Conference USA Notebook
Well, it wasn’t the five-way tie witnessed last season, but it was a
great regular season in Conference USA. The Louisville Cardinals
finally made it through February without collapsing and earned their
first ever C-USA regular season championship. Along with the Cards,
Cincinnati and Charlotte are locks for the NCAA Tournament, while
DePaul and UAB have work to do. Houston, TCU, Memphis and Marquette
all have hopes of making it to at least the NIT.
Here are the season-ending awards, team postseason outlooks or season recaps and a look ahead to this week’s conference tournament in Memphis.
Conference USA Season Awards
First Team All-C-USA
Eddie Basden, Charlotte
Francisco Garcia, Louisville
Quemont Greer, DePaul
Travis Diener, Marquette
Donell Taylor, UAB
Second Team
Eric Hicks, Cincinnati
Curtis Withers, Charlotte
Andrew Owens, Houston
Darius Washington Jr., Memphis
Terrance Leather, USF
Third Team
Jason Maxiell, Cincinnati
Taquan Dean, Louisville
Corey Santee, TCU
Larry O’Bannon, Louisville
Lanny Smith, Houston
Player of the Year – Francisco Garcia
Defensive Player of the Year – Eddie Basden
Coach of the Year – Tom Penders, Houston
Sixth Man of the Year – Ronell Taylor, UAB
Freshman of the Year – Darius Washington Jr.
Postseason Outlook / Season Recap
Charlotte (21-6 overall, 12-4 C-USA) Last week: 0-2
The 49ers are guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Tournament, but their seeding took a hit last week with two losses. Both hurt equally, but the loss at South Florida was very unexpected. Right now the Niners are probably looking at a No. 7 seed and could move up if they advance to the conference finals, or down a spot if they fall in the quarterfinals. This could be a likely scenario as Charlotte will probably face Memphis, playing on its home court, to start its conference tournament run Thursday.
Cincinnati (24-6, 12-4) Last week: 2-0
Cincinnati is also cemented into the field of 65. Right now the Bearcats are probably and No. 5 or 6 seed. They come in riding a six-game winning streak. Barring a loss in the quarterfinals to Houston or South Florida, their seeding will not fall any further. But if they make a run and win the conference title, they could rise to as high as a No. 4. This will be difficult; so expect them to settle for a No. 5 seed.
DePaul (18-9, 10-6) Last week: 0-2
A win against Louisville would have guaranteed a spot in the big dance for the Blue Demons. Now, a return trip to the NCAA Tournament is not for certain. They have lost four of six, and even though all four losses were close and to quality opponents, it still does not look good. Two wins, including against UAB in the quarterfinals, would lock in a bid, likely a No. 10 or 11 seed. If they were to run the table, they could possibly eek their way to a No. 8. If they lose to Tulane they’re out; If they lose to the Blazers on Thursday, it’s going to be a nervous bunch on Sunday evening.
East Carolina (9-19, 4-12) Last week: 0-2
This season had to be expected for the Pirates. It should have been looked upon as a stepping stone to next year, to the refurbished C-USA that ECU would be much more equipped to compete with. Unfortunately, the athletic department decided Bill Herrion would not be around to see it and fired him with three weeks remaining in the season. True, he never produced a winning season, but the cards were stacked against him. In his final game, the Pirates lost on the road to Tulane, 77-71, which bumped them out of the No. 12 and final seed at the conference tournament.
Houston (18-12, 9-7) Last week: 0-2
The pleasant surprise of C-USA, the Cougars still need to win the conference tournament to earn a bid to March Madness. Even if they defeated Cincinnati and Charlotte and lost in the finals, those wins coupled with its defeat of Louisville in January cannot overshadow Houston’s weak non-conference schedule and home loss to Tulane. However, the Cougars are a lock for the NIT, which is amazing enough considering they were predicted to finish in the basement of the conference.
Louisville (26-4, 14-2) Last week: 2-0
The Cardinals are playing for seeding now. A No. 1 seed is unlikely, but a No. 2 is well within their grasp if they continue playing well and win the conference tournament. With no bad losses, a season sweep of Cincinnati and road win at Florida, Louisville’s resume in solid. It lacks a top-notch win and that, along with the lower RPI of C-USA, will cost the Cards a No. 1 seed. An early loss in the tournament will likely slide them down to a No. 3.
