March 11, 2003

University of Memphis freshman forward Rodney Carney was named to the 2002-03 Conference USA All-Freshman Team released by the league office on Tuesday.

Joining Carney on the all-freshman squad were Louisville guard Taquan Dean, UAB forward Demario Eddins, Marquette guard Steve Novak and Charlotte forward Curtis Withers.

Garcia was named the Freshman of the year while Novak was named the league's Sixth Player of the Year and Marquette junior guard Dwyane Wade was selected the conference's Defensive Player of the Year.

Carney has started 23 of the Tigers' 27 games as a freshman and is averaging 9.7 points and 4.8 rebounds. He ranks fourth in Conference USA, averaging 1.48 blocks per game and leads the squad with 40 rejections.

He scored a career-high 22 points in a win over East Carolina early in the Tigers' current 11-game win streak. He began his career with a 12-point, nine-rebound effort in Memphis's season-opening 70-63 win over Syracuse.

Memphis opens played in the 2003 Kelly Tires Conference USA Tournament Thursday at 1 p.m. EST against the winner of Wednesday's first-round game between DePaul and South Florida.