Hampton Pirates get top seeded Duke

HAMPTON, VA – The Hampton University men’s basketball team, fresh off winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament championship, will face No. 1 seed Duke on Friday in Charlotte, N.C. in the second round of the 2011 NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The Pirates learned their fate at a Selection Show party Sunday evening in the Student Center Ballroom, erupting in raucous applause and cheers when the school’s name was announced in front of an audience of fans and boosters.

Hampton (24-8), making their first NCAA appearance since 2006, earned the No. 16 seed in the West Region. They defeated defending MEAC champion Morgan State 60-55 on Saturday in the title game for their fifth straight win.

Ex-Trenton mayor: 16th-seed Hampton will shock No. 1 Duke in NCAA Tournament

TRENTON, NJ -- Watch out, Dukies, little ol' Hampton is coming to eat your lunch! So says former Trenton mayor Doug Palmer after hearing that his alma mater is slated to open the NCAA Tournament against the defending national champion and top seed in the West.

Hampton University (24-8) is the 16-seed after winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title. On Friday in Charlotte, N.C., the Pirates will face No. 5 Duke (29-4), which beat North Carolina to win the ACC crown and grab a top seed for the 12th time.

But Hampton has history on its side in tournament games against powerhouses.

NCAA MEN'S BRACKET

PIRATES TO FACE DUKE IN NCAA FIRST ROUND

HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University men’s basketball team, fresh off winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament championship, will face No. 1 seed Duke on Friday in Charlotte, N.C. in the second round of the 2011 NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The time of the game has yet to be determined. The Pirates learned their fate at a Selection Show party Sunday evening in the Student Center Ballroom, erupting in raucous applause and cheers when the school’s name was announced in front of an audience of fans and boosters.

“We're excited for the opportunity, and it marks a chance for our program to do something special,” Pirates head coach Edward “Buck” Joyner Jr. said. “It's been 10 years since we last made history, and we want to put that stamp on our program and show the world what we're capable of.”

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NCAA: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 44, Duke 73

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff ends first NCAA Tournament experience with a 1-1 record, defeating Winthrop and falling to Duke 44-73.

Duke outmuscles UAPB

From the tip you could see that UAPB's lack of size would be an issue for the Golden Lions. They were outrebounded in this game 24-41, and that proved to be the difference in the game. Duke wins 73-44. In the first half, scoring points took a backseat to fouls as UAPB found themselves with several players in foul trouble before the midway point. The Duke Blue Devils looked untouchable as they shot 44 pct. from the field in the first half. Kyle Singler led the way with 13 points and 6 rebounds.

As for the Golden Lions, Terrance Calvin shot 66 pct. from the field and scored 7 of UAPB's 20 first half points. They were outrebounded in the first half 20-11 and committed 13 personal fouls. Duke led by 19 at halftime. In the second half it was much of the same for the Blue Devils. UAPB came out in a zone and shot the ball well but once again could not get to the freethrow line. Singler led Duke with 22 points and 10 rebounds. The Blue Devils shot 28 freethrows for the game to the Golden Lions 7. No one on the Golden Lions roster scored in double figures.

Those "Enormously Heartening" Golden Lions

A friend and wise man posted this Facebook status update after UAPB won the NCAA play-in game on Tuesday:

"There was something enormously heartening about watching the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions beat Winthrop tonight. It reminded me of why I used to love March Madness (TM) even back when UCLA was winning every year. A bunch of kids you never heard of who didn't get 20 D1 offers each playing their hearts out for a shot at Duke. Chances slim and none, but hey they can say they did it."

Hear, hear! As uninspiring as the Hogs were this past season, UAPB has been that inspiring and then some. Everyone loves a Cinderella story. Well, it doesn't get much more Cinderella than the Golden Lions. The never-ending road trip with which they began the season caught the attention of the New York Times' basketball blog and Sports Illustrated. And not only did the Golden Lions play their first 14 games on the road (with most of those opponents belonging to major conferences such as the ACC and Big 12), but they began the year 0-11. And yet, here they are. Pretty amazing.

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Top-seeded Duke cruises into second round in Jacksonville ...

