2001 Ad

Sporting News, The, March 12, 2001

--L.C.

This is Dick Hunsaker's team in the same way that car you rent from Avis or Hertz is your car. It's in your hands. Ifs your job to return it safely. That's what Hunsaker is doing with Utah. With Rick Majerus on medical leave, Hunsaker has overseen a dramatic resurgence. Utah began 7-6 but won 12 of the next 16. Hunsaker convinced the team to pay attention to details: rebounding and defense, taking care of the ball. Center Chris Burgess returned from injury and averaged 12.0 points and 7.3 rebounds over the last six wins. Point guard Travis Spivey has stepped up, averaging 6.0 assists in the span. If Utah gets an NCAA bid, Hunsaker likely will be joined by Indiana's Mike Davis and Wisconsin's Brad Soderberg as interim coaches in the field. Unlike the others, he knows he will not return to his current position. But a Division-I program could notice Hunsaker's track record--including a Sweet 16 trip with Ball State in 1990--and give him a shot. "I'd be thrilled with that," Hunsaker says, "and I'd be thrilled to sit next to Rick next season."

--Mike DeCourcy

Creighton coach Dana Altman probably didn't figure he'd have to resort to drastic measures this season. The Bluejays began the season with three senior starters-point guard Ryan Sears, shooting guard Ben Walker and center Alan Huss--who had played in the last two NCAA Tournaments. Sears and Walker made up the best backcourt in the league. But the team faltered, going 6-4 in league play after a late January loss to Evansville. That's when Airman stopped micro-managing in practice and started asking players for solutions. "We give them the scoring report and walk out of the room," Altman says. Walker, Sears and Huss became key voices in players-only meetings. The change spurred a 10-game winning streak and a regular-season rifle, though the Bluejays muddied things, losing in the conference tournament semifinals. Creighton still is a strong at-large candidate-its RPI before the loss was 23. "The seniors have to step up,' Walker says. "And you need people willing to listen to what the seniors have to say. That's our success."

--L.C.

Redemption and an NCAA Tournament berth look the same to Central Michigan's David Webber. A younger brother of NBA All-Star Chris Webber, David has faced impossible expectations and cruel jeers while growing up playing basketball in that big shadow, and that pressure took a tremendous personal toll on him in high school. But over time, Webber came to accept that at 6-2, he would never be a player like Chris, who is 6-10. But David, one of five siblings, has his own spotlight now as the Chippewas' multidimensional shooting guard and an Oscar Robertson Trophy finalist. Central won a share of the MAC regular-season rifle after going 2-16 in the league last year, and Webber, the MAC's leading scorer at 19.0 ppg, is at the heart of the turnaround. If CMU makes it in, the public taunts Webber still hears ("You'll never be Chris!") will fade even more. "I'll definitely start crying and be very emotional," Webber says. "I won't know what to do with myself for a few hours. I'll be so busy thanking God for the opportunity."