2002 NBDL Playoff Guide

Published on March 25, 2002 under NBA G League (G League) News Release

The National Basketball Development League's 2002 playoff seeding came down to the final day of the regular season as the North Charleston Lowgators defeated the Greenville Groove 92-83 to clinch the number one seed and the home court advantage throughout the playoffs. The NBDL teams that finished in the top four positions in the regular season standings have advanced to the NBDL playoffs, with North Charleston hosting Mobile on Sunday, March 24 at 5 p.m. at the North Charleston Coliseum in Game One of the first NBDL semifinal playoff series.

The Columbus Riverdragons defeated the Mobile Revelers 95-92 on the final day of the regular season to earn the number three seed and will open their NBDL semifinal playoff series in Greenville on Thursday, March 28. The winners of each best-of-three semifinal series will advance to the NBDL Finals.

THE SCHEDULE (all times local):
(1) North Charleston vs. (4) Mobile
Game 1 Sun, March 24 Mobile at North Charleston 5:00 p.m. ET
Game 2 Wed, April 3 North Charleston at Mobile 11:00 a.m. CT
*Game 3 Sat, April 6 Mobile at North Charleston 7:00 p.m. ET

(2) Greenville vs. (3) Columbus
Game 1 Thurs, March 28 Columbus at Greenville 7:00 p.m. ET
Game 2 Fri, March 29 Greenville at Columbus 7:00 p.m. ET
*Game 3 Fri, April 5 or Sat, April 6 Columbus at Greenville 7:00 p.m. ET

*If necessary

TICKET INFORMATION:
The North Charleston Lowgators will offer fans the 6th Man Plan, a unique pass good for admission to all home playoff games at the North Charleston Coliseum during the upcoming National Basketball Development League Playoffs. The 6th Man Plan is on sale now for $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Individual game tickets and the 6th Man Plan can be purchased at the Coliseum box office, at Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling either 1-800-4NBA-TIX or 843-460-1012. All tickets purchased at the arena box office are subject to a $1.50 facility surcharge per ticket.

NBDL Playoff Passes – a unique playoff ticket good for both of the Greenville Groove semifinal home playoff games at the Bi-Lo Center – are one sale now for $10.00 through March 28. Playoff Passes can be purchased at the Bi-Lo Center box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling at 1-800-4NBA-TIX, and on-line at NBDL.com and Ticketmaster.com. Purchase of a Playoff Pass guarantees a fan's seat to all Groove semifinal playoff games held at the Bi-Lo Center – and will give the holder priority seating for the 2002 NBDL Finals – should the Groove advance. For questions or group ticket information, fans can call the Groove office at 864-248-1112.

The Columbus Riverdragons will offer fans the 6th Man Plan – a unique playoff passport good for admission to each and every playoff game the team hosts at the Columbus Civic Center. The 6th Man Plan will be on sale for $10 for adults and $5 for children. Purchase of the 6th Man Plan guarantees a fan's seat to all subsequent home playoff games held at the Columbus Civic Center – including the 2002 NBDL Finals – should the Riverdragons advance. The 6th Man Plan is on sale now and can be purchased by calling 888-332-5200, logging on to www.tickets.com or visiting the Columbus Civic Center box office. For questions or group ticket information call the Riverdragons ticket office at (706)-225-1112.

Mobile Revelers "Super Tickets," a unique playoff ticket good for all of the Mobile Revelers home playoff games at the Mobile Civic Center for $10.00. The Super Ticket and individual game tickets can be purchased at the arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling at 1-800-4NBA-TIX, and online at NBDL.com and Ticketmaster.com. Purchase of a Super Ticket guarantees a fans' seat to all the Revelers home playoff games at the Civic Center – including the 2002 NBDL Finals if Mobile advances. For questions or group ticket information, fans can call the Mobile Revelers office at 251-370-2000.

ON TV:
ESPN and ESPN2 will broadcast up to six NBDL Playoff games, including all three games of the NBDL Finals. The broadcasts will feature innovative, full-access coverage of players and coaches, including live courtside microphones and cameras in the huddles and locker rooms.

