UAA announces fields for 2009 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout

August 14, 2009

 

UAA announces fields for 2009 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout

 

The University of Alaska Anchorage announced Friday that it has completed its fields for the 2009 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout, scheduled for Nov. 24-28 at Anchorage’s Sullivan Arena.

 

On the women’s side, host and three-time defending champion Alaska Anchorage will be joined in the 4-team field by Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina and Western Carolina. It will be the first Shootout trip for each visiting program.

 

Meanwhile, the men’s field for the 32nd annual tournament will be Alaska Anchorage, Houston, Nicholls State, Oklahoma, San Diego and Washington State. With six teams instead of the traditional eight, the men’s Shootout will undergo a format change for the first time ever, instituting Olympic-style pool play for 2009.

 

“We are thrilled with this year’s lineup,” said UAA athletic director Dr. Steve Cobb. “In a perfect world, we would still have eight men’s teams, but with the realities of today’s college basketball climate, scheduling has become as difficult as recruiting. That said, we should have some of the best basketball in the country being played right here in Anchorage, as usual, on Thanksgiving week.”

 

Here is a brief look at the 2009 Shootout fields:

 

WOMEN

Three-time defending champion Alaska Anchorage, the only Division II team in the field, is 6-0 in its last three Shootouts and 84-15 over the past two seasons. Coach Tim Moser’s squad went 31-4 in 2008-09 and qualified for the NCAA Division II Semifinals for the second straight year. The Seawolves return seven letterwinners, including the senior backcourt duo of Tamar Gruwell and Kiki Taylor, as they aim for more Division I upsets.

 

Cincinnati went 14-17 last season playing in the rugged Big East Conference. The Bearcats are sure to be a new-look team in 2009-10, however, as former Connecticut assistant Jamelle Elliott takes over the head-coaching reigns.

 

Coastal Carolina, of the Big South Conference, should be the most veteran squad in this year’s Shootout, having lost no seniors from its 16-14 team of a year ago. The Conway, S.C., program is led by Alan LeForce, who brings over 50 years of college coaching experience to the Chanticleers bench.

 

Western Carolina, of the Southern Conference, is coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance and its third straight winning season with a 21-12 mark in 2008-09. The Lady Catamounts, from Cullowhee, N.C., are piloted by new head coach Karen Middleton, who inherits nine returning letterwinners.

 

MEN

Led by sixth-year head coach Rusty Osborne, host Alaska Anchorage is shooting for its 30^th all-time Shootout victory in 2009. The Seawolves will feature versatile guards Kevin White and Brandon Walker among their five returnees, while adding another group of talented recruits.

 

A first-time Shootout visitor, Houston went 21-12 overall and finished fourth in Conference USA in 2008-09 to earn its second straight 20-win season. The Cougars also captured their fourth postseason bid in five years under veteran coach Tom Penders, who owns over 600 career victories.

 

Nicholls State is coming off a 20-11 campaign in which it tied for second place in the Southland Conference. The Colonels, of Thibodaux, La., are led by head coach J.P. Piper, and will field a squad that loses only two seniors from a year ago. NSU finished eighth at the Shootout in 1980.

 

Oklahoma – which placed third in the Shootout in 1983 and 2004 – posted a 30-6 record, reached as high as No. 2 in the country, and came within a win of the Final 4 last season. With the departure of consensus national player-of-the-year Blake Griffin and two other starters, coach Jeff Capel will count on one of the nation’s most exciting players, 2008-09 Big 12 Newcomer-of-the-Year Willie Warren, a lightning-quick point guard.

 

Ravaged by injuries last season, San Diego finished 16-16 under second-year head coach Bill Grier. The Toreros got good news this summer, however, when they learned that leading scorer Brandon Johnson will receive a fifth year of eligibility from the NCAA. With USD making its first appearance, the Shootout will be hosting its seventh school from the eight-team West Coast Conference.

 

Washington State, of the powerful Pacific-10 Conference, went 17-16 in 2008-09, and this campaign will mark the beginning of a new era as Ken Bone takes the coaching reins in Pullman. The Cougars visited Anchorage in 1981 for their only Shootout appearance.

 

2009 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout Schedule

Sullivan Arena – Anchorage, Alaska

November 24-28 – All times TBA

 

Women’s Tournament – Nov. 24-25

Tuesday’s Games (first round)

Coastal Carolina vs Alaska Anchorage

Cincinnati vs Western Carolina

Wednesday’s Games

CCU/UAA loser vs UC/WCU loser (3^rd pl.)

