THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 21, 1995 TAG: 9511190419
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: College Preview Basketball
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
After a 27-6 season and a trip to the Division II national semifinals, where do the Spartans go from here?
Nowhere.
It's not their fault. In fact, this year's squad appears more than capable of a return trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs.
But the school has decided to go big-time, applying for Division I NCAA status that should be granted in 1997. In the meantime, the Spartans are ineligible for Division II championship play.
So a CIAA tournament title and a Dec. 29 date with Southeastern Conference-member Auburn have become primary focal points.
``The CIAA has to be the big trophy for us,'' said head coach Mike Bernard. ``That readjustment is a little tough mentally for our guys, especially after going to the Elite Eight and the Final Four the last two years.''
The Spartans play Auburn, which has produced NBA players Charles Barkley, Chuck Person, Chris Morris and Wesley Person, in the Tallahassee Roundball Classic.
``Auburn agreed to play a Division II club,'' Bernard said. ``It's going to be good for us. It'll toughen us up and it's a good barometer for where we stand in our move to Division I.
``We wanted to play a good Division I team rather than a lower Division I team because if you're going to compete, don't compete just for the sake of being Division I. Play to be good.''
Can the Spartans win the CIAA? It will take some doing. A mighty Virginia Union squad earned the coaches' preseason nod. But the Spartans beat Union, 84-66, in last year's South Atlantic Regional.
The difference this year is everybody's back for Union and the Spartans are without CIAA player of the year Corey Williams. The 6-foot-7 Williams leaves a 19.8-point, 7.6-rebound void that must be filled.
``It's going to be distributed among several people,'' Bernard said. ``One person won't be asked to make up for it.''
Some of it will, however, fall to Derrick Bryant, who will move from his power forward spot to Williams' small forward position this year. At 6-4, Bryant's frame is more suited for the perimeter, although his psyche and physical play has done him well in the trenches.
Can he be asked to blend some finesse into the mix?
``Derrick's developing a comfort zone,'' Bernard said. ``He's putting the ball on the floor and beating guys on the dribble with more consistency. But he's got to look for his jumper more. We want him to shoot the ball. I can say it a million times and I will. It's important to be repetitive.''
Carnell Penn and Maurice Whitfield supply an experienced and capable backcourt, although Bernard wants Whitfield to increase his scoring this season.
The inside game may not take shape until midseason and the Spartans will be without center Blitz Wooten for the first four games. Wooten has only one more semester of eligibility under the NCAA's Division II 10-semester rule.
He will, at least, be back for the Auburn game. In fact, it will be his first game back.
Until then, 6-8 sophomore Sean Blackwell, who transferred from Division III Virginia Wesleyan over the summer, will have adequate opportunity to establish himself as an inside force for the Spartans. Blackwell paced the Spartans with 14 rebounds and 20 points in an exhibition win over Brisbane, Australia.
``Blackwell certainly can be a factor for us,'' Bernard said. ``He's big and strong and gets the garbage baskets you have to work for.''
Matthew Thompson (6-9, Sr.) and Deng Leek (6-10, Jr.) should see considerable time in the post as well, while Rodney Carmichael should back up Bryant and Penn.
``Defensively we might be better,'' Bernard said. ``Corey was a weak link, if we had one. He was definitely more offensive-minded.''
KEYWORDS: SPECIAL SECTION
by CNB