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News Nuggets, 12.04.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Hectic December for Southern Miss kicks off today

HATTIESBURG — Southern Mississippi is braced for a rare December double.

The Golden Eagles close their schedule against No. 4 California on Saturday. In less than two weeks, they kick off the postseason against North Texas in the New Orleans Bowl.

``The bowl game right now is the last thing we're worried about,'' quarterback Dustin Almond said earlier this week. ``We're just focused on Cal, and we'll get to the bowl game after Cal.''

Hurricane Ivan forced Southern Miss to extend its already back-loaded regular season by an extra week. The home game with Cal (9-1), originally scheduled for Sept. 16, was pushed back when the storm pounded the Gulf Coast.

That cuts into valuable preparation time for the bowl for the Golden Eagles (6-4), whose final bye week was Oct. 30. They are closing the season with games on five straight Saturdays.

Most schools have nearly a month after the regular-season finale to rest, heal, practice — and, of course, sell tickets — before their bowl games.

North Texas will have 16 extra days to prepare for the Golden Eagles. The Mean Green's season ended Nov. 18.

Southern Miss might not have enough time before the Dec. 16 bowl game to use all of its NCAA-allotted 15 pre-bowl practices. Two-a-days during the school year probably aren't an option, Almond said.

``I'm sure we'll just build off this Cal game,'' Almond said. ``If (two-a-days are scheduled), just probably some walkthroughs (but) nothing full-gear.''

Southern Miss accepted the bowl bid last Sunday after snapping a three-game losing streak and becoming bowl eligible the previous day with a 26-21 win over UAB.

``I didn't even know there was going to be a deal (Sunday) night until I got the call,'' coach Jeff Bower said. ``We'll be excited to go to New Orleans, but we've got to take care of this weekend first.''

The Golden Eagles play in the season's second-to-last game — Michigan State vs. Hawaii kicks off nearly three hours later.

Bower previously said Cal officials acted unprofessionally when they declared the game postponed nearly 24 hours before Southern Miss decided its status. Golden Eagles officials confirmed the postponement shortly after Cal's announcement.

On Monday, Bower said he doesn't have any hard feelings, adding, ``I just didn't agree with how the decision was made.''

Crimson Tide basketball rolls into Charlotte

Alabama's top concern entering this season was its inexperience at point guard. Freshman Ronald Steele is doing his best to make that a non-issue.

The 22nd-ranked Crimson Tide, coming off the second-highest scoring performance in school history, look to maintain that momentum when they visit Charlotte on Saturday.

With four starters returning from last season's team that advanced to the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament, Alabama (5-1) figured to be a strong team in 2004-05. The big question for the Tide was how fast Steele, a two-time Alabama Mr. Basketball, would take to get comfortable running the offense.

Steele hasn't had much trouble in his first six games, averaging 10.0 points, 6.7 assists and 4.2 rebounds.

Steele was outstanding in Alabama's 114-77 rout of East Tennessee State on Thursday, setting a school record with 18 assists, just one shy of the Southeastern Conference record. Nearly as impressive was that Steele didn't commit a turnover.

``Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would have 18 assists as a freshman,'' Steele said. ``The biggest thing for me was that I didn't commit any turnovers.''

Steele wasn't the only member of the Crimson Tide that had a memorable game.

Earnest Shelton scored 24 points, making 6-of-11 from 3-point range, and Kennedy Winston added 21 points, including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc, and 10 rebounds.

Alabama set a school record with 19 3-pointers, breaking the previous mark of 16 set in 1996 against Mercer. The 114 points equaled the second-most in school history, nine shy of the record set against South Florida in 1972.

Alabama coach Mark Gottfried was more pleased with his defense.

``The way we played tonight is how we need to play,'' he said. ``Defensively, we had lots of energy and intensity. We got our break going; we got out to run because of our defense. Then we turn around offensively and had 30 assists. Everybody was looking to make the extra pass.''

Gottfried knows getting his team to play strong defense is essential because the Tide are proving to be a more than capable offensive club. The Tide's 90 points per game, 52.2-percent shooting from the field and 45.3-percent mark from 3-point range all lead the SEC.

Alabama has three players among the conference's top-10 scorers. Shelton is second with 20.2 points per game, junior forward Chuck Davis ranks fifth at 17.2 and Winston ninth at 15.7.

While some teams can be accused of playing a soft early schedule, Alabama isn't one of them. Tuesday's visit to Alabama State on Tuesday will mark the Tide's fourth straight game against a 2004 NCAA tournament team.

Saturday's matchup will be the third in a row for Charlotte (3-1) against a 2004 NCAA tourney participant.

The 49ers had little trouble with the first two, posting double-digit wins over Valparaiso and Louisiana-Lafayette.

Freshman guard Leemire Goldwire led five Charlotte players in double figures with 17 points Wednesday in an 84-68 victory over visiting Louisiana-Lafayette.

Like Alabama, Charlotte features a balanced attack as five players have double-figure scoring averages. Guard Brendan Plavich leads the team with 15.2 points per game, while fellow senior Mitchell Baldwin adds 13.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists.

Alabama has won two of three meetings with Charlotte.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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