CCU/UAA winner vs UC/WCU winner (champ.)

 

 

Men’s Tournament – Nov. 25-28

Wednesday’s Games

Washington State vs Alaska Anchorage (Pool A)

Oklahoma vs San Diego (Pool B)

Thursday’s Games

Nicholls State vs Alaska Anchorage (Pool A)

Houston vs Oklahoma (Pool B)

Friday’s Games

Nicholls State vs Washington State (Pool A)

Houston vs San Diego (Pool B)

Saturday’s Games

Pool A #3 vs Pool B #3 (5^th place)

Pool A #2 vs Pool B #2 (3^rd place)

Pool A #1 vs Pool B #1 (championship)

 

Women’s Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout History

Year                Champion                              Runner-up                     Score              Most Outstanding Player

1980               Iowa                                       Alaska Anchorage       73-52             Cindy Haugejordge (Iowa)

1981               San Diego State                  Houston                        50-41             Diena Pels (San Diego State)

1982               Minnesota                             Indiana                          70-66             Laura Coenen (Minnesota)

1983               Old Dominion                       Wichita State                76-53             Lorri Bauman (Drake)

1984               Texas                                     UNLV                             82-60             Annette Smith (Texas)

1985               Louisiana Tech                    Penn State                    88-69             Dawn Royster (North Carolina)

1986               Northeast Louisiana           Southern Cal                70-68             Lisa Ingram (Northeast Louisiana)

1987               New Orleans                        Memphis State             84-61             Kunshinge Sorrell (Mississippi State)

1988               South Carolina                     UNLV                             98-97 OT       Martha Parker (South Carolina)

1989               Stephen F. Austin                Old Dominion               96-81             Connie Cole (Stephen F. Austin)

1990               Alaska Anchorage               South Alabama            88-87             Diane Dobrich (Alaska Anchorage)

1991               Northern Illinois                   Louisville                       63-60             Lisa Foss (Northern Illinois)

1992               Penn State                            Mo.-Kansas City          83-62             Susan Robinson (Penn State)

1993               Hawaii                                   Southern Methodist     RR*                Valerie Agee (Hawaii)

1994 (Jan.)   Rhode Island                       Northeast Louisiana   RR*                Dayna Smith (Rhode Island)

1994 (Dec.)   Clemson                               UCLA                             79-62             Tara Saunooke (Clemson)

1995               South Carolina                     Arizona State                83-71             Shannon Johnson (South Carolina)

1996               Georgia                                 Oregon                          72-55             Tracy Henderson (Georgia)

1997               Tennessee                           Wisconsin                     87-66             Chamique Holdsclaw (Tennessee)

1998               No Tournament

1999               Kansas                                  Louisville                       78-68             Lynn Pride (Kansas)

2000               Ohio State                             Rhode Island               95-60             Jamie Lewis (Ohio State)

2001               Iowa                                       Gonzaga                        90-73             Lindsey Meder (Iowa)

2002               Nevada                                  Indiana                          68-56             Laura Ingham (Nevada)

2003               Alaska Anchorage               Clemson                       61-58             Kamie Jo Massey (Alaska Anchorage)

2004               Stanford                                 Louisiana-Lafayette    67-47             Candice Wiggins (Stanford)

2005               Central Connecticut State  Arizona                           69-65 OT       Gabriella Guegbelet, (Central Connecticut St.)

2006               Alaska Anchorage               UC Riverside                72-67             Rebecca Kielpinski (Alaska Anchorage)

2007               Alaska Anchorage               Santa Clara                  52-50             Rebecca Kielpinski (Alaska Anchorage)

2008               Alaska Anchorage               Syracuse                       58-57             Rebecca Kielpinski (Alaska Anchorage)

 

*RR = 4-team round robin format

 

Men’s Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout History

Year            Champion                                      Runner-up                           Score                Most Outstanding Player

1978           North Carolina State                   Louisville                            72-66                Clyde Austin (N.C. State)

1979           Kentucky                                        Iona                                     57-50                Jeff Ruland (Iona)

1980           North Carolina                             Arkansas                            64-58                Scott Hastings (Arkansas)

1981           Southwestern Louisiana           Marquette                           81-64                Steve Burtt (Iona)

