East Carolina

Carolinas/Region

Conference USA

January 8, 2006
Elvis Presley Birthday (singer)

From Bonesville.net
-AP: Pirates overcome St. Paul's
-BVL: ECU vs. St. Paul's Box Score
-Nuggets: Notes from ECU, C-USA and beyond
� Memphis faces Winthrop in tune-up for ECU
� C-USA Basketball Scoreboard & Schedule

From ecupirates.com
-East Carolina Downs Saint Paul's By Six
   Five players scored double figures to lead East Carolina to an 80-74 victory over Saint Paul's here Saturday night as the Pirates concluded non-conference play.
-Lady Pirates Close Out Five-Game Road Trip With Memphis On The Horizon

Pirates cage Tigers
   East Carolina knew it would have its hands full when the Tigers came to Minges Coliseum.  But most associated with the men's basketball team felt it would be the No. 4 Memphis Tigers on Wednesday who would give ECU fits and not the Division II Saint Paul's College Tigers, who strolled into Greenville Saturday night.
Greenville Daily Reflector

ECU hangs on to beat St. Paul's
New Bern Sun Journal

From the Kinston Free Press
-Ingram shining at ECU
   The Pirates sorely lacked a solid outside shooter and Ingram has filled that void. ECU needed an emotional leader and the sophomore has stepped up and delivered.
-Pirates thwart St. Paul's upset bid

ECU rallies back to defeat St. Paul�s
Washington Daily News

Coker looks at Berry
   Berry was recommended to Coker by former East Carolina coach Steve Logan. Berry spent four years as offensive coordinator at East Carolina before serving as head coach at Illinois State for three seasons and Army for another three.
Orlando Sentinel

ULM's Berry in Canes' aim
   Berry � the former head coach at Illinois State and Army � has been a hot commodity this off-season. ULM head coach Charlie Weatherbie, who confirmed that Miami sought permission to talk to Berry, said that Arkansas and Tennessee have also shown interest in his offensive coordinator.
Monroe (LA) News Star

January 7, 2006

From Bonesville.net
-Peele: Woody's Ramblings
� 'Holtz/Peele Poll' on the money again
-Nuggets: Notes from ECU, C-USA and beyond
� N.C. Hall to enshrine ECU grad Charlie Adams
� Pirates announce '2-for-$20' hoops ticket deal
� C-USA Basketball Scoreboard & Schedule
� Final C-USA Football Postseason Scoreboard
WNCT: Talk of the Town

Pirate Gameday
Men's Basketball: vs. St Pauls
 7:00pm ET - Greenville, NC
Gametracker
AUDIO: CSTV All Access (PPV)

Pirates host D-II St. Paul's tonight
New Bern Sun Journal

From the Greenville Daily Reflector
-ECU men's team opens Conference USA play on Wednesday
   If there's one guy who knows the importance of the old cliche "Take it one game at a time," it's Ricky Stokes.
-ECU plays host to big football recruiting weekend
   East Carolina coach Skip Holtz would love nothing more than to have them here every weekend for the next four or five years.

East Carolina Wins Third Consecutive Game 59-53 Over UAB
   The East Carolina women's basketball team improved to 4-1 on their current road trip following a 59-53 victory over Conference USA foe UAB. The victory moves ECU to 9-4 overall and 1-1 in C-USA action.
ecupirates.com

From the Boston Globe
-Gallant Garrard takes a step back
   David Garrard could probably star in a television series, ''Everybody Loves The Backup Quarterback." Except beginning tonight, it's already in reruns.
-Big cats on prowl
   Few players have seen their stock rise in the last month more than quarterback David Garrard, who led the Jaguars to four victories in five starts (the lone loss coming to the Colts) as Byron Leftwich recuperated from a broken ankle suffered Nov. 27.

Firings only a matter of time
   Coker has contacted potential candidates to fill the five open spots [defensive line coach Greg Mark was fired in October] on his staff. He also has consulted his friends in the industry, like former East Carolina coach Steve Logan..."I've had two or three offers in the last week, but none of them have been from Miami," said Logan, who replaced Coker as Tulsa's offensive coordinator in 1983.
Orlando Sentinel

From the Charlotte Observer
-Former Panther Duckett with N.Y.
   Duckett, a Lexington native who played at East Carolina, said it's fitting his first playoff game is against the Panthers.
-Preps: Twin sisters a great double team
   The twins are the daughters of former NBA player Blue Edwards, who played at East Carolina and then for 10 years in the NBA with Utah, Milwaukee, Boston, Vancouver and Miami. His career scoring average was better than 10 points per game.  Edwards' wife, Valerie, played at East Carolina as well, and the couple have coached their daughters for years.

