DATE: Saturday, March 15, 1997              TAG: 9703150314

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT 

DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY                    LENGTH:   71 lines

ECSU REBOUNDS BEHIND COACH IN 2 YEARS HAMLER HAS DELIVERED HIS TEAM FROM A DISMAL 8-19 TO THE GREAT 8.

Elizabeth City State University's basketball team, reeling two years ago when it finished the season with an 8-19 record and was put on probation for NCAA violations, is in the running for the Division II national title.

The Vikings (22-6) are headed into the quarterfinals of the men's championship tournament against Salem-Teikyo (27-2) on Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Commonwealth Convention Center in Louisville, Ky.

And head coach Barry Hamler, who turned the program around in just two seasons, says the Vikings can win it all.

The opening test could be one of their toughest. Salem-Teikyo, which won the Eastern Regional, defeated ECSU 82-64 in December. The Vikings will be out for revenge, something they have been good at this year.

ECSU lost a home game to Virginia Union, then came back to beat the Panthers 64-60 in Richmond. It took the Vikings three tries to beat St. Augustine's, but ECSU won the big one, 90-73 for the South Atlantic Regional championship.

``We don't think they are going to change anything,'' said Hamler, finishing his second season as a college coach after being plucked from the high school ranks. ``They only lost two games all year. We are better than we've ever been. It should be one interesting ball game.''

Last year, Hamler's squad finished 15-11 while still on probation and with just five scholarships. Rigorous training during the pre-season and a disciplined style of play, Hamler said, have paid off.

``We pride ourselves in our work ethic,'' Hamler said. ``These days our youth want everything fast and want to cut corners to get it. We've done it the old-fashioned way, with hard work.

``They've paid the price to be where they are. It doesn't get any better than this for most of them. They need to enjoy it. But even though they've done well, they can do better,'' he added.

A critical factor in ECSU's success has been team play. On any given night, anyone in the starting lineup can lead the team in scoring.

Senior forward Anthony Harris is averaging 17.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. Senior forward Maurice Mincey is averaging 16 points, and Junior guard Ryan Taylor, 12.7 points with 65 three-pointers this season. Walter Wright, a senior guard, has averaged 12 points and shot 40 percent from three-point range.

Senior point guard Adrian Bell, the only player on the team with Division II playoff experience, has sacrificed his stats to be the playmaker. He has averaged over six assists per game. Freshman forward Marcus Riddick has chipped in with 9.5 points per game.

``They have good chemistry, a burning desire to refuse to give up,'' Hamler said.

During a regional playoff game ECSU rallied from 20 points down to beat Presbyterian 76-64. ``They're trying to give me gray hair,'' Hamler joked.

Hamler told his players this past week that ECSU was one of just eight Division II schools out of almost 300 that were still practicing.

``We're just going about our daily routine, doing things we did that got us this far,'' he said. ``There's no reason to be nervous.''

Hamler, who has exuded confidence since the day he took the job, said his team has one goal in mind - to win it all.

``If we can duplicate our play in the regional finals,'' he said ``anything can happen. We set a goal at the beginning of the year to get to the national championship. We're there.

``What we have to understand is that we can't be happy just being regional champs. We have to look at being the best of the eight teams left in the country.

``These guys have accomplished something they can be proud of,'' Hamler added. ``Twenty years from now, when they get together for a reunion, that's all they will talk about.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]

Barry Hamlet, ECSU Coach

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