Whitmore Reveling in a Mardi Gras of Tulane Basketball : Colleges: After transferring from Georgia Tech, former St. Bernard standout has found a home in New Orleans, where Green Wave is off to a 13-1 start.

David Whitmore was spending a quiet evening at home, temporarily sheltered from the Green Wave fever that has gripped New Orleans.

“It’s tough to relax right now with all this excitement,” he said. “I’ve been doing a lot of radio interviews and newspaper interviews. Add all that to practice, and we don’t have any time to ourselves.”

Don’t get the idea that Whitmore is complaining, though. The senior forward for Tulane University has been waiting for this kind of attention since he left St. Bernard High School as the South Bay’s brightest basketball prospect in 1987.

“It’s fun,” he said. “This is what I went to college for.”

Under normal circumstances, the success of Tulane would be big news in New Orleans, a city that embraces its sports heroes with great enthusiasm.

But these are not normal circumstances.

The Tulane basketball program was discontinued by school officials after the 1984-85 season because of a point-shaving scandal and allegations that center John (Hot Rod) Williams, now with the Cleveland Cavaliers, received money to sign with the Green Wave.

After four years without basketball, Tulane reinstated the sport for the 1989-90 season. Two years later, the Green Wave surprisingly is enjoying its best season in 68 years. The nation’s 19th-ranked team is 13-1 and on course to achieving its ultimate goal--a first-ever bid to the NCAA tournament.

The last time Tulane did this well was the 1923-24 season, when it started 22-0 and finished 22-1.

For Whitmore, Tulane’s success in the face of adversity has vindicated his decision two years ago to leave an established program at Georgia Tech for one that was not expected to yield a winning team for several seasons.

But Whitmore had faith in his own abilities and those of Coach Perry Clark, a former Georgia Tech assistant who recruited Whitmore. A year after Clark was hired to rebuild Tulane’s program, Whitmore decided to transfer.

“Knowing that Coach Clark was a good recruiter, I knew he would bring in some basketball talent,” Whitmore said. “I always had confidence in myself. I felt I could aid the team.”

Whitmore has done exactly that. The fifth-year senior ranks third in scoring on a balanced team with a 12.5 points-per-game average, and he has improved his perimeter shooting considerably since his days at St. Bernard, where he was primarily known for his leaping ability.

“If they saw me play now, people who saw me play in high school wouldn’t think it was the same player,” he said.

However, some of the old traits remain. Whitmore, who is shooting 50% from the field, said he still relishes the opportunity for a thunderous dunk as much as he did at St. Bernard. He averaged 23 points as a high school senior and was named The Times’ South Bay player of the year.

“I love to dunk and I’ve been getting some good ones,” he said. “It’s just in my nature.”

Tulane Sports Information Director Lenny Van Gilder said Whitmore has provided leadership and experience as one of only two seniors on the team.

“He’s stepped up his game to another level,” Van Gilder said. “He’s one of those kind of guys, when the offense breaks down, who can create his own shot. He has good athletic ability. He’s capable of doing a lot of things.”

Whitmore proved that Jan. 4 by scoring 16 points, all in the second half, to help Tulane defeat Louisville, 87-83, in overtime. It was the Green Wave’s first victory in 11 meetings with Louisville at Freedom Hall, the Cardinals’ home court, and served notice that Tulane had arrived as a national power.

“That was my biggest thrill, winning at Freedom Hall,” Whitmore said. “That helped us a lot. People respect names. By beating Louisville, which has a reputation, it kind of woke people up that we were for real.”

Another highlight occurred Dec. 30, when Whitmore scored a season-high 19 points in a 96-77 victory at UC Irvine, his first game in Southern California since high school. The only thing that dampened his homecoming was the rainy weather.

“My teammates teased me about that,” he said. “This is supposed to be sunny California.”

Thursday night, Whitmore scored a team-high 15 points to lead Tulane to an 80-60 victory over visiting Virginia Tech.

Saturday night, Whitmore scored 19 points, but the Green Wave lost to Texas Tech, 101-98.

Whitmore believes his play has improved because of a summer weightlifting program. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Whitmore is 20 pounds heavier than he was last season, when he overcame a dislocated left shoulder to average 10.2 points and three rebounds a game.

“This is by far my best year since playing college basketball,” he said. “I’m in the best shape of the my life. . . . I’m stronger, faster and I haven’t been getting injured as much.”

Whitmore was redshirted his freshman season at Georgia Tech in 1987-88 because of a knee injury. He came back to play in 31 games the next season, averaging 5.2 points and 1.8 rebounds, but decided it was best for his career to transfer to Tulane and be reunited with Clark.

“I felt that (Clark) was more familiar with me as a player,” he said. “I love Georgia Tech to this day, but as an individual this was a better move for me. For one, I’m getting more significant playing time. I started my last 31 games at Georgia Tech, but here at Tulane I’m looked upon more for scoring and leadership.”

Forced to sit out the 1989-90 season, Whitmore watched from the bench as Tulane struggled to a 4-24 record. He was not discouraged, though.

“I felt we were just a hop and a skip away from being a good team,” he said. “Our record wasn’t much, but we were in every game.”

Whitmore’s hunch proved correct. Last season, the Green Wave produced one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the country, finishing 15-13 and posting impressive victories over three NCAA tournament teams--New Orleans, Florida State and Southern Mississippi. Tulane was chosen the nation’s most-improved team by Basketball Times and was seriously considered for an National Invitation Tournament bid.

This season, the Green Wave has parlayed balance and pressure defense into a winning combination. Clark uses a 10-man rotation, with the starters playing the first five minutes before they are replaced by the second team. Nicknamed “The Posse,” the second team has outscored the starters in some games.

Whitmore, a starter who averages 22 minutes a game, believes the team concept coached by Clark has been instrumental in Tulane’s development.

“He has always stressed being a team and liking each other,” Whitmore said of his coach. “That’s the biggest asset he’s given the team. He’s taken 14 guys, and we’re all like best friends. We all hang around with each other because we like each other. It carries over on the court and makes it a lot easier to play.

“We might not get the individual numbers that some players at other schools get, but if we keep winning and people keep coming out to see us, we’ll get the recognition. We’re kind of like Georgetown was a few years ago.”

Whitmore, a history major who has plans to enroll in graduate school if basketball does not provide a job, said playing college basketball away from home has helped him mature. He is the only Californian on Tulane’s roster.

“I’m very satisfied in the decision I’ve made because I’ve grown, not only as a basketball player but as a person,” he said. “I haven’t had mom to do everything for me.

“And I like New Orleans. It’s different. It’s not your ordinary city. They don’t have many sports teams aside from the (NFL’s) Saints. We tend to be the focal point during basketball season, which makes things exciting.”