ESPN Broadcast Schedule of the NBDL's Semifinals Date Time Network Game

Mon, March 25 4:00 p.m. ET ESPN2 (Telecast of Game 1 – Mobile at North Charleston)
Fri, March 29 4:00 p.m. ET ESPN2 (Telecast of Game 1 – Columbus at Greenville)
Wed, April 3 4:00 p.m. ET ESPN (Telecast of Game 2 – North Charleston at Mobile)

THE MATCHUPS:

(1) North Charleston Lowgators
The Lowgators are a team comprised of interchangeable parts. Coach Alex English built the team to suit his style and the way he played while with the Denver Nuggets – get the ball, go up and down the court, trap, press and score. North Charleston has solid outside shooters in Sedric Webber, Fred House and Terry Dehere, and strong defense with House, Nate Green, Neil Edwards and Makhtar Ndiaye. The team can wreak havoc with its press, resulting in turnovers and easy opportunities. Coach English and assistant coach Doug Marty work well together, and have been able to teach the team how to do the little things that don't show up on the boxscore.

Key Statistics:
The Lowgators lead the NBDL in scoring (82.8 ppg), assists (923), offensive rebounds (767) and steals (486)... Fred House leads the league in steals (2.5 spg) and is 13th in the league in scoring (13.4 ppg)... Sedric Webber is second in the NBDL in three-point field goal percentage (.441) and 14th in scoring (13.4 ppg)... Victor Avila is third in the league in field goal percentage (.544) and Makhtar Ndiaye is sixth in blocked shots (1.3 bpg) and eighth in rebounds (6.4 rpg)... Nate Green is fourth in the league in assists (4.1 apg) and Terry Dehere leads the league in three-point field goal percentage (.450) and is fourth in free throw percentage (.877)... Neil Edwards is second in the league in blocked shots (1.9 bpg).

Vs.

(4) Mobile Revelers
Coach Sam Vincent brings a good plan to each game, and when the Revelers are shooting the ball well they are tough to beat. Rashad Phillips leads the team, and can win a game because he is such a threat from the perimeter and can break his opponent down off the dribble. Phillips may be the best one-on-one player in the league and can score big numbers. Derek Hood is among the league leaders in rebounds, and brings a toughness to the team. The Revelers have size in the middle with Nick Sheppard and Eugene Edgerson, and are tough to beat if they are clicking on all cylinders.

Key Statistics:
The Revelers are the NBDL's top defensive team, allowing just 74.9 ppg... They also lead the league in three point field goal percentage (.351)... Isaac Fontaine leads the NBDL in both scoring (17.4 ppg) and free throw percentage (.905) and is fourth in three point field goal percentage (.424)... Derek Hood is third in the league in rebounds (8.7 rpg) and fifth in field goal percentage (.518)... Rashad Phillips is seventh in the league in both assists (3.7 apg) and free throw percentage (.865)... Eugene Edgerson is seventh in the league in field goal percentage, shooting .508 from the field.

(2) Greenville Groove
The core of the Groove has come together at the right time, with their strength lying in their starting five. Their big front line of Kimani Ffriend, Thomas Hamilton and Ansu Sesay provides them with quickness, size and the ability to score. They have a solid point guard in Jeff Myers, and one of the best shooters in the league in Billy Thomas. The Groove also have a strong bench led by Rahim Lockhart and Tom Wideman. Coach Milton Barnes brought the team up from the middle of the pack by putting them together piece-by-piece. This is a team that is led by a coach who has been through the postseason and has the team believing in his philosophy of defense and rebounding first and offense second.

Key Statistics:
The Groove lead the league in rebounds, pulling down an average of 39.9 rpg... They also lead the NBDL in field goal percentage shooting .459 from the floor... Billy Thomas is ninth in the league in scoring (14.0 ppg), fourth in steals (1.6 spg), sixth in free throw percentage (.868) and eighth in minutes played (30.5 mpg)... Ansu Sesay is tenth in the league in scoring (13.9 ppg) and seventh in minutes played (30.6 mpg)... Jeff Myers is second in steals (2.1 spg) and eighth in assists (3.6 apg)... Thomas Hamilton leads the league in rebounds (9.4 rpg), is second in field goal percentage (.590) and seventh in blocked shots (1.3 bpg)... Rahim Lockhart is sixth in the league in both rebounds (7.2 rpg) and field goal percentage (.515)... Eric Harris is eighth in the league in free throw percentage (.857).

Vs.

(3) Columbus Riverdragons
The Riverdragons are a hard-nosed, fearless team that has players who will fight and dig out wins. This is a team that no one likes to play because they find a way to win. Nate Johnson and Gabe Muoneke play an aggressive style that makes opponents pay if they don't bring their "A" game to the court. Kareem Poole and Livan Pyfrom provide the team with size and shot blocking. The strength of the Riverdragons is their willingness to scrape for every point and every win. Coach Jeff Malone has kept the team together despite losing its top player, Tremaine Fowlkes, to an NBA call up.