January 6, 2006
Three Kings Day

From Bonesville.net
-O'Brien: College Notebook No. 16
� Awkward tie-ins the major flaw with bowls
-Batten: Football Recruiting Report
� Cape Fear's Melvin just the right size for ECU
-Nuggets: Notes from ECU, C-USA and beyond
� College baseball icon Rod Dedeaux dead at 91
� C-USA Basketball Scoreboard & Schedule
� Final C-USA Football Postseason Scoreboard
WNCT: Talk of the Town

From the Greenville Daily Reflector
-Holtz hoping for bigger piece of the bowl pie
   While it might be tough for casual fans to have much interest in a majority of the head-to-head matchups the system bears, a head coach can see perfectly well the countless advantages, including being able to keep his team fully assembled and operational for an extra month.
-ECU women prepare for UAB duo
   It didn't take long for East Carolina women's basketball coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener to pinpoint the key for the Pirates when they take on UAB in Birmingham at 8 tonight � they have to stop Crystal McFadden and Carmen Guzman.

UNCW, Wake making Pirates better
   The East Carolina basketball team should be pleased with their performance so far this season as the start of Conference USA action looms on the horizon.
New Bern Sun Journal

NCAA - The athletics directors speak
  East Carolina sponsors 18 varsity sports and competes in Conference USA.
Raleigh News & Observer

Four locals on their way to NC Hall of Fame
   Adams...played basketball at East Carolina and spent several years as a high school coach.
Durham Herald-Sun

January 5, 2006

From Bonesville.net
-Myatt: View From The 'ville
� Challenges ahead growing in magnitude
-Nuggets: Notes from ECU, C-USA and beyond
� Former C-USA chief Slive takes reigns of BCS
� C-USA Basketball Scoreboard & Schedule
� Final C-USA Football Postseason Scoreboard
WNCT: Talk of the Town

Ingram makes successful return to Winston-Salem
   East Carolina sophomore Jeremy Ingram said his emotions were up when he made his return to Lawrence Joel Coliseum. Prior to enrolling at ECU a year ago, Ingram spent three semesters as a member of the Wake Forest basketball team.
Kinston Free Press

Switch to zone helps Wake avoid ECU upset
New Bern Sun Journal

Pirates continue to be encouraged by recent play
   "I think every game, this team gets better and better," said ECU sophomore Jeremy Ingram
Greenville Daily Reflector

Judgment day nears
   Judgment day nears: By sticking with Leftwich, Jags may miss on their Brady
Boston Herald

They're not passing on preparing for both
   Leftwich starts, Garrard is on call.
Boston Globe

Jags have plenty of QB horsepower under the hood
   It's a debate of the highest order and has been played out extensively on radio call-in shows, at Laundromats, pubs and office water coolers and even on the editorial page of the local newspaper.
USA Today

January 4, 2006

From Bonesville.net
-Bradsher: The Bradsher Beat
� Losing with substance keeps morale intact
-AP: Missed call rescues Deacs
-BVL: ECU vs. Wake Box Score
-Nuggets: Notes from ECU, C-USA and beyond
� College career over for inured UAB star Eddins
� C-USA Basketball Scoreboard & Schedule
� Final C-USA Football Postseason Scoreboard
WNCT: Talk of the Town

East Carolina Loses Heartbreaker to No. 23 Wake Forest 58-54
   Although the teams haven't met in 20 years, two of the previous three games were decided by five points or less. This one followed that theme.
ecupirates.com

ECU misses out on upset bid at Wake
   In the end, ECU's youth was exposed as the Pirates failed to convert a field goal in the last four minutes and turned the ball over on a couple of key possessions...
Greenville Daily Reflector

Pirates give Deacs a scare
   ECU, sparked by Courtney Captain (14 points) and Wake transfer Jeremy Ingram (10), led five times in the second half and was deadlocked at 54-54 with 3:24 left.
Raleigh News & Observer

