Jeff Perry Legacy

[Neb84]

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
May 10 2007

The Norfolk St. Spartians finaly have themselves a new head coach! Nearly two months after coach Lester was released on allegations that he had been assisting players cheat on mid-term and final exams, the Norfolk St. athletic department confirmed that a replacement has been found, albeit an unconventional one. Jeff Perry, originaly from Lincoln, NE, has been working as a graduate assistant at Wichita St. University in Wichita, KS for the past 3 years. However when head coach Mark Turgeon left for Texas A&M at the end of last season, coach Perry began to explore his options. "I would have been happy working at WSU for the next 20 years under coach Turgeon, but once he left the whole atmosphere of the place changed. I knew it was time for me to find something else, but I will admit that a Head job was not something I was expecting." explained Perry durring a telephone conference last night following the announcement.

At 25 years of age, Perry will be by far the youngest coach in the MEAC, and quite possibly the youngest coach in all of Div. I. "You know alot of people have already pointed that out to me, including my family, but I dont really view it as a problem. The administration has expressed their faith in my morals, my basketball knowledge, and my ability to get the job done. I am confident in myself and I just cant wait to get on campus and meet the guys and start getting ready for the upcoming season." Perry's enthusiasm is matched by his new boss, Athletic Director Larry Stevenson, "Coach Perry has been coaching for the last 3 years in one of the most competitive conferences in the Nation under one of the hotest coaches in the game today. I have the utmost confidence in his ability to not only restore dignity to the men's program here at Norfolk St. University, but also in his ability to bring us some wins." said Stevenson at the same telephone conference.

Only time will tell if coach Perry is ready to head a Division I school, but if last nights press conference is any indication, then Spartian fans should be in store for a very exciting season. Coach Perry will arrive in Norfolk tomorrow to have a meeting with his new team and expects to be moved in by the end of next week. "We have some packing left to do but we are all very excited to be part of the Spartian family. Its going to be a hectic next several days, but once we're all settled, priority number one for me will be to sit down with all of the guys, get to know them, and let everyone know my expectations. I really can't wait to get started."

[Neb84]

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
May 24 2007

ROSTER AND SCHEDUAL RELEASED

Roster:

#0 Brannon Ferris Jr/SF-51
#2 Kalu Radford Jr/PG-53
#3 Terrence Akingbade Fr/PG-54
#5 Carlton McNurlin Sr/SG-69
#10 Cam Cotton Sr/PG-56
#11 Regis Connolly So/C-58
#14 Orlando Gunn So/PG-55
#15 J.D. Almanson So/SG-51
#20 Jamion McNair Jr/SF-58
#21 Avery Huffman So/PF-54
#22 Ronny Geral Jr/PF-56
#23 Mathew Hope Jr/SF-58
#24 Filip Goodman Fr/PF-50
#25 Ilian Chase Jr/PF-51
#45 Nile Fancois Sr/C-55


Schedule:

Nov.10 @ Richmond
Nov.13 v. Longwood
Nov.15-17 Polar Bear Tip-Off Classic
Nov.20 @ Nebraska
Nov.26 @ Rhode Island

Dec.1 v. North Carolina A&T*

Dec.10 v. Farleigh Dickinson
Dec.13 @ Air Force
Dec.18 @ Drake
Dec.22 @ Evansville
Dec.29 v. Jacksonville St.

Jan.12 v. Coppin St.*
Jan.14 v. Morgan St.*
Jan.19 @ Deleware St.*
Jan.21 @ Maryland Eastern Shore*
Jan.26 v. South Carolina St.*
Jan.28 v. Winston-Salem St.*
Feb.2 v. Hampton*
Feb.4 v. Howard*
Feb.9 @ Bethune-Cookman*
Feb.11 @ Florida A&M*
Feb.16 v. Deleware St.*
Feb.18 v. Maryland Eastern Shore*
Feb.23 @ South Carolina St.*
Feb.25 @ Winston-Salem St.*
Mar.1 @ Hampton*
Mar.3 @ Howard*
Mar.6 @ North Carolina A&T*

Mar.10-12 MEAC Tournament
Mar.16 Selection Sunday

*-Denotes Conference Game

The Pilot was able to catch up with Coach Perry in his office Saturday afternoon to discuss the upcoming season. Here are some excerpts from that conversation.

VP- Now that you have been in town a couple weeks and have had a chance to meet the players, what are your initial reactions?

Perry- The team seems anxious to put the events surrounding their former coach, and some of their former teammates behind them. They have expressed to me that they are interested in getting the people of Norfolk focused on basketball again and not on scandal, and that mentality is good to see from a coaching standpoint.

VP- How do you feel about the team’s talent?

Perry- Well, we definitely have some weapons that we are going to be able to use this season, but there are also some glaring weaknesses. Part of my job is to look towards the future of this program and we have some real work to do if we want to be consistently at the top of this conference, which is a long term goal that I have expressed. Part of doing that means that we're going to have to clear up some scholarships for recruits, so I have made it clear to the guys in no uncertain terms that 3 of them will be cut by the time our first game rolls around. I’m going to allow the guys to play for their position, the intra-squad scrimmage at the end of October will be the deciding factor on who makes the cut and who doesn’t, but this team will not be larger than 12 players.

VP- You've got some interesting early season opponents, any of them stand out in your mind?

Perry- Richmond, Rhode Island, and Drake all really jumped off of the page for me. Those are three teams that have tournament experience, Rhode Island and Drake will be competing for their respective conference championships, if we can win one, or maybe even two of those 3 games I think that will be a real positive for us.

VP- Any predictions on the standing of your team come the end of the season?

Perry- You know, I leave predictions up to guys like you. I do have some expectations though. The MEAC is really pretty wide open this year, there isn't one team that you can point to and say that they're going to go into the tournament as the number 1 seed. That said, I think it is entirely within our grasp to finish in the top 4 in the Conference, and position ourselves for a run at the tournament Championship. Also, I'm looking at the Polar Bear Classic and seeing an opportunity for us to play on a neutral court against some quality competition and get some real meaningful experience and I really want to see us get a first round win there.

VP- Thanks for your time coach.

Perry- My pleasure.

[jjredick4]

what's your settings (difficulty, half length)

[Neb84]

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT

June 14 2007



COACH PERRY COMPILES STAFF



Norfolk St. men’s basketball head coach Jeff Perry held a press conference yesterday afternoon to announce that he has completed his search for assistant coaches this season. Introduced first was Haim Goodson, 36 years old from Omaha , NE , Goodson has spent the last 7 seasons working as an assistant for Dana Altman at Creighton University in Omaha . "Haim is an excellent offensive minded coach and is going to be working closely with our shooters this season to improve their form, as well as help me develop our offensive identity." Coach Perry explained. "I'm a defensive minded guy myself and offense is definitely going to be coach Goodson's charge this season. I'm also very pleased with the type of guys he has brought into Creighton over the past several years and will be leaning on him heavily to repeat his recruiting success here at Norfolk St ."

Also introduced to the media was 39 year old Darris Vilardel who has spent the last 10 years coaching a Norfolk High School . "Coach Vilardel is really just a good all around coach. I've spent a good amount of time the last several weeks looking at tapes of his past teams and have come away very impressed with what he has been able to do. He is an excellent teacher of the game, and him being from the area, being a guy that allot of high school players from around here are familiar with, I am confident will help us land some quality local talent." said Perry.

"We have a team meeting scheduled for the middle of August when a lot of the guys will be trickling back onto campus, and everyone will have a chance to meet each other then. In the meantime, Haim and Darris and myself will be pouring over tape from last season, getting a feel for what our guys are capable of, and learning about our in conference competition. Both of them have been very enthusiastic about what I have explained to them are our goals this year, and beyond, and I think that this is going to be a very productive relationship that we have started."

When coach Vilardel was asked how he felt about his 14 years of seniority over his new boss he responded with poise, "Coach Perry is obviously, in my opinion, a very capable head coach. He is quite possibly the most enthusiastic coach I have ever seen, which is even more impressive when you consider the circumstances surrounding this team when he was hired. I have no doubt that he has a lot to teach me, lack of age doesn't mean lack of capability and that is especially true with coach Perry." to which Perry quipped, "Oh stop brown nosing you old fart!"

[Neb84]

All American/16 min/Default Sliders

[superpastulio]

Wow, that is a CRAPPY team.

Just a heads up, it's Spartans, not Spartians.

[boomosby50]

wow. Some MEAC competition, look out for Howard with their shooting and rebounding. See ya on the court

-Coach Thompson

[vikingfan1]

I will follow for sure!!! Good luck!

[Neb84]

Woops!!! Thanks for the heads up

[Neb84]

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Oct. 29 2007


ANNUAL GREEN-GOLD GAME RAISES EXCITEMENT, QUESTIONS

The annual midnight Green v. Gold intra-squad scrimmage looked as if it would be a hard fought affair for about the first three and a half minitues, then it became painfully obvious that coach Perry had stacked the deck. With the scoreboard showing Green-9, Gold-11 at 12 minitue mark, the Gold team went on a tear and just 6 minitues later the score was 25-9. The Gold team crused to a 20 point lead at halftime and when all was said and done the final score read 72-43. However out of all of that only one thing seemed clear, that senior Carlton McNurlin is going to be the backbone of the Spartan offense this year. Contributing 24 of the Gold squads 71 points, including 4/7 from behind the arc, McNurlin is clearly the most potent weapon at NSU's disposal. "Carlton played great tonight, exactly what myself and the rest of the staff expected." said coach Perry after the game. Also contributing a large part to the thrashing was 6'11'' 300lb sophomore center Regis Connolly. With 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks, Connolly made it clear that he will be a force to reccon with this season inside of the paint.

Outside of those two players the picture becomes muddled. The starting point guard position seems to be between sophomores Terrence Ackingbade and Orlando Gunn. Both seemed to have a firm grasp of how to run the offense, and both were able to run the point position of the 1-3-1 zone defense with ease. "Thats a real battle going on between those two right now, it's going to be intense for the next week or so untill one of them comes out on top." said Perry.

Another starting position battle seems to be shaping up at the power forward spot between Ronny Geral, Filip Goodman, and Ilian Chase, with all three making powerfull statements on both sides of the floor last night. Also, the three players who coach Perry promised would be spending their last night in a Spartan uniform is very unclear, with no one player standing out as the weakest link. Speculation abounds as the season draws nearer, the tip off is just 12 days away in Richmond VA agianst the in state rival Spiders.

[Neb84]

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Nov. 5 2007

PRESEASON POLLS, FINAL ROSTERS RELEASED

Top 25

1.Kansas
2.North Carolina
3.UCLA
4.Tennessee
5.Georgetown
6.Michigan St.
7.Arkansas
8.Memphis
9.Marquette
10.Louisville
11.Kentucky
12.Texas A&M
13.Duke
14.Mississippi St.
15.Georgia
16.Arizona
17.Pittsburg
18.Providence
19.Stanford
20.Conneticut
21.Illinois
22.Indiana
23.Texas
24.Syracuse
25.Wisconsin

Projected final MEAC standings

1.Hampton
2.Morgan St.
3.Florida A&M
4.Winston-Salem St.
5.North Carolina A&T
6.South Carolina St.
7.Coppin St.
8.Delleware St.
9.Norfolk St.
10.Bethune-Cookman
11.Howard
12.Maryland Eastern Shore

Final Roster:

Starters:
PG-Orlando Gunn (So.) 6'0'' 185lbs (55)
SG-Carlton McNurlin (Sr.) 6'4'' 220lbs (69)
SF-Mathew Hope (Jr.) 6'4'' 185lbs (58)
PF-Ronny Goral (Jr.) 6'6'' 225lbs (56)
C-Regis Connolly (So.) 6'11'' 300lbs (56)

Bench:
SF-Jamion McNair (Jr.) 6'4'' 205lbs (58)
C-Nile Francois (Sr.) 6'9'' 215lbs (55)
PG-Terrence Akingbade (Fr.) 6'2'' 180lbs (54) Pronounced Ahk-in-bo-day
PF-Avery Huffman (So.) 6'7'' 210lbs (56)
PF-Ilian Chase (Jr.) 6'8'' 225lbs (51)
SF-Brannon Ferris (Jr.) 6'6'' 185lbs (51)
SG-J.D. Almonson (So.) 6'4'' 190lbs (51)

[Neb84]

Norfolk St (0-0) (64) @ Richmond (0-1) (70)

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Nov. 10 2007

SPARTAINS JUMP START SEASON WITH WIN
Richmond VA

Carlton McNurlin got hot early hitting three consecutive three pointers to start the game and led Norfolk St. to a 9-2 lead in the first 2:30 minitues of the first half, the Spartans would never look back. The first half was essentially the McNurlin show, Carlton contributed 15 of the Spartan's 29 first half points, with only three other players breaking the points collum. However the Spiders, bolsterd by the play of their star center Toby Dillard (20pts 9rbs) were able to keep things interesting with the teams heading into the locker room separated by just two points.

As the seccond half got underway the Spartan bench showed their worth with backup center Nile Francois (12pts 6rbs 2blk) and Avery Huffman (8pts 5rbs) making big plays when they were needed. with the score still close at 38-36 with 9:50 to go in the game the Spartans began a game ending 23-12 run that contributed to the final score of 61-48

After the game Coach Perry offered some words to the press. "In the first half there I was really kinda worried that we would become too one demensional with only 4 players scoring and McNurlin possesing half of our points, but our production really evened out in the 2nd half. I was very impressed with what Nile was able to do coming off of the bench like that, and really with all of our backups. If our bench can continue to produce like that we are going to be very tough to defend. We really need to get some more point production from our other guards though, we cant let Carlton be our only threat out on the perimeter. Kudos to Toby Dillard, we gave him alot of attention in the paint but he kept banging away and in the end there wasn't much we could do to stop him. All arround I think this was a great way for us to start our season."



