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Coach Darryl Butler, Virginia State University (Photo Courtesy VSU Athletics)
Petersburg, VA -- Darryl Butler joins the Virginia State University athletic staff as an Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach. Butler comes to VSU from Frederick Community College in Frederick Md, where he spent the past three seasons as the associate head coach. During his last two years there, the men’s basketball team finished with an overall record of 41-18 and won their first Region XX Championship in school history in 2010.
Prior to his experience at Frederick Community College, Butler spent four years at Montgomery Community College in Silver Spring, Md. He served as an assistant coach for two years then became the head coach in 2006-07. After the 2005-06 season, Montgomery Community College won their first Region XX and District 7 Championship and finished 6th in the nation in NJCAA Division III.
Butler was an assistant coach at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, VA where they won the Patriot District North Region in 2003-04. Before T.C. Williams, he was an assistant coach at Howard University for the 2000-02 seasons where he help revitalized a program under Frankie Allen that finished 18-10 and reached the MEAC tournment championship game in their second season. He received his first assistant coaching position at Whittier College in Whittier, CA in 1997. Butler next moved on to an assistant coaching position at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA in 1999-2000 under Jan Van Breda Kolff. There he was part of a West Coast Conference (WCC) Regular Season Championship and a NCAA tournament appearance and win.
The Trojans are excited to welcome Butler to their men’s basketball coaching staff. Butler brings a wealth of basketball knowledge and local recruiting ties to the Tri-city area.
“Butler comes with a great deal of college coaching experience and recruiting ties especially in this region. He’s a VSU grad which means a great deal to our college community,” says VSU’s head men’s basketball coach, Darryl Jacobs.
Coach Butler is a native of Suffolk, VA and also a Trojan alumni, graduating from Virginia State University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration in 1989. Butler and his wife, Rosalie, have three children, Nikko (13), Kennedy (11), and Victoria (4).
Antoine Bethea, defensive back for the Indianapolis Colts will host a youth football camp on June 20-21 in Washington, DC at his alma mater, Howard University. The camp will run from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and is open to high school student athletes.
Washington, DC, (May 28, 2011)-- Antoine and the experienced coaching staff at Howard University will teach the campers football fundamentals and skills. The goal of the camp is to provide a solid foundation and instruction to help each individual participant maximize their natural ability. It also includes an equally important session off the field that addresses education and making good life choices.
"We're using football to draw them in, but I hope they leave being able to imagine the possibilities of their future with a higher education," says Bethea. “I want to instill a desire in them to learn off the field as well. Some may have never been exposed to Howard or any place of higher education, and I want to introduce that to them.”
Bethea leads by example and the importance of education is evident in his life. He left Howard early to play in the NFL, and contributed significantly to help the Colts win the Super Bowl during his rookie year. As a result of his stellar performance, Bethea’s hard work earned him a multi-year contract and a trip to the Pro Bowl. But as a testament to the beliefs his parents instilled in him, Bethea continued to work towards completing his studies and earned a degree in Administration of Justice from Howard in May 2011.
Throughout his time in the NFL, Antoine has dedicated himself to giving back to the communities that have helped him along the way. He established the Safe Coverage Foundation, which aims to empower youth toward academic success. In 2010, he gave 20 students from his former high school an all expense paid college trip to Howard and George Mason University. He also hosted a free football camp in his hometown of Newport News, VA.
Campers can register online at http://2011antoinebetheafootballcampdc.eventbrite.com/ and the cost for both days is $40. Proceeds from the camp will benefit the Antoine Bethea Safe Coverage Foundation and the Howard University Football program. Parents or Guardians will need to sign camper information form and release at check in. The camp will provide drinks, lunches and a camp T-shirt.
For more information on the camp or sponsorship opportunities contact profilespr@gmail.com.
About Howard University Football Program: Howard University is a comprehensive, research-oriented, historically Black, private university providing an educational experience of exceptional quality. The Howard Bison play in the NCAA Division 1 as a member of the MEAC Conference.
