Morgan State Preview & Thoughts On The Tournament

Excerpt:

Tournament Brackets

What: First Round NCAA Tournament Game
Who: Oklahoma (27-5, Big 12) vs. Morgan State (23-11, MEAC)
Where: Kansas City, Missouri
When: Thursday, March 19th at 8:40PM CT

Morgan State Starters
G Jermaine Bolden (#3) 5'9" 175 Senior
G Rogers Barnes (#21) 6'2" 190 Senior
G Reggie Holmes (#11) 6'4" 180 Junior
G/F Marquise Kately (#32) 6'5" 220 Senior
F/C Kevin Thompson (#33) 6'8" 240 Sophomore

Their starters account for about 80% of the minutes on the team, which is about 11% above the Division I average. They have 3 seniors in their starting lineup, and one junior, so their starters will be well seasoned, but their bench players aren't used to playing big minutes, especially in big games. Getting them in foul trouble could help us build a lead quickly.

Keep an eye on Reggie Holmes. He has made more 3-pointers than the rest of the team combined this year. In fact, he has attempted 55 more 3's than 2's (234 to 179) and shoots the 3 at a 37% clip. He is the best free throw shooter on the team (73.5%) and turns the ball over the least. By far, he is the best offensive weapon that they have. Marquise Kately is probably the second best shooter, but he has almost no range. Kevin Thompson shoots an incredibly low percentage for being their post player (43.5%) and can't hit a free throw to save his life (misses about 1 out of every 2). Bolden and Barnes have 3-point shooting ability but don't take as many shots as the other three. Bolden is pretty much a true PG, and seems to be a facilitator.

More good stuff after the jump...

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Morgan misstepped by not signing Bozeman to extension

Bears risk losing successful basketball coach

With the Ravens' run deep into the playoffs and Maryland men's basketball program surrounded by flashing lights and blaring alarms these past couple of months, I didn't get to see Morgan State play as much as I'd have liked.

I was able to follow the Bears, though, thanks to the highly entertaining and mostly unpredictable blog maintained by coach Todd Bozeman at toddbozeman.blogspot.com . One minute he's lamenting a loss ("The guys came out with NO energy, NO focus, NO respect for their opponent and NO respect for each other. It was embarrassing for sure!"), the next he's ripping an official ("dude is a clown ... case closed!") and the next he might be talking politics ("One NATION under a groove ... gettin down just 4 the funk of IT! WOW! Barack Obama is the next President of the United States!!!!!").

There is one blog post I've been waiting for, one that is long overdue: Bozeman announcing a new contract that will keep the coach at Morgan State for several years to come. Bozeman hasn't written it, though, because it's not true. In fact, as Morgan State begins play in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament tonight, just three wins away from its first trip to the NCAA Division I tournament, Bozeman has amazingly reached the end of his contract with nothing in place to secure his future at the school.

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Let's get real! Morgan State has no chance re-signing Coach Bozeman. This marriage of convenience is over with the expiration of this contract, as both parties accomplished their goals. Bozeman is back and his name is at the top of the "want list" on every major college with a non-winning Division I program. Unfortunately, the MEAC does not have the collective vision to be a serious basketball conference, nor is there the level of fan support to scale basketball head coaches salaries over $175,000.

What is Norfolk State head men's basketball coach earning? $95,000 annually for three years! FAMU's coach Eugene Harris earns $155,000 per year (4 year contract). FAMU's athletic director earns $175,000 annually. You get the picture.

Dang shame for the MEAC and Morgan State to lose this talented young coach over a few thousand dollars, but you can't spend what you don't have. The days of the Clarence "Big House" Gaines is long over with for young, ambitious black coaches. Money does matter! Bozeman has to take the money and the bigger stage to display his skills and earning power.

Sorry MEAC--30 years from now you will still be small potatoes playing before an arena of empty seats.

-beepbeep

Morgan State Takes Down Maryland Terps 66-65

COLLEGE PARK, MD — The Maryland Terrapins fell to in-state foe Morgan State on Wednesday night, 66-65. The game featured strong performances from Morgan State’s Reggie Holmes (25 points) and Maryland senior Dave Neal (18 points). Morgan State Head Coach Todd Bozeman called the win “significant” for his team, not only because it was “against an ACC school,” but also because “it is in-state.” The first half was a fairly equal performance for both teams, ending with a Maryland lead at 36-33. The second half, however, featured gigantic runs from both teams: 18-2 from the Terps, followed closely by 21-5 from Morgan State, leading to the final score of 66-65.

