THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 4, 1995 TAG: 9502040432
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
It's re-Union time for Norfolk State.
Virginia Union. After beating the Panthers, 67-60, in Norfolk last month, the Spartans travel to Richmond tonight for the rematch, a game that could decide first place in the CIAA North.
A win would give Norfolk State (17-2, 6-2 CIAA North) a commanding two-game lead in the division, with just four left to play.
A loss would leave the Spartans tied with the Panthers, who would have only two games left in the division.
``We felt at the beginning of the year if we were going to challenge to win the Northern Division, we were going to have to beat them twice,'' Norfolk State coach Mike Bernard said.
Winning at home might have actually been the hard part. Over the years, Norfolk State and Virginia Union have done well on each other's floors. Norfolk State beat Union, 75-71, in Richmond last year.
But Bernard says history - whether it's last year or last month - will be of no consequence.
``The last Virginia Union game has no bearing on this game,'' Bernard said. ``If anything it will probably give rise to them being more intense.''
Union (17-3, 7-2 CIAA North) has regained its intensity since losing three of four in mid-January. The Panthers have won five straight, by an average of 21 points.
Union has many new faces but the same system coach Dave Robbins has run for years - a tough 2-3 zone and an effective press.
For that reason, Bernard doesn't expect the Panthers to do things much differently than they did in Norfolk.
``They're going to do what they do best,'' Bernard said. ``I don't know what adjustments they will make. It's probably a matter of execution for them, too.''
Norfolk State has been executing just fine lately. The Spartans have won 14 in a row, the third-longest winning streak in Division II.
About the only place Norfolk State has had difficulty lately is the foul line. The Spartans hit just 26 of 45 against Hampton in a 92-88 double-overtime win Tuesday night.
``I think foul shooting is a matter of rhythm and concentration,'' Bernard said. ``Sometimes the best of ballplayers can get in an off rhythm. I don't have any doubts that we'll shoot the ball better.''
The Spartans, at just under 70 percent, are certainly shooting it much better than Union, which is making just under 60 percent of its free throws.
TOURNAMENT UPDATE: Because Hampton is moving to Division I next season, the Pirates are not eligible for the Division II playoffs this year.
Hampton will participate in the CIAA tournament, however, and that means if the Pirates win, the conference will forfeit its automatic bid to the NCAAs.
``If Hampton wins the tournament, the conference will just be eligible for at-large bids,'' said Ralph Burns, athletic director at Fayetteville State and chairman of the NCAA's South Atlantic Region. ``Teams that are ranked in the region will be considered for postseason play.''
Six teams from each region make the Division II tournament, and the CIAA currently has six of the top seven in the South Atlantic Region.
Norfolk State is first, followed by Virginia Union, Longwood, Johnson C. Smith and Shaw. Lenoir-Rhyne and Fayetteville State are tied for sixth.
Last year, CIAA tournament winner Virginia Union received the automatic bid, while Norfolk State and Elizabeth City State received at-large bids.
CALL HIM J.J.: Before Tuesday night's game against Norfolk State, Hampton's JaFonde Williams approached the TV crew from ESPN2 and told them to please call him J.J., not JaFonde.
After the 47 points he put up against the Spartans, Williams should be called anything he wants. Wiliams, who had 41 a week earlier against Elizabeth City State, hit 15 of 33 shots, including 7 of 17 from 3-point range and 10 of 12 from the line. It was the top scoring effort in the CIAA this year and just one point short of the Hampton record of 48, set by Rick Mahorn in 1980.
Williams, a 6-foot-1 junior, was expected to score more given the loss of Hampton's top two scorers, Derett Boyd and Kevin Gregory. But coach Zeke Avery said Williams has produced beyond anyone's expectations.
``He's accepted the role,'' Avery said. ``He was feeling it (against Norfolk State) and I wasn't about to change anything. I was going to give him a rest but he kind of waved me off. He wanted to stay in.'' by CNB