WNIT: North Carolina A&T crowd drowns out 49ers to end Charlotte’s season

North Carolina A&T State University Lady Aggies coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs and team have made history, again. With the win over UNCC, the Aggies (23-10) become the first NCAA Division I historically black college or university to win two postseason games. The Aggies will play Miami Thursday night in the WNIT at 7 p.m., the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Florida.

Charlotte, N.C. - The University of North Carolina-Charlotte 49ers’ season came to an end Sunday afternoon at the hands of the North Carolina A&T Aggies, 79-70 in Halton Arena. Charlotte had won 13 straight games in Halton Arena, but Sunday afternoon didn’t feel like much of a home game for the Niners. Notoriously known for traveling well, the Aggies brought a crowd and band that easily outnumbered Niner Nation three to one. At times, it seemed like a battle of the bands, as Charlotte and A&T’s band went back-and-forth at one another with the best songs they had.

Charlotte jumped out to an early 6-0 lead but just as quickly, fell behind; as A&T hit three straight three-pointers to jump out to a 9-6 lead with 15:54 left in the opening stanza. Charlotte retook the lead shortly after and lead for a large portion of the rest of the half, until A&T used a 9-2 run to take a 35-32 lead into the break. “Well I thought their guard play was terrific, and you have to commend them on a gutsy performance,” Niner Head Coach Karen Aston said following the loss. “I thought every time we tried to make a run, they answered it. They were just a little bit tougher and more aggressive than us, in particular at the guard position.”

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Delaware State wins 2nd MEAC Bowling Championship

Greensboro, N.C. - The Delaware State bowling team has captured its second straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament championship after defeating Maryland-Eastern Shore four-games-to-three in a dramatic best-of-seven Baker scoring series on March 21. The Hornets are the third team to win back-to-back MEAC bowling titles in the 11-year history of the tournament, joining Maryland-Eastern Shore (2005-08) and North Carolina A&T (2001-04). Delaware State ended Maryland-Eastern Shore's three-year championship run in 2009.

It also marks the first time that a Delaware State team in any sport has captured consecutive MEAC championships since women's indoor track & field earned five straight titles from 1984 to '88. "This is a tremendous achievement for our team and the university," said Delaware State first-year head coach Ricki Williams-Ellison. "Our girls worked so hard all season long to achieve this goal. I'm so grateful to Delaware State University for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this great bowling program."

Williams-Ellison was named Most Outstanding Coach of the MEAC Tournament, while Delaware State junior Angela Reynolds was selected as the Most Outstanding Performer. Reynolds tallied 764 pinfall in team games and anchored her team in the victory. "We knew we were facing a tough UMES team and they had to beat us twice, explained Reynolds." "I rallied the team and let them know that we had been in this position before and we approached the game like it was any other match-not just a championship match."

Joining Reynolds on the All-Tournament Team are teammates Brooke Peterson and Adriana Jaime. Florida A&M's Samantha Mighty and South Carolina State's Stephanie Sinclair completed the team. Delaware State earned its spot in the championship round after posting victories over Bethune-Cookman, Norfolk State and Maryland-Eastern Shore on Saturday. Maryland-Eastern Shore defeated South Carolina State earlier Sunday to advance to the championship round. The Hawks then outlasted the Hornets four-games-to-three to force the decisive series.

"We expected a tough match from UMES because it is a championship-caliber team," said Williams-Ellison. "Our teams compete against each other so much during the season that it was no surprise the championship went down to the wire."

Maryland-Eastern Shore is ranked No. 1 in the latest National Tenpins Coaches Association Top 20 poll, while Delaware State is No. 5. The Hornets were 3-1 against UMES during this weekend's MEAC Tournament. The NTCA poll helps determine the eight-team field for the 2010 NCAA Tournament. Although there are no automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament, the Hornets (102-38 overall this season) are hoping they have made a case for selection to the field for the second straight year.

Delaware State earned the first NCAA Tournament bid in team history in 2009. The Hornets became the first DSU sports team to post a NCAA Tournament victory, defeating New Jersey City and Central Missouri en route to the Final Four in the '09 tourney. The Hornets were defeated by eventual champ Nebraska in the national semifinals last year.

The NCAA will announce its tournament selections this Wednesday (Mar. 24). The 2010 NCAA Women's Bowling Tournament is set for April 8-10 in East Brunswick, N.J. ESPNU will air the Delaware State/Maryland-Eastern Shore MEAC Tournament championship match on March 29 at 6:00 p.m.


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UConn Crushes Southern U. In NCAA Opener

UConn Crushes Southern U. In NCAA Opener

NORFOLK, VA - Let's be honest, if this was about something other than basketball, like pep bands and cheer squads, the top-seeded UConn women would be heading home today, the Huskies' run in the NCAA Tournament ended by a national powerhouse. But this wasn't a battle of the bands. There was only so much pep Southern University's world-class brass and percussion could pump into the Ted Constant Convocation Center Sunday. It stirred the crowd early and often, beginning an hour before the tip.