About Antoine Bethea: Bethea was a three-time All-America and All-MEAC player during his years at Howard. He was a sixth round draft pick of the Indianapolis Colts in 2006. Bethea is a two-time pro-bowler and has made two trips to the Super Bowl. He has developed a reputation as one of the top tacklers in the NFL and was recently selected to the 2010 USA Football/NFLPA All-Fundamentals Team.
Elizabeth City, NC -- Elizabeth City State basketball coach Shawn Walker recently went on a trip to Okinawa, Japan, to work at a coaching clinic. While it was a personally rewarding experience, Walker also managed to get a little work in. He not only returned home with some unforgettable memories, he came back with Kentrell Key, who will be joining the Vikings next year as part of a three-man recruiting class.
Along with Key, Walker has recruited Camden’s Shawn Hammonds, a 6-foot-5 swingman, and Glenn Patterson Jr., a 5-foot-9, 170-pound point guard from Red Springs who averaged 24.6 points per game as a senior. Local fans might remember Patterson as he scored 27 points to lead Red Springs past Hammonds and Camden in the regional semifinals of the 1A state playoffs.
SPENCER, N.C. — North Rowan’s Kyle Collins’ future was mapped out at the age of five. No one realized it at the time but when he visited his grandfather in Las Vegas as a little kid, a golfer was born.
“My grandfather got me started,” said Collins, who has accepted a scholarship to Winston-Salem State. “I picked it up pretty early. I always remember practicing my putting. I’d put a cup down and just hit it into the hole in the cup. I still do it to this day.”
Collins has played golf for Kelly Everhart for four years but this season, he had his sights set on impressing someone enough to get a scholarship. He was shooting in the high-30s to low-40s over nine holes when he started looking at colleges. “I was comparing my scores to all the colleges and thought Winston-Salem State would be the best fit,” he said.
NFL Houston Texans WR Jacoby Jones
Lane College/Marion Abramson HS (New Orleans)
NEW ORLEANS — The Jacoby Jones Celebrity Basketball Slam Jam, a fundraiser game for the Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball program, will tip off at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 3 at The Barn, Xavier's gymnasium.
Jones is a New Orleans native and a four-year member of the NFL's Houston Texans who caught a career-best 51 passes last season. Several of his teammates, including Duane Brown, Andre Johnson, Vonta Leach, Brice McCain and Torri Williams, also are expected to participate in the Slam Jam.
Tickets, available at The Barn or by calling (504) 957-9539, cost $8 for adults and $5 for students with a school ID.
The event will include a free autograph session from 5:45-6:15 p.m. Also scheduled to attend will be New Orleans Saints wide receiver Robert Meachem, Arizona Cardinals cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, veteran NBA player Darius Miles, Rep. Cedric Richmond and the Honeybees dance team. There will be a special appearance by Heisman Trophy winner and Saints first-round draft pick Mark Ingram.
EBONY's annual HBCU Campus Queen feature will appear in the September 2011 issue. Ten crowning beauties will grace the pages of the magazine. To become one of 10 queens chosen to appear in the issue, you must register online. The deadline for all registration material is May 22, 2011. Tell all your friends, family members and classmates to vote. Online voting begins at midnight (CT) on May 23 and ends at 11:59 PM (CT) on May 29 (SUNDAY).
WARNING: THIS IS THE SUPERBOWL OF HBCU QUEENS! Due to the highly creative and competitive nature of these videos, please reserve one hour or more for viewing and voting. ENJOY!
Videographer: Hamptonuniversity; Miss Hampton University, Desiree Williams.
Videographer: marcflemon; Miss Langston University 2011, Micah O'Neal Byrne
Videographer: fromtwin2twinTV; Ashleigh Taylor, Miss Tennessee State University
Videographer: SolangeNSayers; Miss Grambling State University 2011/12, Solange N. Sayers
Videographer: ashlielaine; Miss Florida A&M University, Kindall 'Sunshine' Johnson.
