Leading the way in this year's six-team men's tournament is Oklahoma, one of the flashiest teams in college basketball last year with consensus player of the year Blake Griffin. He's now pounding NBA backboards, but the Sooners have Big 12 Newcomer-of-the-Year Willie Warren, a speedy point guard, back.
Oklahoma, coached by former Duke star Jeff Capel, finished 30-6 last season and was ranked as high as No. 2 nationally. The Sooners came within one victory of earning a spot in the Final 4.
The Shootout had previously been an eight-team tournament.
"We are thrilled with this year's lineup," UAA athletic director Steve Cobb said in a press release.
"In a perfect world, we would still have eight men's teams, but with the realities of today's college basketball climate, scheduling has become as difficult as recruiting. That said, we should have some of the best basketball in the country being played right here in Anchorage, as usual, on Thanksgiving week."
Joining Oklahoma and host UAA is the popular northwest team Washington State, headed by new coach Ken Bone. UAA knows Bone from his stint guiding fellow Great Northwest Athletic Conference member Seattle Pacific. Last year, Washington State was 17-16 in the Pac 10.
Host UAA may be the highlight of the women's four-team tournament. The Seawolves have prevailed over their Division I counterparts three successive seasons.
Making it four could be tough.
Cincinnati from the rugged Big East Conference stands in the way along with Western Carolina of the Southern Conference.
Western Carolina (21-12) is coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance and its third straight winning season. The Lady Catamounts, from Cullowhee, N.C., have a new head coach, Karen Middleton, who inherits nine returning letterwinners.
Shootout attendance waned last year when the Division I field was populated by little-known teams, particularly on the men's side of the tournament. San Diego State won the men's tournament over Hampton, while UAA beat Syracuse to capture the women's crown.
Here's a brief look at the 2009 fields:
WOMEN
Three-time defending champion UAA, the only Division II team in the field, is 6-0 in its last three Shootouts and 84-15 over the past two seasons. Coach Tim Moser's squad went 31-4 in 2008-09 and qualified for the NCAA Division II semifinals for the second straight year. The Seawolves return seven letterwinners, including the senior backcourt duo of Tamar Gruwell and Kiki Taylor, as they aim for more Division I upsets.
Cincinnati went 14-17 last season playing in the Big East Conference. The Bearcats are sure to be a new-look team in 2009-10, however, as former Connecticut assistant Jamelle Elliott takes over as head coach.
Coastal Carolina, of the Big South Conference, should be the most veteran squad in this year's Shootout, having lost no seniors from its 16-14 team of a year ago. The Conway, S.C., program is led by Alan LeForce, who brings over 50 years of college coaching experience to the Chanticleers bench.
Western Carolina, of the Southern Conference, is coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance and its third straight winning season with a 21-12 mark in 2008-09. The Lady Catamounts, from Cullowhee, N.C., are piloted by new head coach Karen Middleton, who inherits nine returning letterwinners.
MEN
Led by sixth-year head coach Rusty Osborne, host UAA is shooting for its 30th all-time Shootout victory in 2009. The Seawolves will feature versatile guards Kevin White and Brandon Walker among their five returnees, and have recruited more front-court beef.
A first-time Shootout visitor, Houston went 21-12 overall and finished fourth in Conference USA in 2008-09 to earn its second straight 20-win season. The Cougars also captured their fourth postseason bid in five years under veteran coach Tom Penders, who owns over 600 career victories.
Nicholls State is coming off a 20-11 campaign in which it tied for second place in the Southland Conference. The Colonels, of Thibodaux, La., are led by head coach J.P. Piper, and will field a squad that loses only two seniors from a year ago. NSU finished eighth at the Shootout in 1980.
Oklahoma placed third in the Shootout in 1983 and 2004. It reached as high as No. 2 in the country last season, and came within a win of the Final 4 last season.
Ravaged by injuries last season, San Diego finished 16-16 under second-year head coach Bill Grier. The Toreros got good news this summer, however, when they learned that leading scorer Brandon Johnson will receive a fifth year of eligibility from the NCAA. With USD making its first appearance, the Shootout will be hosting its seventh school from the eight-team West Coast Conference.
Washington State, of the powerful Pacific-10 Conference, went 17-16 in 2008-09, and this campaign will mark the beginning of a new era as Ken Bone takes the coaching reins in Pullman. The Cougars visited Anchorage in 1981 for their only Shootout appearance.
2009 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout Schedule
Sullivan Arena - Anchorage, Alaska
November 24-28
Women's Tournament - Nov. 24-25
Tuesday's Games (first round)
Coastal Carolina vs UAA
Cincinnati vs Western Carolina
Wednesday's Games
CCU/UAA loser vs UC/WCU loser (3rd pl.)
CCU/UAA winner vs UC/WCU winner (champ.)
Men's Tournament - Nov. 25-28
Wednesday's Games
Washington State vs UAA (Pool A)
Oklahoma vs San Diego (Pool B)
Thursday's Games
Nicholls State vs Alaska Anchorage (Pool A)
Houston vs Oklahoma (Pool B)
Friday's Games
Nicholls State vs Washington State (Pool A)
Houston vs San Diego (Pool B)
Saturday's Games
Pool A #3 vs Pool B #3 (5th place)
Pool A #2 vs Pool B #2 (3rd place)
Pool A #1 vs Pool B #1 (championship)
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