However, there wasn't much they could do for their basketball team against the Huskies. Tubas and trombones don't win tournaments. "They were very loud," UConn's Maya Moore said. "They were doing their best to distract us. But we were listening to Coach." Led by Tina Charles, who scored 22 points on 9-for-10 shooting with 11 rebounds and three blocks, the Huskies pounded No. 16 seed Southern 95-39 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Moore added 21 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and three steals.

UConn rolls over Southern

NORFOLK, VA — Southern brought its hurricane defense north for Sunday’s first-round game of the NCAA women‘s basketball tournament. Problem was, the Jaguars ran into a Category 5 storm in top-seeded UConn, which blew out No. 16 seed Southern 95-39 in a first-round game of the Dayton region at the Constant Center. The Southwestern Athletic Conference champion and its rockin’ band refused to be discouraged by the 56-point beating suffered at the hands of the Huskies (34-0), who are looking to add a seventh national title to their legacy, which includes an NCAA-record 73 straight victories.

“We call our defense ‘hurricane,’ and we brought it,” Southern’s Ashley Augerson said, celebrating 21 Huskies turnovers. Southern (23-9) also forced UConn into two shot-clock violations. And despite having no following behind its bench, won over the local fan support that cheered the underdog. Despite the gritty effort, the Jaguars couldn’t hang with the eye of the storm, and that would be All-Americans Tina Charles and Maya Moore, who are battling each other for National Player of the Year honors. The 6-foot-4 Charles scored 22 on a pristine effort that left her without a miss in her first seven attempts, and Moore’s methodical afternoon produced 21 points and eight assists.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Southern, champions of the SWAC, are 0-4 all time in the NCAA Tournament. But the Jaguars played hard, just as they promised they would, giving the Huskies a tougher time in many ways than Northeastern or Seton Hall did during similar losses."

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Duke crushes Hampton 72-37 in NCAA women's tournament opener

Hampton University first year coach David Six: "You have to take baby steps, and I think this is one of them." "I think now we know what it's like. I think there were times during the game that we belonged on the floor. "

DURHAM, N.C. - For the Hampton University women, the fun lasted barely beyond the first TV timeout Saturday. The shots were falling, the Pirates had the lead against heavy favorite Duke, and the Hampton band and fans were jamming. Even the players on the bench looked like they wanted to join in the dancing during the first commercial break of this NCAA tournament first-rounder. The Pirates led 4-3, then 6-3 and later 8-5. But the March magic they had hoped for never materialized at Cameron Indoor Stadium as Duke rolled 72-37.

So what if it was their lowest scoring output in four NCAA tournament games. Now the players know what it feels like, even if it didn't feel so great at the final horn. "We know we don't want to feel like this again, if we get here," sophomore guard Jericka Jenkins said in a disconsolate Hampton locker room. "Right now, it makes it seem like everything we worked for is down the drain. But this one game does not determine our season."

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NCAA: No. 1 UConn vs. No. 16 Southern University

Location: Ted Constant Convocation Center, Norfolk, Va.

Tip-off: 12:16 p.m. (ESPN2).

Records: Southern 23-8, UConn 33-0.
Probable starters: Southern, 5-11 Jr. F Tiffany Foster (8.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg), 6-1 Jr. F Freda Allen (5.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg), 5-8 Sr. F Ashley Augerson (8.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg), 5-7 So. G Carneta Henderson (3.5 ppg), 5-9 Jr. G Hannah Kador (12.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg).

UConn, 5-10 So. G Tiffany Hayes (10.4 ppg), 5-10 So. G Caroline Doty (7.0 ppg), 6-0 Jr. F Maya Moore (17.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 4.0 apg, 2.2 spg), 6-4 Sr. C Tina Charles (18.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg), 5-10 Sr. G Kalana Greene (12.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg).

Noteworthy: UConn is the 11th women's team in history to begin the NCAA tournament without a loss. Of the first 10, five won national championships, including Texas in 1986, Tennessee in 1988 and UConn in 1995, 2002 and 2009. No team has even done it twice in a row. Moore, a junior, said this tournament has a different feel for UConn, coming off of last year's success and having to replicate that with a different team. "But we're still the same program," Moore said. "We're going to approach every game the same way and we'll focus on Southern." Said Moore: "When you lose that respect, when you lose that sense of urgency for every opponent, that's when you play poorly or get beat. It's the first game at the NCAA tournament. Where else would you rather be?" … It is the first meeting for UConn and Southern. It is also UConn's first game ever against a team from the SWAC. … Southern played one ranked opponent this season in then-No. 22 Cal, falling 78-47.

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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.

Photo Gallery: More photos »

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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NCAA: Morgan State Bears 50, West Virginia Mountaineer 77

[Morgan State Coach Todd] Bozeman said he felt historically black college and universities, with the right approach by administrators, could become a major player in Division I basketball.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- West Virginia fought off an early scare, got its act straightened out and rolled past Morgan State, 77-50 this afternoon at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo in a first-round NCAA tournament game. The Mountaineers -- the No. 2-seed in the East region -- advanced their record to 28-6 and, on Sunday, will play Missouri. Morgan State, looking to become the fifth No. 15-seed in tournament history to earn an opening round win, had its season end with a 27-10 record as West Virginia was led in scoring by Kevin Jones, who had 17, and Devin Ebanks' 16.