Videographer: QueenCSU; Gabrielle "Gabby" Ruffin, the 2011-2012 Miss Central State University (Ohio)
Videographer: HUReaction; Miss Howard University, Ashlee Y. Thomas
Videographer: miszkk; Miss Clark Atlanta University, De'Jonique Garrison
Videographer: MedleyIncorporated; Miss Texas Southern University, Shartajeye Wright
Videographer: TheMarkie1025; Kelsey Elizabeth Hargrove, Miss North Carolina Central University
Videographer: MsBmw1990; Miss Tuskegee University, Breana Michelle Watkins
Videographer: pennzee; Miss Virginia State University, Jessica M. Drew
Videographer: Tawonna1128, Miss West Virginia State University, Tawonna Flowers
Videographer: hwmsassoc1; Miss LeMoyne-Owen College 2011/12, Shenika Holmes
Videographer: TheCharlenaKennedy; Miss Bethune-Cookman University, Charlena Kennedy
Videographer: smccombs989; Miss Kentucky State University, Shana McCombs
Videographer: candicejones05; Miss Spelman College 2010/11, Meighan Parker
Videographer: neshaszda; Miss Albany State University, Neshaszda Brown
Videographer: Tiffany Sorrells, Miss Benedict College 2011
Videographer:misstc2011; Lateia Taylor, Miss Tougaloo College 2010-2011
Videographer: BenjaminMack1; Jasmine Gurley, Miss North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University
Videographer: JFairway07; Miss Morehouse College, Micki Le-Ling Jackson
Videographer:jvspears; Ayana Harlee, Miss Bowie State University
Videographer:aem1017claflin; Ariel Manning, Miss Claflin University
Videographer: fortvalleystate1895; Jasmine Howard, Miss Fort Valley State University
Videographer:GoodEyeVP; Rolanda Cecilia Sue, Miss Johnson C. Smith University
Videographer:anwaakong; Janee Thames, Miss Morgan State University
Videographer: PaineCollegeGA; Miss Paine College, Ciara Harris
Videographer:gblack49; Kenya Warren, Miss Southern University and A&M College
Videographer: Musizett; Adora Ihediwa, Miss Stillman College
Videographer:1976cmhoward; Kenyarie Welsh, Miss Texas College
Videographer: prtbrweyes; Regan Janell Hales, Winston-Salem State University
Videographer: DelrishaPatrice; Charnee'Pearson-Starling, Miss Bennett College
Videographer:2010rosebud; Ashley N. Graham, Miss South Carolina State University
Houston, Texas - Texas Southern will lose 14.78 of the 63 football scholarships allowed for the 2011-12 school year because of its historically low performance under the NCAA’s Academic Progress Report formula, and an athletic department administrator said TSU could post a perfect APR score for the next two years and still run the risk of more sanctions because of past failures to retain and graduate football players.
TSU, which won the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s 2010 football title but dismissed coach Johnnie Cole this spring as it awaits the results of an NCAA probe that could include evidence of academic irregularities, suffered the most severe hit, in terms of lost scholarships, of any program sanctioned by the NCAA for APR shortcomings. Its football practice schedule will be cut from 20 hours per week to 16.
Across all sports, 103 programs received postseason bans, practice reductions or scholarship cuts. That group included NCAA Division I men’s basketball champion Connecticut, which will lose two scholarships...
Videographer: TexSouthern; TSU Commencement 2011 - Speaker John Silvanus Wilson, Jr., Part 1&2.
Norwalk, California -- Cerritos College women's basketball players April Perry (5'-6")(Cabrillo HS) andRose Boatner(5'-10") (Centennial HS), who were both two-time 1st Team All-South Coast Conference selections, have both signed scholarships to continue their collegiate careers at Southern University of New Orleans, and NAIA school. The duo helped the Falcons finish in a tie for second place in the SCC, as the team concluded with a 23-7 record.
Perry led the team with a 15.7 scoring average and netted a team-high 40 three-pointers, while dishing off a team-high 3.8 assists per game. She scored a season-high 31 points in the team's 83-70 upset win over Mt. San Antonio College, while she scored over 20 points in five other games and was held in single-digits just five times all year. As for Boatner, she averaged 7.4 points a game, while pulling down a team-high 10.2 rebounds a game. She added a team-high 12 blocked shots and was second on the team with 35 steals. Boatner hauled in 16 caroms against East Los Angeles College and had 15 rebounds in three games, including the last two contests of the season.
