THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, March 27, 1995 TAG: 9503250005
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
The Norfolk State University men's basketball team came within one victory last week of playing for the NCAA Division II national championships. It was the highest finish in school history.
NSU's success topped off a banner year for Norfolk basketball. Earlier, the Old Dominion University men's basketball team came within one victory of making the NCAA Division I Sweet 16.
NSU began the year under tremendous pressure, having been chosen by Sports Illustrated magazine as the best Division II school in the land. Despite a faltering start, the school won 27 games, while losing only 6.
Its quest for a national championship might have been ended by a bloody nose. NSU was leading in its national semifinal game when a nose bleed benched forward Derrick Bryant with 9:42 left and NSU 5 points ahead. When he returned, his team was 5 points behind, and it never recovered.
If NSU goes ahead with plans to petition the NCAA to move to Division I, it will be ineligible to try again next year for the Division II crown, but its exit from Division II will have been glorious.
And there's a good chance that more will be seen of NSU's star senior, Corey Williams. A number of NBA scouts have admired his talents. by CNB