Arkansas-Pine Bluff had the success you would expect from a No. 16 seed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament — none. Duke, the top seed in the South region, built an early double-digit lead and coasted to a 73-44 victory over the overmatched Golden Lions on Friday night at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. No top seed has ever lost to a 16. “That didn’t cross our minds, the whole 1 vs. 16 thing,” said Duke senior guard Jon Scheyer, who scored 13 points. “We wanted to get a win and start it off right.”

Junior forward Kyle Singler led the Blue Devils with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Duke shot 51 percent from the floor and held Arkansas-Pine Bluff to 32percent. “Defensively, we were excellent,” said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who earned his 72nd NCAA Tournament victory, extending his NCAA record. “We’re more talented than they are, but I was happy with how my team played, and I’m happy that we’re moving on.” Duke (30-5) will advance to Sunday’s second round against eighth-seeded Cal or ninth-seeded Louisville. The tip-off time will be announced today.


Click HERE to watch UAPB vs. Duke.

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MEAC women's champ Hampton draws 15 seed; opens against Duke

Hampton University gives coach David Six a three-year contract extension.

HAMPTON, VA - One by one, David Six introduced the people responsible for the Hampton University women's basketball team's first NCAA tournament appearance in six seasons --the managers, the assistant coaches, the players. He paused when he saw 4-year-old Sallie Dawson standing in the doorway. "This is our inspiration," Six said. Sallie, who's had four surgeries because of heart and kidney abnormalities, sat with the players as the NCAA women's selection show aired, holding a stuffed Pirate and wearing her Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship cap backward. An avid Lady Pirates fan, Sallie watched with a crowd of people at an Armstrong Stadium football meeting room as HU learned it will play Duke in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

The Lady Pirates (20-11), the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament champions and a 15th seed, will take on second-seeded Duke (27-5) on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in Durham, N.C., in the Memphis regional. "To be honest, it still hasn't hit me yet," said junior forward Quanneisha Perry, the MEAC defensive player of the year who, like several of her teammates, had a piece of the net HU players cut down in Winston-Salem, N.C., tied to her cap. "It's like just another game. When the horn sounded, it was like, 'I'm a MEAC champion,' but it still hasn't got to me yet."

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Duke Blue Devils 49, NCCU Eagles 14

Devils rule in cross-town romp

DURHAM, N.C. Early last week, Duke coach David Cutcliffe said the Blue Devils were not a "good" football team - a candid remark that represented the team's ineffectiveness and inconsistency in three previous games. On Saturday against N.C. Central, the Devils made strides to change their coaches' perspective, pounding the Eagles to capture a 49-14 victory at Wallace Wade Stadium in the first game between the neighboring schools.

The game, billed as the "Bull City Gridiron Classic," attracted 26,390 fans, many who showed up early to tailgate and enjoy the joint festivities planned by the two schools. A steady downpour did not turn away the faithful, who had talked about this game for weeks. The Eagles, who are in their third year of a transition from NCAA Division II to Division I, pulled the score to within a touchdown in the second quarter, cutting Duke's early lead to 21-14. Thereafter points were harder to acquire, with the Devils standing firm on defense and opening the game with an offensive outburst that continued into the fourth quarter.



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Game summary

Rucker Understands What Tonight's Game Was All About

Kinney Rucker, more than any other Duke player -- with the possible exception of freshman running back Desmond Scott -- understood what the first Bull City Classic was all about. The Blue Devils' senior defensive tackle reveled in the moment as he walked out to the center of the field before the kickoff of Duke's 49-14 victory over North Carolina Central. The Durham native was appointed a co-captain for the first historic meeting between Durham's two universities. "I moved down here in the sixth grade," Rucker said. "I went to Central games. I went to Duke games. For this to happen, is huge. "I went to the pep rally Thursday, just to see the camaraderie. It is amazing how much this community has come together and how much times have changed. Growing up, you never thought you'd see Duke and Central playing on the same field. As they moved up another division, it made it possible."

NCCU Eagles Tim Shankle scores on 1-yard TD run against the Duke Blue Devils.