In her career, Perry finishes with 801 points, which is the 12th most in school history, while her 470 points this season were the 21st-highest in one season. Boatner, a rebounding specialist, concludes her Falcon career second in all-time rebounds with 616, with Ebony Charles holding the all-time record with 854 rebounds from 1995-97. The 306 rebounds this season for Boatner are the seventh-most in school history, while her 10.6 rebound average as a freshman ranks as the fifth best and her 10.2 average this year tied for the eighth best.
They will be joining a Lady Knights team that went 18-6 last season and lost their opening game in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament to end their year. The team, which finished in a tie for third place in the GCAC, is losing their shooting guard and power forward, which are roles that both Perry and Boatner can fill for the team.
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — Moody's Justin Perales reached big goals Tuesday, but he has big plans for the rest of the week. Perales signed a letter of intent to play at Alcorn State, but has his focus squarely on Boerne Champion, this week's playoff opponent. The Trojans face Champion in a three-game region semifinal series beginning Thursday at Whataburger Field.
"It feels great to sign, but really it's good just to get this out of the way so we can get ready for this week," Perales said. "We've got a lot of goals left to reach, so that's where our focus is now."
Perales, Moody's first baseman, leads the team with a .438 average, and is second on the squad with 7 homers and 42 RBI.
"(Alcorn State) has been on me since the beginning," said Perales, who is expected to be used as a corner infielder and eventually hit in the middle of the lineup. "I went on a visit, and there's not a lot you can do over there. Really, all you'll be able to do is play baseball and work out, so I think that will be good for me to continue to get better."
We continue our run through the 49ers2011 NFL Draft picks as we check out Trent Baalke's comments about each player's film. Baalke broke down some tape and gave some background on each of the 49ers draft picks, giving the media a better idea of who some of these guys are and how they might fit in with the 49ers. Today we check out the 49ers last draft pick, cornerback Curtis Holcomb of Florida A&M via Trent Baalke's film discussion.
In 2010 the 49ers drafted cornerback Phillip Adams out of South Carolina State with their final pick. A year later the49ers drafted Holcomb out of Florida A&M. Both schools are in the MEAC and based on the 49ers.com roster page, they're actually similar builds. I have no idea whether this means we're looking at similar players. Given their late round status, it can be difficult to get more details on such players. As Baalke says in the video in reference to Holcomb, "The guy Mel Kiper had to fumble through his stuff for cuz he wasn't rated." Videographer: sanfrancisco49ers; Baalke's Film Review - FAMU's Curtis Holcomb READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.
Gainesville, FL - A member of the Santa Fe Saints men's basketball team has signed a letter of intent with Florida A&M University, Coach Chris Mowry announced. Eddie D'Haiti inked with Florida A&M University on May 26, 2011.
D'Haiti joins a FAMU team that finished the 2010-11 season 12-20 overall and 7-9 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Rattlers are coached by newly hired Clemon Johnson, the former head coach at the University of Alaska Fairbanks from 2007-2010. Johnson is a graduate of FAMU (1978) and played 10 years in the NBA, winning a championship with the Portland Trailblazers in 1983.
As a sophomore at SF, 6'8" D'Haiti averaged 11.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 30 games. For his efforts, he was named to the All Mid-Florida Conference First Team.
D'Haiti will have two years of eligibility remaining with the Florida A&M University Rattlers.
PROFILE Place of Birth: Orlando, Florida High School: Oak Ridge High School (Orlando, Florida) Size: 6-foot-8, 210 Strong Forward, Averaged 16 pts/11 rebounds per game. Honors: Honorable-Mention Class 6-A All-State Selection, First Team All-Metro, All-Orange County and 2nd-Team All-Central Florida. Rank: Ranked as one of the top 40 seniors in Florida by FloridaHoops.com and Hoop Scoop. Considered a four-star recruit by the recruiting services. Colleges: Out of high school, signed NLI with Youngstown State University (Ohio). Senior Year: Lead Oak Ridge to 21-8 record and advanced to the regional quarterfinals of the state tournament losing to eventual semifinalist Winter Springs (77-67). Pioneers had a 43-13 record during his junior and senior years...coach was Matt Turner. Prospectus - A transfer from Youngstown State University, D’Haiti is a skilled big man with crafty post moves who can score with his back to the basket or knock down jumpers. Eddie has great court vision, which makes him a very good passer.
