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News Nuggets, 01.29.05
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Wolfpack turns to NFL for offensive coordinator

RALEIGH — Longtime NFL assistant Marc Trestman was hired Friday by North Carolina State as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Trestman, who spent last season as the quarterbacks coach and assistant head coach with the Miami Dolphins, agreed to a multiyear contract that will pay him an initial salary of $175,000.

He replaces Noel Mazzone, who left to take a similar position with Mississippi.

``We are thrilled to have someone with such an extensive resume join our staff,'' Wolfpack coach Chuck Amato said. ``He has worked with such an impressive group of players and coaches and his expertise will be a huge benefit to the Wolfpack program.''

A 17-year NFL coaching veteran, Trestman has worked in various offensive capacities with the eight different teams. His stint with the Oakland Raiders included a trip to the Super Bowl in 2003.

He also spent two seasons as the quarterbacks coach at the University of Miami, where he worked with Bernie Kosar and Heisman Trophy winner Vinny Testaverde.

High-flying Cards eye Tulane as next victim

Larry O'Bannon dazzled the home crowd with the best game of his career.

O'Bannon hopes to be just as impressive on the road as No. 12 Louisville shoots for its season-high seventh straight win at Conference USA foe Tulane on Saturday.

The 6-foot-4 senior guard hit six 3-pointers and scored 30 points, both career highs, to lead the Cardinals (17-3, 5-1) in a 99-52 victory over Marquette on Wednesday.

O'Bannon also had five rebounds, two steals and a career-best seven assists for Louisville, which posted season highs of 56.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc and 17 three-pointers made against the Golden Eagles.

He punctuated the night with a steal and breakaway dunk before Cardinals coach Rick Pitino took him out, prompting chants of ``Lar-ree! Lar-ree!'' from the crowd.

``You can't beat that — 20,000 people yelling for you. You can't even dream of that,'' said O'Bannon, who went 9-of-13 from the field. ``I didn't want to crack a smile, but I was sunshine on the inside.''

Pitino was pleased for the soft-spoken and hard-working O'Bannon, the team's second leading scorer with 14.8 points per game.

``Larry had a special night,'' Pitino said. ``It's wonderful to see a person like him have a game like this. He exemplifies everything we're trying to build with our program.''

Senior forward Ellis Myles had 12 rebounds Wednesday and averages a team-high 9.3 boards per game — second-best in the conference to East Carolina's Corey Rouse.

Francisco Garcia added 14 points for the Cardinals, who won for the 11th time in 12 games and are tied atop the conference with Charlotte. The 6-7 junior forward paces the best offense in C-USA with 16.6 points a game.

All five starters have double-figure scoring averages for Louisville, which leads the league in scoring offense (84.6 ppg), field goal percentage (48.4), and 3-point percentage (41.2).

The Cardinals, who lead the nation with a plus-24.0 scoring margin, rank second in the conference in scoring defense (60.7) and field goal percentage defense (36.8).

Tulane (8-10, 2-5) has won two of three since a season-high four-game losing streak.

Freshman guard Taylor Rochestie scored a team-high 13 points and hit the game-winner for the second time in three games in a 63-61 victory over Houston on Wednesday.

The Green Wave held the Cougars to 35.5 percent shooting and outrebounded them 52-30.

``We made the extra effort all night all over the court and that is the difference in winning,'' Tulane coach Shawn Finney said.

Quincy Davis, a 6-9 junior center, leads Tulane with 13.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

Saturday's game was scheduled for the New Orleans Arena but was changed to Fogelman Arena on campus after Tulane's thrilling 76-73 overtime win there over UAB on Jan. 19. The Green Wave are 6-2 at home this season.

``We want to continue the excitement on campus and we hope to sell out the Louisville game,'' Tulane athletic director Rick Dickson said. ``That is the type of environment we need to give our team the best chance at success.''

Louisville, 4-1 on the road this season, leads the all-time series 36-6 and has won six straight meetings.

Smothering Cincinnati defense awaits Cougs

Coach Bob Huggins looks for another solid effort on the defensive end when 21st-ranked Cincinnati takes on visiting Houston on Saturday.

The Bearcats (16-3, 5-1 C-USA) rebounded from last Saturday's four-point loss to then-No. 3 Wake Forest by stifling South Florida on Thursday, 74-48. The Bearcats limited the Bulls to just 26 percent shooting from the floor (15-for-58), blocked eight shots and made seven steals.

``That's really what we've done all year,'' said Huggins, whose team limited South Florida to 5-for-30 shooting in the first half. ``This is not one of our best offensive teams, but considering our lack of size inside we've really done a good job defensively.''

Cincinnati, which will leave Conference USA after this season for the Big East, came into this week ranked second nationally in field-goal defense at 36.4 percent. The Bearcats were also third in blocked shots, and now have 144.

Jason Maxiell and Eric Hicks have been Cincinnati's most reliable offensive options, averaging 15.2 and 13.1 points, respectively. Maxiell, a 6-foot-7 senior forward, is shooting a team-best 53 percent from the floor, while Hicks, a 6-6 junior, is pulling down a team-leading 8.6 rebounds per game.

In the win over South Florida, Hicks led the Bearcats with 19 points and 11 boards. While Maxiell was held to seven points, Armein Kirkland stepped up to score 12 off the bench and Jihad Muhammad added 10 for Cincinnati.

Houston (12-8, 3-3) has lost two of three, including a 63-61 defeat to Tulane on Wednesday. Leading scorer Andre Owens scored 23 points, but the Cougars gave away the game at the foul line.

Coach Tom Penders said that type of loss will hinder the Cougars' chances of getting into the NCAA tournament.

``Tonight was one of the most frustrating nights in coaching,'' Penders said. ``We played hard, forced 26 turnovers and had 19 steals, then we go 11-for-21 at the free-throw line. It's real disappointing when you start thinking about the NCAA tournament and you give it away.''

Houston's troubles could continue Saturday. The Cougars are not nearly as good offensively on the road as they are at home, averaging almost 14 fewer points (63.4 ppg). Houston is shooting just 37 percent on the road.

Owens is averaging 17.4 points despite shooting 38 percent from the floor. Second-leading scorer Lanny Smith is adding 14.9 points and a team-high 3.9 assists per game.

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 2005 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:20 PM