The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

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  • Getty51
    Pro
    • Jul 2009
    • 816

    #31
    Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

    Having a solid season so far, hope the laptop gets back soon.
    Chicago Cubs - A Road to a Dynasty (The Show 2015)

    Comment

    • TDenverFan
      MVP
      • Jan 2011
      • 3457

      #32
      Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

      Great job! JW, what made you pick NSU for your dynasty?
      Football: Denver Broncos
      Baseball: Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs
      Hockey: Allentown Phantoms
      NCAA: The College of William and Mary Tribe


      William and Mary Class of 2018!

      Comment

      • waytofailself
        MVP
        • Feb 2011
        • 1522

        #33
        Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

        I've been playing more but my update is going to be a bit more summative. Hopefully in future seasons I can afford to be more detailed.

        Originally posted by TDenverFan
        Great job! JW, what made you pick NSU for your dynasty?
        A few factors. 1) I haven't seen anyone else use them and write a dynasty about them 2) They were one of the first schools I ever made a dynasty with in CH 2k5 (or was it 2k6?), and 3) VA is a state that produces a good amount of prospects but not a super high amount.
        The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH 2k8 Legacy - Ended)

        Comment

        • waytofailself
          MVP
          • Feb 2011
          • 1522

          #34
          Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

          No laptop yet, but continuing to update.
          MEAC Update

          Norfolk State is now halfway through their conference schedule and finds themselves in a pretty good position: tied for 2nd!

          MEAC Standings Conference Standings - Updated: Feb 9, 2011
          TEAMRECPCTCONFGB
          Coppin State13-7.6508-1-
          Florida A&M8-11.4216-32
          Norfolk State14-6.7006-32
          Bethune-Cookman8-11.4216-32
          Hampton11-8.5785-32.5
          Delaware St.7-14.3335-43
          S. Carolina St.11-12.4785-43
          Howard8-13.3804-43.5
          NC A&T5-12.2944-54
          MD-Eastern Shore6-18.2502-76
          Morgan St.5-16.2382-76
          WSSU1-17.0550-98


          The Spartans have not taken the conference by storm, but instead have won on the back of their MEAC leading offensive efficiency (including blowing out WSSU by 50) while at the same time succumbing to their conference worst defensive efficiency (losing to Hampton by 35). But even if team performance has been a mixed bag, at least the Spartans have found themselves on the winning end more often then not.

          Player Statistics Through February 9th, 2011:

          Norfolk State Spartans (RPI 194) Stats - 2011
          PlayerGPMINPPGRPGAPGSPGBPGTPGFPG
          K. O'Quinn
          22.821.010.11.30.31.81.22.5
          A. Pauline
          20.610.91.31.50.80.01.81.1
          P. Williams
          21.87.82.71.90.40.01.51.5
          R. McCauley
          17.47.31.22.70.60.01.30.8
          R. Hampton
          22.46.91.53.41.30.02.01.5
          T. Zephyr
          20.45.710.00.70.61.30.91.8
          M. Tamares
          12.44.94.20.50.10.10.40.8
          J. Weathers
          6.02.61.90.50.20.00.40.3
          B. Wheeless
          3.32.50.80.20.30.00.50.2
          B. Good
          6.62.32.20.30.00.20.30.5
          K. Brown
          7.22.20.31.00.30.01.10.5
          R. Revels
          4.61.80.80.60.10.00.10.1
          M. Johnson
          6.21.70.50.10.30.00.60.6


          Next post will have more reflections on the midpoint of the season along with looking forward to the rest of conference play. Stay tuned!
          Last edited by waytofailself; 04-13-2011, 02:28 PM.
          The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH 2k8 Legacy - Ended)

          Comment

          • Getty51
            Pro
            • Jul 2009
            • 816

            #35
            Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

            Quinn looks like he has been huge, averaging a double double so far.
            Chicago Cubs - A Road to a Dynasty (The Show 2015)

            Comment

            • waytofailself
              MVP
              • Feb 2011
              • 1522

              #36
              Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

              Apologies for the consistency of my updates lately. I just got word recently that my laptop, which I was supposed to get back today, has not even been processed for repairs yet. And with two large papers and a bunch of finals starting in two weeks time, the timing of losing my laptop couldn't be any worse. So...here's another update of the legacy, along with looking at a few key games from the latter half of the 2011 season before moving to the MEAC Conference Tournament (where the updates will again become more substantive).