Marquette (19-10, 7-9) Last week: 1-1
The only way the Golden Eagles can make the field of 65 is to win the C-USA tournament, and even a NIT bid – although likely – is not a certainty. With a losing conference record and the possibility of only three teams making the NCAA field, there may be five teams from C-USA with better resumes than Marquette to make the NIT. A win against TCU will help the Golden Eagles’ case, but only beating Louisville in the quarterfinals will guarantee it.
Memphis (16-14, 9-7) Last week: 0-2
Three weeks ago the Tigers had played themselves into the possibility of earning an at-large bid. A four-game losing streak ended that. Memphis needs to win the tournament to earn a bid and have a shot thanks to home-court advantage. If not, the Tigers are almost assured of a NIT bid, unless they lose in the first round to Saint Louis. Baring that, even a loss to Charlotte in the quarterfinals should not keep them out of at least the lesser postseason tournament.
South Florida (12-15, 5-11) Last week: 1-1
The Bulls need to win the conference tournament to advance to any postseason play. Even if they win three games and lose in the finals, they have no chance at the NIT. Having to go through Houston, Cincinnati, then probably Charlotte or Memphis and Louisville, this seems highly unlikely. An upset win against the Cougars would at least build some momentum going into next year. The Bulls were actually a disappointment after such a strong start, but this season was definitely a step in the right direction. At the moment though, they appear to be the doormat of the new Big East next season.
Southern Miss (11-17, 2-14) Last week: 1-1
Larry Eustachy would just as soon forget his first season as the Golden Eagles coach. Inheriting a team in disarray and then kicking off his best player, Jasper Johnson, Eustachy and his squad stumbled throughout conference play. They at least salvaged one positive moment, ending the season with a thrilling 66-64 win against tough TCU, sending seniors David Haywood and Dante Stiggers out on a high note. Jason Forte made a putback layup with two seconds remaining to clinch the win.
Saint Louis (9-20, 6-10) Last week: 2-0
The bright news for the Billikens is they finished the regular season with solid wins against Memphis and Marquette. Of course, this came at the tail end of the worst season of basketball at SLU in decades. Saint Louis will face Memphis again to start the conference tournament and if it manages to upset the Tigers again, this time on their home floor, SLU’s season will likely end at the hands of Charlotte.
TCU (18-12, 8-8) Last week: 1-1
A win against Southern Miss on Saturday would have likely cemented a bid for the Horned Frogs into the NIT. Now, with only a .500 record in conference play and a No. 8 seed instead of a No. 7, that bid is not 100 percent. A win against Marquette should do it, and an upset of Louisville will guarantee it. Anything short of winning the conference tournament, even an upset of the Cardinals and UAB or DePaul, will keep the Frogs out of the NCAA field.
Tulane (10-17, 4-12) Last week: 1-1
The Green Wave prolonged its season and ended a six-game losing streak by defeating East Carolina on Saturday. With the win Tulane earned the No. 12 seed and final spot in the conference tournament. But the win was truly avoiding the inevitable. Barring a miracle, Tulane will lose its first round game against DePaul. Nothing really else to say here.
UAB (20-9, 10-6) Last week: 2-0
Right now, the Blazers are truly a bubble team. If they lose in the quarterfinals to DePaul, they are likely out. If they win and upset Louisville, they are definitely in. But if they beat the Blue Demons but lose to the Cardinals, than they will not know their fate until between the hours of 6 and 7 p.m. Sunday. If they do make it to the tournament, do not expect anything higher than a No. 12 seed.
Look ahead to the Conference Tournament
Heading into the final C-USA tournament for half of the conference, the hottest teams are the usual suspects of Louisville and Cincinnati. While fans would surely love to see the third rendition of the season for this rivalry, there are several teams that are capable and thwarting this battle of I-71.
Perhaps the dangerous team in the field is the hometown Tigers at the No. 7 seed. Although Memphis has struggled down the stretch, losing four in a row, the Tigers are always capable of beating anyone in this league and will have home-court advantage. However, they would have to defeat Charlotte and likely Cincinnati before making it to the championship game.
The 49ers are obviously as threat as the No. 2 seed, while UAB and DePaul could both test Louisville in the semifinals. But don’t expect any of that to occur. It will be Louisville and Cincinnati in the finals and the Cardinals will complete the three-game sweep of the Bearcats.