Key Statistics:
The Riverdragons are third in the league in scoring (81.6 ppg), and have been among the top three all season... Columbus leads the league in free throws made (1113) and free throws attempted (1509)... Gabe Muoneke is second in the NBDL in scoring (17.1 ppg)... Kareem Poole is fourth in the league in rebounding (7.6 rpg) and eighth in blocking shots (1.1 bpg)... Saul Smith is third in the NBDL in three point field goal percentage (.425)... The Riverdragons have and two of the top scorers (Muoneke is first and Nate Johnson is twelfth)... Jeremy Veal is fifth in the league in free throw percentage (.872).

LEAGUE NEWS

ALL-NBDL TEAMS: – The Los Angeles Clippers' forward Tremaine Fowlkes and former Memphis Grizzlies' guard Isaac Fontaine lead a host of rising stars in the National Basketball Development League's All-NBDL selections. Both Fowlkes and Fontaine, who played in the NBDL this season before being called up to the NBA were named All-NBDL First Team. Listed are players who earned All-NBDL First Team, Second Team and Honorable Mentions honors. All NBDL selections were made based on voting from the league's basketball committee consisting of coaches and league officials. The final All-NBDL team results:

2001-02 ALL-NBDL FIRST TEAM

Position Player/Team
Forward Tremaine Fowlkes, Columbus Riverdragons
Forward Ansu Sesay, Greenville Groove
Center Thomas Hamilton, Greenville Groove
Guard Isaac Fontaine, Mobile Revelers
Guard Billy Thomas, Greenville Groove

2001-02 ALL-NBDL SECOND TEAM

Position Player/Team
Forward Derek Hood, Mobile Revelers
Forward Sedric Webber, North Charleston Lowgators
Center Paul Grant, Asheville Altitude
Guard Omar Cook, Fayetteville Patriots
Guard Terrell McIntyre, Fayetteville Patriots

2001-02 ALL-NBDL HONORABLE MENTION

Position Player/Team
Forward Nate Johnson, Columbus Riverdragons
Forward Rahim Lockhart, Greenville Groove
Forward Gabe Muoneke, Columbus Riverdragons
Forward Greg Stempin, Fayetteville Patriots
Center Jeff Aubry, Fayetteville Patriots
Center Eric Chenowith, Huntsville Flight Guard Nate Green, North Charleston Lowgators
Guard Artie Griffin, Roanoke Dazzle
Guard Fred House, North Charleston Lowgators
Guard Jimmie "Snap" Hunter, Huntsville Flight
Guard Jeff Myers, Greenville Groove

GOOD SPORT: Huntsville Flight guard Michael Wilks has been named the inaugural recipient of the 2001-02 NBDL Sportsmanship Award, which honors a player who best represents the ideals of character and conduct on the court. Wilks will be honored tonight during the Flight's regular season finale against the Mobile Revelers at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Ala. "Michael is truly deserving of this award," said Huntsville Flight head coach Bob Thornton. "He leads by example and represents the characteristics of a professional athlete – he's a hard worker, he's dedicated and competitive, all while respecting his teammates, opponents and fans." Wilks earned an economics degree from Rice, and is looking forward to a post-basketball career as a teacher or as a youth minister because he would like to have a positive impact on kids. While with the Flight, Wilks has been involved in numerous events in the Huntsville community, including the league's Read to Achieve program and appearances at local youth clubs where he stressed the importance of education. "Michael's professionalism on and off the court has been a real example for all of our community youth to model," said Melvin Allen, President/CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Huntsville. "The Huntsville community is blessed to have Michael Wilks as a part of our community." Other top vote getters for the NBDL's Sportsmanship Award were Terrell McIntyre of the Fayetteville Patriots, Billy Thomas and Jeff Myers of the Greenville Groove, Eugene Edgerson of the Mobile Revelers and Marshall Phillips of the Roanoke Dazzle.