              Now let's see how many times my loaner computer can attempt to nom on this post (the answer is twice).



              A Surprising First Half -- Now What?

              R: The Norfolk State Spartans have confounded critics, and to an extent their supporters, with their strong push to start the season under the guidance of Guy West. Coach West, who according to sources originally went to Norfolk State with the intent of being a professor, has taken the reigns and breathed new life into this team. From pushing outstanding performances from Kyle O'Quinn to getting the most out of long-term project freshman Pendarvis Williams, there's a lot to like about what Coach West has done to this Spartan squad.

              R: I'm joined now by Coach West, how are you doing?

              Good, thanks for having me.

              R: I'd like to start with how the team has met your preseason expectations. Many picked your team to finish in the middle of the pack, or possibly lower, but so far your team has been strong in both conference and out of conference play. Comments?
              It all starts with leadership. We have four upper classmen in our lineup, and they set the tone for us in practice and keep us steady on the floor. Hampton, Pauline, and Zeyphr all work hard on and off the court, and they've made keeping the younger guys motivated pretty easy for me. I'd like to think that I empowered them to take charge, and that's translated into strong performances on the hardwood.

              R: You said four upperclassmen, I assume you also meant Kyle O'Quinn as well?

              Of course.

              R: Before your arrival, O'Quinn was looked upon mainly as one of the better defenders in the MEAC but also as a talented project with a lot of rough edges. Could you discuss his performance this year and how you turned him into a leading candidate for MEAC Player of the Year?

              It's a credit to O'Quinn's work that the press is including him in the player of the year discussion. Obviously he's been a valuable player on both ends of the floor, but going into the year we knew he was more than a ball swatter. Me and my assistants looked at the game tape before the year and knew he could thrive in the faster paced half court and full court style we were looking to implement this season. And O'Quinn has thrived more than we had hoped. He's carried us single handedly to some wins this year, and the coaching staff looks for ways to continue to build on his strengths.

              R: Speaking of coaching staff, rumors have swirled around your reliance on your assistants – especially given your lack of basketball background at any competitive level.

              Is there a question in there?

              R: Do you care to address those rumors? Is this your team?

              Yes it is. Look, our record speaks for itself. Our players' performances speaks volumes about what we do here. And anyone worth their salt will take as much advantage as possible of assistants as talented as the ones here at NSU. They've been huge for our success, but it's still my team. They'll make suggestions and point out strategy, but in the end it's still my call. Sometimes I'll defer to them, other times I'll trust my gut.

              R: Fair enough. What about your decision earlier in the season to replace McCauley in the starting line up with Pauline. It was a decision that took many people by surprise. What was your thinking behind it?

              It was a matter of getting more jump shooters on the floor at the start of the game. McCauley is a great creator and distributor, but otherwise he's a slasher like Williams. We needed someone else out there who could space out the defense to give O'Quinn room to operate in the paint, and Pauline is an excellent jump shooter.

              R: And how has McCauley handled the demotion from first string to bench? It seems like sometimes he's disinterested or out of place on the floor.

              I don't know where you're getting this “disinterested or out of place” from. He's still our sixth man, and by coming off the bench we can move him anywhere between the 1 and 3 spots – sometimes even moving Williams to the 4. Yes, there have been a few games where he's had to work himself into the rhythm of the game – and that's a challenge for anyone coming off the bench. I'd say he's adjusting well.

              R: There's a lot that has gone right for your squad so far. But what would you say is your biggest weakness? Where can your team improve the most?

              Am I supposed to give a blueprint for how other teams can beat us? Ha, no – but I'm sure I know what is in bold print at the top of their scouting reports: #1 STOP O'Quinn and #2 SHOOT THE THREE. I say number two because there have already been a number of times where we can't stop a hot perimeter shooter – and it's something we continue to work on.