1982           Louisville                                       Vanderbilt                           80-70                Lancaster Gordon (Louisville)

1983           North Carolina State                   Arkansas                            65-60                Joe Kleine (Arkansas)

1984           Alabama-Birmingham                Kansas                               50-46                Steve Mitchell (Alabama-Birmingham)

1985           North Carolina                             UNLV                                   65-60                Brad Daugherty (North Carolina)

1986           Iowa                                               Northeastern                   103-80                Roy Marble (Iowa)

1987           Arizona                                           Syracuse                            80-69                Sean Elliott (Arizona)

1988           Seton Hall                                     Kansas                               92-81                Chris Mills (Kentucky)

1989           Michigan State                             Kansas State                     73-68                Steve Smith (Michigan State)

1990           UCLA                                             Virginia                                89-74                Don MacLean (UCLA)

1991           Massachusetts                            New Orleans                     68-56                Jim McCoy (Massachusetts)

1992           New Mexico State                        Illinois                                 95-94                Sam Crawford (New Mexico State)

1993           Purdue                                           Portland                              88-73                Glenn Robinson (Purdue)

1994           Minnesota                                     Brigham Young                 79-74                Townsend Orr (Minnesota)

1995           Duke                                              Iowa                                     88-81                Ray Allen (Connecticut)

1996           Kentucky                                        College of Charleston     92-65                Ron Mercer (Kentucky)

1997           North Carolina                             Purdue                                73-69                Antawn Jamison (North Carolina)

1998           Cincinnati                                      Duke                                    77-75                William Avery (Duke)

1999           Kansas                                          Georgia Tech                     84-70                Drew Gooden (Kansas)

2000           Syracuse                                       Missouri                              84-62                Preston Shumpert (Syracuse)

2001           Marquette                                      Gonzaga                             72-63                Dwyane Wade (Marquette)

2002           College of Charleston                Villanova                             71-69                Troy Wheless (College of Charleston)

2003           Purdue                                           Duke                                    78-68                Kenneth Lowe (Purdue)

2004           Washington                                  Alabama                             79-76                Nate Robinson (Washington)

2005           Marquette                                      South Carolina                  92-89    OT       Steve Novak (Marquette)

2006           California                                      Loyola Marymount            78-70                Ryan Anderson (California)

2007           Butler                                             Texas Tech                        81-71                Mike Green (Butler)

2008           San Diego State                          Hampton                            76-47                Kyle Spain (San Diego State)

 

GoSeawolves.com

 

 

Nate Sagan
Sports Information Director

University of Alaska Anchorage
3211 Providence Dr. / Anchorage, AK 99508
(907) 786-1295 / Fax: (907) 563-4565
GoSeawolves.com

 

Rinner leaves UAA for D-II head position

ANCHORAGE – After six years at Alaska Anchorage, men’s basketball associate head coach Shane Rinner has accepted the head coaching position at Texas A&M-International, the school announced Monday.

 

Rinner helped the Seawolves go 113-67 during his tenure, with four NCAA Division II Tournament appearances and a trip to the Final Four in 2008.

“I’ve had an incredible experience here at UAA,” said Rinner, who grew up in Anchorage. “I will certainly miss the players, co-workers, boosters and fans I have grown to know over the last six years.

 

“But with the chance to become a head coach, and the amazing new facilities they have in place at TAMUI, I know that this is the right move for my family and me. I’d like to thank school president Dr. Ray Keck and athletic director Claudio Arias for this opportunity.”

TAMUI is a second-year NCAA D-II program located in Laredo, Texas. The Dustdevils play in the Heartland Conference.

 

“This is a terrific opportunity for Shane to be a head coach,” said Seawolf head coach Rusty Osborne. “We are proud that he’s earned this chance and we wish him good luck in Texas. We will certainly miss all that he did for our program, but are extremely excited for Shane, (his wife) Amanda, and (daughter) Tagan.

 

“As a head coach, you always want to see your assistants attain other head jobs, so this is a success for our program. Although this situation arose within the last week, we are confident that we have the plans in place to move forward quickly to fill this vacancy.”

 

--GoSeawolves.com--

 

Nate Sagan
Sports Information Director

University of Alaska Anchorage
3211 Providence Dr. / Anchorage, AK 99508
(907) 786-1295 / Fax: (907) 563-4565
GoSeawolves.com