BOX SCORE

Norfolk St.------29------31------61
Richmond-------27------21------48

Stats: NSU/Richmond

FG% 43----39
FT 10/11-----2/2
T.O. 8-----15
REB 32----32
STL 14----7
PIP 36----26
BENCH 32----14

Key Players:

Norfolk St.
McNurlin (19pts 6stl)
Francois (12pts 6rbs 2blk)
Huffman (8pts 5rbs)

Richmond
Dillard (20pts 9rbs)

Next up
Longwood (1-1) (64)

[CityMiller]

McNurlin looks like hes gonna end up being ur go to guy. quite a difficult schedule (did u customize it?) with Nebraska, Air force, and drake. good luck though

[blue_apocalypse]

You forced 15 turnovers? Nice. I suck at getting turnovers even when I use a press. Good luck against Longwood

[Neb84]

Added Rhode Island, Drake and the Polar Bear Tip-Off, changed Longwood Farleigh Dickinson, and Jacksonville St. to home games. Everything else is default

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (1-0) (64) v. Longwood (1-1) (64)

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Nov. 13 2007

SPARTANS WIN FIRST HOME CONTEST
Norfolk VA

Newly minted head basketball Jeff Perry almost had to run from the building durring his teams home debut under his leadership. Halfway throught the first half, the Longwood Lancers held a 22-8 lead after caping off a 15-0 run that had left the crowd at Echols Hall verbally irate. Coach Perry then did someting drastic, he pulled every one of his starters with the team trailing by 14 and that is when things got interesting. The bench came out poised and confident and closed the gap so that the teams headed into the lockeroom tied at 32.

As the second half got underway the backups remaind on the floor and continued to pound away at the reeling Lancer big men, pushing the lead to 49-35 at the 10:26 mark forcing Longwood into a timeout. With the Lancers struggling to find an awnser to the bench trio of McNair, Francois, and Huffman who combined for 36pts, 24rbs, and 9stl, the lead briefly reach 19 at about the 7 minitue mark. When coach Perry pulled the three to give them a rest the Lancers then mounted an impressive run that saw them close the gap to 65-58 with 53 tics remaining. However neither team would score beyond that point and that is where the score stood as the buzzer sounded.

POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

VP: Coach, what were you thinking when you pulled your starters with the team down by 14?

Perry: I was thinking maybe these guys that Im putting in can get something done. Look our starting 5 had combined for 8 points in 8 min. Thats just not gonna cut it.

VP: What did you discuss with your players at halftime.

Perry: I just told them that we were gonna stick with what was working, and what was working was the bench. Those guys played awesome tonight, so good that I think the staff and I are going to have to rethink the starting lineup before we head to Washington for the Polar Bear Classic.

VP: Did the late game run that Longwood mounted worry you at all?

Perry: Well it was disapointing to watch the guys squander a lead like that, thats not something we're going to be able to do if we want to win games later in the season, but was a worried that they were going to come back and take the lead? No.

BOX SCORE:

Norfok St. 32------33------65
Longwood 32------26------58

NSU-----------LW

FG% 44------39
FT 3/4------4/6
TO 8------15
REB 36----36
STL 13----5
PIP 50-----20
BENCH 44-----15


KEY PLAYERS:

NSU
McNair (10pts 6reb 3stl)
Francois (10pts 9reb)
Huffman (16pts 9reb 6stl)

LW
Elsey (19pts 4/8 3pt)
Frederick (13pts)

Next up:
Tennessee St. (0-1) (74)

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (2-0) (64) v Tennessee St. (0-1) (74)

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Nov. 16 2007

SPARTANS "MAULED" AT POLAR BEAR CLASSIC
Cheney WA

The first round of the Polar Bear Tip-Off classic, a game in which coach Perry expressed a win was a goal of the season, ended up a lopsided affair. The Tennessee St. Tigers of the Ohio Valley Conference controlled the game from the opening basket and never trailed in rout to a 64-41 victory over the Norfolk St. Spartans. The half time score was deceivingly close, with the teams separated by just 7 at 30-23, however once the second stanza got underway the Tigers displayed what everyone in attendance already knew, they were the better team. While the Spartans missed shot after shot from within three feet of the basket, the Tigers continued their steady onslaught, moving the ball around and finding the gaps in the Spartans 1-3-1 zone defense. The fact that Norfolk St. turned the ball over 18 times didn't help matters either. "We have to take care of the ball better than that." explained coach Perry outside of the locker room after the game. "We also have to be able to finish around the hoop. We missed so many lay-ups and tip backs that I doubt even Einstein could have counted that high."

The road doesn't get any easier for the Spartans. From here they travel to Lincoln, NE to take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers and their second team pre-season All-American center, and then onto Kingston, RI to face the Rams. "Certainly not the way we wanted to exit this tournament, and definitely not the note we want to end with headed towards Nebraska, but that's life, we just have to refocus and make sure that we stay composed and competitive."


BOX SCORE:

Norfolk St. 23-----17-----41
Tenn. St. 30-----34-----64

NSU----------------------Tenn. St.

34------------FG%-----------36
5/9-----------FT--------------3/4
4--------------TO--------------10
22-----------REB-------------38
9-------------STL---------------3
40------------PIP--------------44
20----------BENCH----------23

KEY PLAYERS:

NSU
McNurlin (14pts)

Tenn. St.
Yates (12pts 3stl)
Guzman (10pts 4stl)
Daniel (12pts 3ast)

Next Up:
Nebraska (1-0) (78)

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (2-1) @ Nebraska (1-0) (78)

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Nov. 20 2007

SPARTANS SUFFER 2nd STRAIGHT 20pt LOSS
Lincoln NE

Coach Jeff Perry got the opportunity to perform in front of his hometown crowd for the first time as a head coach and for the first 5 miniutes of the game it looked as if he may have been able to surpass their expectations of his team. The Norfolk St. Spartans managed to trade baskets and had the game tied at 10 at the 11:00 mark, but Nebraska's All-American center and the teams hot hand from the floor could not be contained. The Cornhuskers finished the half on a 31-12 run and entered halftime with a seemingly insurmountable 41-22 lead. However coach Perry and his squad still had some fight left in them, coming out of the locker room determined to make Nebraska work for the win, they twice cut the defficit to 11. "I really think that if we had been able to get that one extra basket durring those spurts and gotten the lead down to single didgets that the game may have had a very different outcome, but hey that's basketball." explained coach after the game. In the end however the combination of guards that couldn't miss and a center that couldn't be stoped proved too much for the overmatched Spartans. "That Thompson kid, unbelievable, in my mind thats the best center in the country. We were double and tripple teaming him down in the post and still really couldn't slow him down, and when we did seem to have him outmatched, he would just find the open guy and they wouldn't miss."

The second half of the game, while mostly a formality, saw Norfolk St. show what it is capable of this season. They were only outscored by 1 in the second 16 minitues against a team that was better and more talented in nearly every aspect. "We kinda found our stride there in the second half, if we had played like that the whole game who knows what could have happened. It is encouraging however to see that this team didn't give up. Down by 19 at the half is not an easy thing to experience as a player but these guys didn't want to lose like that and they really came out of the locker room and played their guts out trying to make it competitive. From a coaching standpoint that's really all that you can ask for, or expect."

BOX SCORE:

Norfolk St. 22-------35------57
Nebraska 41-------36------77

NSU---------------------NU

39-----------FG%----------57
6/9----------FT------------3/4
4-------------TO-------------10
22----------REB----------38
9------------STL-------------3
40-----------PIP------------44
20---------BENCH--------23


KEY PLAYERS:

NSU
McNurlin (19pts)
Connolly (11pts 2reb 2stl 2blk)

NU
Thompson (28pts 7reb 2blk)
Carney (7pts 8reb)

Next up:
Rhode Island (4-3) (78)

[CincyFan]

wow talk about getting the wind knocked out of you. I could see you losing this one by 20+, but Tennesee State came out of left field. You should of added Xavier since that is always an easy win for peoples legacies. Just giving you the heads up for next year.

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (2-2) @ Rhode Island (4-3) (78)

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Nov. 26 2007

SKID CONTINUES FOR NORFOLK ST.
Kingston RI

Durring the first half it looked as if Norfolk St. had overcome its two game funk and had figured out how to play with some of the big boys. The Spartans played tenacious defense over the first 16 minitues, pounded the ball inside to take advantage of Rhode Island's lack of height and went into half time down just one, 24-45.

As the seccond half got underway however, the Spartan team that has been arround for the past week reared its ugly head. The defensive pressure broke down, the shots stoped falling with the consitancy needed to keep up with the Rams, and Norfolk St. was outscored in the half 51-35 suffering their third straight double diget loss, 59-76. "You know that's three straight games where we have been able to play one good half and one awful half. If we can get some consitancy where the good halfs are concerned I think that we can be a very, very good team this year, we just have to start playing complete games." said coach Perry after the game.


BOX SCORE

Norflok St. 24-------35--------59
Rhode Island 25------51------76

STATS:

45--------FG%--------53
2/5--------FT----------2/5
10----------TO--------14
12---------STL--------9
50---------PIP---------52
18--------BENCH------14

KEY PLAYERS

Norfolk St.
McNurlin (17pts 3reb)
Francois (10pts 5reb)

Rhode Island
Kane (19pts 11reb)
Nutter (17pts 9reb)

Next Up:
North Carolina A&T (1-3) (68)

[vikingfan1]

Rough patch of games lately. Hopefully you can turn it around against NC A&T.

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (2-3) v. North Carolina A&T (1-3) (68)

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Dec. 1 2007

SPARTANS WIN IN OVERTIME

As the game got under way the Norfolk St. Spartans showed some weariness from their three game cross country swing in which they suffered three consecutive losses. However it was also apparent that they wanted very badly to halt the skid and start conference play on a high note. Despite shooting just 32% from the field in the first half, the Spartans entered the locker room with a 31-21 lead over the Bulldogs of North Carolina A&T. "It was obvious that our legs were kinda tired there, but our defense was really clicking and it was nice to see us streach the lead to double digets despite our poor shooting performance." noted head coach Jeff Perry before he left the floor.

The second half began and it looked as if the Spartans were on the verge of drop kicking the Bulldogs out of the building. Norfolk St. wend on an 11-2 run to begin the half and forced N.C. A&T to call a timeout with 12:23 remaining and the score standing at 42-23. The Bulldogs came out of the timeout and started an inspiring comeback, closing the gap to 50-44 with 7:00 to go. Coach Perry called a timeout and was visibly irate, throwing his arms and yelling at his team. "Giving up a 20 point lead in the second half at home is unacceptable, I couldn't believe that we let them back into the game like that." Letting them back into the game was something of an understatement, the Bulldogs breifly took the lead with just over 3 minitues remaining before the Spartans were able to tie the game at 58 and send it into overtime.

In the extra 5 minitues the teams remained close, trading baskets and the lead but the Spartans managed to have the ball last and came out on top 66-65. "You know I really just can't believe it." said Perry after the game, "All week in practice we had been talking about how this game was a golden opportunity for us to break our loosing skid and begin the conference season with a win. The guys seemed poised to make a statement and for about the first 20 minitues they were playing the way that we all thought they would. But when you have a lead like that and can't make free throws and stop playing defense and let the other team back into it and give them confidence......well that type of play just isn't going to cut it. I'm very disapointed."


BOX SCORE

Norfolk St. 31---------27-------8--------66
N.C. A&T 21--------37--------7--------65

STATS
Norfolk St.-------------N.C. A&T

39-----------FG%-----------39
5/12---------FT------------2/4
8--------------TO-------------14
44-----------REB-----------46
44-----------PIP------------36
27---------BENCH--------36

KEY PLAYERS

Norfolk St.
McNurlin (12pts 2reb)
Francois (11pts 4reb)
Akingbade (11pts 6reb)

N.C. A&T
Ford (19pts 4ast)
Gooden (6pts 13reb)
Hines (7pts 6ast)

Next Up:

Farleigh Dickinson (2-4) (67)

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (3-3) v. Farleigh Dickinson (2-4) (67)

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Dec. 10 2007

SPARTANS SMOTHER F.DICKINSON AT HOME

The Norfolk St. Spartans rolled in the early going and never let up crusing to their second victory in as many games and raising their overall record to above .500. "I really think that those 3 games in the middle of last month helped us alot, despite the way in which we lost them." explained coach Perry outside the locker room after the game. The Spartans sprinted to a 20-11 lead with 6:28 left in the first half when the Knights called a timeout to rally the troops. The break seemed to have it's desired effect, the Knights closed the gap to 29-20 with just over two minitues, leaving many in the crowd wondering wether they would witness a repeat of what happened against North Carolina A&T. However the Spartans set everyones nerves at ease when they then went on a half ending 11-1 run and went into the locker room ahead 40-21.

In the second half the hot shooting and smothering defense continued. The Knights were never able to get into an offensive groove and struggled to stop anyone wearing a yellow uniform. All twelve Spartans saw action in the game with 11 players breaking the scoring collum as Norfolk St. crused to a 76-49 thumping. "This week I really came down hard on the guys for not finishing our last game the way we needed to. I think that when they closed the lead to 9 that our guys kinda said that this wasn't going to happen again, they banded together and made sure they closed the deal this time and that was very satisfying for me. I think that we may be hitting our stride a little bit, this game was a message to our conference opponents, don't be fooled by how we lost to Nebraska and Rhode Island, we are a good team and this game proves it."


