ANCHORAGE (May 13) - The men's field for the 2003 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout, scheduled for Nov. 26-29 at Anchorage's Sullivan Arena, has been completed. That announcement came today from UAA athletic director Dr. Steve Cobb.
Traditional powers Duke, Purdue and Seton Hall headline the field, while recent additions Liberty and Southwest Texas will also come north for the 26th annual college basketball tournament. South Carolina, which had been previously announced, has pulled out of the 2003 event.
Here's a look at the 2003 men's field:
Duke will be returning to Anchorage four the third time after winning the 1995 tournament and finishing second in 1998. The three-time national champion Blue Devils return the bulk of the squad from last year's Sweet 16 team, and should again be ranked in the preseason Top 10.
Houston is one of two teams in the field making its first Shootout appearance. The Cougars went 8-20 last season and finished fifth in Conference USA's National Division. Coach Ray McCallum has signed five blue-chip prospects who will make their debut at the 2003 Shootout.
Liberty, of Lynchburg, Va., is led by former Anchorage Christian School and West Anchorage High School coach Randy Dunton. The Flames, who finished second in the Big South Conference last season, return four of their top five scorers, including 6-4 senior guard Gabe Martin (15.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg). LU will also be making its Shootout debut.
Pacific is back in Anchorage for the first time since the second tournament in 1979. The Tigers, of Stockton, Calif., went 12-16 in 2002-03 but have had nine winning seasons in the last 11 years. Longtime coach Bob Thomason returns a veteran group in 2003-04.
Big Ten power Purdue will become just the fifth school to make at least four Shootout appearances. The 1993 Shootout champion Boilermakers are led by legendary coach Gene Keady, who enters his 24th season at the West Lafayette, Ind., school in 2003. PU went 19-11 last year, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Big East member Seton Hall will make its third Shootout appearance in 2003. The South Orange, N.J., school won the 1988 Shootout before advancing to the NCAA championship game later that season. The Pirates, who went 17-13 and made the NIT in 2002-03, return the bulk of their roster, including exciting point guard Andre Barrett.
Southwest Texas, which went 17-12 overall and 11-9 in the Southland Conference in 2002-03, placed seventh in the 1987 Shootout. Coach Dennis Nutt's Bobcats return their top two scorers from last year, including first team All-Southland guard Terry Conerway (15.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg).
The only team to compete in every Shootout, host Alaska Anchorage tries for its annual upset again in 2003. Wake Forest, Missouri and Texas are just a few of the prominent names that have fallen to the Seawolves at the Shootout. UAA, coached by Charlie Bruns, has posted 23 Shootout victories heading into the 2003 event.
