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News Nuggets, 03.12.05
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Cards stand between Memphis and NCAA bid

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Memphis is one win away from fulfilling its preseason promise — and knocking a team hoping for an at-large bid out of the NCAA tournament.

The Tigers can earn an automatic bid to the NCAAs and win the Conference USA tournament for the first time ever when they meet No. 6 Louisville in Saturday's title game at the FedExForum (11:30 a.m., CBS).

Memphis (19-14) was ranked 24th in the country in the preseason before going 7-7 in non-conference play and losing star forward Sean Banks for the season due to academic ineligibility. The Tigers entered this event just two games above .500 and likely headed to the NIT, but one more win will propel them into the field of 65.

``We all got to figure out how we get these guys in the NCAA tournament because I'm telling you this will be the best team I've had in the NCAA tournament if I can get them there,'' Memphis coach John Calipari said.

Playing on its home court, Memphis could also take away an at-large berth from another team since Louisville (28-4) will earn an NCAA bid even with a loss Saturday. The seventh-seeded Tigers beat Saint Louis in the first round, upset No. 25 Charlotte in the quarterfinals and posted an 81-68 win over South Florida in the semifinals Friday.

The Tigers face a difficult task since the 10:30 a.m. local start time (11:30 a.m. ET) will be less than 14 hours after their semifinal ended.

Louisville presents a tough opponent. The Cardinals have won eight straight games and 17 of 18.

This is the Cardinals' final appearance in the tournament since they are moving to the Big East next season. They won the event two years ago for their only crown.

Louisville advanced by rallying from a nine-point deficit in the second half for a 74-67 victory over Alabama-Birmingham on Friday. Francisco Garcia scored 11 of his 13 points after halftime and Taquan Dean's 11 rebounds helped the Cardinals to a 50-30 edge on the glass.

``You cannot say how well the guys came and played down the stretch,'' Louisville assistant Reggie Theus said. ``Taquan Dean probably had double figure rebounds and four or five of those came in the last minute and half of the game.''

Theus replaced Louisville coach Rick Pitino for the post-game press conference since Pitino was being treated for an ear infection.

Louisville and Memphis split a pair of meetings this season with each winning on the road. The Tigers won at Freedom Hall, 85-68 on Feb. 8 by limiting Louisville to just under 33 percent shooting from the floor.

Calipari has won four of seven matchups since Pitino took over the Cardinals in 2001.

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Pirates' head trainer wins statewide award

The North Carolina Athletic Trainers Association has named East Carolina's Mike Hanley its College/University Trainer of the Year.

The organization announced Friday that Hanley, ECU's Assistant Athletics Director for Medical Services, is the recipient of the 2005 award, according to an ECU athletics news release.

Hanley, who is in his 15th season on the ECU Sports Medicine staff and his 10th as head athletic trainer, will be honored Saturday during the NCATA's Annual Meeting in Charlotte.

The yearly award recognizes outstanding service and commitment by an individual to the profession and to the NCATA, said the release, which noted that winner is selected by vote of peers and colleagues.

Hanley has played an active role for the NCATA during his tenure at East Carolina, serving in various capacities, including work on committees and as editor of the association's newsletter.

Prior to joining the ECU Athletics staff in 1990, Hanley spent three years at Kent State as assistant athletic trainer and one season as head athletic trainer at Kentucky Wesleyan. After accepting an assistant's position on the Pirates' staff, he earned a promotion to the head athletic trainer's role in 1995 before being elevated to assistant athletics director's status last fall.

In addition to overseeing all facets of East Carolina's Athletic Training operation, Hanley is directly responsible for the day-to-day care, injury prevention and rehabilitation efforts for the entire Pirate football program.

The New Rochelle, NY, native earned his bachelor's degree from East Carolina in 1982 before following with a master's degree from Eastern Illinois in 1986.

Compiled from an ECU Athletics report.

N.C. college baseball coach reaches milestone

FAYETTEVILLE — Methodist baseball coach Tom Austin won the 800th game of his 25-plus seasons when the Monarchs beat St. Paul's 20-0.

The victory Thursday gave him a career record at Methodist of 800-314-9.

Austin became the eighth coach in NCAA Division III history to reach that milestone and the fourth active coach at the Division III level with 800 career victories.

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.

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