BOX SCORE:

Norfolk St. 40---------36---------76
F.Dickinson 21--------28--------49


STATS:
Norfolk St.---------------F. Dickinson

56------------FG%------------36
4/7-----------FT---------------5/7
10------------TO--------------20
33-----------REB--------------31
20------------STL--------------9
66------------PIP-------------22
29----------BENCH-----------12


KEY PLAYERS:

Norfolk St.
Gunn(10pts, 3ast, 5stl)
McNurlin (14pts, 2stl)
Huffman (13pts, 3reb, 3stl)
Connolly (12pts, 3reb)

F. Dickinson
Sokolov (13pts 2reb 3ast)
Timmerman (6pts 8reb 3stl)


Next Up:

@Air Force (3-6) (68)

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (4-3) @ Air Force (3-6) (68)

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Dec 13. 2007

SPARTANS SOAR OVER AIR FORCE

Anyone who looked at the Spartans three losses by an average of 20pts this season and counted them out were wrong, dead wrong. Norfolk St. has now won three in a row, the last two by an average of 26 and seem like a completly different team than the one they were just a month ago. "This little streak that we're on right now is pretty impressive no doubt." said head coach Jeff Perry at the post game press conference. No doubt indeed, the Spartans shot a blistering 57% from the field in the first half in rout to a 36-26 lead on the road against an Air Force team that many people expected to be contending for the WAC regular season title. The Norfolk St. bench also contributed 12 points in the opening stanza, to bolster the Spartan offense. "Our bench has really been impressing me lately, if they continue to produce at the rate that they have been, I don't know if anyone in our conference is going to be able to compete with us."

In the second half the Spartans stingy defense became downright abusive, holding the Falcons to just 16 points on their own floor, while the offense racked up another 31 in rout to a 67-42 woodshed performance. "I've been pretty impressed with what we've been able to do defensively all year, but now that our shots are starting to fall, our true colors are begining to shine. We're playing very well, and that's great because we have some pretty tought Missouri Valley teams coming up in Drake and Evansville."


BOX SCORE:

Norfolk St. 36-----------31-----------67
Air Force 26-----------16-----------42


STATS:
Norfolk St.-------------------Air Force

53------------FG%-----------31
3/5-----------FT--------------1/1
8--------------TO-------------12
38------------REB-------------27
12-----------STL--------------8
54------------PIP--------------22
32-----------BENCH----------17


KEY PLAYERS:

Norfolk St:
McNurlin (13pts 2ast)
Francois (12pts 13reb)

Air Force:
Hale (13pts 4reb)


Next Up:

@Drake (6-3) (74)

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (5-3) @ Drake (6-3) (74)

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Dec.16 2007


SPARTANS FALL SHORT IN OVERTIME

Game Overview:
1st Half 8:27
Drake:18 Norfolk St:6

Halftime
Drake:32 Norfolk St:18

2nd Half 9:40
Drake:44 Norfolk St:43

2nd Half 6:14
Drake:50 Norfolk St:47

2nd Half 2:36
Drake:54 Norfolk St:53

2nd Half :20
Drake:57 Norfolk St:55

End of Regulation tied at 57

End of Overtime
Drake:73 Norfolk St:66


Post Game Press Conference:

VP: Coach that was pretty rough what did you say to the team afterwards?

Perry: Yea that one sucked......I just told them how I really was impressed with the way they fought back on the road and gave themselves a shot to win it. It hurts ya know, coming from so far behind to almost win it........I am very pleased with how we played.

VP: Things were looking kinda bad at halftime, were you woried that you were going to suffer another lop sided loss?

Perry: Actually no, I was really pretty pleased with our defense, we just werent shooting very well, but with the way our offense has been playing lately I felt that we would be able to fix that and come out of the Half and close the gap, which we did.

VP: Obviously McNurlin's shot with 4 secconds remaining was huge but the rest of the team played very well also, is there any performance that stood out in your mind?

Perry: Yea that shot was clutch coming out of the timout like that to send it into OT. As far as a performance that stood out.............I think that the whole team really deserves credit for this one, not credit for the loss, but the way that we played. Being down by 14 on the road is tough and for them to come together and close the gap, and almost get a hard fought W is really a testament to the way these guys play the game and play together.

VP: Your team is now 4-4 in non-conference games with two to go. Is it reasonable to think that the team will be on a two game win streak when conference play begins in earnest?

Perry: Oh absolutley. You know like I said earlier this one was a little tough for us to swallow but I could see it in our kid's faces that they were ready to go to Evansville and get a win. Over the past 4 games this team has really found itself and I think the guys are realizing thier potential. Evansville and Jacksonville St. are very winable games and our team is going to be ready to play. We will win the next two, you can write it down.


BOX SCORE:

Norfolk St. 18-----------39----------9----------66
Drake 32-----------25---------16---------73

STATS:
Norfolk St.---------------------------Drake

40-------------FG%-------------37
9/12-----------FT---------------8/8
18--------------TO---------------12
34------------REB--------------49
16-------------STL--------------12
48-------------PIP---------------26
28-----------BENCH-----------14


KEY PLAYERS:

Norfolk St:
McNurlin (16pts 2ast 2stl)
Huffman (12pts 2reb)
Goral (10pts 3reb 2stl)

Drake:
Watkins (13pts 5reb 3ast)
Medina (14pts 4reb)
Heard (18pts 11reb)
Dennehy (10pts 10reb)


Next Up:

@Evansville (5-3) (70)

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (5-4) @ Evansville (5-3) (70)

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Dec. 22 2007

NORFOLK ST. EVENS RECORD AGAINST MISSOURI VALLEY

Facing their second straight Missouri Valley foe in eight days, and coming off of a heartbreaking OT loss to Drake, the Spartans of Norforlk St. sputtered to start the game against the favored Evansville Aces. Trailing for most of the first half, but never falling far behind, the Spartans gained the lead with 5:35 remaining and never relinquished it. Thats not to say that the game was easy however, Norfolk St. breifley streached the lead to 6 with just under four minitues left in the half but the Aces countered and the teams headed for the locker rooms with the score standing at 34-33 in favor of the Spartans. "We were able to hold them off there and that's promising. Both teams are playing kind of deliberatly right now and thats fine, I think that that is working in our favor" said coach Perry before heading off of the court himself.

As the second half got underway the teams continued to trade baskets, with the Spartans not able to streach the lead, and the Aces not able to overcome the deficit. Evansville's achilies heel ended up being their almost complete lack of bench production. With just 9 points coming from players not in the starting five, and 24 of their points coming from thier star point guard, the Aces just did not have the weapons to counter what the Spartans brought to the table. "Pasco lit us up there's no doubt about that, but when you get one demensional like that you risk loosing the close ones and thats what happened to them tonight" explained Perry after the game.

Evansville called a timeout with 1:50 remaining on the clock and their team trailing 60-54. Pasco was brought back onto the floor but the Spartans double teamed him whenever he touched the ball and the rest of the Aces were not able to help. Norfolk St. walked away with their fourth win in five games 65-57


BOX SCORE:

Norfolk St. 34-----------31------------65
Evansville 33-----------24------------57


STATS:
Norfolk St.--------------------Evansville

49-------------FG%------------42
9/12-----------FT--------------1/2
8---------------TO----------------12
26------------REB--------------29
11-------------STL---------------7
48-------------PIP---------------38
31----------BENCH------------9

KEY PLAYERS:

Norfolk St:
McNurlin (13pts)
Huffman (11pts 2reb 2ast 2stl)
Francois (10pts 3reb)
Goral (7pts 6reb)

Evansville:
Pasco (24pts 2stl)
Morrissette (10pts 9reb)


Next Up:

v. Jacksonville St. (2-7) (72)

[Neb84]

Sorry for the flood of posts guys, I had been playing games and not posting and I figured I would just get caught up. Thanks to everyone who is reading. Any comments, questions, suggestions?

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (6-4) v. Jacksonville St. (2-7) (72)

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Dec. 22 2007

NORFOLK ST. CRUSHES GAME*****

The Spartans of Norfolk St. entered the game against the Jacksonville St. Game***** with a simple goal. Finish the non-conference schedual with a wining record. The goal was met, and then some. The Spartans sprinted to a 10-1 lead and never looked back, expanding the lead to 27-10 with just under 6 minitues remaining in the half, and finishing with a 39-13 advantage while forcing 20 turnovers. To say that the first half was the best half of basketball the Spartans have played this season would be an understatement. The defense held the Game***** to just 26% shooting from the field while the offense shot 51%.

The status quo was maintained as the teams resumed action in the second half, the lead just kept expanding, and Jacksonville St. continued to struggle in nearly every aspect. When the final buzzer sounded the score read 78-35. Every player on the Spartan roster scored in the game as Norfolk St. finished the non-conference portion of their schedual at 6-4 and remained undefeated on their home floor.

BOX SCORE:

Norfolk St. 39--------39--------78
Jacksonville St. 13------22-----35

STATS
Norfolk St.-------------Jacksonville St.

54-------FG%-------32
5/6-------FT--------4/6
31-------TO---------11
27-------REB-------23
28-------STL--------9
70-------PIP--------18
45------BENCH-----13

KEY PLAYERS

Norfolk St:
Francois (12pts 4reb 4blk)
Akingbade (12pts 3reb 4ast 4stl)

Jacksonville St:
Stevens (7pts 5reb 2stl)


Next Up:

v. Coppin St. (2-10) (1-0) (65)

[Neb84]

hahahahahaha **** out the game***** a legitimate college mascot....... oh will americans ever become un-self concious?

[blue_apocalypse]

Nice win over the ****ing Game*****!

:rotfl: Censorship..you've got to love it!

Sersiously though, excellent start to the season. Looks like Coppin St won't give you much trouble either.

[Neb84]

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Jan.12 2008

SPARTANS BEGIN NEW YEAR WITH WIN

Despite a two week layoff from their last game agains Jacksonville St, the Norfolk St. Spartans didn't take long to find their groove and pick up right were they left off. Trailing 12-14 with 10 minitues to go in the first half, Orlando Gunn found a wide open Avery Huffman who slamed the ball through the hoop and almost instantly killed the will of Coppin St. The Eagles steadily fell behind the rest of the half and the teams headed into the break with the Spartans ahead 37-27. In the second half the lead grew slowly but surely, the Eagles never serriously challanged the Spartans and when the horn sounded the score read Spartans 79, Eagles 60. After the game coach Perry awnsered questions from members of the media.

VP: Coach that was quite a way for your team to begin the new year. Do you think that this type of play can be sustained?

Perry: Well this certianly was a nice way for us to begin the conference portion of our schedual, with a big home win like that.........I think that this team is capable of playing this way for the rest of the season sure. We put together some pretty good streaches in the non-conference against some really good teams and that is going to help us down the streach. I think that this team has alot to hang its hat on, and after tonight I am very confident that we will be able to get into the top 4 in the conference and have a first round bye in the conference tournament, which is a goal that we have had sence the beginning of the season.

VP: Four players reached double digets for you this evening. Are you pleased with point distribution that your team is experiencing?

Perry: Oh absolutly. You know at the begining of the year the coaching staff and I were kinda worried that we were going to have to rely pretty heavily on Carlton, but we have had several guys step up and give us some production that has been very meaningfull. Whenever you have the type of blanket production, from all five guys that we have been getting, that makes you very tough to defend and really opens some things up for you offensivly. So yes Im very pleased.

VP: Coach, right now your team is the only squad in the MEAC with an above .500 reccord. Are you worried about the lack of competition your team may face over the rest of the season?

Perry: You know I think that you have to look at the schedual of the other teams in the conference and who they have played so far before you look at their reccord and say well this team is doing bad, that team is doing good. Being from a small conference makes schedualing non-conference opponents very difficult if you want to have challenging games for your kids......I think that alot of teams in this conference had to play some very difficult non-conference scheduals and that is what is contributing to our overall lack of above .500 records at this point, but this conference is very competitive, there are alot of good teams that we still have to play and none of them are going to be gimmies.


BOX SCORE:

Norfolk St. 37----------42----------79
Coppin St. 27----------33----------60


STATS:
Norfolk St.------------------Coppin St.

56-----------FG%-----------55
5/8-----------FT-------------2/2
4-------------TO--------------22
23-----------REB------------23
21-----------STL--------------4
41----------BENCH----------25


KEY PLAYERS:

Norfolk St:
McNurlin (11pts 2reb 2stl)
Huffman (13pts 4reb 3stl)
Almanson (12pts 2stl)
Ferris (11pts 3reb 3stl)

Coppin St:
Blackshear (11pts 10ast)
Bowens (10pts 2reb)


Next Up:

v. Morgan St. (3-9) (1-1) (69)

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (8-4) (2-0) v. Morgan St. (3-9) (1-1) (69)


THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Jan. 14 2008

SPARTANS GRAB 4TH STRAIGHT WIN

Morgan St. entered the season as the coaches pick to finish 2nd in the MEAC and came into their game against the Norfolk St. Spartans with a 1-1 conference record hoping to climb above .500 and get on track to challenge Hampton for the regular season crown. What they got was a rude awakening from the hottest team in the conference. While the first half stayed close and compettitive with the teams trading baskets, Morgan St. pounding it inside, and the Spartans drilling mid and long range jump shots, the second half became what Spartan fans are becoming accustomed to, stifiling defense accompanied by intellegent offense that leads to a lop-sided victory.