West Virginia was deplorable at the beginning, as the squad missed its first 11 shots and fell behind, 10-0 in the early going, and didn't score a field goal in the opening 7 minutes, 45 seconds. But the Mountaineers remaining steady against Morgan State's zone, never deviating from their intended offensive course and slowly climbed back into it. They narrowed the disadvantage and narrowed the disadvantage until West Virginia took its first lead, 22-21 with 5:42 remaining in the half on a Joe Mazzulla free throw. Coach Bob Huggins' team never trailed again. From there, the Mountaineers cruised into halftime, distancing themselves from the MEAC champions and securing a 38-27 halftime lead.

Loyal Bozeman Rebuilds Morgan State and His Reputation

Buffalo, NY - When Todd Bozeman faced the news media Friday, he was pleasant but far more somber than he had been a day earlier as he talked about Morgan State’s chances against West Virginia in the opening round of the N.C.A.A. tournament. Bozeman’s 15th-seeded Bears were crushed by No. 2 West Virginia, 77-50, but he told his players not to let the defeat mar what had been a heroic season. Heroic, not because of victories or a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship, but for displaying grace under pressure during a season of heartbreaks.

The father of sophomore guard Ameer Ali committed suicide.

The senior guard Troy Smith’s daughter, who was born blind, had a tumor removed.

The popular freshman forward Anthony Anderson, who redshirted last season, was found to have leukemia sometime after the first day of practice.

Bozeman used the numbing events to underscore his favorite message: the power of overcoming obstacles. “Everybody is going to have adversity,” he said. “It just depends on how you deal with it.” Bozeman is an embodiment of fighting through adversity. He has endured a grueling journey, a rebound from a steep fall from grace. In a close-knit industry that is built largely on relationships, Bozeman’s odyssey through the treacherous waters of N.C.A.A. basketball is a testament to tempering rabid ambition with loyalty. He dabbled in the dark side of ambition, and it changed his life.

Click HERE to watch Morgan State vs. West Virginia game.

Morgan State University superstar, senior guard Reggie Holmes.

Morgan State is no stranger to emotion

Hugs can linger at the NCAA men's basketball tournament. It is an emotional time for coaches, parents, fans and players - especially those who are playing their final time in their collegiate careers. But even by those standards, the embrace shared by Morgan State coach Todd Bozeman and his senior guard Reggie Holmes at the end of a 77-50 loss to West Virginia Friday was long. The seconds flew by, until the hug stopped just shy of 30 seconds, by one rough estimate.

"Great career," Holmes said Bozeman's first words were. "We've been here the last four years, since it's started. Since our run started." "You ain't gonna tell them I told you I loved you, man?" Bozeman inquired at the podium. "Yeah, you love me," Holmes said, trailing off. The declaration of love is not a rare thing for Morgan State, the Baltimore school that came into the tournament as a 15th seed in the East region. No, on this day, every player had his emotions tattooed on his face.

And at many times this year, the emotions have been overwhelming. One Morgan State fan who made the trip to Buffalo held up a sign that read "Do It 4 Big Ant." That would be Anthony Anderson, the 6-foot-10 forward who did not play as a red-shirt freshman last year, and found out he had leukemia after the team's first practice this year. "Just imagine waiting for Christmas, then on Christmas, they take it away from you," Bozeman said yesterday.

NCAA tournament blogging – Morgan-W.Va. final thoughts

There really isn't a whole lot to add on Morgan State's loss. The Bears started strong, West Virginia started cold, and then Morgan State just got overwhelmed by the West Virginia size, depth and athleticism. If they played this game 100 times, West Virginia would probably win 98 of them. The Mountaineers are going to be tough to beat with their rebounding ability.

But I think we shouldn't walk away from this contest without acknowledging one very nice moment for the Bears that happened with 30 seconds left. Todd Bozeman called a timeout, and took Reggie Holmes out of the game. Holmes, a senior, is Morgan State's all-time leading scorer, and when the two men met at the scorer's table, Holmes started to cry. And then Bozeman started to cry.

Holmes was one of the first kids to buy into what Bozeman was selling four years ago when he got this job. He's a shy kid, but a year ago, we sat in the stands and talked about his decision to enroll at Morgan, which wasn't easy. The kids he grew up playing against in his neighborhood thought Morgan State was a joke. There was almost more pride in not playing at all instead of playing for a school like Morgan State back then, but Holmes believed what Bozeman told him. He was a good player, but if he came to Morgan State, he could develop and become a great player.

Mountaineers cruise to easy win‎

Da'Sean Butler, West Virginia's all-Big East swingman, once explained how current coach Bob Huggins differs from former coach John Beilein as such: Beilein teaches first and screams second. Huggins screams first, second and third and then gets down to the teaching. Given their coach's quick fuse and harsh critiques, one might expect the Mountaineers would have shed their penchant for listless starts by the 34th game of the season. Seriously, who among them could possibly enjoy heading to the first timeout knowing what's transpired to that point will send spittle and invective spewing from the mouth of Mount Huggins?

