ANCHORAGE - The University of Alaska Anchorage announced Thursday that it has finalized its fields for the 2007 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout, scheduled for Nov. 20-24 at Anchorage's Sullivan Arena.
On the women's side, Bradley and Santa Clara will join previously announced Cleveland State, along with host and defending champion Alaska Anchorage, to complete the 4-team field. It will be the first Shootout trip for each visiting program.
Meanwhile, recent NIT Tip-Off champ Butler will join Liberty as newly announced teams for the 2007 men's field. The rest of the participants in the 30th annual tournament are Gonzaga, Michigan, Texas Tech, Washington State,
Western Kentucky and host UAA. Xavier, which had been previously announced, will not make the trip.
Here is a brief look at the 2007 Shootout fields:
WOMEN
Bradley is 3-4 thus far in 2006-07, led by exciting sophomore Kelly Krumwiede. The Braves, of the Missouri Valley Conference, are coached by Paula Buscher, in her seventh year at the Peoria, Ill., school.
Cleveland State is 2-5 this year with a roster that includes just two seniors. The Horizon League school is led by fourth-year head coach Kate Peterson.
Santa Clara is the reigning West Coast Conference champion and if off to a 4-3 start this November. The California school features former Alaska prep star Chandice Cronk (Wasilla), who will be a senior when the Broncos come north in 2007. SCU is led by fifth-year head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson.
Host and defending champion Alaska Anchorage, the only Division II team in the field, is 4-0 this season under new head coach Tim Moser. The Seawolves, of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, have won three Shootout titles, including this year behind the play of tournament Most Outstanding Player Rebecca Kielpinski, who will be a junior next year.
MEN
Butler, ranked 18th in the latest ESPN/USA Today top-25 poll, is one of the hottest teams in the country with an 8-0 record and the NIT Tip-Off title already under its belt. Led by 6th-year head coach Todd Lickliter, the Indianapolis school is a perennial Horizon League and NCAA Tournament contender. The Bulldog men will be making their first-ever trip to the Shootout.
Gonzaga, currently ranked No. 21, is 6-1 so far with a win over North Carolina to its credit. The Bulldogs, of Spokane, Wash., have reached postseason play 12 of the last 13 years, including a current string of eight straight NCAA berths. Led by rising coaching star Mark Few, GU has won six straight West Coast Conference regular-season titles. The Bulldogs were the 2001 Shootout runners-up.
Liberty, led by former Alaska prep coach Randy Dunton (West Anchorage, Anchorage Christian), will be making its second trip to the Shootout, having finished fifth in 2003. The Flames, of Lynchburg, Va., are members of the Big South Conference and are 3-1 thus far this season.
Michigan, under 6th-year head coach Tommy Amaker, is currently 7-1 in 2005-06 and hoping to improve on its postseason NIT berth of last season. The Wolverines, who finished third in the 1987 Shootout, have won 12 Big Ten Conference titles and were the NCAA champions in 1988-89.
Texas Tech, making its second Shootout appearance (1990) as well, is led by legendary coach Bob Knight. The Red Raiders are 6-2 so far this year, leaving Knight currently four wins shy of matching Dean Smith's NCAA record of 879 career victories. Texas Tech plays in the Big 12 Conference.
Washington State has started 7-0 under new head coach Tony Bennett this season as the Cougars look to make strides in the always-tough Pacific-10 Conference. WSU will be making its first Shootout appearance since 1981.
Perennial Sun Belt Conference power Western Kentucky is 6-1 thus far in 2005-06 behind the play of Wooden Award candidate Courtney Lee, who will be a senior at the 2007 Shootout. The Hilltoppers, coached by 4th-year head man Darrin Horn, will be making their inaugural Shootout trip.
Host Alaska Anchorage will be looking for its 29th all-time victory in its own tournament when it tips off the 2007 event. Led by third-year head coach Rusty Osborne, the Division II Seawolves have won games in five straight Shootouts. UAA, which is 5-2 this season, plays in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
