Garcia, Gaines Named to C-USA All-Decade Team
March 09, 2005 | Men's Basketball
March 9, 2005
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville junior Francisco Garcia and former Cardinal standout Reece Gaines were named to the Conference USA All-Decade Team announced yesterday. Conference USA is celebrating its 10th anniversary during the 2004-05 season and in conjunction, the league is naming a Team of the Decade for each of the conference's 19 sports.
Garcia is currently averaging 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.1 steals as one of the most complete players in the nation. He was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year in 2003 and an All-C-USA first team selection as a sophomore. Entering this season, he was named preseason league player of the year and was also named as a finalist for national player of the year honors earlier this year. In the midst of his third season, he already ranks among the Conference USA career leaders in points (1,182), assists (289) and free throw percentage (.832).
Gaines, who played for the Cards from 1999-2003, ranks fourth all-time at Louisville and third in C-USA history with 1,945 career points. He led U of L in scoring (17.9), assists (5.0) and steals (1.7) as a senior in 2002-03 when he was named a second team All-America selection and a finalist for national player of the year. He was twice honored on the All-C-USA first team (2002, 2003) and was a double figure scorer in 31 games as a senior and in 99 games for his career. His 673 points as a junior was the fifth-highest ever in Conference USA and his 475 career assists rank among the all-time C-USA leaders.
Cincinnati was the only school to produce three members of the squad, while Louisville and Marquette each had two selections. Charlotte, DePaul and Memphis had one player chosen to the team.
Garcia and the No. 1-seeded Cards open the 2005 Conference USA Tournament on Thursday at 1 p.m. at the FedEx Forum in Memphis. The Cards will face the winner of today's (8) TCU/(9) Marquette first round game.
C-USA MEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-DECADE TEAM
Kenyon Martin, Cincinnati (1996-2000) - PLAYER OF THE DECADE
DeMarco Johnson, Charlotte (1996-98)
Steve Logan, Cincinnati (1998-02)
Danny Fortson, Cincinnati (1995-97)
Quentin Richardson, DePaul (1998-00)
Reece Gaines, Louisville (1999-2003)
Francisco Garcia, Louisville (2002-current)
Travis Diener, Marquette (2001-current)
Dwyane Wade, Marquette (2001-2003)
Antonio Burks, Memphis (2001-04)
C-USA MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH OF THE DECADE
Bob Huggins, Cincinnati (1989-current)