For whatever the reason, West Virginia has been incapable of shaking its malady. Like a sleeping engine on a winter's morning, the Mountaineers are simply slow to warm. And while the affliction might one day prove their undoing, Friday wasn't that day. If anything, West Virginia's 77-50 destruction of Morgan State at HSBC Arena spoke to the immensity of the Mountaineers' capabilities. They fell behind, 10-0. They needed almost eight minutes to score from the floor. And yet just seven minutes after their first field goal they had moved in front, by halftime they were up by double digits and the second half amounted to seven subs making early pitches for more playing time this season.

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BEST QUOTES OF THE DAY:

"Those damn 40-minute games," joked Morgan State coach Todd Bozeman. "If we had it at 12, we would have won the game."

"Coach Bob Huggins makes a mockery of the term "student-athlete"...even by today's threadbare standards. He once went four consecutive years at Cincinnati with a graduation rate of zero. Statistically speaking, you'd think at least one guy would get a diploma, just by accident. Nope. That's dedication, my friends." by SABREGUY29

One Morgan State fan who made the trip to Buffalo held up a sign that read "Do It 4 Big Ant."

"Just imagine waiting for Christmas, then on Christmas, they take it away from you," by Coach Todd Bozeman, MSU Bears.

University of Maryland Eastern Shore Bowling Ranked No. 1

HACKENSACK, N.J.—It took 16 months, but the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Women's Bowling Team has regained the number one ranking in the nation. The March poll of the National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) featured a record breaking 21 members voting and eight of them cast the Lady Hawks as the first place team. Those eight votes, along with the other 13 voters gave UMES 566 total points and the top spot in the poll.

The move up is due to the recent play of the maroon and gray. They posted three straight tournament wins, collecting wins over many of the nation's top programs. They took home the hardware at the Lady Bulldog Classic, the Kutztown Invite and the Mid-Winter Classic. They took second place at the Holiday Classic, third at the Morgan State Invite and just won the USBC Chattanooga Sectional. The Hawks dethroned Vanderbilt who was the previous number one team. The Commodores collected eight first place votes themselves, but amassed 560 points, six shy of the UMES total. The Lady Hawk's schedule is one of the busiest in the nation as they sport an overall record of 93-26. That is 11 more wins than rival Delaware State.

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UMES Coach Sharron Brummell holds the Lady Hawks 2008 National Championship Trophy. The five-time MEAC Coach of the Year and the Lady Hawks will be seeking the 2010 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Bowling Championship, which will begin today, at 9 a.m. at the Gate City Lanes in Greensboro, North Carolina.

2009-10 NTCA MARCH NATIONAL POLL
Rank Institution, City, State Season Record W - L 1st Place Votes Adjusted Point Standings

1. Univ. of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD 93 - 26 8 566 2
2. Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 46 - 20 8 560 1
3. Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ 60 - 25 3 519 4
4. University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 61 - 25 2 432 8
5. Delaware State University, Dover, DE 81 - 24 415 3
6. University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO 64 - 31 393 5
7. Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR 61 - 32 391 6
8. New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ 60 - 26 359 9
9. Adelphi University, Garden City, NY 72 - 38 272 7
10. Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN 60 - 39 248 11
11. St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, NY 55 - 32 209 10
12. Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA 51 - 40 173 12
13. Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT 44 - 32 147 17
14. Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN 39 - 34 123 13
15. Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, AL 47 - 20 112 16
16. University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, WI 42 - 32 106 T14
17. Louisiana Tech, Ruston, LA 38 - 22 75 T14
18. Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 61 - 34 62 --
19. Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA 60 - 45 22 19
20. Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD 52 - 48 18 20

Also receiving points:
St. Peter’s College, Jersey City, NJ; Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC; Elmhurst
College, Elmhurst, IL, Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA.

Point system: NTCA voters rank the top 20 teams on their ballot. Each position has a designated point value,
ranging from 32 points for first place and one point for twentieth place. Teams are ranked using the
adjusted total point standings, after the highest and lowest votes are dropped. The specific point values
follow:
1st place = 32 points, 2nd = 29, 3rd = 27, 4th = 25, 5th = 23, 6th = 21, 7th = 19, 8th = 17, 9th = 15, 10th =
13, 11th = 11, 12th = 9, 13th = 8, 14th = 7, 15th = 6, 16th = 5, 17th = 4, 18th = 3, 19th = 2, 20th

WNIT: North Carolina A&T Lady Aggies rout Wake Forest Deacons

North Carolina A&T State University took care of Wake Forest easily last night in the Women's NIT at sold-out Reynolds Gym.The Aggies jumped all over the Deacons early and never let up, rolling to a 73-49 victory in the first round. With close to 1,000 crammed into the on-campus gym that included both school bands, the atmosphere was as good as it gets. It was so loud that the scorer's table had to resort to using a bullhorn instead of the scoreboard buzzer.

And the Aggies' shooting and focus was as good as it gets. "To do this is just another step for us," Coach Patricia Bibbs of the Aggies said of winning their first postseason game in school history. "We knew we had to come out and play a near-perfect game and for the most part we did that." The Aggies (22-10) advanced, and will play UNC Charlotte on Sunday at 3 p.m., and they advanced rather easily. Coach Mike Petersen of the Deacons, who had hoped to have his team playing in the NCAA Tournament but didn't get a bid despite finishing fifth in the ACC, said that the Aggies, who had more fan support last night, came out blazing.