              R: Any recruiting updates?

              We're very pleased with how things are going by grabbing a high caliber player like Elton Cowen right out the gate. However, we have two scholarships left to offer, and I would love to get another guard and someone with size to begin to groom. We're pretty set in the front line next year with O'Quinn, Good, and Tamaras – although I don't know how we'll replace Zeyphr's rebounds. We're continuing to look at international and junior college prospects as well, but I'll say this much: Virginia and the eastern seaboard is a very competitive recruiting market.

              R: Indeed it is. Finally, any thoughts as you go into the second half of the season?

              It starts with what I keep telling my guys: “consistency.” You can't overlook any opponent, and you can't try and force things that are outside of your skill set. If we keep sticking to our game plan, keep moving the ball around, and continue to avoid the injury bug, I think we have a shot of finishing towards the top of the conference. This team has everything in front of it, it's just a matter of staying within our game.

              R: Thanks so much for the time and the interview, and good luck tonight against Bethune-Cookman.
              Last edited by waytofailself; 04-13-2011, 02:32 PM.
              The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH 2k8 Legacy - Ended)

              Comment

              • waytofailself
                MVP
                • Feb 2011
                • 1522

                #37
                Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)


                Key Game #1: Furious Comeback Against Bethune-Cookman

                What a way to open the second half of MEAC play. It was almost a tale of two halves for the Norfolk State Spartans. The half where they could do no right, and the half where they could do no wrong. Unfortunately, after briefly overcoming a 22 point deficit late in the second half, the Spartans let a key division battle slip from their grasp by 8 points: 70-78.


                The game started strongly for Norfolk state, with the team springing to a quick lead before forgetting where the ball goes – not just in the basket, but who to pass it to. The Wildcats swarmed O'Quinn in a very tight 2-3 set, and when the entry pass did make it to him oftentimes it was stripped from him. To make matters worse, Pauline finished the half 0-4 from 3 point land to contribute to a terrible shooting performance. The Spartan's superior ability to get to the line instead of settling for jump shots was the only thing keeping them in the game at the half.

                However, things got out of hand fast when the Wildcats pumped up the tempo in the second half and started out on a quick 13-3 run. Their lead during the second half would crest at 22, and with the home crowd roaring and the Wildcats coasting, Norfolk State began to chip away. Hampton kept cutting through the zone with crisp entry passes to O'Quinn and Tamaras. Even Zephyr got in on the act with a solid 6 points in the second half. However, it was Pauline's first and only three pointer with 2:44 left that gave Norfolk State a narrow 1 point lead. Everything was going the Spartan's way, and the Wildcats called time out to salvage the game.

                Bethune-Cookman ended up putting the game on J. Bryant's shoulders, and he delivered the harshest of daggers: after losing a far shorter Pauline behind a well placed off ball screen, Bryant swished an uncontested three point basket. From there, he quickly joined the full court press, swiped the ball from Hampton, a hit another three point basket. Byrant's heroics put the Wildcats in the lead for good, and gave them a hard fought, well deserved victory.

                Feb 10, 2011 - NSU at BC
                TEAM1ST2NDSCORE
                Norfolk State ()383270
                Bethune-Cookman ()502878
                Bethune-Cookman
                KEY PLAYERSMINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AREBASTSTLBLKTOPTS
                J. Bryant2710-186-113-34221129
                C. Reed256-101-21-22910314
                Norfolk State
                KEY PLAYERSMINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AREBASTSTLBLKTOPTS
                K. O'Quinn259-181-12-211003521
                R. Hampton252-41-30-01111015

                West: “We seemed to find lightning in a bottle in the second half, but 22 points is a lot to come back from. Honestly, we should not have put ourselves in a position to be that far down in the second half, but the credit has to go to Bethune-Cookman. The put the clamps on us early, and they put themselves in a position to win with some spectacular late-game heroics.”

