2000-01 record: 9-21; 2-14 in C-USA (6th in National) Final Ranking: NR Postseason: None. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Spann 15.9 ppg | Rebounds: Johnson 8.1 rpg | Assists: Spann 4.8 apg | FG %: Johnson 51.0% | 3pt %: Johnson 36.3% | FT %: Spann 84.3% 00-01 Stats: Tulane | C-USA

		Saturday, Nov. 3 Tulane may have the second-best 1-2 punch in the league with 6-8 Linton Johnson and point guard Brandon Spann, who averaged 15.9 points a game. Both of these kids are really good players. But the Green Wave, with seven new players, are still rebuilding. Second-year coach Sean Finney is still building a foundation. They're not ready to assume any type of leadership position in this league yet.

Outlook
Perry Clark left New Orleans in 2000 with the impression that Tulane basketball was on solid ground. It was an illusion. The ground gave way last year for first-year coach Shawn Finney.

He went 9-21 in his rookie season, with the Green Wave losing its final eight games and 16 of its last 18. And only three of those defeats were by single digits.

The former Tubby Smith went much of last season with only seven healthy and eligible players. After some decent recruiting successes, Finney should at least be able to hold full-scale scrimmages in practice.

Four starters are back -- everyone but leading scorer and rebounder Ledaryl Billingsley. So is guard Waitari Marsh, a solid playmaker his first two years at Tulane who was forced to sit out last year, and Minnesota transfer Nick Sinville. Guard Brandon Spann figures to be the team leader after averaging 15.9 points and nearly five assists a game last year. There is only one senior on the roster.

What we like: Finney will play an aggressive and attractive style that should allow him to continue to recruit well. This team at least gives him the bodies to press and run with impunity.

What we don't like: Defense, anyone? Opposing teams averaged 80.9 points and shot 48 percent from the field against Tulane last season. After Dec. 9, only one opponent scored fewer than 70 points on the Wave -- Southern Miss had 69.

The bottom line: Tulane will be improved, if only because there isn't much room to get worse. More players with more experience will help -- but not that much. This program still has a long, long way to go.

Key Players Returning
Player	Yr.	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Brandon Spann	Jr.	G	6-1/185	PTS: 15.9 | REB: 2.6 | AST: 4.8
Linton Johnson	Sr.	F	6-8/205	PTS: 13.1 | REB: 8.1 | AST: 2.4
Brandon Brown	Jr.	F	6-8/230	PTS: 11.7 | REB: 6.6 | AST: 1.6
Wayne Tinsey	So.	G/F	6-5/218	PTS: 7.7 | REB: 3.6 | AST: 2.2

Key Losses
Player	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Ladaryl Billingsley			PTS: 18.1 | REB: 8.9 | AST: 1.4

Tulane Signings
Player	Pos.	Ht.	High School/College
Ben Benfield	G	6-4	River Ridge, La./John Curtis Christian
Karl Hollingsworth	G/F	6-5	Jonesboro, Ga./Mt. Zion
Ben Bowling	F G	6-3	Hazard, Ky./Westminster Academy (Fla.)
Marcus Kinzer	G	5-11	Nashville, Tenn./Solebury Prep
Byron Parker	F G	6-2	Stone Mountain, Ga./Tyler (Texas) JC