Final Stats

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Florida A&M Rattlers perform for NFL eyes

San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary couldn't stay for all of the events that his NFL peers brought to test the talent on display, but when he left he was thoroughly impressed. One by one former Florida A&M players went through the Pro Timing Day drills, knowing that nothing weighed as heavily as their speed in the 40-yard dash. For some the event that amounts to a job fair was their only opportunity to show off in front of prospective bosses, who carried stopwatches and notepads on Thursday as the players performed in front of a surprisingly large crowd on the FAMU practice field.

"There is a lot of untapped talent here," Singletary said. "It's a lot like a lot of other colleges (and) a lot of the guys are excited about what they're doing. I think the talent here is great, particularly on the big guys. They can run, they can move. It's just a matter of having the opportunity and making the most of it when they get it." Singletary said his team has interests in quarterback Curtis Pulley, offensive lineman Robert Okeafor, linebacker Bryant Parker and punt/kick returner LeRoy Vann. Vann worked out earlier this week for the Jacksonville Jaguars and will have a similar workout with the Tampa Bay Bucs next month.

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Morgan State Coach Todd Bozeman is making the most of his second chance

Todd Bozeman is on the other end of the phone and he wants to talk about the team he's coaching right now, Morgan State, which is a perfectly reasonable request since this Bears team has one of the best players in school history, a kid named Reggie Holmes, and it's 27-9 and heading into the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive season. But I was a whole lot less interested in Morgan State than I was in talking to Bozeman about Bozeman, mostly about what happens from here going forward, about reputations and second chances and whether he'll ever coach on the big stage again.

See, it's no surprise to anybody that Morgan State won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for the second straight year to get to the NCAAs, or that Bozeman won the league's coach-of-the-year award for the third straight time, or that he's got a couple of really big-time players in Holmes, a 6-foot-4 senior guard, and Kevin Thompson, a 6-9 sophomore forward.

Bozeman, a Washington native, can recruit and he can coach and anybody who tells you anything else is a fool. In 7 1/2 years as a Division I head coach, at the University of California and Morgan State, Bozeman has been in five NCAA tournaments and an NIT.

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Jackson High hires former FAMU QB Quinn Gray to be its football coach

Gray spent five seasons with NFL Jacksonville Jaguars

Jackson High School (Jacksonville, FL) has a new football coach, and it’s a name that area football fans will undoubtedly recognize. The school has hired former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Quinn Gray. The 30-year-old Gray spent six seasons in the NFL, including the first five (2003-07) with the Jaguars. “It’s truly a privilege and an honor to be part of such a great tradition here at Jackson," Gray said. “Jackson reminds me of my old high school [Dillard] with its great tradition. The student-athletes here measure up and being able to coach at a school with such a great tradition is a great opportunity for me.”

He succeeds Kevin Sullivan, who resigned to take over at Atlantic Coast, the new Duval County high school that opens in the fall. Gray, who is teaching physical education and health at the school, inherits a Jackson program that has posted consecutive 11-1 seasons. Gray spent last season playing for Hartford in the United Football League after his NFL run ended after a year with Kansas City. This will be his first coaching position.

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Howard University Announces 2010 Football Schedule

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Howard University announced its 2010 football schedule on March 17. The Bison open the season on September 4 against Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. Holy Cross is a perennial contender in the Football Championships Subdivision (FCS, formerly 1-AA). Howard will then host rival Hampton University on September 11 at 1 p.m. in Greene Stadium. In addition to it being The Battle of the Real HUs, it will also be part of the Military Appreciation Day.

The Bison will follow with another home date, this time against the Rattlers of Florida A&M University on September 18 at 1 pm. That game will be part of Mighty Blue & White and will be designated to honor alumni, student, faculty and Staff Appreciation Day. Howard will then follow with a game against Morgan State University at a site to be named later and a home game against Lincoln University, a one-time rival. That game will be October 2 at 1 p.m. and is labeled “A Rivalry Revived.” It is Kids/Community and Organization Day.

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HOWARD UNIVERSITY BISON 2010 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Site Time
9/4 at Holy Cross Worcester, MA TBA
9/11 vs. HAMPTON Wash., D.C. 1 p.m.
9/18 vs. FLORIDA A&M Wash., D.C. 1 p.m.
9/25 vs. Morgan State TBA TBA

10/2 vs. LINCOLN Wash., D.C. 1 p.m.
10/9 at Furman Greenville, S.C. TBA
1016 OPEN
10/23 at North Carolina A&T Greensboro, N.C. TBA
10/30 vs. NORFOLK STATE* Wash. D.C. TBA

11/6 at South Carolina State Orangeburg, S.C. TBA
11/13 at Bethune-Cookman Daytona Beach, Fla. TBA
11/20 vs. DELAWARE STATE Wash., D.C. 1 p.m.
*homecoming

PVAMU 2010 Football Schedule Announced

With the kickoff less than seven months away, Prairie View A&M University has announced its 2010 football schedule. The schedule, which marks the team’s first 11-game slate since 2005, is highlighted by five games in the state of Texas, two state fair appearances and the first-ever match-up versus Football Bowl Subdivision and Conference USA member Southern Mississippi. “I’m definitely pleased we have 11 ballgames as this will be a competitive schedule with a wide variety of teams from the FBS, FCS and Division II ranks,” said head coach Henry Frazier III.