'A LONG TIME IN COMING'

DURHAM -- The rain fell, but it did not seem to bother Duke and N.C. Central University alumni who gathered late Saturday before the historic first meeting of the Blue Devils and the Eagles football teams at Wallace Wade Stadium. In addition to the rain, beer flowed, and there was plenty of chicken, barbecue and other good picnic food as fans gathered at Blue Devil Alley for the pregame tailgate parties for the historic first meeting of the two schools' teams. Much has been said and written about this game as an event that bridges a historical divide between Duke and historically black NCCU. Members of the Omega Zeta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity -- the first black fraternity at Duke, established in 1974 -- were on hand celebrating that historic milestone along with the evening's game.

Attendance: 26,390 at Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, N.C.

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N.C. Central Eagles at Duke Blue Devils

Preview: Duke (1-2) v. NC Central (0-3)

For the first time NC Central and Duke will meet on the gridiron in what is being called the "Bull City Classic". In addition, this weekend's game will serve as Homecoming 2009 for the Blue Devils. Last Time: The two schools have never met on the gridiron. However the Eagles have played in Wallace Wade Stadium on three occasions, posting a 2-1 overall record on Duke's home field. The last time the Eagles were on the field they defeated North Carolina A&T by a score of 29-18 during the 1974 season. Duke has an all-time record of 42-35-3 when playing a team for the first time. .

What To Watch For On Offense: The Eagles' offensive unit has been largely ineffective through the first three contests of the season - averaging just 14.7 points per game. Some if it due to inexperience with several younger players being forced into action. Two positions were opened for in preseason drills when junior wide receiver Corey Harris dislocated his left clavicle. Soon after, senior offensive lineman Eric Stanley suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee. Both required season-ending surgery.

Duke and NCCU to meet for first time

A 'Classic' every year...Although schedule restrictions limit Duke and NCCU's ability to compete annually, University officials are hopeful that there will be a Bull City Classic every year. The contract between NCCU and Duke requires the two schools to meet every three years until the 2015 football season. The University hopes to fill the remaining gaps in the schedule with other Historically Black Colleges and Universities, such as Howard University and Morgan State University, hosting one school per year in the Classic.

"We're looking to build an affinity for Duke football," said Deputy Director of Athletics Stan Wilcox. "Within the Durham community, there are a number of individuals who probably have attended some of these historically black colleges that are in the region and it would give those individuals the opportunity to see their alma mater in Durham."

Bull City rivalry takes wing

You could hear the thumping drumbeat of the marching Sound Machine blocks away. It may not have felt like a football night -- "too hot and sticky," N.C. Central University fan Tony Chavis said -- but several thousand people crowded into Historic Durham Athletic Park on Thursday night for an old-fashioned pigskin party. The Bull City Football Fest celebrated in anticipation of Saturday night's first-ever football encounter between NCCU and Duke, "two great universities that unbelievably are just five miles apart," Blue Devil coach David Cutcliffe told the crowd.

The fest offered food and drink, activities for kids that included a climbing wall and a moon walk, and music from the Sound Machine, the Eagles' pep band, and the Blue Devil marching band. There were cheerleaders and mascots, hot dogs and barbecue.
Most of all, the event gave supporters of both schools a chance to mingle, talk a little trash and support their school.

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Duke, N.C. Central to meet in football

DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke University and North Carolina Central University have scheduled a football game between the schools for Sept. 26, 2009 at Duke’s Wallace Wade Stadium.

“My hat goes off to the representatives from both athletic departments that approached this idea and finalized the details,” Duke Vice President and Director of Athletics Kevin White said. “We know the inaugural football game between the two Durham-based colleges will draw a great deal of fanfare and we're very excited to be hosting what will be an outstanding event for the City of Durham.”

“Having an opportunity to play Duke University in football is extremely exciting,” said NCCU Director of Athletics Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree. “North Carolina Central University is looking forward to continuing the efforts by Chancellor Nelms, President Brodhead, Coach Rison and Coach Cutcliffe on collaborating to bring these two outstanding institutions closer together.”

The Blue Devils return 33 lettermen and 12 starters off of last year’s squad that finished 4-8 in Coach David Cutcliffe’s first season. The Eagles, who are in their second year of reclassification to the Football Championship Subdivision, posted a 4-7 overall mark last season.

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