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LOCATION: Norfolk, VA
CONFERENCE: Mid-Eastern Athletic (MEAC)
LAST SEASON: 15-12 (.555)
CONFERENCE RECORD: 11-7 (4th)
STARTERS LOST/RETURNING: 5/0
NICKNAME: Spartans
COLORS: Green & Gold
HOMECOURT: Echols Hall (7,600)
COACH: Wil Jones (American '64)
record at school First year
career record 234-145
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ASSISTANTS:
TEAM WINS: (last 5 years) 15-10-15-8-13
RPI (last 5 years) NA-NA-NA-268-222
1998-99 FINISH: Not eligible for postseason.
ESPN.com Clubhouse
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Things certainly haven't been dull at Norfolk State the last two years. The Spartan program went Division I two years ago and seemed to have a grip on how to go about it. They were a former Division II power and the head coach at the time, Michael Bernard, seemed to know that it would take a little time to get things going in the MEAC. After a predictable 6-21 season in their first year of Division I, the Spartans expected things would be better in the next few years. Bernard had started four freshmen for much of that first season, and his youngsters got some valuable experience. Then things got a little crazy. Shockingly, Bernard's contract wasn't renewed in late June of 1997 and a stunned Mel Coleman was installed as interim coach for the 1998-99 season. Coleman had served under Bernard as an assistant coach and had no idea what was happening, except that one day he was an assistant coach and the next day he was the interim head coach. Things were pretty much in chaos with no one sure what would happen next. It appeared that Norfolk State would be in for a long year. The Spartans were under the direction of an interim coach, playing a full MEAC schedule and had nothing to play for_Norfolk State still wasn't eligible for the NCAA Tournament. Then the Spartans offered a few surprises of their own. They shocked the MEAC and perhaps themselves by finishing with a 15-12 record and a fourth-place finish in the conference. Guard Damian Woolfolk emerged as the top player in the conference and was chosen MEAC Player of the Year. The Spartans unleashed a high-octane offense that led the conference in scoring with an 86.2 average, and Woolfolk was the league's top scorer (23.2 ppg).
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Blue Ribbon Analysis |
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BACKCOURT B+ BENCH/DEPTH C-
FRONTCOURT C- INTANGIBLES C+
It will be interesting to see how Norfolk State reacts this year to its third coach in three years. The players really liked Mel Coleman and were sorry to see him go. Replacement Wil Jones admits there will be some challenges this season in regard to winning his new players over. Last year, the Spartans surprised everyone in the MEAC with their play. Though they have most everyone back from last year, including Damian Woolfolk, they will miss Neal Roberts, who led them in rebounding last season. This year, they won't be sneaking up on anyone as teams will be ready for Norfolk State's attack. Look for the Spartans to have a tougher time this year. They're still not eligible for the MEAC Tournament, and the only way they can go to the NCAA Tournament is with an at-large bid, which is very unlikely. Teams will have adjusted to the Spartans this year, and there has to be a price to pay for three coaches in three years. Look for a seventh-place finish, but watch out for this program in the future. If they let Jones stay a while, he may produce a very good Division I program. |
It appeared Norfolk State was on its way. It had a team, and obviously the school had found a coach in Coleman, who had produced a very good team under the toughest of circumstances. It wasn't that easy, though. Coleman was let go after the season and new athletic director Orby Moss had to look for a new coach. Entering the chaos of Norfolk State is Wil Jones. Jones appears to be just the man to get the program away from the turmoil of the last two seasons. He had enjoyed a long and productive career as the head coach at District of Columbia inWashington, D.C. He posted a 234-145 record, won the Division IInational title in 1983 and finished runner-up in 1984. Before coaching at UDC, he was an assistant at Maryland under Lefty Driesell from 1976-1979. He enjoyed a great college career at American University, where he was the leading scorer in school history and played in the NBA for several years. Why would Jones leave a job where he had been successful for a place that had fired two coaches the last two years? "I have always wanted to coach in Division I and be involved with the highest caliber of college basketball," said Jones. "Plus the District of Columbia wasn't in a conference and wasn't going to be in one and it's awful tough to be an independent. "I wanted a chance to go to the NCAA Tournament," he said. "The chance to go to the Big Dance is really attractive to me and I look forward to the chance of trying to do that." Jones knows he's stepping into a potentially crazy situation. "Things are real hectic around here right now," he said."There's some confusion with me being hired so late, but we're going to get through it and be OK." Unfortunately, Jones doesn't know that much about his team. He's watched