When the teams headed to the locker rooms with the score standing at 34-25 it seemed as if the game might become interesting, especially sence the Bears seemed to be exploiting what has become the Spartans biggest weakness, inside defense. But as the teams resumed action it became apparant that Norfolk St. had spent halftime adressing their problems and came out on fire. The Spartans began the half on a 9-2 run forcing the Bears into a timeout as the lead swelled to 16, it would be the closet Morgan St. would get for the rest of the game. As coach Jeff Perry began subing in his reserves and getting the bench some valuable playing time, the Bears struggled to get anything going on offense. For the third time this season the Spartans held their opponent to under 35% from the field. "Our defense has really become a source of pride for this team." beamed coach after the game. "We're really becoming so ballanced and well rounded, it's gotta be scarry for teams that are trying to prepare for what we bring to the table."

The Spartan's have won their last three games by an average of 27 points and their upcoming schedual suggests that it may be awhile before they are challenged in the second half again. It's anyones guess as to when this streak will end.


BOX SCORE:

Norfolk St. 34-----------31-----------65
Morgan St. 25-----------20-----------45


STATS:
Norfolk St.-------------------Morgan St.

53-----------FG%-----------31
3/4----------FT-------------4/7
5-------------TO--------------9
33----------REB------------31
8------------STL-------------5
50-----------PIP-------------24
35---------BENCH----------20


KEY PLAYERS:

Norfolk St:
Huffman (11pts 4reb)
Connolly (6pts 11reb)
Goral (10pts 2reb)

Morgan St:
McCray (13pts 4reb)
Ngounou (8pts 8reb)


Next Up:

@ Deleware St. (1-10) (1-2) (66)

[Deuce2223]

Congrats on the win streak.

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (9-4) (3-0) V. Deleware St. (1-10) (1-2) (66)

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Jan 19. 2008

SPARTANS CONTINUE TO ROLL

The strong Spartans defense reared it's mighty head once again in the first half of tonights game holding the visiting Hornets to just 14 points compared with the 30 that Norfolk St. was able to rack up in the same time frame. When all was said and done the Spartans had rolled to a 59-43 decision, wining their 5th straight game, however coach Perry wasen't necesarily impressed with the effort. "We played way to slow tonight, we shot the ball pretty well and played good D again but we've got to be able to pick up the pace in our upcoming games."


BOX SCORE:

Norfolk St. 30-------29-------59
Deleware St. 14-----29-------43


STATS:
NSU----------------DSU

53-------FG%-------36
2/2-------FT--------0/1
11-------TO---------15
26-------REB--------27
13-------STL--------8
46-------PIP---------22
33------BENCH------2


KEY PLAYERS:

NSU
McNurlin (9pts 2reb 3ast)
Almanson (18pts 2stl)

DSU
Rush (10pts 4ast 3stl)
Shropshire (11pts 3reb 2ast)
Echols (12pts 4reb)
Koundoul (8pts 11reb)

Up Next:

Maryland Eastern Shore (5-12) (1-3)

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (10-4) (4-0) @ Maryland Eastern Shore (5-12) (1-3)

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Jan. 21 2008

SPARTANS DOWN STRUGGLING EAGLES, PERRY NOT IMPRESSED

A stormy, far off gaze graced the face of coach Jeff Perry as he headed to the locker room at halftime here Monday night with his team leading 33-26. As a reproter for a local paper here in Maryland asked him how he thought his team was performing, it seemed for a split seccond that he was about to rip the poor girls head off. Lucky for her he just answered her with his usual passive agressive tone that sees extensive usage when he is upset about something. "I didnt know that we were performing at all in that half." End of interview, the reporter was left standing there pencil and paper in hand as the Coach stomped off to confront his team in what was surly an unpleasant place to be durring the intermission.

To be sure the Spartans did play lacsidiasically at best durring the first half, displaying an attitude that seemed to suggest that they expected to win and didn't have to play hard to do it. When asked about it after the game coach Perry seemed unimpressed by this reporters observation "No kidding, we played lazy huh? I think that's an understatement." Norfolk St. didn't seem to really wake up untill about the 7:00 mark of the second half, that's when the Eagles had trimmed the lead down to 8 and coach Perry called a timeout. Everyone sitting within 5 rows of the bench clearly heard every word the coach barked durring the T.O. and some parrents in the crowd were observed covering their childrens ears. The message got across, the Spartans came out of the break with a little better bounce in their step and went on a back breaking run to extend the lead to 20 before finally triumphing 77-50.

"Just rediculous the way we played tonight." said Perry after the game. "I'm not trying to disrespect the other team or anything but, our defense played pathetic untill the last 7 minitues, our big men were being held in check by guys that were undersized we just didn't display any type of desire to get the job done." Hopefully that attitude will be gone by the time the Spartans return to action on Saturday at home against the South Carolina St. Bulldogs. "It had better be." said coach.


BOX SCORE:

Norfolk St. 33----------44----------77
MD. E. S. 26---------24----------50


STATS:
NSU---------------MDES

56--------FG%-------45
3/4--------FT--------3/3
4----------TO----------16
22--------REB--------18
14---------STL---------4
60--------PIP----------28
32------BENCH-------22


KEY PLAYERS:

NSU
Gunn (11pts 5reb 4stl)
McNurlin (14pts 2reb)
Connolly (10pts 3reb)
Francois (12pts 4reb)

MDES
Turiaf (14pts 3ast)
Stevanovic (12pts 4ast)
Herman (6pts 8reb)


Next Up:

South Carolina St. (7-11) (3-2) (67)

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (11-4) (5-0) v. South Carolina St. (7-11) (3-2) (67)

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Jan. 26 2008

SPARTANS EXTEND WIN STREAK TO 7

As the Norfolk St. Spartans left the floor after wining their seventh straight contest, an uninformed obserever might have mistaken them for a team that was on a seven game losing streak. "This is the second game in a row where we just didn't get it done like we were supposed to." observed senior Carlton McNurlin outside the locker room. "If we're going to complete our goals that we set out at the begining of the season we all know that we're going to have to play better." The Bulldogs of South Carolina St. gave the Spartans all they could handel, trailing nearly the entire game, the Bulldogs pulled to within 1 point with 5:54 remaining in the first half when coach Perry called a timeout. "He just told us that we were not playing like he knew we could, he wasn't yelling like he did last game, but he deffinatly wasn't happy." said Avery Huffman. "We just played like crap." chimed Orlando Gunn.

Crap might not be the optimal word, but the Spartans deffinatly did not play well on either side of the ball, allowing the Bulldogs to outshoot them from the field, and out rebound them in the paint. Sophomore Regis Connolly tried to take some of the blame, "Alot of that is my fault, I didn't play like I should have down in the paint and I really let their guys gain position on me pretty much all game." But hey, Carlton, a win's a win right? "Yes we're happy to have won our seventh straight, but we also realize that we need to play much better if we expect to stay on top of this conference and win the tournament."

Head coach Jeff Perry was unavailable for comment.



BOX SCORE:

Norfolk St. 28----------32----------60
SC St. 21------------30------------51


STATS:
NSU-----------------SCST

46---------FG%---------47
4/8--------FT-----------3/3
7-----------TO------------22
26--------REB----------31
21---------STL-----------7
48---------PIP-----------12
26-------BENCH--------22


KEY PLAYERS:

NSU
Gunn (9pts 5reb 7stl)
McNurlin (12pts 2ast 2stl)

SCST
Thiero (11pts)
Pettyjohn (9pts 2reb 2stl)


Next Up:

Winston Salem St. (8-7) (4-2) (68)

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (12-4) (6-0) v. Winston-Salem St. (8-7) (4-2) (68)


THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Jan. 28 2008


RAMS END NSU STREAK

Winston-Salem came into Norfolk on Monday unimpressed by the Spartans umblemished conference reccord and ready to play. At the 10:08 mark in the first half the Spartans were forced into a timeout as the Rams had gained a 10 point advantage 13-23. "They came to play no doubt you've got to give them credit, but I was also pleased with the poise that our guys displayed in not giving up." said coach Perry after the game. Coming out of the timeout the Spartans were able to chip away at the gap and closed to within 32-35 with just over 3 minitues remaining in the half before heading into the locker room with the score standing at 37-42 in favor of the Rams.

In the second half the Spartans were never able to get the deficet under 5 points and the Rams were able to walk away with a 79-72 win placing them in third place in the MEAC a half game back of the North Carolina A&T Aggies. "You know we just turned the ball over too many times for us to have a reasonable shot at the win. You gotta give credit to Winston-Salem though, they came in here with a gameplan and executed it to perfection, they were hot from the field, they knew how to get arround our zone, Mulholland lit us up, what more can you say really." explained Jeff Perry at the post game press conference. "I think that this is something that we can learn alot from however. A loss at this point in the conference season should keep us on our toes, we had been playing kinda sloppy in the last couple games, and I don't think that that necesarrily happened tonight, but I think that this will cause us to realize that we are not invincible no matter how well we played durring our win streak."

The loss came in the last game of the month of January for the Spartans, a month in which they finished 5-1 and placed themselves at the top of the MEAC conference. "Our position is enviable right now no doubt, but that just means that alot of teams are going to be trying to knock us off of our perch. We're going to have to refocus after this game and make sure that we play the way that we need to in order to maintain our position."


BOX SCORE:

Norfolk St. 37----------35----------72
Winston-S 42----------37----------79


STATS:
NSU---------------------WSS

52---------FG%----------52
7/8---------FT-----------7/11
20----------TO------------17
28----------REB----------27
48---------PIP------------30
20--------BENCH--------25


KEY PLAYERS:

NSU
McNurlin (30pts 3reb 4stl)
Huffman (10pts 3reb 3stl)
Gunn (6pts 8ast)

WSS
Withers (10pts 10ast)
Mulholland (27pts)
Merritt (10pts 7reb)
McCrommon (13pts 2stl)


Next Up:

Hampton (4-12) (3-3) (71)

[Neb84]

FEB 1 2008 SEASON UPDATE

Coaches Top 10

1.Georgetown
2.Kansas
3.Louisville
4.Arizona
5.Tennessee
6.Memphis
7.Michigan St.
8.Marquette
9.Syracuse
10.North Carolina


Media Top 10

1.Georgetown
2.Kansas
3.Louisville
4.Arizona
5.Tennessee
6.Memphis
7.Michigan St.
8.Marquette
9.Syracuse
10.Alabama


Mid Major Top 10

1.Western Michigan
2.Utah St.
3.Oral Roberts
4.Gonzaga
5.Butler
6.Wichita St.
7.George Mason
8.Yale
9.Albany
10.Tennessee St.


MEAC STANDINGS

1.Norfolk St. (6-1) (12-5)
2.North Carolina A&T (6-2) (8-8)
3.Winston-Salem St. (5-2) (9-7)
4.Florida A&M (5-2) (6-11)
5.Coppin St. (4-4) (6-13)
6.Hampton (3-3) (4-12)
7.Bethune Cookman (3-5) (7-11)
8.South Carolina St. (3-5) (7-14)
9.MD Eastern Shore (3-5) (7-15)
10.Deleware St. (3-5) (3-13)
11.Howard (2-5) (4-14)
12.Morgan St. (2-6) (4-14)


MEAC Statistical Leaders

PPG
1.Ford NCAT (15.1)
2.Irving FAMU (14.1)
3.McNurlin NSU (14.1)
4.Turiaf UMES (14.1)
5.Bullock MORG (10.4)

STL
1.Gunn NSU (2.3)
2.Huffman NSU (2.3)
3.McNurlin NSU (1.8)
4.Works FAMU (1.5)
5.Goral NSU (1.4)

FG%
1.Francois NSU (.588)
2.Huffman NSU (.538)
3.Connolly NSU (.545)
4.Mulholland WSS (.500)
5.Bullock MORG (.438)

3PT%
1.Bullock MORG (.463)
2.Turiaf UMES (.443)
3.Ford NCAT (.439)
4.Irvin FAMU (.359)
5.McNurlin NSU (.258)

[Neb84]

Sorry for the delay.........new game articles coming soon!~

[Superjames1992]

This is nice!!! I don't know how I missed it before.

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (12-5) (6-1) v. Hampton (4-12) (3-3) (71)


THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Feb. 2 2008


SPARTANS STUMBLE LATE BUT GET WIN

The largest home crowd to see first year coach Jeff Perry and his squad in action flocked to the stadium to see the Spartans take on their heated rival the Hampton Pirates. Nearly 5,000 people filled the stands and watched the Spartans sweat out a 79-70 victory. The first half of the game was all Norfolk St. and star senior Carlton McNurlin. McNurlin tallied 19pts in the first half and the Spartans shot 72% from the floor in rout to a 51-31 half time advantage. "That was deffinatly the best half of basketball that we have played this season, we were really hitting on all cylinders there." said Perry after the game.

As the second half got underway the Pirates scored the first 6 points to cut the lead to 14, but the Spartans regained their rythem and had pushed the lead out to 67-43 with 7:43 remaining. The pirates were not about to give up however, with 1:38 remaining and the lead standing at 15, the Spartans called a timeout. "We had kind of let them get on a run and I called the TO to settle our guys down and make sure that they finished the game strong. 90 secconds is a long time in basketball and Hampton is an exellent team, we weren't out of the woods yet." After the timeout the Pirates tried desperatly to cut the lead and for a moment it seemed that they would be able to make things rather interesting but when the final buzzer sounded the score stood at 79-70 in favor of the Spartans. "Yea we really fell apart at the end there, but this was a good win against a good team and our rival to boot so this is something that I think we can be proud of."


