THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, November 21, 1994 TAG: 9411210173
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: SPARTANS NOTES
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LOWELL, MASS. LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Sometimes an early-season loss is the best thing that can happen to a highly-ranked team.
Norfolk State coach Mike Bernard, trying to glean something positive from Sunday's 72-65 upset loss to UMass-Lowell, is hoping that's the case with the Spartans, who are considered national championship contenders.
Bernard said he hopes the loss will convince his players that they need to get tougher, mentally and physically. And that they need to stick with their game plans.
Bernard has reason to think a loss could actually help. In 1988-89, his highly-touted North Carolina Central team lost its first game, but went on to win the national championship.
One who doesn't doubt that Norfolk State will bounce back is Lowell coach Gary Manchell.
``I expect to see them in the NCAAs,'' Manchell said. ``In the long run this might help them, and get them hungry again.''
SCOUT LIKES WILLIAMS: Spartan forward Corey Williams picked the right time to take over a game Saturday afternoon, in Norfolk State's win over Merrimack. Sitting courtside was Boston Celtics scout Rick Weitzman.
With Weitzman watching, Williams scored 22 first-half points against Merrimack, including 10 in a row. The 6-8 forward showed his whole game, scoring on inside moves, knocking down consecutive 3-pointers and setting up teammates with nice passes.
``He's a prospect,'' Weitzman said. ``A legitimate prospect.''
Williams did not play nearly as well Sunday, but Weitzman said the true test of his NBA potential will come after the season, during tournaments like the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.
``Realistically, that's where he's going to be tested,'' Weitzman said.
The Celtics have seen Williams before. He was invited to work the team's camp at Brandeis University last summer, which allowed him to play against Celtic rookies and free agents, as well as a few veterans.
ODDS AND ENDS: How big a favorite was Norfolk State in the New England Tip-Off Weekend? Consider: Norfolk State won 27 games last year, the other three teams in the field won 26 combined. . . . NSU assistant John Siers was the one to ask for directions around Lowell. Siers is a native of Nashua, N.H., about 12 miles away. Bernard was also coming home, or close to it. He's a native of Brockton, Mass., about an hour south of Lowell. by CNB