Prairie View A&M opens the 2010 campaign in Houston on Saturday, Sept. 4 versus SWAC rival Texas Southern in the 26th edition of the Labor Day Classic at a site to be determined. The Panthers have defeated their in-state foes in five of the past six meetings. Following the Labor Day Classic, Prairie View travels to the state of Mississippi in the first of three trips next season for a match-up at Southern Mississippi of Conference USA on Sept. 11 in Hattiesburg, Miss. This will mark the second consecutive season the Panthers will face a FBS member after battling New Mexico State of the Western Athletic Conference last year.

Prairie View’s home opener at Blackshear Field is set for Sept. 18 when the Panthers host Alabama State.

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Prairie View A&M University 2010 Football Schedule

9/4 Texas Southern 12:00 Noon Houston, Texas Labor Day Classic
9/11 Southern Mississippi 6:00 PM Hattiesburg, Miss.
9/18 Alabama State 12:00 Noon Prairie View
9/25 Grambling State 6:00 PM Dallas, Texas State Fair Classic

10/2Mississippi Valley 12:00 Noon Itta Bena, Miss,
10/9 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 12:00 Noon Pine Bluff, Ark.
10/16 Lincoln 12:00 Noon Prairie View Homecoming
10/23 Southern 12:00 Noon Shreveport, La.
10/30 Jackson State 12:00 Noon Jackson, Miss.

11/13 Alcorn State 12:00 Noon Prairie View
11/20 Alabama A&M 12:00 Noon Huntsville, Ala.

Unexpected boost from Boogaard lifts KU in WNIT win over Prairie View

Oh, Canada. Saskatchewan native Krysten Boogaard produced a career-high 37 points in a rare start as Kansas plunked Prairie View A&M, 82-70, in its WNIT basketball opener Wednesday night in Allen Fieldhouse. “I just knew I needed to fill some big shoes,” Boogaard said. Back in January, the 6-foot-5 junior lost her starting job to Carolyn Davis, but Davis suffered a recurrence of an earlier concussion and had to sit this one out. With Boogaard dominating the paint against the undersized Panthers, the Jayhawks didn’t miss Davis at all.

“It was a huge evening for her,” KU coach Bonnie Henrickson said. “She did a great job of getting in front of the rim, and the guards got a lot of passes to her, too.” “I don’t think we were prepared for the intensity that she brought tonight,” Prairie View coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke said of Boogaard. “She maintained that level of intensity on both ends of the court all game long, and that we weren’t prepared for.”

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Lady Jayhawks win, advance

JSU Tigers' Williams to be punished, Anderson vows

The day after one of his players was ejected from Tuesday's game for punching a Mississippi State player in the groin, Jackson State basketball coach Tevester Anderson called the action "uncharacteristic" and said Phillip Williams will be punished in some fashion. "It's uncharacteristic of him, it's uncharacteristic of our team and I'm really disappointed in what took place," said Anderson, whose team lost 81-67 to MSU in a first-round game of the National Invitation Tournament at Starkville. "There will be some repercussions from me down the road. ... Nothing should happen to cause a guy to do something like that.

"I will get to the bottom of it. I don't run that kind of program. I don't condone that at all." SWAC policy mandates a one-game suspension for a player ejected from a game. Although Williams became an instant YouTube hit and was fodder for radio and TV talk show hosts around the country, Anderson said he had not seen a replay of the punch by Wednesday afternoon. He said he will make Williams' punishment public after making a decision.



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Morgan State playing for ailing teammate 'Big Ant'

Morgan State University basketball jerseys bears a No. 4 for teammate Anthony Anderson, who has been fighting acute leukemia.

Wherever Morgan State's basketball team goes this season, the Bears take Anthony Anderson with them. He was in Winston-Salem, N.C., last week - in spirit, at least - when they won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament championship. And he'll be in Buffalo's HSBC Arena on Friday - emotionally - when they play West Virginia in an opening-round game in the NCAA East Regional. Physically, the 19-year-old from St. Charles remains at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He has been waging a fight against acute myeloid leukemia since October.

If things had gone better, Anderson would have joined his teammates in Buffalo, a reward for four rounds of chemotherapy. He asked his teammates a week ago to win the MEAC so he could go to an NCAA tournament. But his blood cell count was too low, and Anderson's dream trip was denied. He had his hopes up, I had my hopes up," his mother, TaWanna Williams, said on Wednesday. "I talked to him this morning, and he said, 'Mom, it's OK, I'm not going to let it get me down any worse than what this has gotten me.' He's had his moments. His back pain was so bad this morning, he was crying."

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University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff wallops Winthrop

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Coach George Ivory now has an NCAA Tournament victory to add to his Golden Lions resume.

