THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 10, 1994 TAG: 9412100373
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
When Tyrone Hart was named basketball coach at Virginia State last spring, he moved just two hours south, from Bowie State.
But he found a whole different world.
Bowie, in suburban Washington, is isolated from the rest of the CIAA, which has its heart in North Carolina and southern Virginia. The Bulldogs have no close rivals, and the CIAA is not much of a presence in the Washington area.
Virginia State, conversely, is right in the middle of things, and Hart couldn't be happier.
``They really have a true spirit of competitiveness here,'' Hart said. ``I really love this whole area, the tradition of winning in the schools.''
Hart was hired to bring some of that winning tradition back to Virginia State, and thus far, it's been a struggle. It won't get any easier tonight when the Trojans (1-4) take on Norfolk State (3-1) at Daniel Gymnasium in Ettrick.
Former coach Harold Deane left Hart with just one returning starter. He also left him with a tough early-season schedule. The Trojans have already played N.C. Central, Fayetteville State and Johnson C. Smith - picked one, two, three in the Southern Division - as well as perennial power Virginia Union.
``When you've got a new club, and you're new to the area, it can be demoralizing,'' Hart said.
``You need a win in there once in a while.''
The Trojans opened with a win, over Fayetteville State but have dropped four in a row since. Three have been by four points or less.
``We're in the fight with everybody,'' Hart said. ``We had our chances in every close game.''
Doug Hines, a junior forward, is the only returning starter. A pair of junior college transfers, 6-foot-3 Reggie Frisby and 6-8 Owen Webb, have been the best of the newcomers.
``My kids have been scrapping hard,'' Hart said. ``I think by the end of the season we'll be a pretty good team.'' by CNB