UTEP will be making its 44th consecutive appearance in the oldest continuous holiday championship tournament in the nation, while this year will mark Princeton's second Sun Bowl appearance, while Alabama State and Tulane will be making their first-ever appearances in the field.
In its 44th year, the State Farm Sun Bowl Basketball Tournament will be Monday, Dec. 27, and Tuesday, Dec. 28, at the Don Haskins Center. State Farm Insurance is in its first year as the event's title sponsor.
The 1989 field consisted of UTEP, South Carolina, Kansas State and Austin Peay State. That year, the Miners, South Carolina and Kansas State were all coming off of NCAA tournament appearances.
Heading into this year, 81 teams have participated in the tournament producing 16 tournament champions, including 25 titles to host-school UTEP. Last season, UTEP knocked off Rutgers, 94-68, en route to a 24-8 WAC Championship season.
Over the history of the State Farm Sun Bowl Basketball Tournament, 62 teams have gone on to post-season play in the same season that they participated in the tournament. Last season, UTEP competed in the NCAA Tournament, while Rutgers advanced to the National Invitation Tournament. In all, the Miners have played in the championship game 36 times and have posted an all-time tournament record of 66-20.
Three of the four schools in last year's field recorded 20-win seasons -- UTEP (24-8), Rutgers (20-13), Mississippi Valley State (22-7) -- while Northwestern finished the season 14-15.
The State Farm Sun Bowl Basketball Tournament has featured some of the game's top coaches over the years -- Gene Bartow, Bobby Cremins, Don Haskins, Lon Krueger, Gene Keady, Guy Lewis, Phil Martelli, Rollie Massimino, Jim O'Brien, Lute Olson, Tom Penders, Wimp Sanderson, Charlie Spoonhauer and Gary Waters.
It has also featured some of the nation's top collegiate players -- Nate Archibald (UTEP), Dana Barros (Boston College), Adrian Caldwell (Lamar), Antonio Davis (UTEP), JoJo English (South Carolina), Mike Evans (Kansas State), Jim Farmer (Alabama), Greg Foster (UTEP), Walt Frazier (Southern Illinois), Tim Hardaway (UTEP), Tim McCormick (Michigan), Chuck Person (Auburn), Glenn Robinson (Purdue), Brandon Wolfram (UTEP) and Sharone Wright (Clemson).
For more information please visit www.sunbowl.org
|
|