TOP OF HIS CLASS: North Charleston Lowgators' guard Fred House has been named the National Basketball Development League's Rookie of the Year for the 2001-02 inaugural season. "Fred's intensity and enthusiasm set him apart from his peers as he helped provide leadership to the Lowgators this season," said NBDL Executive Director Karl Hicks. "He should be very proud of all he has accomplished. His future is quite bright." "Fred is one of the top defenders in the league and all accolades are well deserved," said North Charleston Lowgators head coach Alex English. "He worked hard to improve his game throughout the season and is clearly a better player now." House, a sixth round (46th overall) selection in the 2001 NBDL Inaugural Draft out of Southern Utah (2001), averaged a team-leading 13.4 ppg on .458 (268-585 FGA) shooting along with 4.5 rpg, 2.5 spg and 1.8 apg over 25.8 mpg starting all 56 games. House led the NBDL in steals (2.5 spg) and finished 13th in scoring (13.4 ppg).

THE NBA DREAM STARTS HERE: Six players have been called up to the NBA during the NBDL's inaugural season.

Chris Andersen, a 6-foot-10, 230 pound power forward from the Fayetteville Patriots and the NBDL's number one overall draft selection, was the league's first player called up to the NBA when he signed a contract with the Denver Nuggets on November 21, 2001...

Jason Hart, a 6-foot-3, 181 pound point guard from the Asheville Altitude was the league's second player called up to the NBA when he was signed by the San Antonio Spurs on December 19, 2001...

Anthony Johnson, a 6-foot-3, 190 pound guard from the Mobile Revelers was the league's first player to be signed to an NBA 10-Day Contract when he signed with the New Jersey Nets. Johnson signed the first of two consecutive 10-Day Contracts on January 7, 2002, and then signed for the remainder of the 2001-02 season on January 28, 2002...

Rusty LaRue, a 6-foot-3, 190 pound guard from the Asheville Altitude and NBA veteran was signed by the Utah Jazz to a 10-Day Contract on January 28, 2002...

LaRue signed a second 10-Day Contract with the Utah Jazz on February 12, 2002 and was signed for the remainder of the 2001-02 season on February 21, 2002...

Tremaine Fowlkes, a 6-foot-8, 220 pound forward from the Columbus Riverdragons was signed by the Los Angeles Lakers to the first of two consecutive 10-Day contracts on February 23, 2002. The Clippers signed Fowlkes for the remainder of the NBA season on March 16, 2002...

Isaac Fontaine, a 6-foot-4, 210 pound forward from the Mobile Revelers signed to a 10-Day contract with the Memphis Grizzlies on March 3, 2002.

REWARD YOUR BIG MAN: Approximately 25% of all NBDL players are 6-10 or taller and the NBDL has nine 7-footers currently in the league, illustrating the NBDL's dedication to developing "big men" for the NBA.

BEHIND-THE-SCENES: In addition to broadcasting weekly games, ESPN and the NBA have created a reality series, Down Low: Life in the D League, and have produced 13 episodes documenting the lives of the North Charleston Lowgators. The half-hour episodes air three times per week – Wednesdays at 12:30 a.m. ET on ESPN, Mondays at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The series provides viewers with a behind-the-scenes look at the players' lives, with cameras and microphones following head coach Alex English and the team at practice, into their homes and on the road. ESPN.com and NBDL.com are featuring special sections on the show that includes video clips of upcoming episodes, summaries of previous episodes, the program schedule and complete information on the North Charleston Lowgators and the rest of the NBDL. ESPN2 is televising 18 NBDL regular-season games, plus playoffs, with the Lowgators in 15 match-ups, including nine remaining contests, to help further familiarize fans with the North Charleston players.

OFF-THE-COURT: The NBDL offers players the opportunity to continue their education and take part in professional internships as part of the league's unique and comprehensive array of player development programs. The NBDL has named Dr. Janice Hilliard, Director of Player Programs to develop, execute and oversee the league's landmark off-court development initiatives. Under Dr. Hilliard's leadership, NBDL players will be offered a wide-range of programs designed to enhance their off-the-court growth including continuing education, internships, off-season job opportunities, career counseling and life skills workshops.

NBDL IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: An important measure of success in the NBDL is the mark our players, coaches and staff will make in their local community. Each team has a strong commitment to their neighborhood, and will give their time, energy and resources to make a positive impact on young people through the Read to Achieve program. Read to Achieve works to promote the value of reading and online literacy, and to encourage families and adults to read regularly with young children. Throughout the year, teams will be participating in a number of reading related programs and activities such as Back to School events, Read to Achieve Day and monthly Reading Timeouts.

NBA G League Stories from March 25, 2002

• 2002 NBDL Playoff Guide - G League

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