                Interesting Fact: Norfolk State has now dropped three straight conference games scheduled on Friday.
                Last edited by waytofailself; 04-13-2011, 02:32 PM.
                The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH 2k8 Legacy - Ended)

                Comment

                • waytofailself
                  MVP
                  • Feb 2011
                  • 1522

                  #38
                  Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)



                  Key Game #2: Riding Hot and Looking for Vengeance

                  Feb 12 @ Florida A&M: W 89-80
                  Feb 16 vs Delaware St.: W 75-52
                  Feb 18 vs MD-Eastern Shore: W 76-74
                  Feb 23 at S. Carolina St.: W 73-57
                  Feb 25 @ Winston-Salem St: W 81-77

                  Normally when a team is riding a 5 game winning streak there is a danger of slipping into the "automatic." Of looking past opponents. Of letting things take care of themselves. And although Norfolk State bounced back strong after losing to Bethune-Cookman, everyone was sure the Spartans had circled their calendars for their rematch with Hampton. The Pirates have already handed the Spartans their worst loss of the season.

                  West: "I don't know if payback is the right word. That makes me think of catching someone in a dark alley. No, we're going to take it to them under the lights for everyone to see."

                  And Coach West was not the only enthusiastic Spartan on the bench. Unfortunately, both O'Quinn and Zephyr found themselves in very early foul trouble within the first 8 minutes of the game. It would be on someone else to help carry the team.

                  And that person was Pendarvis Williams. He stayed alert on defense, contesting shots left and right. He drove to the hoop, he made crisp solid passes, and after a close first half he helped break the game open for the Spartans to roll to victory. O'Quinn and Hampton manages to get into the act too, but it was the true freshman who seemed to pump life back into the team after the Spartan's best player had to ride the pine for most of the game due to persistent fouling.

                  Unfortunately for Spartan fans, it seems like this could be the last look they get at Williams this season. While driving to the hoop late in the game, he took a hard foul and suffered a high ankle sprain. With the Conference tournament just around the corner, it will be interesting to see who Coach West tabs to replace Williams in the line up.

                  But for now, the Spartans will take their victory over Hampton as they continue to make a strong late season push for the MEAC regular season crown.

                  (edit: massive table generator fail. What gives? I copied and pasted oh well here's the plain text format)

                  Norfolk State: 1st: 37 2nd: 30 F: 67
                  Hampton: 1st: 38 2nd: 21 F: 59


                  Norfolk State
                  KEY PLAYERS
                  MINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AREBASTSTLBLKTOPTS
                  K. O'Quinn175-80-08-88003316
                  P. Williams263-40-04-54200110

                  Hampton
                  KEY PLAYERS
                  MINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AREBASTSTLBLKTOPTS
                  C. Funches264-100-04-611011112
                  O. Agbelese232-50-00-0500164
                  Last edited by waytofailself; 04-13-2011, 02:34 PM.
                  The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH 2k8 Legacy - Ended)

                  Comment

                  • waytofailself
                    MVP
                    • Feb 2011
                    • 1522

                    #39
                    Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

                    It's Tournament Time!


                    R: Ah, March. Spring is almost in the air, and basketball season begins to heat up in earnest, but before diving in it's just as important to see how the regular season shook out. It hasn't just been a strange season in the MEAC, but the script has almost been flipped entirely. Teams who were expected to finish on top disappointed, and low lying teams great to be far more than the sum of their parts. So, without further ado, here are the final standings for the MEAC 2010-2011 season:

                    MEAC Final Regular Season Standings Conference Standings - Updated: Mar 6, 2011
                    TEAMRECPCTCONFGB
                    Norfolk State23-7.76614-4-
                    Bethune-Cookman16-13.55114-4-
                    Coppin State18-13.58012-62
                    South Carolina State18-15.54511-73
                    Hampton15-15.5009-95
                    NC A&T10-17.3709-95
                    MD-Eastern Shore13-21.3829-95
                    Florida A&M10-19.3448-106
                    Howard12-21.3637-117
                    Morgan State13-20.3937-117
                    Delaware State9-23.2816-128
                    Winston-Salem State3-24.1112-1612

                    R: That's right. The Norfolk State Spartans rode an 8 game win streak to close out their conference schedule and rise to the top of the conference! After splitting games with Bethune-Cookman, the Spartans win by virtue of their non-conference win percentage. Coppin State, South Carolina State, and Hampton round out the top 5, and each will earn a bye through the first round of the tournament.