Pirates put scare into Wake Forest
   East Carolina forced No. 23 Wake Forest into turnovers and out of rhythm...
Kinston Free Press

Deacons survive
   WFU turns back East Carolina's upset bid 58-54
Winston Salem Journal

From the Charlotte Observer
-Wake struggles in victory
   The Deacons had 21 turnovers and made just 16 of 27 free-throw attempts against East Carolina (5-7).
-OBSERVATIONS DAVID SCOTT

January 3, 2006

From Bonesville.net
-Peele: Woody's Ramblings
� Soccer not alone in graveyard of lost sports
-Bailey: From The Anchor Desk
� Rout of old nemesis ignites new optimism
-Nuggets: Notes from ECU, C-USA and beyond
� Pirates, Deacs face off for first time since 1986
� C-USA Basketball Scoreboard & Schedule
� Final C-USA Football Postseason Scoreboard

From ecupirates.com
-ECU Opens 2006 At Wake Forest Tuesday Night
  First Meeting Between the Two Schools In 20 Years
-Lady Pirates Continue To Win Close Games with 61-55 Victory Over Alabama
   For the fifth time this season the East Carolina women's basketball team won on the road

Ingram, a transfer from Wake Forest, providing a boost to East Carolina
Winston Salem Journal

From the Greenville Daily Reflector
-Ingram hoping to torch former school
   Jeremy Ingram would love to light up the scoreboard against the team which couldn't find playing time for him two seasons ago.
-ECU women win another close game at Alabama

Pirate Gameday
Men's Basketball: @ Wake Forest
 9:00pm ET - Winston Salem, NC
Gametracker
TV: Fox Sports Net - South
AUDIO: CSTV All Access (PPV)

January 2, 2006

From Bonesville.net
-Hinton: Henry's Highlights
� Crystal ball foretells tantalizing year
-Nuggets: Notes from ECU, C-USA and beyond
� Rice lures Tulsa defensive guru as head coach
� Final C-USA Football Postseason Scoreboard
� C-USA Basketball Scoreboard & Schedule

Women's Basketball Continues Road Trip By Rolling Into Alabama
ecupirates.com

Better guard play is helping Pirates
   It's not unusual for the smallest guys on the floor to make the biggest impact in college basketball. East Carolina's men's team is finding out just that.
Greenville Daily Reflector

Wake Forest Hosts East Carolina Tuesday At 9 pm In Joel
wakeforestsports.com

Jaguars in good arms with backup QBs
Florida Times Union

January 8, 2006

From the Winston Salem Journal
-Deacons eyeing fourth straight win over Devils at Joel Coliseum
   The Deacons, who two games ago blew out Charleston Southern 87-47 and last game struggled to beat East Carolina 58-54, have been consistently inconsistent...
-Panthers head north for a 'Giant' playoff battle
-Atoyebi helps hot Elon beat Appalachian 65-59

From the Charlotte Observer
-Expectations are bit higher for Panthers
-Magic too much for Bobcats
-49ers get 1 for the road

ODU survives rough start to stay unbeaten at home
Hampton Roads Daily Press

From the Durham Herald Sun
-Seniors get another shot at Wake
   "It would hard to go through my career and never win at a specific arena," Duke senior Shelden Williams said. "They're a different team when they play us, especially at their place."
-Final minutes leave Pack stunned
-Top linebacker commits to UNC-CH

From the Raleigh News & Observer
-Canes pull no punches, smack Islanders
-Redskins defense stands up
-Heels finish off Pack

From the Greensboro News Record
-'Step up or shut up' game for inconsistent Deacons
-Mocs hold off Spartans
-Late-game collapse dooms Wolfpack

East Tennessee State holds off Campbell, 110-96
Fayetteville Observer

From the Greenville (SC) News
-Tigers lose again on ACC road
-Gamecocks have eyes on NCAAs

From Columbia (SC) The State
-Success just the ticket for drawing fans
   But until Gamecocks ascend to top of SEC, school officials will try hard to boost slumping attendance
-Overlarge arena doesn�t fit USC

January 7, 2006

From the Raleigh News & Observer
-Hokies boot Vick
   QB off team after numerous issues.
-Reaction speed troubling
   Four days after Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick stomped a Louisville player in the Gator Bowl, he was hit with the penalty.
-Tulloch to skip senior season
   NCSU linebacker will make himself available for the NFL draft after strong bowl showing.
-Pack, Heels feeling their way as ACC kicks into gear
-State has edge, but nothing's certain

From the Durham Herald Sun
-Experience on Wolfpack's side today
-Wolfpack better without Hodge?