BOX SCORE

NSU 51-------28---------79
HAMP 31------39--------70

STATS
NSU------------HAMP

59-------FG%---------48
4/5-------FT----------5/9
13-------TO----------14
29-------REB---------26
11--------STL---------12
62--------PIP---------32
32-------BENCH------23


KEY PLAYERS

NSU
McNurlin (23pts 2reb)
Huffman (14pts 3reb 2stl)
Goral (8pts 8reb)

HAMP
Gibson (16pts 3reb 6ast 3stl)
Wilcox (12pts 3ast 3stl)


Next Up:

Howard (4-14) (2-5) (64)

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. v. Howard (4-14) (2-5) (64)

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Feb. 4 2008

AMAZING 2ND HALF LIFTS SPARTANS TO LOPSIDED WIN

Coach Andy Thompson of the Howard Bison made it clear on WNSB 91.1 FM before the game that he and his team had no respect for the Spartans and what they have accomploshed this year. "We're not impressed at all with what they have done period! Their defense has gaping holes, their offense in inconsistant, as far as we are concerned their reccord has nothing but luck to do with it." said Thompson, and as the first half got underway it seemed as if he may have been right. It took 5 minitues before the Spartans were able to take their first lead of the game at 11-9 and it was the only lead that NSU possesed in the first half. The teams played very close for the remaining of the opening stanza with the score knoted at 15 and 19 points apiece before Howard was able to create some separation and lead 29-32 as the teams headed toward the locker rooms. Howard's 6'5'' SF ***o Okafur led all players in the first half with 13pts, and the Bison out shot the Spartans from the field 37-53%. "We have to start shooting better and we have to start defending Okafur thats all there is to it." said coach Perry before heading to the locker room himslef.

As the second half got underway, ENTER THE SANDMAN!!!!!! The Spartans started the half on a 10-2 run forcing the Bison into a timout with 12:47 remaining and the score standing at 39-34 in favor of NSU. Five minitues later Howard called another timeout after NSU had gone 17 straight points without an awnser from the Bison sence the last TO. For all who are not counting, in the first 8:18 of the seccond half, the defense that was full of "gaping holes" had held the Howard Bison to just 2, yes thats right 2, points and had sprinted to a 56-34 lead. At the 3:30 mark the Bison were able to score their third point of the half from the free throw line and actually recieved a standing ovation from the home town Spartan faithfull. When all was said and done the Spartan's had held the Bison to just 5 second half points in rout to a 72-37 win. "Just amazing." said coach Perry after the game. Bison head coach Andy Thompson was unavailable for comment.

BOX SCORE:

NSU 29---------43----------72
HOW 32---------5-----------37


STATS
NSU-------------HOW

51--------FG%--------39
6/12------FT----------3/4
10---------TO---------30
33--------REB---------27
27--------STL---------9
24-------BENCH-------8


KEY PLAYERS:

NSU
McNurlin (27pts 2ast)
Huffman (12pts 6reb 8stl)

HOW
Okafur (16pts)


Next Up:

Bethune Cookman (7-12) (3-6) (66)

[blue_apocalypse]

WOW! You gave up only 5 points in the 2nd half???? :bow:

[Preo32]

5 pts is damn good and you were playing 16 mins half? damn. im playin 10 min halves and i dont got a good enough defense to hold a team to 5, but thats a shocker. its hard to get the other team to score so little in a half. in 2k5 i shut out Penn St in the 1st half and they ended wit 16, but its diff cuz i was UCONN. this is Norfolk St and Howard. No clear advantage. Nice scoring and stopping in the 2nd half by ur team

[Neb84]

They shot like crap..... went from 53% in the first half to just 39% for the game. Im no good at math but thats really bad in the second half............It was alot of fun

[Neb84]

SF ***o Okafur led all players

I have no idea why this was sensored but the guys name is K o k o

[jjredick4]

woooow, only 5 points. that's amazing

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (14-5) (3-6) @ Bethune Cookman (7-12) (3-6) (66)

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Feb 9 2008

SPARTANS ASSERT DOMINANCE OVER MEAC'S LAST PLACE

Bethune Cookman never stood a chance. With just 3:30 played in the first half the Spartans possesed a 14-2 lead that would only get bigger. At the 8:38 mark the score was 20-4 with star Spartan PF Avery Huffman scoring 10. NSU rolled for the rest of the half shooting 60% from the field and went to the locker room with a 39-11 lead.

As action began in the second half the Spartans picked up right where they had left off, pushing the lead to 51-18 with 11:23 to go. However give credit to the Bobcats who never gave up and made a vailiant effort to make the score respectable. At the 7:19 mark B.C caped a 10-6 run that droped the lead to under 30 for the first time since the 5:30 mark of the first half. The Spartans were just to much for the vastly overmatched Bobcats however and ended the game with a 74-41 conference victory pushing their conference reccord to 9-1 with 8 games remaining.


BOX SCORE

NSU 39---------35----------74
B.C. 11---------30----------41

STATS
NSU-----------------B.C.

53-------FG%------36
5/10------FT-------0/1
38-------REB-------26
20--------STL-------8
58-------PIP--------18
36------BENCH------19


KEY PLAYERS:

NSU
McNurlin (12pts 3reb)
Huffman (16pts 5reb 4stl)
Almanson (14pts 4reb 2stl)

B.C.
Fisher (8pts 4ast)
Rothbart (9pts 3reb)


Next Up:
@ Flordia A&M (6-14) (5-5) (69)

[blue_apocalypse]

That was total domination. Looks like your players wanted to get this one over with early with a huge first half. I would hate to be Florida A&M the way your team has been playing.

[Superjames1992]

Wow, 5 points in the second half to Howard and then just 11 points allowed in the first half againsty Bethune Cookman! NICE!!!

[boomosby50]

ya know, i think you changed the difficulty to walk-on int he 2nd half against Howard, cuz 5 points is never gonna happen. How did Timothy do for Howard?

[Neb84]

i think you changed the difficulty to walk-on

Gee thanks for the vote of confidence boom:lol: Serriously though it was a little rediculous especially considering how you guys played in the first half. For all who do not know.....I play on All-American w/ 16min. halfs.

Okafur was #33-Myatt on yours
Timothy (aka Chandler) 2reb 6min
#32 (don't know who he is for you) 6pts 2reb

[Neb84]

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Feb. 10 2008

SPARTAN MEN IN STRONG POSITION

Last summer, before first year Spartan coach Jeff Perry had even put together his staff, this reporter sat down with the new coach to discuss some of his expectations for the upcoming year. Among the coaches goals; get one win from games against Richmond, Nebraska and Rhode Island, check; Win Polar Bear Classic first round game, oops;finish among the top four in the conference.......This last goal was, in this reporters opinion, the most ambitious of coach Perry's expectations, but with eight games remaining in conference play, Norfolk St. is four games ahead of the 3-way deadlock for fourth place and is playing it's best basketball to date. The Virginian Pilot caught up with coach Perry on Saturday to talk about his teams progress.

VP: Well here we are coach with just over a month to go in the regular season. How do you feel about what your team has been able to accomplish thus far?

Perry: Well I'm very pleased with how we've been playing latley, especially over the past three games, but we've been inconsistant, good streaches, bad streaches. I'd like to see us play well all of the time, not just part of it.

VP: Certainly you must be happy with where your team is sitting right now though.

Perry: Oh sure, it's nice to be on top of the conference at this point, but we're really gonna have to step it up if we want to be in the same position at the end of the season. There's always room for improvment.

VP: Anything specific you'd like to see improved?

Perry: Well like I sai we really have played inconsistantly this season, especially on the offensive side of the ball. I'd like to see us get some better production from beyond the arch, but mostly I'd just like to see us put together a complete game, piece together two halves where we can look bakc and say there isn't much more we could have done. I don't think we've been able to do that yet.

VP: Winston-Salem State and North Carolina A&T both still have one game a piece against you. Are you doing anything special to prepare for these games?

Perry: Well obviously the way our first meetings went with them, and the way the conference picture is shaping up, those are going to be big games, but we take things one game at a time. We focus on the opponent that's right in front of us and right now we're focused on Flordia A&M.

MEAC STANDINGS

Norfolk St. (9-1) (15-5)
N.C. A&M (8-2) (10-8)
W-S State (7-3) (11-8)
S.C. State (5-5) (9-14)
Coppin St. (5-5) (7-14)
Flordia A&M (5-5) (6-14)
Morgan St. (4-6) (6-14)
Deleware St. (4-6) (4-14)
Hampton (3-6) (4-15)
Howard (3-6) (4-15)
Bethune C. (3-7) (7-13)
MD. E.S. (3-7) (7-17)

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (15-5) (9-1) @ Flordia A&M (6-14) (5-5) (69)

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Feb. 11 2008


SPARTANS SHOW DETERMINATION IN WIN

The Flordia A&M Rattlers entered their game with the Spartans of NSU in a three way tie for fourth place in the MEAC and possesing a strong desire to break away from the pack. In the first 5 minitues of the game, the Rattlers and their star guard Irving pulled to a 17-12 lead with Irving scoring 11 of those points using the help of three 3-pointers. With 6:11 remaining in the opening stanza, the Rattlers possesed a 26-16 lead, were 5/6 from beyond the arch and were shooting better than 70% from the field. "I knew they were shooting the ball well, and honestly I felt pretty good that we were only down by 10 at that point. I just told the guys to keep playing, not to give up on defense, and eventually we would be able to get back into the game." explained coach Perry after the contest. Geting back into the game happened towards the end of the first half, the Spartans finished the first 16 minitues on a 16-9 run to pull the score to 35-32 at halftime in favor of the Rattlers.

The 3 point lead remaind largely unchanged through the first 6 minitues of the 2nd half, but when Flordia A&M called a timeout with 10:20 remaining and the score standing at NSU 46, FAM 48, the mentality of the Spartans encountered an obvious change. "I said to the guys that we were going to take the lead on the next possesion and never look back, and then we did just that." With 10:03 remaining the Spartans took their first lead of the game off of a McNurlin 3-pointer and never relinqueshed it. With 6:03 remaining the Spartans put the finishing touches on a 20-5 run that gave them a 9 point 62-53 lead, it would be all of the points NSU would need as the final score read 76-61. "I was extreamly pleased with how our team responded to being down like that on the road, and then coming back to win by 15 is really impressive." said coach Perry in the locker room after the game.

BOX SCORE:

NSU 32--------44---------76
FAM 35--------26---------61


STATS:
NSU-----------------FAM

53-------FG%-------41
4/7-------FT--------9/16
10--------TO--------24
25--------REB-------37
20--------STL--------9
58--------PIP--------18
26-------BENCH------22

KEY PLAYERS:

NSU
McNurlin (18pts 3stl)
Huffman (16pts 6reb 3stl)

FAM
Irvin (20pts 6reb)
Dawn (11pts 8reb)
Sandoval (13pts 4reb)


Next Up:

Deleware St. (5-14) (5-6) (66)

[boomosby50]

for me #32 is Theo Livingston, and Torrance Timothy is not playing enough!

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (10-1) (16-5) v. Deleware St. (5-6) (5-14)

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Feb. 16 2008

NSU TAKES SEASON SERIES OVER DELEWARE ST. 2-0

The Deleware St. Hornets took a 3-2 lead early in the game, it was the last lead that they would enjoy. The Norfolk St. Spartans then went on a 13-2 run in route to a 15-5 lead and a Deleware St. timeout with 11:09 remaining in the first half. That 10 point lead stayed nearly unchanged over the rest of the half untill the closing secconds when, with the score standing at 27-18 in favor of the Spartans, Deleware St. hit a three at the buzzer to cut the lead to 6 as the teams headed for the locker rooms.

As the second half began the 6 point lead ebbed and flowed slightly untill coach Perry took out all of his starters in order to rest them for the final minitues. The bench players extended the lead back out to 10 as Deleware St. took another timout at the 10:43 mark trailing 38-28. When the lead was streached to 45-29 and the Hornets had to take yet another TO with 7:59 remaining just to silence the crowd, everyone in the building knew the end game was aproaching. The Hornets were able to piece together a 17-11 run over the final 8 minitues but it was too little too late as the Spartans won their fifth straight game 57-46.

BOX SCORE:

NSU 27---------30---------57
DSU 21---------25---------46


STATS:
NSU------------------DSU

49--------FG%--------36
5/8--------FT---------2/6
11---------TO---------18
27--------REB---------33
17---------STL---------11
46---------PIP---------20
31--------BENCH-------17


KEY PLAYERS:

NSU
McNurlin (11pts 2reb 2ast 2stl)
Goral (15pts 5reb)

DSU
Echols (10pts 5reb)
Gordan (4pts 8reb 2ast 3stl 1blk)


Next Up:

Maryland Eastern Shore (7-19) (3-9) (60)

[Neb84]

MEAC STANDINGS
Norfolk St. (17-5) (11-1)
N.C. A&T (12-8) (10-2)
W.S. St. (11-9) (7-4)
Morgan St. (8-14) (6-6)
Coppin St. (8-15) (6-6)
Hampton (6-15) (5-6)
S.C. St. (9-16) (5-7)
Flordia A&M (6-16) (5-7)
Deleware St. (5-15) (5-7)
Bethune C. (8-14) (4-8)
Howard (5-16) (3-7)
MD. E.S. (7-19) (3-9)


Norfolk St. (17-5) (11-1) v. Maryland Eastern Shore (7-19) (3-9) (60)
THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Feb. 18 2008

SENIOR NIGHT CROWD FRUSTRATES PERRY

POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE:
VP: Coach this game was maybe a little closer than many anticipated. Did your team play poorly because they expected to win, did Bethune Cookman play well, were there other reasons that.......