DAYTON, Ohio — Smiling Arkansas-Pine Bluff players plopped into the black folding chairs at courtside and checked their cell phones for congratulatory messages before heading out the arena door to get on yet another bus. Finally, the Golden Lions had found a road trip to their liking. Allen Smith scored 14 points Tuesday night, including a pair of 3-pointers during the Golden Lions' second-half surge to a 61-44 victory over Winthrop in the NCAA tournament's opening game.

The Golden Lions (18-15) will play Duke, the No. 1 seed in the South Regional, on Friday in Jacksonville, Fla. — a place they somehow missed during a season-opening jaunt that nearly did them in. "It seems like we play better on the road than we do at home because we're so used to being on the road," said center Lebaron Weathers."



Pine Bluff pumped to move on in NCAA

Excerpt: Against a lot of odds — their top scorer, Terrence Calvin, was on the bench most of the second half with four fouls, their well-muscled 6-foot-7 forward Tyree Glass was there, too, with an injury — Pine Bluff still pushed aside Winthrop 61-44 Tuesday night, March 16, in front of 8,205 in the NCAA tournament’s opening-round game at UD Arena. On Friday, it plays Duke, the No. 1 seed in the South Regional, in Jacksonville, Fla. It may seem a stretch to paint a David-versus-Goliath script for the opening-round game, but Winthrop has been to the NCAA tournament nine times and in 2007 knocked out Notre Dame.

This was Pine Bluff’s first trip ever to the tournament and everything was new to it. The Golden Lions played the entire first half without the NCAA tournament stickers affixed to their jerseys, which is protocol. They didn’t know. If Pine Bluff is just learning to dress for the Big Dance, it didn’t know the rigors of the road. Using a strategy the opposite of the Dayton Flyers, the Golden Lions played their entire nonconference schedule on the road against teams like Arizona State, Oklahoma State, Georgia Tech, Missouri, Kansas State and Oregon.

NCAA photos

UD Arena gets new court for NCAA events

The NCAA has been sending supplies to the University of Dayton to make sure UD Arena would be amply stocked for the men’s and women’s basketball events being held there this month. “We’ve been getting NCAA (drinking) cups, basketballs, ball racks and coolers so the NCAA 'brand’ is prevalent,” said Tim O’Connell, UD Arena manager. “It’s like Christmas around here. We don’t have room for all the boxes.”

The biggest shipment of all, though, had to be transported by an 18-wheeler. The NCAA decided this year that all host venues for every round of the men’s tournament will have identical courts, and UD received a floor and methodically assembled it Sunday, March 14, after removing the arena’s portable court. The baskets at both ends were part of the delivery, too. The equipment will stay in place through the NCAA women’s regional final March 30.

Golden Lions win first NCAA Tournament game in program history

DAYTON, Ohio -- George Ivory remained calm and the attitude of his Arkansas-Pine Bluff players remained focused. But through the final 10-minute stretch of the second half, as each second ticked away and UAPB came closer to its first ever win in the NCAA Tournament, the realization took over each of them at different moments. Guard Terrance Calvin said he knew at halftime, guard Allen Smith said he knew with about 90 seconds left and forward Tyree Glass knew as soon as he hobbled out of the locker room to watch the final seconds roll off the clock. What he came out to see was the finishing touches put on UAPB's 61-44 win over Winthrop in the opening-round game Tuesday at University of Dayton Arena.

It was the first NCAA Tournament win for a team from the Southwestern Athletic Conference in 17 years and it makes UAPB the No. 16 seed in the South Regional, setting up a Friday matchup with No. 1 seed Duke in Jacksonville, Fla. "We were just flowing too good for us to lose," said Glass, who scored 10 points. Glass had gone down with 12 minutes left when he slammed his knee to the floor while driving to the basket. At that point, UAPB (18-15) was already without one starter. Calvin had picked up his fourth foul with 13:18 left and spent more than 10 minutes on the bench.

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WNIT: North Carolina A&T Aggies set to play Wake Forest

Senior guard Ta’Wuana “Tweet” Cook, first-team all-MEAC, leads the Lady Aggies into the WNIT.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team will see its season continue in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament 7 p.m., Thursday, March 18 against Wake Forest University at Reynolds Gymnasium on the campus of Wake Forest. If the Aggies are able to defeat the Demon Deacons of the ACC, they will play the winner of Thursday’s Gardner-Webb at Charlotte contest. The location of the second round game will be announced after the first round contests. The Aggies (21-10) earned the WNIT bid as an automatic qualifier after winning the MEAC regular-season championship for the third straight season. Thursday’s game will mark the third straight season the Aggies have participated in postseason play.

Wake Forest To Host NC A&T In WNIT Opening Round

Winston-Salem, N.C. - The Wake Forest women's basketball team will open the 2010 Women's National Invitation Tournament with North Carolina A&T on Thursday, March 18 at 7 p.m. in Reynolds Gymnasium on Wake Forest's Reynolda Campus. The winner will advance to face either Charlotte or Gardner-Webb at a location that will be announced following the first round conclusion. The invitation marks the second consecutive WNIT appearance for the Demon Deacons.

Last season Wake Forest received a first round bye and faced Georgetown in the second round in Winston-Salem, where the Deacs fell 72-61. Wake Forest (18-13) last faced North Carolina A&T (21-10) in 2004, taking a 92-43 win in Winston-Salem.