The Terps suffered particularly in two parts of their game: turnovers and three point shooting. Maryland committed 21 turnovers and only hit 1 of 14 three point shots. While they shot well from the free throw line (12-15), Maryland Head Coach Gary Williams said that his team "didn’t take advantage of what [they]’re really good at,” because he wanted to see more free throw opportunities. Maryland star Greivis Vasquez did continue his hot hand at the free throw line, extending his streak of consecutive made shots to 29.

The announced crowd at the Comcast Center was 15,138. The stands appeared quite empty, and much to the chagrin of the Maryland faithful; there was a large (and loud) contingent of fans rooting on the Bears.

Maryland-Morgan State Video Highlights
Quotes
Notes
Photo Gallery
Final Stats

Williams' Postgame News Conference Video

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Bozeman talks Morgan State's 2008 recruiting class

Todd Bozeman has a lot returning from Morgan State’s 2007-08 team.

But he’s also adding several talented newcomers to the Bears -- the reigning regular-season MEAC champions. Pensacola (Fla.) Junior College center Buford Foote, Hagerstown Community College forward John Long, Northeastern (Colo.) Junior College guard Troy Smith and Gwynn Park guard Sean Thomas are the new additions to MSU’s roster. Philadelphia forward Ameer Ali, former Walbrook center Kevin Thompson and ex-St. Frances point guard Desmond Thomas all redshirted for Morgan last season and will be eligible this fall.

Bozeman spoke with Recruiting Report recently about the Bears’ 2008 recruiting class. Give us an overview of your class of newcomers...

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Morgan State Bears Earn Three Top Honors at MEAC Tip-Off Banquet in Raleigh

Photo: MSU's Jamar Smith, 2008 MEAC Player of the Year, doing his thing against FAMU in Tallahassee.

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced its 2008 all-conference teams Monday evening at the Tip-Off Banquet held at the North Hilton Raleigh Hotel. Morgan State’s Jamar Smith earned the 2008 MEAC Player of the Year award, as voted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors. Todd Bozeman, also of Morgan State, was named the MEAC Coach of the Year, as voted on by his peers and Boubacar Coly was named as the 2008 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year.

Todd Bozeman guided the Morgan State Bears to their best regular season finish with a 14-2 conference record and a 20-9 overall mark. In only his second year at the helm, Bozeman’s Bears earned the school’s first regular season championship and will enter tournament play as the number one seed.

Coly recorded an unprecedented nine Defensive Player of the Week honors this season, including six in a row. He led the MEAC in blocked shots and rebounds, both of which he ranked nationally. He also led the MEAC in double-doubles with six and has grabbed 10 or more rebounds in 17 games. As a senior, he finished the season averaging 9.6 points and 11.1 rebounds a game. He has also amassed 76 blocked shots.

Smith, the third best scorer in the MEAC, led his team in scoring all season averaging 17 points a game. A senior, he has also posted 10 double-digit scoring performances, three double-doubles and three games with 10 or more rebounds. He has started in 27 games this season, averaging over 30 minutes in each, and has tallied 35 assists, 17 blocked shots and 29 steals.

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Three Baltimore teams could be tournament-bound

Photo: Coach Todd Bozeman has built the Bears into a NCAA Tournament contender in two seasons as head of the Morgan State program.

UMBC, Morgan State and Loyola in the hunt as season winds down

In a perfect storm of opportunity, chemistry and ambitious coaching, three NCAA, Division I college basketball teams from Baltimore have raised the roof on expectations this season. As the college basketball season careens down the stretch, it's worth noting that Baltimore rarely has one team in contention for an NCAA berth. This season, it could hit the trifecta. Who would've imagined that?

On the east side of town, coach Todd Bozeman's cultural revolution has lifted Morgan State from the dregs of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference to a first-place tie with Norfolk State. The chances of a historic first NCAA Division I berth are not lost on the Bears. What were the odds that Bozeman could elevate the program at Morgan State in just two years? The MEAC is among the lower ranked conferences in Division I, but the Bears are not the product of a weak conference. With Marquise Kately, Boubacar Coly and Jerrell Green, they have the look of a legitimate tournament team.

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Morgan's New Day

Photo: Boubacar Coly had been named Defender of the Week in the MEAC for six consecutive weeks.

Morgan State basketball coach Todd Bozeman admits he is a staunch advocate of the power of positive thinking and the man-to-man defense. Those two components have helped pave the way for the Bears' scintillating run to the top of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference standings.

It also helps to have a shot-blocking, rebounding machine named Boubacar Coly prowling the back line.