Perry: Look I'm gonna cut you off right there ok. My team was very excited to play this game. PERIOD! The guys were looking forward to playing in front of their home fans one last time this season. My seniors, Carlton McNurlin and Nile Francois, felt that they would get to play in front of an apreciative crowd for what they and this team have been able to accomplish this season. When we came out of the locker room to do our pregame warmup and saw 800 people in the stands, the whole team, myself included felt pretty bad about ourselves. What does this team have to do in order to get some support from the community? I mean not even the students showed up! Here we are sitting on top of the conference, in sight of a 20 win season, we're about to go on a season ending 5-game road trip, our two senoirs have put together a very impressive season, it's the last time they're gonna play on this floor, and it's like no one cares. If you ask me, the reason we weren't able to put this team away sooner was because we didn't have any support.

VP: Bethune Cookman was shooting pretty well, especially in the first half, they were finding the gaps in your zone, surly that didn't have to do with the crowd.

Perry: Look, Echols Arena holds 7,000 people, plus, ok. When not even 1/7 of the seats are filled, and it's senior night, and a team comes in here and sees that, and sees that the people who are here aren't really into the game, and aren't making any noise, that gives them confidence. Yea those guys were finding the gaps in our zone, and they did shoot very well from beyond the arch, I think they hit like 8 of them in the first half, but if we had a stadium that could make some noise, and this place can, just look back to the Hampton game, they don't make eight 3-pointers in the first half, that number comes down to 4 or even 3, that's a 12-15 point swing, and yes I can deffinatly blame 12-15 points on our lack of crowd support.

VP: Well despite the crowd, were you pleased with how your team finished the game?

Perry: Absolutly, we huddled up durring that TO with about 8 minitues to go and Carlton just looked arround at the guys and said, "hey this is rediculous, lets go out there and end this thing" and that's exactly what they did. Carlton is really a special player, I wish that he was a junior so I would have the opportunity to coach him for one more season, he really is just a great guy, and exellent athlete, his got a real bright future ahead of him.

VP: Five games left coach, all on the road, including against your rival Hampton, Winston-Salem St. who has beaten you this season, and North Carolina A&T who is sitting one game behind you in the standings and took you into overtime earlier this season. What will you say to your guys about this pivotal streach?

Perry: Well obviously this is going to be our most important 5-game streach of the season, and in many aspects it will be our hardest 5-game streach. We are going to have to stay focused, Hampton is going to have a very hostle environment for us to come into, Winston-Salem is going to be looking to get another win against us and dominate the season serries, the North Carolina A&T game has the potential to decide who gets the number 1 seed going into the conference tournament. There's alot of pressure on us to get these wins, and make sure that we position ourselves so that we can have a favorable run at the tournament championship. The MEAC is only going to have one representative in the NCAA tournament, and all of us want that representative to be Norfolk St, but for that to happen we have to be able to win at least 4 of these upcoming 5 games and guarantee ourselves one of the top 2 tournament seeds.

VP: Only 4 of 5 coach, wouldn't you want to tell your team that you need to win all five?

Perry: I don't want to put more stress on them than I have to, yes winning all five would be the easiest way to guarantee ourselves what we want to have, but realisticly we only need to win three of these games, as long as one of those wins is against North Carolina A&T, and we will win the regular season championship. We have played really well over this conference schedual and we have a very short inside track at our advantage.


BOX SCORE:
NSU 36---------39---------75
MDES 38------20---------58


STATS:
NSU---------------------MDES
49---------FG%---------46
3/6---------FT-----------2/4
2------------TO-----------19
32---------REB----------29
17----------STL-----------2
66----------PIP-----------22
16--------BENCH--------20


KEY PLAYERS
NSU
McNurlin (25pts 3stl)
Huffman (14pts 4reb 2ast 2stl)
Francois (10pts 4reb 2stl)
Gunn (6pts 7reb 5ast 4stl)

MDES
Turiaf (23pts)
Mathis (8pts 12reb 4ast)
Stevanovic (14pts 2reb)


Next Up:

South Carolina St. (5-7) (9-16) (67)

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (18-5) (12-1) @ South Carolina St. (10-16) (6-7) (67)


THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Feb. 23 2008

BULLDOGS, POOR SHOOTING, BITE SPARTANS

If anything could be learned from Norfolk State's 60-51 victory over South Carolina St. in January it was that the Bulldogs knew how to slow a game down. "In practice this week I was telling the guys that we were going to have to play faster if we wanted to get a win on the road against this team, unfortunatly that didn't happen" explained head coach Jeff Perry. Didn't happen might be a bit of an understatement, with 4:26 remaining in the first half the score stood at 14-11 in favor of the Spartans and when the buzzer sounded, Norfolk St. limped into the locker room with a 22-21 lead. With the teams shooting 35 and 32% from the floor, respectivly, it seemed that the score might stay tight for the entire contest.

For the most part that assumption proved true. With 5:36 remaining in the game, the Bulldogs possesed a slim 43-39 advantage. However over the remaining time, S.C. A&T steadily improved their shooting while the Spartans continued with the benchmark they had set in the first half. When the final horn rang the Bulldogs stood victorious 62-51. "You know when you shoot 36% on the game you can't expect to be in a position to win it. This obviously was not how we wanted to begin this season ending road trip, but we still have alot to play for and I am confident that we will be able to bounce back and get back on track."


BOX SCORE:

NSU 22----------29-----------51
SCST 21---------41----------62

STATS:
NSU------------------SCST

36---------FG%---------50
3/8---------FT----------4/4
7-----------TO----------22
29---------REB---------35
18---------STL----------6
48---------PIP----------22
17--------BENCH-------17



KEY PLAYERS:

NSU
McNurlin (18pts 2reb 3stl)
Huffman (10pts 6reb)

SCST
Pettyjohn (22pts 2reb)
Chase (15pts 7reb 2ast)


Next Up:

Winston Salem St. (14-9) (10-4) (68)

[Neb84]

Regular Season has been completed, be sure to stay tuned, game updates on their way

[boomosby50]

I am psyched for the confernece tourney. Any chance of an at-large bid without winning tourney? Whats yur RPI? Projected seed? Conference RPI?

[Oo_SU_oO]

Good Luck in your conference tourney. I just started following.

[Neb84]

There is NOOOOOO way im going to get an at large bid. The conference is 32 (last in RPI) and the team hovers right arround 110, im projected as a 15 seed.

[Neb84]

MEAC STANDINGS
Norfolk St. (18-6) (12-2)
N.C. A&T (13-9) (11-3)
W-S St. (14-9) (10-4)
Morgan St. (9-15) (7-7)
Florida A&M (8-16) (7-7)
S.C. St. (11-16) (7-7)
Coppin St. (9-16) (7-7)
Deleware St. (6-8) (6-16)
Hampton (6-17) (5-8)
Bethune C. (9-15) (5-9)
Howard (5-19) (3-10)
MD. E.S. (7-21) (3-11)

PROJECTED 1 SEEDS
Kansas (23-3)
Georgetown (23-3)
Alabama (22-5)
Arizona (20-6)

[Preo32]

yeah you need to win the tourney. in my 1st season i was one game behind Sacred Heart overall and 4 in the conference. I had a good record, but in small and bad conferences like mine and yours, one team is basically all thats getting in. Actually, in my 2nd season, i was a projected 6 seed, but i wonder what would have happened if i lost my tourney? o well, i won it. good luck it ur tourney

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (18-6) (12-2) @ Winston-Salem St. (14-9) (10-4) (68)

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Feb. 25 2008

STRONG SECOND HALF LIFTS SPARTANS PAST 16 POINT DEFFICIT

Winston-Salem St. entered their second contest with the Norfolk St. Spartans with a firm hold on third place in the conference and in a position to serriously shake up the top of the standings. The Rams began the game with fire and determination to knock the Spartans into a tie for first place with North Carolina A&T and place the Rams just one game back of the leaders. Leading 29-13 with 7:18 to go in the first half the Spartans were forced into a timeout to regroup. "We were really playing like.........well we weren't playing very well at that point. The sold out crowd was rattling us a little I think and we really needed to get it together and cut that defficit, unfortunatly we were not able to make that happen untill the second half." said Jeff Perry at the post game press conference. The 16 points that separated the teams remained intact as the squads headed for the locker rooms with the score standing at 44-28 in favor of the Rams.

In the second half the Rams lead slowly began to disintigrate, with 8:05 remaining in the game the Spartans called another timeout with the score at 56-48 in favor of the Rams. "We had done a good job of cutting the lead up to that point but we had kind of gotten into a sort of stalemate and hadn't been able to get any closer for quite a while. I called the TO and told the guys that if we were going to make a move then we had to do it right then or the game was going to get away from us." said Perry. Just 54 secconds later, Winston-Salem was forced in to a timeout of their own as the Spartans had cut the lead to just 56-54. "At that point I think that we all kinda felt that the game was ours to do with what we wanted, and we just brought down the hammer and finished it out." explaind Carlton McNurlin after the game. With 3:57 to go the Rams called timeout again in an effort to bring to an end a 16-3 NSU run that saw the Spartans go up 64-59, but it was too late for Winston-Salem. The Spartans finished the game with strong defense and smart offence to gain a hardfought 76-67 win and remain in sole possesition of first place in the MEAC


BOX SCORE

NSU 28---------48----------76
WSS 44--------23----------67


STATS
NSU------------------WSS

53---------FG%---------53
10/16------FT----------6/8
12---------TO-----------24
25---------REB---------29
23---------STL----------10
66---------PIP----------30
22--------BENCH---------5


KEY PLAYERS

NSU
Gunn (13pts 7reb 3ast 5stl)
McNurlin (14pts 2reb 3stl)
Huffman (18pts 3reb 4stl)

WSS
Rowland (22pts)
Boddie (12pts 4reb 2ast)
Merritt (12pts 10reb 3blk)


Next Up:

Hampton (6-19) (5-10) (72)

[jjredick4]

that must have been a little scary, huh

[Neb84]

ok everyone. I am now 5 games behind in updates, I will finish them tomorrow at work LOL!!!! and have them posted in the afternoon

[Neb84]

that must have been a little scary, huh

Thats an understatement! I almost broke the controller at halftime

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (19-6) (13-2) @ Hampton (6-19) (5-10) (72)

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Mar. 1 2008

STRUGGLING PIRATES SHOW PRIDE IN RIVALRY GAME

For the Hampton Pirates, the media and coaches preseason pick to win it all in the MEAC, who are now struggling just to make it to the conference tournament, it would have been easy to roll over for the red hot visiting Spartans of Norfolk St. But Hampton is a team with alot of pride, and when their rival comes to town you'd better bet they're going to be ready to play. The Spartans, however, were able to sprint to an early double-diget lead, forcing a Hampton TO with 6:23 to go in the half and the score at 26-15. At that point it seemed that the Spartans were poised to break away and end the game before halftime, but the Pirates hung tough and brought the defficit down to 9 at halftime 36-27.

As the second half began the Spartans briefly pushed the lead back out to 12 before the pride of the Pirates began to show. Hampton went on a blistering 18-8 run to cut the lead to 54-52 with just over 7 minitues remaining, the Spartans then countered with 8 unawnsered points to bring the lead back to 62-52 and forcing another Hampton TO. Less than 90 secconds later, Hampton hit a huge three pointer to bring the score to 62-59 and set up their full court press. Orlando Gunn was double-teamed as he brought the ball up the court and was tied up in an apperant jump-ball when coach Perry called timeout and the Spartans were able to retain possesition. The sparse crowd in attendance made the most noise of the night to express their distaste with the call, but it would not be reversed. The three point defficit would be the closest the Pirates would get the rest of the way as the final score read 81-74 Spartans. The win gives the Spartans their first 20 win season sence joining division I


BOX SCORE:

NSU 36---------45----------81
HAMP 27--------47----------74


STATS:
NSU----------------------HAMP

62----------FG%----------51
12/15-------FT----------3/3
17-----------TO-----------18
26-----------REB----------25
17----------STL-----------16
60-----------PIP-----------44
24---------BENCH---------17


KEY PLAYERS:

NSU
McNurlin (20pts 4stl)
Huffman (19pts 2reb 4stl)

HAMP
Gibson (11pts 3reb 2ast 2stl)
Wilcox (22pts 2reb 3ast)
Okosa (10pts 7reb 2ast)


Next Up:

Howard (6-21) (4-12) (64)

[Neb84]

Oh those poor bison. Any bets on the final score?????

[Oo_SU_oO]

80 - 50??? lol

[Preo32]

Imma go with 79-54

[boomosby50]

who are now struggling just to make it to the conference tournament

Yur talkin bout Hampton here, just reminding you. And everyone makes confernece tourney in MEAC.

I'm guessing a Bison WIN!!!!!! 134-7

[boomosby50]

oh, and by the way, whats yur difficulty at? MOP? Ill beilive you if it is, I'm just saying, it's hard even in the MEAC to cruise like this. YOu should definitely play MOP in the MEAC

[Neb84]

On my legacy only the top 11 make it to the tournament, 12 stays home, Im playing on All-American but will be bumping up to MOP next season

[Neb84]

Norfolk S.t (20-6) (14-2) @ Howard (6-21) (4-12) (64)

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Mar. 3 2008

PRE GAME PRESS CONFERENCE W/ COACH THOMPSON

VP: Coach the last time you met the Spartans you said that you were unimpressed with the way that Norfolk St. had been performing and then were only able to put up 5 points in the second half. Has you opinion of the team changed?

