THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 3, 1995 TAG: 9503030521
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
If all goes as planned, the Norfolk State Spartanettes will begin their quest for a second consecutive trip to the Division II Elite Eight right here at home.
Norfolk State has bid to host the NCAA South Atlantic Regional tournament, to be held March 10 and 11. Norfolk State is one of three schools bidding. The others are Wingate, which hosted last year, and Longwood.
``You spend a lot of money going places,'' said LaVerne Sweat, coordinator of women's athletics at NSU. ``You can save some if you stay right here.''
And possibly make a little. The tournament would feature four teams from across the region, which is made up of the CIAA, the South Atlantic Conference and the Peach Belt Conference, as well as independents. The winner advances to the Elite Eight.
Last year's regional championship game at Wingate drew about 600 spectators, school spokesman David Sherwood said.
Norfolk State would hope to do better. But the NCAA does not give host schools much time to promote a regional tournament. Bids will be awarded Sunday, and the tournament starts the following Friday.
The Division II basketball committee awards the sites on recommendation from each regional committee. The committee considers location, arena size, the number of hotels in the area, proximity to a major airport and the regional ranking of the team making the bid.
It also looks at the bottom line. Schools must pay the NCAA a guarantee of at least $1,500.
The Spartanettes are ranked first in the region, followed by Wingate, South Carolina-Spartanburg, Carson-Newman, Presbyterian and Longwood.
MEN'S REGIONAL: On the men's side, the South Atlantic Regional, to be held in Fayetteville, N.C., March 10 and 11, is shaping up as a CIAA-dominated affair.
The latest regional rankings have Virginia Union ranked first, followed by Norfolk State, Johnson C. Smith, Shaw, Longwood and Fayetteville State.
The top two teams receive byes into the semifinal round in Fayetteville, while the next four must ``play-in'' to reach the semis.
Virginia Union guaranteed itself a berth by winning the CIAA tournament championship. Norfolk State appears to be a lock to receive the second seed.
Fayetteville State, on the other hand, might not get in at all. The winner of the South Atlantic Conference tournament will receive an automatic bid. No SAC team is ranked in the top six, so the conference winner might bump a CIAA team, probably the Broncos.
Tickets for the tournament, at the Cumberland County Civic Center, are $10 general admission, $5 for students. Call the Norfolk State ticket office at 683-9009. by CNB