Sendek has Wolfpack winning without stars
Charlotte Observer

From the Winston Salem Journal
-It's Time to Get Serious
   Intensity level usually higher in conference play
-Strickland key against Duke
   He started the season well, but has had sub-par performances in recent games
-Mountaineers to play rising Phoenix

Blue Devils seniors hope Joel skid ends
Greensboro News-Record

Not enough time for Miller
   UNC-Wilmington's Nate Miller didn't play a minute Thursday night during a 71-58 men's basketball win at Delaware. Nor did he expect to.
Wilmington Star News

January 6, 2006

Tech will suspend Vick
   The quarterback stomped on a Louisville player's leg during Monday's Gator Bowl.
Hampton Roads (VA) Daily Mail

Krzyzewski- Don't expect Duke to remain unbeaten
Durham Herald-Sun

From the Raleigh News & Observer
-True blue test ahead
   N.C. State will try to trump history when it takes on the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill on Saturday.
-100 years ... and change
   The NCAA has been able to adapt, which is why it is 'still a very viable organization.'
-NCAA Present - The leaders speak
   Leading the NCAA might be the most thankless job in sports.

From the Columbia (SC) The State
-Defensive coordinator�s role is life in fast lane
   Spurrier asks much of defensive coordinators
-Wofford steps in as new USC football foe
-Tigers crack season-ending polls
   No. 21 ranking team�s highest since 2000; Whitehurst, Hill will play in Senior Bowl

Tigers ranked No. 2 in baseball
   Clemson returns most key players from 2005 team
Greenville (SC) News

UNC-Wilmington baseball team gaining national respect
   Is the UNC-Wilmington baseball program on the brink of national prominence? After several phone conversations and hours of research this week, the answer seems an obvious yes.
Wilmington Star News

January 5, 2006

Attention falls on Dukes after Deacons are shaky vs. Pirates
   Asked to explain Wake Forest's offensive inefficiency in Tuesday night's ragged 58-54 victory over East Carolina, senior Trent Strickland got straight to the point.
Winston Salem Journal

Tigers win ACC opener - CLEMSON 61, FLORIDA STATE 55
   If you weren�t in attendance at Wednesday�s Atlantic Coast Conference opener between Clemson and Florida State, you�re out of luck; this one won�t be appearing on ESPN Classic soon.
Anderson Independent

Welcome back, 'Eers
   Sugar Bowl champs will return 75 percent of their players next season
Charleston (WV) Daily Mail

Wofford falls into Elon's traps
   Shane Nichols heard there were basketball rims hanging in the Benjamin Johnson Arena on Wednesday night, but he never actually got a good look.
Spartanburg Herald Journal

Seahawks seek answers for a turnaround
   That 9-2 start seems as if it occurred a lifetime ago for the UNC-Wilmington men?s basketball team. The Black Coaches Invitational championship and four other wins by 18 or more points ? those are nothing but sidebars now.
Wilmington Star News

State loses football assistant
   Manny Diaz is expected to give up his duties as N.C. State safeties coach and special-teams coordinator in the next few days to become defensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee State.
Greensboro News Record

Guard picks Pack
   Wright 'impressed' by Sendek's program
Raleigh News & Observer

January 4, 2006

From the Raleigh News & Observer
-Pack's Williams to jump to NFL
   Defensive end expected to be top-10 pick.
-Heels worse off without Brown
   Shortly after Mack Brown left North Carolina for Texas following the final 1997 regular-season football game, he was asked what his legacy would be with the Tar Heels.
-UNC-CH coordinator has Triangle ties
   Cignetti takes over for retiring Tranquill.
-Hokies embarrassed by Vick's 'stomp'
   Virginia Tech athletics director Jim Weaver said Tuesday that his administration was embarrassed by Marcus Vick's unsportsmanlike conduct in the Gator Bowl on Monday and that the incident will be reviewed and dealt with.
-Wolfpack avoids letdown

Vick�s future with Hokies is uncertain
   Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick may face disciplinary action yet again in the wake of actions in Monday�s Gator Bowl that athletic director Jim Weaver called unsportsmanlike and unacceptable.
Virginian Pilot