                    Meanwhile, Winston-Salem State has to contemplate how they'll build off their disastrous return from Division II ball. They miss the tournament by having the worst conference record.* Morgan State also underperformed by finishing 3rd worst in the conference with far and away the strongest squad. With no seniors in their starting five, their core will return next year and hopefully improve -- but the question on everyone's mind is "will their coach?"

                    Meanwhile, two surprising squads show up in the middle of the pack. The NC A&T Aggies, who weren't picked to be much of a factor this season, finished a surprising 9-9 in conference play after having a tough start to their regular season schedule. Their turn around is only matched by Maryland-Eastern Shore. The Hawks struggled early in conference play against the bottom feeders of the conference, but won 8 of their last 10 conference games to finish a surprising 9-9.

                    With the conference tournament less than a week away, the MEAC looks to descend upon the RBC Center in Raleigh to fight for the prize everyone covets: a ticket to the big dance. Throw the regular season out the window, it's time for the show.


                    *R: Coach West seemed to be correct earlier about teams missing the tournament. I'll take my egg directly on the face and my crow well done.
                    The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH 2k8 Legacy - Ended)

                    Comment

                    • delija66
                      Pro
                      • Apr 2009
                      • 638

                      #40
                      Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

                      You finished first! great job man

                      gl in conference tourney

                      Comment

                      • waytofailself
                        MVP
                        • Feb 2011
                        • 1522

                        #41
                        Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

                        Originally posted by delija66
                        You finished first! great job man

                        gl in conference tourney
                        Thanks! It has been a bit of a trip. I got lucky too though -- Bethune-Cookman lost to Delaware State on the same day I beat Hampton. That left me fortunate enough to get a tie for the best record and the #1 seed in the tournament. Will it serve the Spartans well? It has been a long season, but they didn't do so great on a neutral court before. Maybe this time will be better.
                        The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH 2k8 Legacy - Ended)

                        Comment

                        • waytofailself
                          MVP
                          • Feb 2011
                          • 1522

                          #42
                          Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)



                          First Round Results
                          (9) Howard 77 (8) Florida A&M 56
                          (11) Delaware St. 66 (6)MD-Eastern Shore 50
                          (10)Morgan St. 86 (7)NC A&T 71

                          Not a good day to be a higher (lower?) seed, that's for sure.

                          Quarterfinal Results

                          As the number 1 seed, Norfolk State has the benefit of watching the other games play out before playing its own game. Here's what happened before the Spartans hit the floor against the Howard Bison.

                          (4)S. Carolina St. 66 (5)Hampton 60
                          If Norfolk State can make it to the semis, they'll face South Carolina State. This might be dodging a bullet, as the Bulldogs have fewer playmakers than the Pirates. Their PG, Tooms, is dangerous, and their slow-down game can be effective. It certainly seemed to be against the up-tempo Pirates.

                          (3)Coppin St. 77 (11)Delaware St. 49
                          Unsurprising result. Coppin State's senior leadership and high unity simply outclassed the Hornets. The Spartans caught a break having the Eagles on the other end of the bracket -- they're a tough match up.

                          (10)Morgan St. 74 (2)Bethune-Cookman 50
                          Morgan State had a winning record during the 2nd half of conference play (5-4), so one fiagures that the 78 OVR squad might be putting things together. A convincing win against Bethune-Cookman is a scary thought: could the Bears finally be waking up?

                          (1) Norfolk St. vs. (9)Howard
                          In their last meeting exactly a week and a day ago, the Spartans blew out the Bison 99-69. And while the game was never competitive, the Spartan's defense was shredded by Kyle Riley for 42 points and 8 three pointers. Riley, who averages 10.0 ppg and received a DNP Coaches Decision in the first meeting between the Bison and Spartans despite being healthy, figures to be a key part of Howard's plans -- but he can't be left to do it by himself.

