed this week. With James and Langdon both The Wave went 4-4 initially scored eight points in the victory and collected a team-high seven back, Duke has the deepest team in the ACC. rebounds. with Childs starting at the point over Southern Miss, but made his Tulane Head Coach Perry but the team has turned things biggest impression by blocking a 11. Arizona (10-4): The Arizona Wildcats are most definitely in no hurry to return to Southern Clark said of the performance, around since. ''Correy is playing Conference USA record eight California. The Wildcats came up 0-2 on their trip to the coast, losing first to the Trojans of USC, "Jerald Honeycutt's performance excellent basketball. He's not a shots against the Golden Eagles. and then again on Sunday with an overtime loss to UCLA. They will try and rebound next week was an All-American pure point guard, but he's not "We just came out with a high against Oregon State. performance. He really came up lening that stop him from being . energy level. They were sending 12. Iowa State (11-3): As bad as this week was for the Wildcats, it was worse for the Cyclones. big. Every time they made a run. successful. I'm pleased with his them my way and I just took Though they hung in with top-ranked Kansas before falling 80-67, the Cyclones were walloped he had an answer. He did a great attitude and the way he's playing" advantage of it," Nelson said. by a surprising Colorado club. Behind a huge night from Chanuncy Billups, the Buffaloes blew job off the glass, helping us to Clark said. Nelson had five more blocks and break their pressure, anything we Childs is supported by 14 points in the 76-62 victory out Iowa State by 25 points. Though the Cyclones have talent, it is clear that they began the needed. I can't say too much Tulane's other senior guard, Chris over South Florida. season a tad overrated. With Allen back in the lineup, about the way he played.'' Cameron. Cameron, whose 13. Villanova (14-3): The Wildcats continue to demonstrate that they are the beast of the Big . leaping ability made him an the playing time for freshmen Tulane has had to overcome East. While overall the conference is on a down year, the Cats are managing just fine without All- '\ ESPN highlight favorite during Sterling Davis and Dylan Osean the loss of starting point guard American Kerry Kittles. Nova went 2-0 this week, with double-digit wins over Notre Dame and Midnight Madness earlier this has gone down. However, both Denick Moore. The sophomore Rutgers. was expected to provide the season, has played consistently have managed to contribute, as experience and ball handling well all season, but also is shown in the South Florida game. 14. New Mexico (14-3): As the conference schedule moves into full swing, New Mexico necessary to run the offense and adjusting to Child's playing point "Our defense and the play of began to feel the pressure of tougher ballgames. After Tulsa smoked the Aggies by 23 points, \ break セ ・ oppositions' presses. A guard. It did not stop Cameron Osean and Davis really saved us," New Mexico edged a weak Rice squad 69-61. The Aggies must develop a more consistent game '\ '\ season-ending knee lDJUry from scoring 21 points against Clark said as the Wave held off a if they are to remain a nationally-ranked team. Southern Mississippi for Tulane's second-half run by the Bulls. ' November 26 against Portland 15. Michigan (13-4): This week the Wolverines began to regain the early season form that had State ended those expectations, first conference victory of the Freshman point guard Billy them ranked in the top five teams in the country. Led by All-American Maurice Taylor, and All- with senior guard Correy Childs season. Cameron made five of Wells has also seen significant McDonald's Robert Traylor, the Big Blue knocked off two Big IO opponents.