North Carolina@Chapel Hill names offensive coordinator
   Cignetti says Bunting is reason he will leave his job at Fresno State
Winston Salem Journal

No letdown for Wolfpack against UNCG
   the Wolfpack looked sharp from start to finish in flattening the overmatched Spartans, 83-52.
Greensboro News-Record

UNCW falls to Old Dominion
   There isn't time for self-pity when it comes to the UNC-Wilmington men's basketball team. Not with Colonial Athletic Association play now in full swing.
Wilmington Star News

Kinsey helps USC get back up to speed
   Senior guard emerges from funk by scoring a career-high 24 points in Gamecocks� rout of S.C. State
Columbia (SC) The State

From the Durham Herald Sun
-Brown has the stage that he has wanted
   The day Mack Brown left North Carolina to take the Texas job, I was standing near the back of the room in Kenan Stadium where he was elaborating on his past, present and future.
-Williams less than thrilled by UNC's victory
-Health scare briefly silences Harris
   Bob Harris, the longtime radio voice of the Duke Blue Devils, was silenced Monday by what he described as heart "palpitations,"...

January 3, 2006

From the Charleston (WV) Gazette
-WVU Sugar rush
   Mountaineers hang on after fast start
-Bit of nerve clinches biggest win in WVU football history

FINISH WITH A FLURRY
   Underdog Louisville had the Hokies right where it wanted them, but then surrenders 22 points in the last 13 minutes.
Roanoke Times

Hokies regain their composure, win Gator Bowl
   By halftime, the Hokies trailed by a touchdown and had committed five personal fouls or unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, which did not include perhaps the most egregious act, Hokies quarterback Marcus Vick's stomping on the knee of defensive end Elvis Dumervil, which was not seen by the game officials.
Greensboro News-Record

Amato is excited about the possibilities that 2006 -- and beyond ...
   ...a non-conference schedule that includes home games against Appalachian State, East Carolina and Akron and a trip to Southern Mississippi. ...
CSTV.com

Duke men easily handle Bucknell
  For a few minutes Monday afternoon, a boisterous group of Bucknell fans could be heard loud and clear around Cameron Indoor Stadium, making the same shrill sounds heard during upsets at Pittsburgh, at Syracuse and in the NCAA Tournament over the last calendar year.
Durham Herald-Sun

From the Charlotte Observer
-Hornets leave Bobcats behind in 4th quarter
   Former Deacs star Paul has 24 points, 11 assists
-Panthers look in mirror, see Giants
   So here we go. The NFL's second season includes the Carolina Panthers for only the third time, and this time, the Panthers will play a team that looks an awful lot like themselves.

From the Raleigh News & Observer
-Pack's Williams expected to enter NFL draft today
   Moments after N.C. State's 14-0 victory Saturday over South Florida in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, Wolfpack linebacker Stephen Tulloch approached junior defensive end Mario Williams and said, "Farewell."
-Harris sits it out
   Bob Harris, the voice of the Blue Devils, did not work the Bucknell game Monday due to health reasons.

Iamarino hired to head SoCon
   John Iamarino, commissioner of the Northeast Conference, has been named to head the Southern Conference, the league announced Monday.
Spartanburg Herald-Journal

From Columbia (SC) The State
-Defensive upgrade has a price
   Gamecocks� numbers are down on offense, but players, coaches are unconcerned
-Recruiting | USC, Clemson prepare for rush

Shackleford arrested on drug charge
   Former NBA player and Kinston High School basketball star Charles Shackleford was arrested Saturday on drug and weapon charges during a routine traffic stop. The 39-year-old Shackleford, who played at North Carolina State and with four NBA Teams...
Kinston Free Press

January 2, 2006

From the Charlotte Observer
-Dash to the playoffs
   Panthers crush Falcons; face Giants next
-Is Proehl winding down?

