DATE: Thursday, November 13, 1997           TAG: 9711100205

SECTION: SPECIAL                 PAGE: Z10  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: 1997-98 BASKETBALL PREVIEW

SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   73 lines

AN OFF YEAR? DON'T BELIEVE IT JUST YET THE SPARTANETTES ARE NEW TO THE LEAGUE, BUT NOT TO WINNING.

The problem with racking up over 400 coaching victories is that no matter how hard you try to get folks to believe you're headed for a down year, nobody wants to believe you.

Norfolk State women's basketball coach James Sweat (411-92 career record) found this out during MEAC coaches media day, when he tried to downplay his Spartanettes' chances in their first year as a Division I school.

``We don't have the type of players to compete at this level,'' Sweat began. ``We're having to put a sign-up sheet on the gym just to get enough girls to fill out the roster.

``And I'm pretty sure at the end of the season, you coaches are going to thank me for coming into the MEAC.''

The room fell silent as Sweat left the podium. Were folks actually buying Sweat's bit? Apparently not.

``Coach,'' the master of ceremonies said, ``I didn't know I was going to need my rubber boots in here.''

There was some truth in Sweat's words. The Spartanettes did lose key players from last year. They are inexperienced. And he actually did post a sign-up sheet for interested students to try and walk on, although that's something he does every year.

But even Sweat would later admit that things aren't nearly as bad as he tried to make them seem.

``We'll be all right,'' he said as he winked at reporters.

Some of the questions facing the team this year:

Are the Spartans frozen out of the chase for an automatic NCAA tournament berth like the men?

Yes, but for a different reason. New Division I women's basketball teams don't have to wait eight years to receive an automatic NCAA tournament berth; they're eligible right away. But since the Spartanettes couldn't schedule Florida A&M, Maryland-Eastern Shore and Morgan State, they're ineligible for the MEAC tournament, where the winner advances straight to the NCAAs.

There shouldn't be any problems next year, though, as the conference will go to a master schedule to ensure everybody will play everybody.

Will Madonna and Selena help make the Spartanettes' attack really sing?

You bet. Selena Edwards, a 6-3 senior center, redshirted last season but contributed nearly 10 points and six rebounds a game during the Spartanettes' 1995-96 CIAA tournament run. And 6-0 freshman forward Madonna Gandy averaged 33 points, 15 rebounds and nine blocks a game last season at Patterson (Ohio) High.

The Spartanettes always have a go-to player. Who'll fill that role this year?

Sweat's wondering the same thing. None of the returners are familiar with such a role, and even talented freshmen like Gandy and former Princess Anne star Rasheda Rogers can be expected to walk right in and take over.

The most attractive prime-time candidates among the returners appear to be junior forward Raymona Jackson (12 ppg) or sophomore forward Charlette Fayton (9.8 ppg), the CIAA rookie of the year.

Much has been made about the men's schedule. Don't the women do a lot of traveling as well?

Indeed, the Spartanettes will visit Louisiana, Massachusetts and Atlanta, all before the new year. But their second-half schedule is heavily laced with MEAC opponents. So unlike the men's schedule, the women's slate is pretty much the kind of routine the Spartanettes can expect in future years.

Is another 20-win season unrealistic?

Not really, but there are signs indicating this could be an extremely challenging year for the Spartanettes to reach that plateau. Last year's 20 victories were the fewest for a Spartanettes' team since 1989. Three starters are gone from that team, while the schedule has gotten tougher. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

NHAT MEYER/The Virginian-Pilot

...Raymona Jackson, Charlette Fayton and Selena Edward... KEYWORDS: SPECIAL SECTION SUPPLEMENT BASKETBALL

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