Parents:Odilbert Lubin and Rosemonde Milien
Major: Business
Born: January 30, 1989 By Santa Fe College Media Relations Videographer: ysusports
Gainesville, FL - Two members of the 2011 Mid-Florida Conference Santa Fe College Saints Fastpitch team have signed letters of intent with NCAA universities, Coach Chris Ahern announced. Jasmine Warren signed with Jackson State University (Jackson, MS) and Venica Brown signed with Florida A&M University (Tallahassee, FL).
FAMU's Venica Brown
Warren, a pitcher and outfielder the past two seasons for Santa Fe, has signed with Jackson State University, a NCAA Div. I school in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. In 2011, first year head coach Rich Fremin led the Tigers to their first ever NCAA Regional Tournament appearance and the SWAC tournament championship.
A duel position player at SF, Warren started 17 games at pitcher for the Saints as a sophomore, finishing with a 10-3 record and a 1.48 ERA. As a hitter, she had a .314 average (48-for-153) with five doubles, 10 RBI and a team leading 22 stolen bases.
Brown has signed her letter of intent with Florida A&M, a NCAA Div. I university in the Mideastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). The Rattlers are coached by Veronica Higgins and finished the 2011 season with a 26-26 overall record and a 8-4 mark in the MEAC.
As a sophomore, Brown came off the bench as the back-up catcher and drove in seven runs in 36 plate appearances.
Hampton, VA -- Hampton University lost 6.3 scholarships in football and 0.28 in men's indoor track in the 2011 Academic Progress Rate data released Tuesday by the NCAA, mirroring a larger trend among historically black colleges and universities, which continue to struggle with the annual measurement of classroom performance and athlete-retention rate of Division I teams.
Norfolk State lost two scholarships from its men's basketball program.
HBCUs accounted for 33 of the 103 penalties assessed for the 2009-10 APR reporting year, a fact officials attribute to a combination of factors -- including lack of resources at the traditionally smaller, less-funded schools, as well as a high rate of turnover within the athletics department and at the presidential level.
Videographer: tbutlerthe3rd; Melissa Chastang named salutatorian and Jeffrey Eugene named valedictorian of the class of 2011, Hampton University. Their grade point averages were 4.058 and 4.059 respectively.
Videographer: Willworkforchocbar; Hampton University 2011 Spring Concert - Phantom of the Opera, played by the 2010/11 Hampton University Chamber Orchestral.
Let’s see if I’ve got this straight. When Bryan Aycoth used to play football in the fall at West Rowan, he was a quarterback who was named Rowan County Offensive Player of the Year.
When Aycoth suits up for Livingstone College in the fall, he’s be a linebacker.
When Aycoth used to play baseball in the spring at West Rowan, he was an all-state catcher, using that strong right arm to throw out runners.
When Aycoth suits up in the spring at Livingstone, he is still using that strong right arm, only now to throw the javelin.
HAMPTON, VA – Junior Bryan Aycoth, a two-sport athlete in football and track and field was named to the 2011 CIAA Commissioner's All-Academic Second Team, it was announced Friday by the conference office.
This year's team defines the total NCAA DII student-athlete experience with each member excelling on their respective playing fields as well as in the classroom and in their communities.
Aycoth, a native of Salisbury, NC, has a cumulative GPA of 3.87 as a biology major. Aycoth led the Livingstone football team in tackles this season with 67 total tackles including 11.5 tackles for loss.
On the track and field team Bryan excelled in the javelin throw, breaking his own school record five times over the season. At the conference championships Bryan threw his collegiate best of 60.27 meters which won the CIAA title for the second year in a row, set the CIAA record and provisionally qualified him for the NCAA Division II National Championships.