                          The Spartans started the game fast -- a common theme among their 8 game win streak. With O'Quinn dominating down low, the Spartans built up a 12 point lead during the first half. However, there was some cause for concern: hardly anyone else was able to hit a basket. Pauline was shooting cold. The Spartans started turning the ball over and putting up weak jump shots. Riley started to come alive. The result? Slowly but surely, the Bison began to chip away at the lead. First a three to match a Spartan two point basket. Then a defensive stop and basket. Bit by bit they came back, until Howard riveted their fans with seven unanswered points to take their first lead and close the half.

                          The Spartans were struggling. Shortly after the half, the Bison started to slash towards the basket and getting easy buckets inside with their guards. Fortunately, Coach West switched the defense from a 3-2 to a 2-3 to stop their penetration, the Bison suddenly got desperate. And so did the Spartans. With the Spartans holding a narrow lead, both teams rushed back and forth across the court. The Bison fans would be going wild as their team charged down the court again and again, and then one block later the Spartan fans would go crazy. But no one could break the gridlock, and momentum swung back and forth and back and forth without anyone scoring a basket.*

                          Frustrated, Coach West called time out and yelled, "Get the ball to O'Quinn. Slow it down. They're dropping everyone back, so don't rush." And O'Quinn took over. The Bison had no answer for him, and he carried the Spartans to victory with career highs in points (35) and rebounds (16). The final score: 77 to 63, but the game was far closer than the Spartans would have liked. They'll face South Carolina State in the Quarterfinals.


                          Mar 11, 2011 - HOW at NSU
                          TEAM1ST2NDSCORE
                          Howard ()432063
                          Norfolk State ()423577
                          Howard
                          STARTERSMINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AREBASTSTLBLKTOPTS
                          D. Collins175-150-42-24312212
                          C. Thompson281-31-20-0070003
                          K. Riley259-257-170-07201225
                          M. Phillips210-40-01-2700311
                          C. DeCosta272-40-01-1760105
                          BENCHMINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AREBASTSTLBLKTOPTS
                          D. Naves195-152-40-01200112
                          A. Leary122-20-01-2701005
                          TEAM TOTALS24-6810-275-7332027663
                          Norfolk State
                          STARTERSMINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AREBASTSTLBLKTOPTS
                          R. Hampton254-141-72-42510011
                          A. Pauline244-171-102-21510111
                          R. McCauley213-60-14-82210010
                          T. Zephyr233-40-00-01821116
                          K. O'Quinn2315-220-05-816201035
                          BENCHMINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AREBASTSTLBLKTOPTS
                          M. Tamares101-30-00-0411102
                          J. Weathers81-10-00-0020002
                          K. Brown70-00-00-0020000
                          M. Johnson30-00-00-0000000
                          R. Maye40-00-00-0100000
                          C. McEachin20-10-00-0000000
                          TEAM TOTALS31-682-1813-22442153277

                          Coach West: "It's great that we won, but we're going to have to figure out how to shoot the ball. We were missing at the line. We were missing behind the three point line. We were missing near the basket. We got no scoring help from the bench. It's like I've been saying from the start: if we can't make shots, we can't win."

                          * Ed Note: Despite being unable to break the game open, it was still one of the most fun 3-4 minute exchanges I've had in this game. The 6th man was shifting almost every possession, and it really felt like a single elimination tournament game late in the 2nd half.
                          Last edited by waytofailself; 04-14-2011, 01:10 PM.
                          The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH 2k8 Legacy - Ended)

                          Comment

                          • Getty51
                            Pro
                            • Jul 2009
                            • 816

                            #43
                            Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

                            Great finish to the regular season, pull off this Tourney win baby!
                            Chicago Cubs - A Road to a Dynasty (The Show 2015)

                            Comment

                            • waytofailself
                              MVP
                              • Feb 2011
                              • 1522

                              #44
                              Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)



                              Semifinal Results


                              (10)Morgan St. 82 (3)Coppin St. 72
                              It looks like the Bears have finally come out of hibernation after a long winter. After underachieving all season long the most talented team in the MEAC has put everything together at just the right time.

