THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 20, 1994 TAG: 9412200442
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
And now, back to your regularly scheduled basketball season.
Norfolk State, which took a break from the grind to play an exhibition game Saturday night, returns to action in earnest tonight against Morehouse College at Echols Arena.
The Spartans (3-2) could use a win over a quality opponent, and Morehouse (6-1) seems to fit that description. The Tigers are averaging 90 points per game and are shooting 52 percent from the field.
Norfolk State, meanwhile, is still seeking to establish some momentum. The Spartans were upset in their second game of the season by UMass-Lowell. Just when it seemed the they had shaken that off - beating North Carolina Central and Wilberforce - they were upset Dec. 10 by Virginia State.
Help, however, could be on the way. Tonight's game marks the debut of 6-foot-8 center/forward Blitz Wooten, a much-anticipated transfer from LaSalle.
Wooten, who led the Explorers in rebounding two years ago, sat out last season and the first part of this one. If practice is an indication, he should give the Spartans some much-needed scoring and toughness inside.
``There should be more competition at that (center) position, and that should help us,'' Norfolk State coach Mike Bernard said. ``Blitz is a strong rebounder and a strong defender.''
Wooten should also bring some inside scoring. The Spartans have not had much of a post-up game.
The Spartans showed signs of progress in Saturday's 115-92 victory over the Sundance Basketball Club, shooting 51 percent from the field and outrebounding the visitors, 47-33. Corey Williams and Carnell Penn led the Spartans with 26 points each, while point guard Maurice Whitfield had 12 assists and just one turnover.
Bernard had a number of goals for the Sundance game, none more important than the one he mentioned last:
``To win again.'' by CNB