THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 18, 1996 TAG: 9601180553
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
Virginia Union and Norfolk State will use a little role reversal tonight to spice up a rivalry that needs no extra flavor.
At stake will be the early lead in the CIAA Northern Division for these two squads that enter with one loss between them.
``I don't think there are any secrets here,'' Virginia Union coach Dave Robbins said. ``We won't change the way we play for one game. They won't, either. It'll come down to execution and how the ball bounces, as it always does.''
In the past, though, Norfolk State has been the more physical team, Virginia Union the quicker.
This season, Union has used an impressive power game and a massive front line to run off an 11-0 record and No. 1 national ranking in Division II.
With front-liners Ben Wallace (6-foot-8, 240), Luther Bates (6-7, 235) and James Marshall (6-5, 215), the Panthers pose matchup problems for every team on their schedule. Even their guards are big when they go with the 6-4 duo of Thomas Meredith and Maurice Greene.
The Spartans, meanwhile, are more modest in size and have employed more of a finesse game in fashioning a 9-1 record, their only loss coming to Division I Auburn.
Norfolk State isn't ranked in the national poll because it's ineligible for postseason play; the university has applied for Division I status beginning in the fall of 1997.
``It's a variation in styles and they have a size advantage,'' said 6-5 Norfolk State forward Rodney Carmichael. ``We might not be big, but we are quick and aggressive and play great defense. And we've rarely been outrebounded.''
Outrebounding Virginia Union will be a major task for the Spartans. The Panthers sport an average edge of 14.2 rebounds per game while the Spartans outrebound their opponents by an average of only 4.0.
In fact, the league's top two rebounders will be on display. Wallace averages 10.9 rebounds a game while Norfolk State senior forward Derrick Bryant pulls down an average of 9.6.
Bryant, however, is only 6-4 and the two biggest players the Spartans will use for extended periods are 6-7 starting center Blitz Wooten and 6-8 center/forward Sean Blackwell.
``They will cause size problems,'' said Norfolk State coach Mike Bernard in reference to the Panthers. ``But we think we'll cause some problems ourselves.
``I think our experienced backcourt (6-1 Maurice Whitfield and 6-0 Carnell Penn) can do some good things for us.''
Robbins makes no secrets about his attempt to copy the Spartans' historically aggressive defensive style this season.
``Sometimes Norfolk State fans misinterpret what I say when I talk about Norfolk State playing a more physical game than others,'' Robbins said. ``I wish sometimes I could teach our guys to play as physical as they do.
``There've been times in the past late in the season when the officials stop calling games as tight as they might earlier in the season and let the teams play. Norfolk State's been better at playing under those conditions.
``But maybe this year we'll be the ones wanting it to be a little rougher.'' by CNB