March 7, 2005

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis' Rodney Carney and Darius Washington Jr. were named to the 2005 All-Conference USA Teams, the league office released Monday afternoon. Carney was selected to the All-C-USA second team, while Washington made the conference's third team. Washington was the only freshman to be selected to any of the three All-Conference USA squads.

It is the fourth-consecutive year that the Tigers have placed at least two players on the league's postseason teams. In 2002 and 2004, Memphis had two All-C-USA first teamers in Dajuan Wagner (2002), Kelly Wise (2002), Antonio Burks (2004) and Sean Banks (2004). Chris Massie made the first team in 2003, while Burks was a third team pick that same year.

A 2003 Conference USA All-Freshman Team pick, Carney leads the Tigers in scoring with a 15.8 average and is third on the squad with a 5.4 rebounding average. The Indianapolis, Ind., native is tied for the team lead with 59 three-pointers made and is shooting 78 percent from the free throw line. He is ranked seventh in Conference USA in scoring.

Earlier this year, the 6-foot-7 forward became the 40th player in Tiger history to reach the 1,000-point milestone. He now has 1,132 career points and is in the No. 27 spot on the Memphis all-time scoring list. Carney also moved into the No. 2 spot on the Tiger career three-pointers made chart with 168. He trails only current teammate Anthony Rice, who has 219 career treys.

The Conference USA honor was the second of the day for Washington, as earlier on Monday he was selected to the Rivals.com National Freshman All-America first team. The C-USA accolade is his third of the postseason, as ESPN.com/Dick Vitale named him Conference USA's Diaper Dandy of the Year last week.

During the regular season, the 6-foot-2 guard earned Rivals.com National Freshman of the Week accolades for the weeks of Jan. 25-31 and Feb. 8-14.

Washington is the team's second-leading scorer with a 15.6 average, and leads the squad with 103 assists and 51 steals. He is averaging 3.9 rebounds from his point guard position and is shooting 46.3 percent from the field, 40.6 percent from the arc and 70.3 percent from the foul line.

The Winter Park, Fla., native is ranked among Conference USA leaders in assists (12th), steals (9th) and scoring (9th) and three-point FG percentage (7th). Washington's numbers are even better in league play, ranking among the league's leaders in scoring (17.8; 3rd), field goal percentage (50.0; 9th), free throw percentage (82.5; 9th), three-point field goal percentage (43.6; 6th), assists (3.62; 10th) and steals (1.81; 6th).

The Tigers return to action Wednesday, Mar. 9 when they open Conference USA Tournament play against Saint Louis in the first round. Game time is 6:00 p.m. (CT), and WLMT/UPN 30 will televise the contest locally.

2004-05 All-Conference USA Teams

First Team - Eddie Basden (Charlotte), Travis Diener (Marquette), Francisco Garcia (Louisville), Quemont Greer (DePaul), Curtis Withers (Charlotte)

Second Team - Rodney Carney (Memphis), Terrence Leather (USF), Jason Maxiell (Cincinnati), Andre Owens (Houston), Donell Taylor (UAB)

Third Team - Taquan Dean (Louisville), Drake Diener (DePaul), Eric Hicks (Cincinnati), Corey Santee (TCU), Darius Washington Jr. (Memphis)