Thompson: Let me be clear, I have nothing against any of the Spartan players. They are all outstanding athletes, and I am sure they are wonderfull people. My problem is with Coach Perry. That guy is a Forum Moderator butt kisser, he is stuck up, he dosen't play on MOP, and I hate him, I HATE HIM!!!!!!

VP: .......................um, any predictions for the game?

Thompson: 134-7 us!

VP: 134-7 you win???

Thompson: NO MORE QUESTIONS!!!!!!

VP: Alright.


SPARTANS CRUSH HOWARD AGAIN, SECURE REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP

Sorry guys, but I dont really feel like doing a write up for this one. It was total domination, thats all you really need to know. Norfolk St. Locked up the #1 seed in the conference tournament with this win.


BOX SCORE:

NSU 34----------42-----------76
HOW 19----------19-----------38

STATS:
NSU------------------------HOW

53-----------FG%----------38
6/7-----------FT-----------2/5
28------------TO------------6
32-----------REB-----------28
26-----------STL------------6
64-----------PIP------------24
33----------BENCH---------12


KEY PLAYERS:

NSU
McNurlin (16pts 4stl)
Huffman (10pts 6reb 2ast 7stl)
McNair (13pts 2stl)

HOW
Frank (10pts 6reb 2ast)


Next Up:

North Carolina A&T (16-9) (14-3) (67)

[Superjames1992]

LOL at Coach Thompson's comments!!!

Nice win, too!!!

[Neb84]

Just yanking your chain boom :)

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (21-6) (15-2) @ North Carolina A&T (16-9) (14-3) (67)

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Mar. 6 2008

SPARTANS LOSE, AGGIES AVENGE EARLY SEASON LOSS

The Norfolk St. Spartans, having already locked up the #1 seed in the conference tournament, still wanted to end the regular season with a win and enter post season play on a high note. The Aggies of North Carolina A&T had other plans. In a game that saw more than its fair share of dramatic moments, the Aggies ended with the last laugh. The score headed into the break was 36-31 in favor of the Spartans, but head coach Jeff Perry knew it was going to be close the entire way. "Look this team brought us to overtime on our floor last time we met, we know that they're upset about loosing the conference without getting to play this game first. They know that this is a statement game for the both of us and they're gonna come out in the second half and still be playing strong, we're gonna have to be able to handle what they bring."

In the second stanza the Aggies mad sure to not let the lead extend, with 10:00 to go in the game the lead was still only 6, 49-43. Four minitues later the Aggies took thier first lead sence the early part of the first half off of two consecutive three pointers. The score remained close untill the closing secconds when, with 35 secconds remaining, Carlton McNurlin missed 2 free throws that would have tied the game at 69. The misses forced the Spartans to send the Aggies to the foul line where they would not miss. Final score 67-73 in favor of North Carolina A&T.


BOX SCORE:

NSU 36-----------31------------67
NCAT 31---------42------------73


STATS:
NSU-----------------------NCAT

45-----------FG%-----------45
10/13--------FT----------10/13
14------------TO-------------16
31-----------REB-------------37
16------------STL------------13
46------------PIP-------------34
27-----------BENCH----------11


KEY PLAYERS

NSU
McNurlin (20pts 4reb 4stl)
Huffman (11pts 2stl)

NCAT
Jeanpierre (17pts 2reb 2ast 3stl)
Ford (24pts 5ast 2stl)
Pasco (11pts 3reb 2ast)


Next Up:

MEAC Conference Tournament, Second Round

[CincyFan]

too win a close one like that in the first round might show signs of weakness in some areas. Hopefully you can get that fixed by next game. Even if you don't win the tournament I still think you might make the dance.

[Neb84]

too win a close one like that in the first round might show signs of weakness in some areas.

That was the last game of the regular season

[Neb84]

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm252/Neb84_photo/ConfrenceTournament-3.jpg

[Neb84]

Special Thanks to jjredick for the brackets and telling me how to upload them, I will be using his NCAA and NIT brackets as well

[jjredick4]

I was just about to ask you if you figured it out lol, but it looks like ya did

[Oo_SU_oO]

That looks really good, how do you make the bracket like that?

[jjredick4]

That looks really good, how do you make the bracket like that?

just write click on it, save it to your computer, open it on paint program and edit for your legacy

[Oo_SU_oO]

just write click on it, save it to your computer, open it on paint program and edit for your legacy
Alright when its tourney time im gonna use it in mine.

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (21-7) (15-3) v. Deleware St. (8-19) (7-11) (66)

Previous Meetings:
Jan. 19
NSU-59 DSU-43

Feb. 16
NSU-57 DSU-46

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Mar. 11 2008


SPARTANS ROLL IN SECOND ROUND

Deleware St. had a system to slow down games this season that worked. Twice this seaseon they were able to hold Norfolk St. 10 points under their average. Tuesday night here in Raleigh NC. the Spartans had the Hornets figured out. Still fuming from their season ending loss to the North Carolina A&T Aggies, the Spartans took out their frustrations on their nearest opponent, outscoring the Hornets 36-8 over the first 9 minitues of the game. "I thought it was obvious that we wanted to prove to everyone that we are the team to beat in this tournament, despite that loss we had at the end of the season, and I think we did that." The Spartans shot 83% in the first half in route to a 49-17 lead.

In the second half Norfolk St. slowed the pace while the Hornets tried desperatly to make the score respectable. With 7:36 to go in the game the lead did come down to 26 but that was the closet the Hornets would get in the second half, being outscored the rest of the way 17-10 to account for a final of 83-50.


BOX SCORE

NSU 49----------34-----------83
DSU 17----------33-----------50

STATS
NSU-----------------------DSU

64-----------FG%-----------39
8/11---------FT-------------2/2
10------------TO------------24
25-----------REB------------25
21------------STL------------9
66------------PIP------------14
40----------BENCH----------7


KEY PLAYERS:
McNurlin (22pts 3ast 2stl)
Akingbade (12pts 4reb 4ast 8stl)

DSU
Shropshire (14pts 5reb 2ast 2stl)
Echols (19pts 5reb)

Next Up:

Flordia A&M (12-17) (10-8)

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (22-7) (15-3) v. Flordia A&M (12-17) (10-8)

CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS

Previous Meeting:
Feb. 11
NSU-76 FLAM-61


THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Mar. 14 2008


SPARTANS STORM INTO CONFERENCE FINALS

Fresh off of two days rest and with adrenaline still pumping from a masterfull 83-50 win over Deleware St. in the second round, Norfolk St. dominated their semi-final matchup with Flordia A&M from the very begining. Jumping to an early 11-2 lead and handling the Rattlers 21-9 halfway through the first half, the Spartans saw the only semblance of resistance from the 7:25 to 4:12 mark of the first half. That's when the Rattlers, remembering that they had led at halftime in these two teams only previous meeting this season, tried desperatly (albiet briefly) to keep the game close heading into the half. Playing stingy defense and clinging to a 10 point deficet as if their season depended upon it, Florida A&M just could not find the offense they needed to close the gap. When the teams headed to the locker rooms with the score standing at 33-18, it seemed it would only be a matter of time before Norfolk St. blew the game wide open.

The Spartans waisted no time in the second half regaining their stride, taking a 20 point lead less than 4 minitues into the second stanza. By the time the 8 minitue mark came arround with Norfolk St. leading 62-30, nearly every Florida A&M fan had already headed for the exits, not wanting to witness the final throws of their teams season. The Rattler players were hanging their heads on every dead ball from that point on as all they could do was watch the Norfolk St. Spartans march relentlessly to an 82-41 win and a spot in the conference finals.


BOX SCORE

NSU 33-------------49-------------82
FLAM 18-----------23-------------41

STATS
NSU----------------------------------FLAM
57----------------FG%----------------31
2/4----------------FT-----------------1/2
6------------------TO-------------------21
34----------------REB-----------------30
18----------------STL------------------6
72----------------PIP-------------------20
30--------------BENCH---------------12


KEY PLAYERS:
NSU
Gunn (9pts 5reb 4ast 5stl)
McNurlin (17p[ts 4reb 2stl)
Huffman (12pts 5reb 2stl)

FLAM
Irvin (13pts 2reb)


Next Up:

Conference Championship!!!!

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (23-7) (15-3) v. Morgan St. (14-17) (9-9)

Previous Meeting:
Jan. 14
NSU-65 MGST-45


THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Mar. 15 2008


NORFOLK ST. NCAA BOUND!

Morgan St. was quite possibly the hottest team in the MEAC coming into Saturday's championship contest. Yes the Spartans had scored 80 points in each of their previous two games, yes they had won by 33 and then by 41, but Morgan St. had done something else entirely. First they beat a proud Hampton team in the first round, the same Hampton team that nearly everyone had picked to win the conference this year. Then they beat 3rd seeded Winston-Salem St. in a 78-76 thriller in the second round. Finaly, yesterday, the Grizzlies sweated out the 2nd seeded North Carolina A&T Aggies 62-58, dening fans the rematch that nearly everyone wanted to see. Three wins in four days all over some of the toughest competition the MEAC has to offer, and now they had a shot at the regular season conference champion for a spot in the NCAA tournament. Three down, one to go.

In the first half it was obvious that Morgan St. was playing its best basketball of the year and was wanting the win badly. The score remained close, with neither team gaining more than a 2 point lead for most of the first half untill the Spartans were able to break away with about three minitues remaining untill the break and gained some seperation before going into the locker room with a 39-27 lead. "This game is alot closer than the score indicates right now. We were able to go on a little spurt there at the end of the half to get this lead, but those guys are playing hard, they had a hard road to get here, they've tasted some success, and it's obvious they want this one pretty bad. I think we want it more, but we're gonna have to tighten up defensivly in the second half if we're gonna win this one." said coach Perry to reporters at the half.

In the second half the Spartans steadily increased their lead, and opened up a 20 point margin with just over 10 minitues remaining in the game. That lead remained mostly unchanged for the remainder of the half, eventualy swelling to 75-49 with 4:02 to go. Durring a Morgan St. timeout, coach Jeff Perry empied the bench and made sure that his entire team got to be on the floor for the crowning moment of an outstanding conference schedual. The Grizzlies would outscore the jubilant Spartans the rest of the way 10-2 but with an insurmountable lead, the run was little more than an exersize in pride for Morgan St. Final score 77-59, LETS GO DANCING!!


BOX SCORE
NSU 39----------------38------------------77
MGST 27--------------32------------------59


STATS
NSU-----------------------------------MGST
59-----------------FG%-----------------38
3/8-----------------FT-------------------3/4
12------------------TO--------------------14
33-----------------REB-------------------30
13------------------STL-------------------10
60------------------PIP--------------------28
32----------------BENCH----------------13


KEY PLAYERS
NSU
McNurlin (15pts 2ast)
Huffman (14pts 2reb 3ast)
Francois (10pts 7reb)

MGST
McCray (18pts 5reb 3stl)
Delgado (13pts 6reb 2stl)


Next Up:

NCAA Tournament Rd. 1

[Superjames1992]

Wow, you cruised through the conference tournament. Good luck in the first round of the NCAAs. You should get a decent seeding with your record, probably anywhere from a 9-12 seed, which is good.

[Neb84]

Oh I wish that were true. Im already into season 2 so I know how this all turns out already.........Stay tuned

[Neb84]

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Mar. 16 2008


SPARTANS OWN BETTER RECORD THAN HALF THE FIELD, EARN 16 SEED

The Norfolk St. Spartans knew they were going to the big dance, they knew they had a good record, they knew it was a record that was better than most teams in the country, and they knew they would get a tough first round opponent. What they didn't know was that the selection committee would completly disrespect all of their acheivements this season and place them in the 16 seed matched up against 1 seeded Kansas. Before you find a team in the tournament that has a better record than the Spartans you have to go all the way to 7th seed UAB who enters the tournament at 25-9 which is one win and two losses better than the Spartans 24-7.

VP: Coach how do you feel about your teams seeding?

Perry: I think that it is a complete slap in the face from the selection committee. The other 16 seeds right now, Alabama A&M and Elon, are 14-16. To say or suggest that we are on the same level as those teams is extreemly insulting in my opinion.

VP: What seeding would not have been insulting in your opinion?

Perry: You know, we won the regular season championship, we won the tournament, I was expecting anywhere from 12-14 and I think that being in that range would have been entirely appropriate. Cornell at 15-12 got a 14, Nevada at 18-13 got a 12, Townson at 18-14 got a 13, I think that we are very compareable to all of those teams.

VP: What about your first round opponent Kansas? What do you think of them?

Perry: Well that is the silver lining. Playing against a marquee school like that is always something that you'd like to do. We are anxious to go up against them and see how we match up agains such a great team.

VP: Do you think that there is any chance for a win?

Perry: Some day a 16 seed is going to beat the 1, its just a matter of time. Is that team going to be us, I can't really say. We're just going to play hard, and play our game, and try our best to get the things done that we need to win and see where the chips fall. I know that the guys are excited to be playing Kansas.

[Preo32]

16 Seed is BS. i had a record similar to yours and i was an 11 seed. The worst you should have been was a 14 seed, and that's only because you are in a small conference like most of us on here.

[Superjames1992]

Wow, you really were slapped in the face with that terrible seeding.