                              (1) Norfolk St. vs. (4) South Carolina St.
                              In his pregame comments, Coach West expressed concern that his team might be looking forward to the match up against Morgan State in the conference final. He reminded reporters that the Spartans already lost a similar "trap" game Bulldogs earlier this year with a big conference game on the horizon. However, any concerns about Norfolk State overlooking the Bulldogs might have been overblown. The Spartans used towering defenders and an effective fast break offense to knock South Carolina State out of the MEAC tournament 78-62.

                              The game started out as a match up of style vs. style, as Norfolk State would move the ball down the court quickly and look for the fast inside-out play, while South Carolina State would slow down the ball and grind down the clock. For awhile, the Bulldogs were creating open shots. They just weren't hitting them. Soon Norfolk State found itself up 8-1 and then 16-4. Things were looking one sided early, and got no better for the Bulldogs when they tried to speed things up. Kyle O'Quinn and Tim Zephyr finished with 4 and 3 blocks respectively, and the Spartans as a team had a season high 8 blocks total. And to add to the Bulldog's woes, Norfolk State's perimeter defense matched its interior's effort by limiting South Carolina State to 2-16 from three point range.


                              Meanwhile, Norfolk State seemed to successfully focus on the problem areas from their game against Howard. The team shot 6-10 from three point range, including both Aleek Pauline and Rob Hampton hitting 2-3 from beyond the arc. In the end, the Spartan offense proved to be too efficient, and they were able to clear their bench early in the 2nd half.


                              The Spartans looked far more dangerous than South Carolina State, and they'll take their 10 game winning streak into the MEAC final to face a resurgent Morgan State squad.


                              Mar 14, 2011 - SCS at NSU
                              TEAM1ST2NDSCORE
                              South Carolina State (18-16)303262
                              Norfolk State (24-7)374178
                              South Carolina State
                              STARTERSMINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AREBASTSTLBLKTOPTS
                              K. Toombs264-80-30-0171048
                              D. Porter185-150-65-62110015
                              J. Wright254-140-20-0520008
                              P. Bell234-70-01-1501009
                              D. Wooten180-20-00-1612020
                              BENCHMINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AREBASTSTLBLKTOPTS
                              T. Williams113-50-12-2030008
                              R. Pitt21-21-10-0010003
                              O. Sanders161-40-00-0732107
                              TEAM TOTALS25-642-1610-12271971662
                              Norfolk State
                              STARTERSMINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AREBASTSTLBLKTOPTS
                              R. Hampton214-92-31-21400211
                              A. Pauline184-72-31-21310011
                              R. McCauley152-40-13-4000007
                              T. Zephyr132-30-02-2610326
                              K. O'Quinn219-140-03-58214321
                              BENCHMINFGM-A3PM-AFTM-AREBASTSTLBLKTOPTS
                              M. Tamares131-10-00-0401002
                              J. Weathers60-10-02-2422002
                              K. Brown91-30-02-2020004
                              B. Wheeless61-20-01-2020003
                              M. Johnson72-32-20-0220016
                              B. Good141-50-00-0711102
                              C. McEachin81-40-11-3010013
                              TEAM TOTALS28-566-1016-24332068978

                              Coach West: "That's more like it. Our team played great together, especially playing great team defense and staying at home when their bigs would try and kick the ball back out. If we can keep firing on all cylinders like this, I don't know if anyone can stop us."
                              Last edited by waytofailself; 04-14-2011, 01:00 PM.
                              The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH 2k8 Legacy - Ended)

                              Comment

                              • Deuce2223
                                Hall Of Fame
                                • Dec 2007
                                • 12571

                                #45
                                Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

                                #1 VS #10 for a spot in the NCAA Tourney.. Would be interesting to see if your 25 wins would be enough for the MEAC to get 2 teams, but hopefully we don't have to find out.

                                Congrats on the huge year. Looks like Coach West was a great hire for Norfolk State.

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