Norfolk State at Virginia, 9 p.m. ESPNU
Virginia, a No. 1 seed in the NIT, faces No. 8 seed Norfolk State tonight at John Paul Jones Arena in the first round of the NIT. The other No. 1 seeds in the NIT are Alabama, Kentucky, and Southern Miss. ACC teams Maryland (a No. 2 seed) and Florida State (a No. 4 seed) are also in the tournament. For a bracket and other information about the NIT, check out this link:
http://www.ncaa.com/championships/basketball-men/nit#!championship_br_home
UVa last participated in the NIT at the end of the 2005-06 season. The Cavs lost at Stanford in the first round, 65-49, in Dave Leitao's first season as head coach. Virginia's experienced two other postseason tournaments since then, last year in the NCAA tournament when the Cavs lost to Florida in the first round, and at the end of the 2007-08 campaign when the 'Hoos participated in the inaugural College Basketball Invitational. Virginia downed Richmond and Old Dominion at JPJ in the first two rounds before bowing out to Bradley in Charlottesville in the semifinals. That same season, coach Tony Bennett led Washington State to the NIT where it fell to St. Mary's in the first round.
Even though Norfolk State is in the same state as Virginia, the two teams have just met once. You might remember that game now that I've told you that fact. Two years ago at JPJ, the Spartans led the Wahoos, 49-47, with only a few seconds left in the game. KT Harrell went to the line for UVa trying to tie the game. He made the first free throw and missed the second but Assane Sene tipped in the miss, giving Virginia a 50-49 victory.
Norfolk State made headlines last year as a Cinderella team in the Big Dance. The Spartans, a No. 15 seed, defeated No. 2 seed Missouri in the first round, 86-82, behind then-senior Kyle O'Quinn's 26-point, 14-rebound effort. In the second round, Norfolk State's magic ran out as Florida beat it, 84-50.
Norfolk State went just 5-10 outside the MEAC conference this year. Some of the Spartans' toughest out-of-conference foes were Seton Hall (78-65 loss), Illinois (64-54 loss), and N.C. State (84-62 loss). Norfolk State beat Rhode Island, Longwood, St. Francis, Maryland-Baltimore County, and Navy. Once in the MEAC, however, the Spartans turned their season around and went 16-0 in the conference. Not every game was easy, though. Norfolk State had 10 single-digit wins in the conference.
Entering the MEAC tournament, the Spartans were poised for another NCAA tournament bid but they were shocked in the first round of the tournament by Bethune-Cookman, losing 70-68 in overtime.
Norfolk State is capable of winning tonight and Virginia better be ready for the Spartans' best shot. They have a lot of confidence and I'm sure they remember their win last year over Missouri. They aren't going to be scared of a big arena or an ACC school. They probably want to prove themselves in the NIT and make some noise after a loss in their conference tournament. And Virginia's had its issues against other mid-major in-state teams this season. UVa lost at George Mason, 63-59, and against Old Dominion in Richmond, 63-61, and the Monarchs won just five games all season. Norfolk State is 21-11. Hopefully at home Virginia can put its in-state demons to rest and grab a win in the first round of the NIT and begin playing better basketball again.
Virginia, a No. 1 seed in the NIT, faces No. 8 seed Norfolk State tonight at John Paul Jones Arena in the first round of the NIT. The other No. 1 seeds in the NIT are Alabama, Kentucky, and Southern Miss. ACC teams Maryland (a No. 2 seed) and Florida State (a No. 4 seed) are also in the tournament. For a bracket and other information about the NIT, check out this link:
http://www.ncaa.com/championships/basketball-men/nit#!championship_br_home
UVa last participated in the NIT at the end of the 2005-06 season. The Cavs lost at Stanford in the first round, 65-49, in Dave Leitao's first season as head coach. Virginia's experienced two other postseason tournaments since then, last year in the NCAA tournament when the Cavs lost to Florida in the first round, and at the end of the 2007-08 campaign when the 'Hoos participated in the inaugural College Basketball Invitational. Virginia downed Richmond and Old Dominion at JPJ in the first two rounds before bowing out to Bradley in Charlottesville in the semifinals. That same season, coach Tony Bennett led Washington State to the NIT where it fell to St. Mary's in the first round.
Even though Norfolk State is in the same state as Virginia, the two teams have just met once. You might remember that game now that I've told you that fact. Two years ago at JPJ, the Spartans led the Wahoos, 49-47, with only a few seconds left in the game. KT Harrell went to the line for UVa trying to tie the game. He made the first free throw and missed the second but Assane Sene tipped in the miss, giving Virginia a 50-49 victory.
Norfolk State made headlines last year as a Cinderella team in the Big Dance. The Spartans, a No. 15 seed, defeated No. 2 seed Missouri in the first round, 86-82, behind then-senior Kyle O'Quinn's 26-point, 14-rebound effort. In the second round, Norfolk State's magic ran out as Florida beat it, 84-50.
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| Pendarvis Williams |
O'Quinn is now in the NBA with the Orlando Magic, and only one starter is back from that team but it is still a veteran squad, starting a senior and four juniors. Junior guard Pendarvis Williams is the lone returning starter and he is big and rangy at 6-foot-6 and averages 14.2 points and 4.5 boards per game. He is also the team's best 3-point shooter at 40.5 percent. Junior guard Malcolm Hawkins is 6-foot-5 and the only other Spartan averaging in double figures at 11.5 ppg but three other players average at least eight points per game: 6-foot-8 senior forward Rob Johnson (9.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg), 7-foot junior center Brandon Goode (7.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg), and 6-foot-8 freshman forward Rashid Gaston (8.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg). Virginia assistant coach Ritchie McKay told VirginiaSports.com that Gaston is one of the best freshmen in the Mid-Atlantic. He did not start any games this season, though. His role was a sixth man. The Spartans' final starter is junior 6-foot-3 guard Jamel Fuentes, who averages five points and five assists per game.
Norfolk State went just 5-10 outside the MEAC conference this year. Some of the Spartans' toughest out-of-conference foes were Seton Hall (78-65 loss), Illinois (64-54 loss), and N.C. State (84-62 loss). Norfolk State beat Rhode Island, Longwood, St. Francis, Maryland-Baltimore County, and Navy. Once in the MEAC, however, the Spartans turned their season around and went 16-0 in the conference. Not every game was easy, though. Norfolk State had 10 single-digit wins in the conference.
Entering the MEAC tournament, the Spartans were poised for another NCAA tournament bid but they were shocked in the first round of the tournament by Bethune-Cookman, losing 70-68 in overtime.
Norfolk State is capable of winning tonight and Virginia better be ready for the Spartans' best shot. They have a lot of confidence and I'm sure they remember their win last year over Missouri. They aren't going to be scared of a big arena or an ACC school. They probably want to prove themselves in the NIT and make some noise after a loss in their conference tournament. And Virginia's had its issues against other mid-major in-state teams this season. UVa lost at George Mason, 63-59, and against Old Dominion in Richmond, 63-61, and the Monarchs won just five games all season. Norfolk State is 21-11. Hopefully at home Virginia can put its in-state demons to rest and grab a win in the first round of the NIT and begin playing better basketball again.
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