tape of some games last year, and what he saw impressed him. "The kids play hard from what I've seen and hopefully they'll get some confidence from the success of last year," said Jones. "I've met the players and they all seem like great kids who are dealing with the change the best they can. There's going to be some tough times but we know that and we'll deal with those times when they come. "We're going to try and keep it simple early. We'll just go out and work hard." Jones has a good player to with whom to get started. Woolfolk's 23.2 scoring average was 13th-best in the country last season. Jones has seen enough of Woolfolk to know he has a good player. "I'm very impressed with Damian. He's an excellent player who's like a quiet assassin the way he scored," said Jones. "And I've talked to a lot of people who know things about the NBA and they say he's got a chance to play in that league next year. He's a hard-nosed kid who comes to play every night." Woolfolk is joined in the backcourt by 6-0 sophomore point guard Terrence Winston (7.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 76 assists). Winston did a good job running the Spartans' offense last year and earned MEAC all-rookie honors a year ago. "It looks to me that Terrence really grew up last year and did a good job running the offense," said Jones. "He earned all-rookie honors and we expect him to be even better this year." Backing up Winston will be 6-2 junior guard Dion Dove (4.3 ppg,1.6 rpg, 49 assists). Despite only averaging 15 minutes per game, he tied for third on the team in assists. "Dion did a good job backing up the point guard spot a year ago," said Jones. "He'll give us some depth in the backcourt this year." Jones received a little bad news when he heard the team's second-leading scorer, 6-3 guard/forward Neil Roberts (13.7ppg, 6.2 rpg), would miss the season with a knee injury. Will Brooks (10.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg) is a 6-6 junior forward who is a versatile player and can play either forward spot. He was the Spartans' third-leading scorer from last season. "Will is interchangeable at either forward spot and we plan to use him at each slot this year," said Jones. Also expected to help the inside game is 6-6 senior forward Maurice Howell (5.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg). Howell had a nice year off the bench last season as he shot 62 percent from the field and 70 percent from the free-throw line. "Maurice is a great kid who will be a real spark plug for us this year," Jones said. Last year's starting center was 6-8 junior Darrell Neal (6.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and Jones is anxious to work with him when practice begins. "Darrell is a big kid who should improve this year from last season," said Jones. "We're looking to raise his stats to 10 points and 10 rebounds per game this year. He has good quickness and good size to be effective in this league." Another big man who will be looking for playing time in the post will be 6-8 senior center Kala Dawson (2.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg). "Kala didn't get a chance to play much last year but we plan to get him more involved this season," said Jones. "He's very aggressive and runs like a deer. We'll give him a chance to play this year." Coming over from the football team is 6-9 junior center Clyde Abney (3.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg). Abney played football and basketball his first two years at Norfolk State but is now concentrating on just basketball. Jones saw to that after he got the job. "I begged our football coach to let him play basketball because I think he can really be a player for us," said Jones. "He's 6-8 and weighs 280 pounds, but he's got good speed for a man his size. Clyde has some real big-man skills that we think we can use this year." Three new players will join Norfolk State this year and Jones believes all three can help. Mohanda Whitfield, a 6-4 freshman forward, and 6-7 freshman forward Cordell Maxwell are talented and should help the Spartans this year. "Mohanda Whitfield is a great shooter and we're excited to have him with us. We'll use him at the shooting-guard and small-forward spot this season," Jones said. "Cordell can play point guard, shooting guard and small forward, and we're planning to look at him at all those spots this year. He's a big and strong kid who has some real talent." The last recruit Jones brought in is a player the Spartans are taking a chance on, but he could have a big impact. Remember Ed Sheffey? The 6-2 junior point guard was playing for John Thompson at Georgetown during the 1995-96 season. He and Alan Iverson took the Hoyas to the NCAA Tournament's East Regional title game before losing to Marcus Camby and Massachusetts. Sheffey was injured in a car accident after that and hasn't played since. "People who know me know that Wil Jones wasn't going to go to a new situation without bringing some players with him," said Jones. "We're very excited about Ed Sheffey joining our program. He's been away from the game for a while, but the doctors have given him the green light to play and I think he's really going to help us. He's a point guard who knows how to play the game."
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