"I believe you can have success if you put your mind to it," said Bozeman, who in only his second season has Morgan rolling along at a 15-8 (10-1 MEAC) clip that has generated enthusiasm not seen on Hillen Road in many a year.

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The Bears have not had a big man of Coly's considerable talent since the legendary Marvin "The Human Eraser" Webster, a 7-1/225 center who posted unbelievable statistics at Morgan. In 1975, Webster averaged a double double with 17.5 points and an astounding 19.9 rebounds per contest. The former Baltimore’s Edmondson High School star was known for his incredible blocking ability and instinct.

Webster was blocking shots before they became an NCAA recorded statistic. His 1974 Bears squad won the NCAA College Division National Championship. How many of you remembered that Morgan State University accomplishment?

Webster was named the Associated Press National College Division Player of the Year in 1976. He was the second player drafted in the 1975-76 American Basketball Association (ABA) draft, before the league was merged with the NBA, by the Denver Nuggets. He had a noteworthy 10 year NBA career and still holds the Seattle Supersonics record with 21 rebounds in a half. Webster also played in the NBA Championship series with the Settle Supersonics against the Baltimore Bullets, i.e., Washington Wizzards.

The Bullets won the 1978 NBA Championship over Webster's team in game seven for the Bullets first NBA championship.

Like Webster, Coly is averaging nearly double/double with 10.5 rebounds per game, 9.5points and 2.5 blocks per game. He has already earned his Bachelor's degree in International Business prior to transferring to Morgan State from Xavier University. Coly should have his Master's completed prior to being drafted/signed by the NBA as he is extremely smart and a tremendous hard worker on both the court and the classroom.

Coach Bozeman and Morgan State will surprise a few teams when they face the Bears in the NCAA Tournament as Coly is a superior defender. It's taken three decades, but the Bears are once again a powerhouse in the East. Be aware of the Bears!

-beepbeep

MSU Coach Todd Bozeman featured in latest "ESPN The Magazine"

Photo: Coach Todd Bozeman (in black shirt).

BALTIMORE, Md. – Morgan State men’s basketball coach Todd Bozeman is featured in the recent (Jan. 28th) issue of ESPN The Magazine in an article by Jerry Bembry entitled “Older and Wiser.” The article talks about Bozeman’s coaching success at the University of California and his excitement about building something special at Morgan State from the ground up.

Bozeman's Morgan State Bears are currently leading the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with a 6-1 conference record, 11-8 overall, ahead of Hampton University (5-1, 11-7), Norfolk State University (5-1, 9-9) and North Carolina A&T State University (4-2, 10-9).

Boubacar Coly’s effort fuels Morgan State Bears

Photo: Top-50 recruit out of Laurinburg (N.C.) Institute, Morgan State University's senior forward/center Boubacar Coly is playing like one of the best in the country at his positions.

BALTIMORE - After consulting with family and Amadou Gallo Fall, the director of scouting for the Dallas Mavericks who found 6-foot-9, 220-pounder in Ziguinchor, Senegal, Boubacar Coly transferred to Morgan State. “I needed a second chance,” Coly said. “Coach Bozeman has been given his second chance and he understood more than anyone else.”

This year, he’s playing like one of the best centers in the country, as he’s led the Bears to a 9-8 record and second place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference at 4-1. Coly is averaging 9.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, which is 10th-most in Division I. His 2.6 blocks per game rank 9th in major college basketball.

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Morgan State (9-8, 4-1 MEAC) is tied for second in the MEAC thanks in part to the play of forwards Marquise Kately, junior (California) and Boubacar Coly, senior (Xavier); Combined points: 22.1. Combined rebounds: 16.

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Road to Redemption Winds Slowly for MSU Bozeman

by beepbeep

We read this story a few days ago regarding Morgan State University head basketball coach Todd Bozeman. Most of you know his story, but its worth your time to read it again as there are several nuggets that a matured Bozeman passes on in this story.
Not only is Bozeman an amazing coach, but he is a person that has overcome a major mistake in his life that would have destroyed lesser men.

Most certainly would not consider leaving the United States to pursue the craft that they loved, which Bozeman did without hesitation. Bozeman is proving that good coaches can attract blue chip players at any institution when you place priority on developing the student-athlete into a first class person and player. We expect to see this trend grow as black coaches and players begin to see that the sky is the limit at HBCUs.

Coach Bozeman is an asset to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

CLICK ON THE BLOG TITLE TO READ THIS INTERESTING ARTICLE ON TODD BOZEMAN AND MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY BEARS.

Photo: The California Connection - Jerrell Green, left, Jamar Smith, center, and Marquise Kately migrated 3,000 miles to Morgan State to play for Coach Bozeman.