The CIAA Commissioner's All-Academic Team is voted on by the CIAA Sports Information Directors' Association and is in its 14th year. To be eligible for the team a student-athlete must have completed one academic year at a CIAA institution, earned a minimum 3.2 grade point average, and have excelled as a starter or significant reserve in a CIAA sanctioned sport.
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Bryan Aycoth has been named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II outdoor track & field Atlantic All-Region Team, for his performance in the javelin, it was announced Tuesday.
Aycoth was named to the All-Region team by virtue of finishing in the top-five in the Atlantic region in the javelin throw. Aycoth's top performance came in the 2011 CIAA Championships where he threw 60.27 meters which won him the CIAA title, set the conference record and provisionally qualified him for the NCAA National Championships.
Johnson C. Smith will open its 2011 football season against West Virginia State.
The Golden Bulls will open their season Sept. 3 against the Yellow Jackets at McGirt Field, according to a revamped schedule on JCSU's website. The change became necessary when original opponent St. Paul's eliminated its entire athletics program earlier this month. As a result, the Tigers have been removed from CIAA membership, leaving the league with 12 schools.
JCSU officials opened the search for a new opponent shortly after St. Paul's announced its intention. Golden Bulls coach Steve Aycock and athletics director Steve Joyner confirmed JCSU was in contact with multiple Division II schools and one Division I program about filling the open date in order to keep its preseason schedule intact.
2011 JCSU Golden Bulls Football Schedule
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME
09/03/2011 West Virginia State Charlotte, NC, Irwin Belk Complex 4:00 PM
09/10/2011 Brevard College Brevard, NC 2:00 PM
09/17/2011 Virginia State Charlotte, NC, Irwin Belk Complex 4:00 PM
09/24/2011 Davidson Davidson, NC 7:00 PM
10/01/2011 Winston Salem State Winston Salem, NC 1:00 PM
10/08/2011 *Shaw Raleigh, NC 1:00 PM
10/15/2011 Virginia Union Charlotte, NC, Irwin Belk Complex 1:00 PM
10/22/2011 Saint Augustine's Raleigh, NC 1:30 PM
10/29/2011 Fayetteville State Charlotte, NC, Irwin Belk Complex 1:00 PM
11/05/2011 **Livingstone TBA 1:00 PM
Washington, D.C.(May 26,2011) – The 16-team field for the 2011 Preseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament was announced today.
Top 10 teams Baylor, Notre Dame, and UCLA headline the field that also includes Akron, Chattanooga, Detroit, Drexel, ETSU, Hartford, Howard, Indiana State, Long Island, Manhattan, McNeese State, Tennessee Tech, and UAB.
The Preseason WNIT bracket will be announced in June. Here’s a quick snapshot of the field:
- Akron loses just one senior from its 14-16 team, and with the return of four starters, the Zips expect to get back to their form of 09-10 when they posted their best season in school history at 18-14.
- Baylor is a favorite to win next season’s national title after advancing to the Final Four in Indianapolis. The Lady Bears have U.S. Basketball Writers Association coach of the year Kim Mulkey to lead freshman of the year Odyssey Sims, All-American Brittney Griner, and the vast majority of the Bears that went 34-3 last season and captured the Big 12 Conference regular-season and tournament titles.
- Chattanooga won 11 straight Southern Conference titles until last season’s youth-laden team lost in overtime in the semifinals of the tournament. This year’s team is a year older and will build on a 17-14 mark with everyone on the roster back for another season under coach Wes Moore.
- Detroit is a program on the rise, as the Titans return all five starters from their 13-18 team that defeated Michigan on the road for the first time since 1983.
- Drexel earned its third straight trip to the postseason and finished 19-12 despite suffering some key injuries. The Dragons welcome all but one player back for next fall.
- ETSU has won three of the past four Atlantic Sun Tournament titles. The Lady Buccaneers return three starters from their 19-12 team, including Destiny Mitchell, who earned all-conference freshman team honors after suffering a season-ending knee injury in February.