Gator matches disappointing teams
   Hokies, Cardinals, headed for big bowls, both stumbled badly
Winston Salem Journal

January 8, 2006

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal
-Tigers schedule Winthrop to boost RPI, but only if they win
   After years of ranting about the RPI and insisting it was not only a mathematical formula but one also somehow designed to conspire against his University of Memphis Tigers, John Calipari vowed this past offseason to meet with a consultant in hopes of creating a schedule guaranteed to look good on paper.
-Preview- No. 4 Tigers vs. Winthrop

Memphis class of Conference USA
El Paso Times

No. 20 GW nips Herd in overtime
   It took 39-plus minutes, but all those turnovers and missed free throws finally caught up to the pesky Marshall club.
Charleston (WV) Gazette

Herd gives Colonials a scare, but falls in OT
Huntington Herald Dispatch

UH survives in double overtime
   It took two overtimes for the Cougars to finally subdue Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday night, pulling out an 86-83 victory that left the 4,358 fans at Hofheinz Pavilion completely spent afterward.
Houston Chronicle

Green Wave rolls to victory
   Tulane's Chris Moore admitted that he couldn't remember the last time an 18-point victory got him and his teammates a front-row seat in the coach's doghouse.
New Orleans Times Picayune

Perrett's injury forces staff revamp
   Baseball practice won't start for another three weeks at Southern Miss.
Jackson (MS) Clarion-Ledger

January 7, 2006

Jan. 7 Men's Basketball Notebook
conferenceusa.com

Marshall's Miles wants his slump to end soon
   Herd guard ready to play against team that once recruited him
Charleston (WV) Daily Mail

Tigers return to brain training
   Software expedites on-the-court multi-tasking
Memphis Commercial Appeal

Miles pumped for GW visit
Huntington Herald-Dispatch

TULANE vs. SAVANNAH STATE
New Orleans Times Picayune

January 6, 2006

From conferenceusa.com
-UCF's Burnett Named Freshman All-American By FWAA
-Bakanowsky, Battle Out for Season
   UCF Basketball players to redshirt this season due to injuries.
-Rice Beats Princeton, 52-41
-Jones' Career High 17 Leads Blazers Past Valdosta State, 98-69
-Jan. 6 Women's Basketball Notebook

UAB coasts in C-USA tuneup
Birmingham News

Miners try to keep roll going against tough Tulsa
El Paso Times

Marshall is reaping rewards as member of Conference USA
   Conference USA ranked seventh among the 11 conferences in bowl revenue, projected to finish ahead of the Mountain West ($3.45 million), WAC ($3 million), MAC and Sun Belt.
Charleston (WV) Daily Mail

Herd turns in top effort in latest win
Huntington (WV) Herald-Dispatch

From the Houston Chronicle
-Briles shakes up UH football program
   Assistants Harris, Blackshear relieved of duties at UH
-Rice's tempo slows Princeton

West stays cool in recruiting wars
   University of Memphis coach Tommy West doesn't understand the fuss. Yes, Conference USA members Southern Miss and UTEP have received double-digit verbal commitments from prospects in advance of Feb. 1. And, yes, that's nearly five times as many commitments as the Tigers have.
Memphis Commercial Appeal

Golden Knights give redshirts to upperclassmen
Orlando Sentinel

Owls Seventh In Baseball America Preseason Poll
cstv.com

January 5, 2006

From conferenceusa.com
-Marshall Climbs Past Mountaineers, 64-60
-No. 4 Tigers Dismiss Blue Raiders, 83-50
-Basketball Falls To Auburn, 87-50
-UAB Finishes Non-Conference Play With Valdosta State
-Five Named To New Owl Football Staff

Herd holds off Appalachian St.
Huntington Herald-Dispatch

Marshall gets revenge, a 64-60 win over ASU
   The Thundering Herd took control early and led all the way, hanging on in the closing minutes to topple the Mountaineers 64-60 in a rematch of former Southern Conference rivals.
Winston Salem Journal

Marshall fends off Appalachian
Charleston (WV) Gazette

From the El Paso Times
-Seniors have rare off night
   It was one of those tough basketball nights for a pair of UTEP seniors ... one of those nights when the ball simply would not find its way through the bottom of the basket.
-Inconsistency at foul line hurts Miners

Carney starts Tiger rout
   Meet the new Rod. Same as the old Rod. The type of player who as a reserve or starter is going to shoot 3s, dunk balls and score in bunches, the latest example coming Wednesday night when Rodney Carney led the University of Memphis to an 83-50 blowout of Middle Tennessee State.
Memphis Commercial Appeal

Hard-driving Tigers shoot lights out, pluck Eagles
   When it comes to his basketball philosophy, Southern Miss coach Larry Eustachy preaches defense and rebounding to his Golden Eagles.
Jackson (MS) Clarion-Ledger

