For the Tulane Green Wave, improvement has been gradually consistent. When Shawn Finney took over in 2000-01, he coaxed nine victories from a roster that had just four players with collegiate experience. Next was a year of promise -- that was ultimately derailed by a collapse in February and March.

Last season? The Green Wave again became winners, finishing the year with a 16-15 overall record and an 8-8 mark in Conference USA.

The next step would be a spot in the postseason. That, however, might not be a realistic goal for this Tulane team.

Coming off a season that was paced by a senior-dominated lineup, Finney's team might feature as many as four underclassmen in the starting lineup. Even key returning veterans had scattered playing time. In a way, it seems like starting over. Finney prefers to call it a season in which Tulane can build upon its recent gains.

"I like the foundation we have now," he said, "but we might be in for some more growing pains. We're really young."

FRONTCOURT

The frontcourt has a drastically different look, simply because Brandon Brown is not there. And that's distressing news for Tulane fans. Brown became a beacon of reliability, surpassing the 1,000-minute mark for three straight seasons. He even played all 50 minutes during a double-overtime game with Saint Louis.

Tulane must find a way to replace Brown's scoring, rebounding and leadership. For scoring, a good place to start is senior Ivan Pjevcevic. After two seasons of largely being a non-factor, Pjevcevic finally began realizing his physical potential. He had a double-double against UAB (12 points, 12 rebounds) and slowly emerged as one of Conference USA's top 3-point shooters.

"Ivan just needed some confidence," Finney said. "He really started knocking down some 3-pointers with confidence. He's not going to necessarily overpower you inside. But his long-range shooting can hurt you."

For rebounding, Tulane should look to sophomore Quincy Davis or senior George Brown, who are competing at center. Davis is long and agile, while Brown brings more big-body skills. Freshman Kory Castine also will figure into the rotation.

For the complete package, including leadership, Finney relies on senior Wayne Tinsley, a lockdown defender who routinely guards the top opposing scorer, regardless of position. Tinsley is a confident ball-handler, shooter and rebounder, so his versatility again will be a major positive. More offensive firepower could be added by freshman wing Chris Moore and sophomore Vytautas Tatarunas.

BACKCOURT

Tulane often has employed a three-guard lineup. This season, Finney might opt for a more conventional look. Either way, junior point guard Marcus Kinzer could be responsible for its success. More of a true playmaker than Waitari Marsh, last season's point man, Kinzer scores major points with Finney through versatility and on-court savvy. With limited opportunities, Kinzer has displayed an ability to control the game's flow and distribute effectively to inside scorers. Finney says Kinzer's shooting ability is underrated, too, but that has largely been confined to practice.

Freshman Vincent Camper has received high marks for offensive skills. Ready or not, he could be in the starting lineup, partly on merit, partly because there are few other viable options. "That spot [shooting guard] is definitely wide open," Finney said. "If our freshmen are physically ready to play, I wouldn't hesitate to have a freshman there."

Freshman Troy Aaron also merits a look, while junior Ben Benfield could be a factor.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Finney was a top candidate for the head coaching job at Marshall, but he remains convinced that Tulane is a good place to be. In three seasons, he has gradually raised the level of expectations, putting the Green Wave on the cusp of a postseason berth.

Tulane remains at its best when dictating Finney's press-and-run style to opponents. In the past two seasons, the Green Wave were 24-9 when scoring 70 points or more -- and 6-21 when falling below that mark.

Now the question becomes whether Tulane still has enough material to flourish. Its losses were severe. Without a returning big-time scorer or proven interior presence, the Green Wave could slip to the wrong side of .500. Tulane doesn't have the luxury of reloading. It must rebuild and allow its young talent time to develop.

What were Finney's words? Ah yes, growing pains. That seems to fit.

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