- Hartford finished last season on a high note by winning the America East tournament and earning its sixth trip to the NCAAs despite a slow start with an inexperienced team. The Hawks, who were 27-5 a year ago, will again be a favorite this fall in the America East.
- Howard finished runner-up at the MEAC championships and returns conference Player of the Year Saadia Doyle for her junior season. The 16-18 Bison return all five of their starters for their first appearance in the Preseason WNIT.
- Indiana State head coach Teri Moren set a school record for most wins in a rookie season as the Sycamores were 16-16. They get all but one player back from a team that advanced to the Missouri Valley tournament’s semifinal round.
- Long Island returns its top players from a 19-11 team in the Northeast Conference, including senior Ashley Palmer, a two-time NEC first-team all-conference honoree.
- Manhattan is coming off its winningest season in school history, as it finished 24-10 and played in the postseason. The Jaspers welcome back four starters.
- McNeese State posted a record-setting season and tied the best turnaround in NCAA history with a 26-7 record after winning seven games the year before. The Cowgirls captured both the Southland Conference regular-season and tournament titles, and played in their first NCAA Tournament in school history. Their top players return to the team this fall.
- Notre Dame made it all the way to the NCAA championship game before falling to Texas A&M, and the Fighting Irish (31-8) will be back in force this fall for another strong run. They are led by point guard Skylar Diggins, who is among a record three Irish players who recently made the 14-player cut for the U.S. World University Games.
- Tennessee Tech won the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title and played in the Postseason WNIT. The Golden Eagles posted a nine-game turnaround from the season before, finishing with a 23-8 overall record. They get all five starters back this fall.
- UAB rolled to its first 20-win season in a decade, going 20-15 and winning the WBI postseason event. The Blazers return four of their five starters and all but one player on their roster.
- UCLA earned more regular-season wins (26) than ever before, and matched its highest seed in history in the NCAA Tournament at No. 3. The Bruins (28-5) will have a new coaching staff led by Cori Close after Nikki Caldwell took the LSU job, but should again be picked to finish around the No. 2 spot in the Pac-12 Conference this fall.
Videographer: howarduniversity;Performer Frenchy Davis tells how Howard University shaped her career
The Preseason WNIT features a three-game guarantee format. The event opens Nov. 11 with first-round games. Second-round games will be played Nov. 13-14; semifinals will be Nov. 16-17; and the championship is set for Sunday, Nov. 20. Teams that lose in the first two rounds will play consolation games on the second weekend, Nov. 18-19. All games are hosted by participating schools.
In last year’s Preseason WNIT, Purdue defeated DePaul 67-58.
Braves tough schedule has them ready for first regional
The old saying goes, “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.” That quote had to pop into Alcorn State head coach Barrett Rey’s mind when he was putting together the Braves’ schedule this season.
If you take a look at the non-conference schedule Alcorn State endured this season, it reads like a who’s who of college baseball: Alabama, Arizona, Mississippi State, LSU, Wichita State, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Southern Miss. Even Division I independent Dallas Baptist boasts a 39-17 record and currently ranks No. 45 in the RPI.
On paper, the Braves may have not had much success against those clubs this season, but the experience of facing them definitely prepared Alcorn State for the challenge of Southwestern Athletic Conference opponents.
“There was a method behind the madness of that scheduling,” Rey said. “The guys really bought into it and understood that it wasn’t just us doing a wild schedule. It was to prepare us for this if the time arose. It prepared us for the conference tournament and going into a hostile environment.”
NORMAL, AL -- Director of Athletics at Alabama A&M University has announced that 16 year assistant coach Willie Hayes has been hired as the next head coach in the Bulldog men’s basketball program.
The Bulldogs have won over 250 games since Hayes joined the Bulldog staff. One of the best point guards to ever play for A&M, Hayes thrilled Bulldog fans with his pinpoint passing and deadly shooting. He held the school record for career assists with 669 until Craig Lottie surpassed the mark in 1997, by just four.
Still, Hayes will always be known for his fantastic performances on the court. In 116 games as a player in the Bulldog program, Hayes averaged 14.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He shot 47.4 percent from the floor, 35.3 percent from three-point range and ...