CUSA head of officials admits Outback Bowl mistake
Bradenton Herald

C-USA says officials erred on Iowa onside kick penalty
   The call negated a Hawkeyes recovery and chance at a tying touchdown against the Gators in the Outback Bowl.
St Petersburg Times

January 4, 2006

From conferenceusa.com
-SMU Puts Scare into No. 12 Oklahoma but Falls 50-47
-Cougars Win Third Road Game of the Season with a 75-62 victory at Centenary
-Gomez Homecoming Not Enough for Tulane
-Marshall Men Battle Appalachian State At Holmes Center In Boone, N.C.
-Memphis Basketball Notes

Knights give UK a scare
   Rajon Rondo hits with a second left to deny UCF its biggest upset win in history.
Orlando Sentinel

SMU's upset bid falls short vs. OU
   No. 12 Oklahoma survived for a 50-47 victory in front of a pro-Sooners crowd of 6,857 Tuesday.
Dallas Morning News

Tigers roll past Tulane, 75-58
Baton Rouge Advocate

Big first half fires Houston past Centenary
Houston Chronicle

Miners seek to right ship
   The Miners will play at Syracuse tonight in the Carrier Dome, trying to regain their winning ways.
El Paso Times

Home, Sweet Home- Mountaineers relieved to get off road
   They'll do so tonight at 7 when they play Marshall, a former Southern Conference rival.
Winston Salem Journal

Injury ends Eddins' college career
   UAB star basketball player Demario Eddins tore his right Achilles tendon in Monday's victory over VCU, tests on Tuesday confirmed.
Birmingham News

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal
-Foul calls plague Tiger star
-Preview- No. 4 Tigers vs. Middle Tennessee

USM coach sees progress in defeat
   Southern Miss coach Larry Eustachy seems to be starting to see his cup of basketball fortunes starting to fill up rather than standing near empty.
Jackson (MS) Clarion-Ledger

January 3, 2006

Around Conference USA-Basketball
USA Today

From conferenceusa.com
-Jan. 3 Men's Basketball Notebook
-Jan. 3 Women's Basketball Notebook

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal
-Shooting scars
   Chris Douglas-Roberts sat in his locker, stared into a bunch of cameras and tried to make sense of what had just happened. But he couldn't.
-Tigers lose winning streak
   No. 15 Texas beat fourth-ranked Memphis 69-58 on Monday, snapping the Tigers' eight-game winning streak.
-Longhorn 'D' tough on Tigers
-Feeling lousy, Tiger fans? Just marvel at this last week
-Tigers replay

Eagles squander big lead, fall in OT
   Southern Miss had been hoping that a seven-game homestand would be the perfect holiday gift to help the Golden Eagles right their record at .500.
Jackson (MS) Clarion-Ledger

Golden Knights to Face No. 18 Kentucky on Tuesday
conferenceusa.com

Aikens' suspension helped spark Herd to win
   Travis Aikens was a lonely figure seated in the stands while the Marshall men's basketball team played Kennesaw State.
Huntington Herald-Dispatch

January 2, 2006

From conferenceusa.com
-Rice Names Todd Graham Head Football Coach
-Men's Basketball Round-Up

From the Houston Chronicle
-Graham optimistic about leading Rice turnaround
   Former Tulsa assistant Todd Graham gave every indication he has the tenacity to lead a rebirth on South Main.
-Coach's hiring tops off whirlwind weekend
  Graham focused on Tulsa, but Owls were on his mind
-Zeno helps Tech outlast UTEP

Around Conference USA-Football
USA Today

UTEP had chance to gain victory
   UTEP had the game, had it right there in the palm of its hand. Texas Tech, though, had its own ideas about whose game this was.
El Paso Times

Depleted USM to take court with 9 scholarship players
   Attrition and rebuilding basketball programs just seem to go hand in hand.
Jackson (MS) Clarion-Ledger

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal
-Longhorns far from tame
   Holed up in a hotel room, safe from the ice and snow, the University of Memphis Tigers spent the hours preceding their game at Providence a few weeks back like millions of others, with their legs propped in front of a TV displaying the highly anticipated matchup between Duke and Texas.
-No. 4 Tigers vs. No. 15 Texas

A little rest does UAB some good
Birmingham News

MU looking to gain momentum
Huntington Herald-Dispatch