Hendrix Gets Invitation To All-Star Game
Gonzaga University senior forward Bakari Hendrix has been selected to play in the 36th annual National Association of Basketball Coaches All-Star game to be played Friday in conjunction with the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio, Texas.
The game will be played at Freeman Coliseum. Tipoff is at 6 p.m Pacific time. The game will be televised nationally on Fox Sports affiliates.
Hendrix, the West Coast Conference player of the year, will be a member of the West squad to be coached by Clem Haskins of the University of Minnesota. The senior from Vallejo, Calif,, led the WCC in scoring at 19.9 ppg in helping the Bulldogs to the regular-season title and a spot in the WCC tournament championship game, where the Bulldogs lost to the University of San Francisco. He posted double figures in scoring and rebounding in all three WCC tournament games.
Hendrix becomes the second player in Gonzaga history to compete in the NABC All-Star game. John Stockton was the other, in 1984, when the Final Four was held in Seattle.
“This is a great honor,” Hendrix said. “I’m going to go to San Antonio, play hard and have fun.”
Michigan tabs Ellerbe
Brian Ellerbe no longer has to hear the word interim before his name: Michigan hired him as the Wolverines’ full-time coach.
“I feel fortunate to have the opportunity and to know that we got the job because we worked for it,” the 34-year-old Ellerbe said. “We just need to add to it to make sure that we put Michigan basketball in the place in the country where it’s supposed to be, and that’s right at the top.”
Ellerbe came to Michigan as an assistant only last summer after leaving as coach at Loyola, Md. But when Steve Fisher was fired for his role in minor NCAA infractions, Ellerbe was elevated to interim coach.
And just as abruptly, he was hired by athletic director Tom Goss.
“What I decided was there were good coaches out there, but you’ve got to admit this man has shown us a lot in the last couple of weeks,” Goss said. “We backed away and said, ‘We have something here. Let’s take a chance.”’
Contrasting styles
In three consecutive games, Utah has emerged sloppy, yet victorious, against pressing teams.
If the third-seeded Utes are to reach the Final Four for the first time in 32 years, they’ll have to get past Arizona’s press and lethal quickness in today’s West Regional championship.
The Utes (28-3) favor a slower tempo, but led by point guard Andre Miller, they’ll go straight at defending champion Arizona’s press.
“If you get tentative and apprehensive and you don’t attack the press, it becomes stronger,” Utes coach Rick Majerus said. “We’re going to get the ball inside and score on some screens and backpicks. You cannot be overly cautious.”
Top-seeded Arizona (30-4) has watched most of its opponents try to slow things down, to no avail.
“It’s a lot easier said than done,” Wildcats coach Lute Olson said. “We’re not going to let you just hold the ball.
“It’s going to be a game of contrasting styles. I don’t feel we can’t play at a slower pace if we have to.”
UConn hopes to get over hump
Jim Calhoun could sense the question coming, and the annoyed Connecticut coach verbally swatted it out of the air.
Calhoun has enjoyed much success as a coach - 270 wins in 12 seasons with the Huskies, 520 victories overall - but, despite having led UConn to five previous Sweet 16 appearances in the 1990s, he’s never been to a Final Four
So when asked if a Huskies win over North Carolina today for a spot in next weekend’s Final Four in San Antonio would be a dream fulfilled, Calhoun grimaced and said, “I’m not part of the equation.
“If I put Jim Calhoun in the equation, then I’m defeating everything the kids are trying to do,” the coach said. “The University of Connecticut is trying to get to the Final Four because we haven’t been there. More importantly, this team is trying to win a 33rd game for a trip to San Antonio.”