Former Tulsa, Kentucky Assistant Gets Tulane Job

<br>NEW ORLEANS (AP) â€” Kentucky assistant Shawn Finney was hired as Tulane's basketball coach Wednesday, taking over a team that was among the best last season in Conference USA. <br><br>He replaces

Wednesday, July 19th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW ORLEANS (AP) â€” Kentucky assistant Shawn Finney was hired as Tulane's basketball coach Wednesday, taking over a team that was among the best last season in Conference USA.

He replaces Perry Clark, who became coach at Miami after 11 years at Tulane.

``I've watched Shawn grow and develop over the last 10 years at three outstanding programs to become the premier assistant at the premier program in the country,'' Tulane athletic director Rick Dickson said. ``I believe he'll be a huge success for Tulane University.''

The 37-year-old Finney has been an assistant to Kentucky coach Tubby Smith since 1992. He followed Smith to Georgia and then Kentucky, where he helped guide the Wildcats to a national championship three seasons ago.

Smith expects Finney to bring an up-tempo brand of ball to Tulane.

``He's been the glue to the success I've experienced at Tulsa, Georgia and Kentucky,'' Smith said. ``He's one of the rising stars who has prepared for this day by coming up through the ranks.''

Tulane, which disbanded its basketball program following a point shaving scandal in the 1980s, revived the program with Clark's assistance. The team has since made several NCAA appearances and went 20-11 last season.

``It is an exciting time to be associated with Tulane,'' Finney said.

Finney said he would talk with current and recruited players Wednesday and leave Thursday on his first recruiting trip for Tulane.

Among those Finney intends to meet with is Trello Galloway, who has indicated he wants to follow Clark to Miami. Galloway, a 6-7 forward, averaged 3.5 rebounds and 3.7 points per game in his freshman season.

Finney said he has several people in mind for staff, but named only Tulane assistant Anthony Anderson, with whom he expected to meet Wednesday. Clark took Tulane assistant Brock Kantrow to Miami.