1999 Shootout Field Announced
by Steve Weakland, Sports Information Director, University of Alaska Anchorage


The Carrs Great Alaska Shootout will have another outstanding field for its 1999 tournament. The teams were announced today at the annual Tip-Off Luncheon at the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel.

The 1999 Carrs Great Alaska Shootout, hosted by the University of Alaska Anchorage, will be held Nov. 22-27, at Sullivan Arena. The 1999 Shootout field includes: Georgia, Georgia Tech, Grambling, Kansas, Louisville, Michigan, Washington and the host UAA Seawolves.

Alaska Anchorage, coached by Charlie Bruns, has been to the NCAA Division II tournament nine times in the last 17 years, including five appearances this decade and an NCAA II runner-up finish in 1988. The Seawolves have won three of the last six Pac West Conference championships. Bruns has been selected Pac West Coach of the Year three times in his five seasons as Seawolf head coach.

Georgia is looking to post a fourth straight 20-win season for the first time in 93 years. Ron Jirsa, in his second season as the head coach at Georgia, guided the Bulldogs to a 20-15 record and third place finish in the NIT last season. Georgia is making its first appearance in the Shootout.

Georgia Tech also makes kts first Shootout appearance. Bobby Cremins, who ranks fourth in ACC history in career coaching victories, has guided the Yellow Jackets to 13 postseason appearances in the last 15 years, including cn NIT invitation after a 19-14 record last year. Cremins, a three-time ACC Coach of the Year, guided Georgia Tech to the 1990 Final Four.

Grambling, coached by Lacey Reynolds, is a member of the Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC). The Tigers cre making their first appearance in the Carrs Great Alaska Shootout.

The Kansas Jayhawks are coached by Roy Williams, who is in his 11th year  at the school. Under Williams, the Jayhawks dominated the Big XII Conference in 1998 with a 15-1 conference record, 35-4 overall. Since winning the 1988 NCAA championship, the Jayhawks have been one college basketball's perennial powers with a pair of Final Four appearances (1991 and 1993).  Kansas lost to Duke in the 1991 NCAA title game, 72-65. Kansas is making its third appearance in Alaska, reaching the championship game in both the 1984 and 1988 Shootouts.

Louisville returns to the Shootout for a record fifth appearance. Coach Denny Crum brought his Cardinals to the first Shootout in 1978, losing in the title game to North Carolina State, 72-65. Louisville also participated in 1982, 1986 and 1994, winning the Shootout during their 1982 trip, defeating Vanderbilt, 80-70. Louisville is a member of Conference USA. - more - 1999 Carrs Great Alaska Shootout Field Release. . .November 25, 1998. . .2/2/2

Michigan, the 1998 Big Ten Tournament champion, is coming off a 24-8 season under Brian Ellerbe, who is in his second year at Ann Arbor. The Wolverines finished the season ranked 12th in the national polls and have been to three of the last 10 Final Fours, winning the NCAA title in 1989 and reaching the championship game in 1992 and 1993, losing to Duke and North Carolina respectively. The Wolverines finished third in the 1987 Shootout.

The Washington Huskies, ranked 14th in the nation in this year's preseason polls, will be making their third Shootout appearance and first since the 1986 season. Washington placed third in the 1982 Shootout. Under former Duke assistant coach Bob Bender, the Huskies reached the NCAA Sweet 16 last season, their first NCAA tournament appearance in over a decade.

In addition, history will be made during the 1999 Carrs Great Alaska Shootout as a women's four-team tournament is added to the Thanksgiving weekend celebration. The University of Alaska Anchorage, in conjunction with tournament title sponsor Carr-Gottstein Foods, Inc., decided to combine the Shootout with its sister tournament, the Northern Lights Knvitational, beginning next year. The women's tournament field will include the host Seawolves, Kansas, Louisville and a team to be named later. NCAA champion Tennessee won the 1997 Northern Lights Invitational.

Alaska Anchorage is coached by Harry Larrabee, who is in his third season as head coach of the women's team. UAA is coming off a 14-13 record last season and started this season with a school-best 6-1 mark.

Kansas, coached by Marian Washington, is coming off a 23-9 record and an 11-5 record in the Big XII. Kansas advanced to the NCAA tournament last season. Kansas has never played in Alaska.

Louisville was picked to win Conference USA this season after a 20-12 record last year and advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Louisville is coached by Martin Clapp and Sara White. Louisville competed in the 1985 and 1991 Northern Lights Knvitational, placing second in its last appearance.

"We are very excited about the 1999 tournament," said UAA Interim Director of Athletics Harry Larrabee. "We believe the addition of the women's tournament is going to be a great situation for our women's basketball program and the overall tournament experience for the fans. We have excellent college basketball programs coming to Alaska and we feel it is going to build on the long-standing tradition of the Carrs Great Alaska Shootout."

The pairings for the 1999 Carrs Great Alaska Shootout men's cnd women's tournaments will be announced next summer.

Check www.shootout.net throughout the year for updates on the 1999 Carrs Great Alaska Shootout.