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Johnson's 32 not enough as JSU falls to MSU in NIT

JSU Coach Tevester Anderson

STARKVILLE, MS — Even in the moments leading up to the NIT opener at Mississippi State on Tuesday, no one was talking about Jackson State. The conversations inside Humphrey Coliseum still centered on Kentucky, a perceived NCAA Tournament snub, poor officiating and even an expected tiny crowd. JSU was the least of anyone's concern. Mississippi State won 81-67, as expected, but JSU caused a little more concern than any of the announced 4,433 inside Humphrey Coliseum thought it would. And that's been the story for this Tiger team - going against conventional thought.

Jackson State trailed by just five points with 14:15 remaining, but a flagrant foul and two technicals on Phillip Williams started the downward spiral. "Our guys have really overachieved," said JSU coach Tevester Anderson. "To win the regular season (SWAC ) championship is big for our program. We have to build off of this.

Game Photo Gallery: MSU - JSU

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Competition is on at FAMU for quarterback

FAMU senior quarterback Eddie Battle is a strong and smart competitor. Don't count Battle out, yet!

After Martin Ukpai's spectacular performance in the Florida Classic last season, the consensus has been that the sophomore established himself as the front-runner in what should amount to a three-player battle for Florida A&M starting quarterback job. He gets his shot at proving that wrong or right beginning Monday when the Rattlers open spring practice. Ukpai will face off against senior Eddie Battle and Austin Trainer, who showed a strong arm last season with the practice squad.

Battle played sparingly behind Kentucky transfer Curtis Pulley, but Ukpai made a strong case that he might actually be the one to beat after leading FAMU to a one-sided win over Bethune-Cookman. But FAMU coach Joe Taylor said Ukpai won't be a shoo-in to replace Pulley. Every effort, from warm-up to on-the-field drills, by the three quarterbacks will be evaluated, Taylor said. "It's going to be an open situation, but as coaches we are going to have to really evaluate it accurately; just look at who is under center and what's happening with the offense," Taylor said. "The best way is to let them separate themselves. That's why it's so good to have spring football.

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Prairie View to play football in Shreveport

2009 SWAC champions Prairie View A&M has signed a two-year agreement to play a football game in Shreveport's Independence Stadium during the 2010 and 2011 football seasons, The Times has learned. The Panthers will play Southern University this fall and Jackson State next fall on the opening weekend of the State Fair. This year's game is set for Oct. 23.

"We are very excited to bring this event to Shreveport and Bossier City," Prairie View athletic director Fred Washington said. "We currently play Grambling during the Texas State Fair and draw in excess of 40,000 people for that. We're hoping for that type success here with all of the support we've already received." The contract is a three-way partnership between the Shreveport Regional Sports Authority, Prairie View and the State Fair of Louisiana. SRSA executive director Mary Ann Tice said the contract can be renewed for two more seasons with Prairie View playing the same two schools.

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FAMU's Vann works out for scout for the Jacksonville Jaguars

All-American Rattler LeRoy Vann completed a workout with Jacksonville Jaguars yesterday, sporting a new hair cut. San Francisco, Detroit, Green Bay and Tampa Bay have expressed interest in Vann and expects to be among 20 NFL teams present for FAMU Pro Day Drills on Thursday, March 18.

Nate Koczor, an assistant special teams coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, had a single focus Monday morning inside Bragg Stadium. He watched former Florida A&;M punt/kick returner LeRoy Vann chase balls for almost 90 minutes. The unannounced workout exclusively for the Jaguars was the first with a pro team for Vann, who wasn't invited to the NFL combine but has since been on the radar of several teams.

As fast as the ball machine pumped them out, Vann snagged one ball after another. He even caught those that he had to pursue after getting up from a laying position, dropping only a couple during the rapid-fire segment of the drill. Koczar wouldn't give his assessment of the workout, but Vann thought he was impressive. "It went well," said Vann, who no longer wears the long locks that he'd worn last season when he was setting NCAA and school records for the Rattlers. "My goal was not to drop any ball but eventually I dropped two. Out of 60 balls, that's good so I feel I did a good job."

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Yipes! Southern faces top-ranked Connecticut in NCAA

They all gathered at a restaurant on Coursey Boulevard to celebrate a championship, eat some food and find out where they’ll play in the big dance. Yet as the Southern women’s basketball team watched ESPN on Monday night, waiting to learn their first-round matchup in the NCAA tournament, their banquet room erupted well before the Jaguars saw their school name on the TV screen, paired with Connecticut — the No. 1 team in the nation, winner of 72 straight games and the reigning national champion.

The first eruption, in fact, came when ESPN revealed Tennessee, the No. 1 seed in the Memphis Bracket, and its first-round opponent. It wasn’t Southern. It was Austin Peay. That left the Jaguars to wonder if they’d somehow earn a No. 15 seed, thereby avoiding the mighty Huskies. Minutes later, the second eruption came when ESPN unveiled Duke, the No. 2 seed in the Memphis Region, and its first-round opponent — Hampton, champion of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. That left the inevitable. That led to the third and final eruption from the room. It came when SU saw its name next to UConn, top-seeded team from the Dayton Region.

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