[boomosby50]

I think it makes sense. The conference in yours this year was horrible, and your schedule was almost a walk-over. What was your RPI? In my legacy, I faced tough opponents and beat a few of them, so that's why I got a 9 seed, and the conference had an ok RPI too

[Neb84]

Gee I dunno coach. You were in that conferecne. Maybe the committee looked at NSU holding Howard to an NCAA record 5 points in the second half and said that there was no way we should get a higher seed cuz our competition was too weak

[boomosby50]

no, I mean the RPI in my legacy was #12, so I was gona get a high(ish) seed with that RPI, a top 75 RPI for my team and wins over Indiana and Virginia, who both ended up to be top 10 teams

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (24-7) (16) v. Kansas (26-5) (1) @ The Verizon Center in Washington D.C.


THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Mar. 21 2008

SPARTANS TAKE SHOT AT MAKING HISTORY

Never in the history of the NCAA tournament sence seeding teams has begun, has a 16 seed knocked off a 1 seed. Here in our Nation's capitol on Thursday night, someone forgot to tell the Spartans of Norfolk St. Carlton McNurlin hit a the first basket of the game, a three pointer, right after the opening tip-off and at the 10:13 mark, when the Jayhawks were finaly compelled to take a timeout to asses the situation, Norfolk St. still held the lead 20-12. "We came out undaunted and unafraid and playing on all cylinders. It was amazing to watch those guys playing like that, getting good looks, playing well in the post against some really top notch competition, and really exicuting to perfection on the defensive end. It might have been the best half of basketball we have played all season." gushed coach Perry at the post game press conferecne. The Spartans held the lead all the way to the 1:30 mark when Kansas took it's first lead 33-32. The Jayhawks would go on a 10-0 run over the last 90 secconds to take a 41-32 lead into the break but the Spartans were all smiles as they headed off the court. "We can play with these guys!" shouted Carlton McNurlin to his teamates as they headed to the locker room.

In the second half the Jayhawks extended the lead out to 15 and it looked as if Norfolk St. was on the verge of folding when they again found their stride and began performing as they did in the first. With 3:26 remaining in the game the Jayhawks took a timeout when their lead had dwindled to just 61-60. The teams would continue to trade baskets all the way to the :45 mark when Avery Huffman slamed the ball down to make the score 69-71 in favor of the Jayhawks. The Spartans just needed one more stop and they would have had a chance to tie but with 31 ticks remaining Sophomore point guard Orlando Gunn commited a reaching foul giving the Jayhawks the ball and turning off the shot clock. The situation turned drasticly against the Spartans at that point forcing Norfolk St. to foul and send Kansas to the line, where they would not miss. The Spartans would not be able to make the shots neccesary to get back into the game and the final score read Kansas:75 Norfolk St:69. "I couldn't be more proud of how these guys performed tonight. "We were givin a pretty tought draw but we came out and confronted it and gave it our best shot. I dont think there were many people expecting us to challenge Kansas the way that we did. This was a great experience for our team, it's going to make us tougher, more experienced for next season. I can't wait for November to come arround again" said Jeff Perry through tears after the game.


BOX SCORE:

NSU 32------------------37--------------------69
KU 41--------------------34--------------------75


STATS
NSU------------------------------------------KU
47-------------------FG%--------------------47
8/14-----------------FT-------------------13/18
10--------------------TO----------------------16
24-------------------REB---------------------36
15-------------------STL----------------------8
58-------------------PIP-----------------------46
13-----------------BENCH-------------------20


KEY PLAYERS:

NSU
McNurlin (14pts 3reb 3ast)
Hope (10pts 5reb 2stl)
Huffman (28pts 8reb 3stl)

KU
Chalmers (11pts 4reb 5ast 4stl)
Rush (13pts 6reb 2ast)
Arthur (27pts 13reb 5blk)

[CincyFan]

almost made it. At least you made it a game though. Thats a positive thing you can carry into the next year.

[Neb84]

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
June 8 2008


RECRUITING TRAIL TOUGH FOR FIRST YEAR COACH

Coach Jeff Perry thought he really had a strong grasp on the recruiting trail, "We were in the running with a 4* point guard, a 3* power forward, and two 3* shooting guards." explained Perry to the Virginian Post yesterday. In the end however the Norfolk St. Spartans were able to get only one scholarship comitment for next season, 2* center Luke Wagner. Rated as the 691 overall and the 102nd center in the country Luke Wagner stands at 7'1'' and should be able to make an impact in the Spartan frontcourt as a freshman. "He has some work to do before he can be considered for the starting rotation, but he has alot of atributes that I think will make him a valuable asset off of the bench next year." said Perry

[Oo_SU_oO]

Way to almost beat the National Champs!!! Great game good luck next season. Tough loss on the recruiting trail tho.

[Neb84]

Sorry everyone, meant to get this one up before the recruiting one....


NCAA Championship:
Villinova-64 Kansas-62

NIT Champions:
Cincinnati

NCAA POY/2k
Earl Simms #44 Mississippi St.

NCAA COY
Bill Self

MEAC COY
Deleware St. (whatever!!!)

MEAC POY
Carlton McNurlin

MEAC Freshman OY
Jean Herman- Maryland Eastern Shore

NCAA Most Steals
Orlando Gunn (2.6pg)

1st Team All MEAC
Orlando Gunn
Carlton McNurlin
Avery Huffman
Nile Francois

2nd Team All MEAC
Regis Connolly

[Oo_SU_oO]

Villanova???

[Superjames1992]

Nice season. You did a good job hanging with Kansas!

[Neb84]

A few notes for all concerned.............Two new assistants. 1)Gabe Shiffner-Offense-37 years old-C overall.....2)Allan Barnett-Teacher/Scouting-37 years old-C overall...........As promised I moved difficulty up to MOP for this season. For the first game I was still playing with 16 min halfs, but bumped it down to 14 after that. I also moved the 3-pt slider up to 60.



THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Nov. 3 2008


ROSTERS AND SCHEDUAL RELEASED


Starters:

PG-Orlando Gunn 6'1'' 192lbs (58) JR

SG-Terrence Akingbade 6'2" 180lbs (58) SO

SF-Mathew Hope 6'4'' 185lbs (61) SR

PF-Avery Huffman 6'8'' 218lbs (56) JR

C-Regis Connolly 6'11'' 309lbs (61) JR


Bench:

SF-Jamion McNair 6'4'' 205lbs (59) SR
PF-Walter Thompson 6'10'' 210lbs (51) FR------Walkon
C-Luke Wagner 7'1'' 289lbs (56) FR
SG-J.D. Almanson 6'4'' 192lbs (53) JR
SF-Brannon Ferris 6'6'' 187lbs (52) SR
PF-Ronny Goral 6'6'' 229lbs (59) SR
PG-Solomon Moye 6'0'' 197lbs (46) FR----------Walkon



Schedual:

Nov. 10/11-NIT Season Tip Off (B)
Nov. 19/20-NIT Season Tip Off (Final 4)
Nov. 26-@Old Dominion
Nov. 29-@Hampton

Dec. 3-Tennessee St.
Dec. 5/6-Drake Regency Classic
Dec. 15-@Oregon
Dec. 18-Davidson
Dec. 26-@Xavier
Dec. 29-@W. Michigan

Jan. 10-@Flordia A&M
Jan. 12-@Howard
Jan. 17-South Carolina St.
Jan. 19-Coppin St.
Jan. 24-@Bethune-Cookman
Jan. 26-@North Carolina A&T
Jan. 31-@Deleware St.

Feb. 2-@Morgan St.
Feb. 7-Winston-Salem St.
Feb. 9-Maryland Eastern Shore
Feb. 14-@South Carolina St.
Feb. 16-@Coppin St.
Feb. 21-Bethune-Cookman
Feb. 23-North Carolina A&T
Feb. 26-Deleware St.
Feb. 28-Morgan St.

Mar. 5-Hampton
Mar. 10/11 13/14-MEAC Tournament

Mar. 15-Selection Sunday

[Polar]

awesome legacy, good luck this season!

[Neb84]

THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Nov. 6 2008


SPARTANS SET FOR SEASON TIP-OFF

Last season the Norfolk St. Spartans soared to unprecedented success in the programs history, winning 24 games, capturing the regular and tournament MEAC Championships, and nearly knocking off the national runners-up in the first round of the NCAA tournamnet. This season the Spartans hit the hardwood without Carlton McNurlin, the MEAC player of the year last season, and fellow first team MEAC player Nile Francois who lead the conferecne in rebounds last year. Key to the teams success this year will be Avery Huffman, the only returning player who averaged double-diget scoring last season, and Orlando Gunn who led the NCAA in steals last season. The season tip-off, just four days away for the Spartans in the NIT seson tip-off looms large on the horizon. The Virginian Post was able to catch up with head coach Jeff Perry to discuss the upcoming season and what he expects the Spartans to accomplish.


VP: Coach, no more Carlton McNurlin, how do you make up for such a dynamic player?

Perry: You just have to have other guys step up. Avery and Orlando are the unquestioned leaders of this team and they are both gonna have to step up their game if we want to have the same type of success this year.

VP: Do you think that a return to the NCAA tournament is in the cards this year?

Perry: Yea well I know that this is a question on the minds of alot of fans this winter and you know I don't really have an awnser. We're gonna have a big target on our backs after last season and I think that alot of the teams in the conferecne have gotten alot better. We have to have a good run in the non-conference schedual, we have to finish in the top 2 or 3 in the regular season in the conference, and we're gonna have to have a good run in the tournament. If we can do all of those things then I think that we will have a decent chance at getting back.

VP: Anything you'd like to say to coach Thompson here publicly before the season starts?

Perry: (laughs) I wish him the best.

[Preo32]

Im sorry to tell you, but i am a big Delaware State fan for only 2 reasons. 1 is cuz on 2k7 i made my nonconference schedule against all ranked teams and all away, and i won all of them but 2, and i ended up ranked 3rd in the country before my conference games. also, i saw a vid of Jahsha Bluntt, who was a senior last year, and it was against Big Confrence players, and he dominated. And Roy Bright probably was the best player in the conference not on ur team

[Neb84]

Hey you can be a fan, no prob! I hope you enjoy watching us beat them again this year.

Coach Jeff Perry Carrer against Deleware St. (3-0)

59-43
57-46
83-50

[Preo32]

o well, without Jahsha Bluntt on the game and with Bright being a senior and gone aftr one year, it should be even easier now

[chestnutz6]

Your 3pt slider is at 60? Wow! Mine's at 44, 60's a bit high.

Good luck this season

[Preo32]

60 is pretty high. i leave most of mine at 50, but some are a bit higher and some a bit lower. i think the lowest is 40 and the highest is 55

[jjredick4]

I leave mine between 50-53. On 2k8 my shot is bad, on 2k7 mine was good so I have it higher on here. on 2k7 it was like 45

[Neb84]

ALRIIIIIIIIIGHT alrigh alright. My 3pt % was somewhere arround 23% last year and McNurlin who was a low 80's 3 shooter only shot 25% and thats why I moved it up..........but sence everyone is gonna get upset about it ill move it down to.......53 is that fair?

[Preo32]

well, if you move up the comps to 60 as well, i dont care. but if yours is 60 and theirs 50, then 53 is probably a good choice

[chestnutz6]

Hey you do what you want to, it's your game and your legacy. Just wondering if you really are that bad a shooter. Is your release point bad? Are you taking a lot of contested ones?

[Neb84]

Ok I'm already into the season a bit. The move to 53 will take place for the Alabama St. Game....Round 1 of the Drake Regency Classic

[Neb84]

Hey you do what you want to, it's your game and your legacy. Just wondering if you really are that bad a shooter. Is your release point bad? Are you taking a lot of contested ones?

I dont think that I take that many contested shots out there, but ive looked at my profile and found that I am "sligltly late" like 67% of the time or something rediculous like that.

[Neb84]

Norfolk St. (64) v. Brown (1-0) (68) @ Value City Arena, Columbus OH

NOTE: Halfs were still set to 16 min for this game, it will be 14 min halfs after this for the rest of the season.


THE VIRGINIAN PILOT
Nov. 10 2008


SPARTANS JUMP START SEASON IN BIG WAY

In the first round of the pre-season NIT tournament, the Norfolk St. Spartans drew the Brown Bears of the Ivy League, a team that many suspected the Spartans would be able to overcome, just not the way that they did. In the opening minitues the Bears took an early 5-0 lead but the Spartans countered with 11 unawnsered points and never looked back, leading 46-22 at the half.

The second half was more of the same as the Spartans streached their lead to beyond 30 points with 8 minitues still remaining in the game. When the final buzzer sounded the Spartans had cruised to a crushing 95-48 victory. Norfolk St. now moves on the the second round to face Valporaiso for a spot in the NIT final 4 in New York. Valporaiso defeated Ohio St. 64-58 in their first round match up.


BOX SCORE:

NSU 46--------49--------95
BRN 22--------26--------48


STATS
NSU-------------------------BRN

62------------FG%-----------31
9/16----------FT-------------5/6
13------------TO-------------15
45-----------REB-------------23
12------------STL------------12
64------------PIP-------------24
42----------BENCH-----------18


KEY PLAYERS:

NSU
Gunn (21pts 19reb 3ast 4stl)
Huffman (10pts 4reb)

BROWN
Bracy (10pts 4reb)


Next Up:

Valporaiso (1-1) (74)

[Neb84]

YO yo yo everyone. I know its been awhile. Some updates, I finaly got the PS3 and of course got the game.... Was wondering if everyone would be interested if i started again with NSU and wrote about the new next gen legacy......thoughts?

[Preo32]

i saw new one. wit the roster Dls there are some different teams you can choose now fro closed. its been a while since youve updated so ill again say new one