11/26/05 Sidebar for the St. Pete Times

College football

Potential turnaround halted on reverse

By DENIS GORMAN
Published November 27, 2005

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. - On the biggest play of the game, the Bulls banked on a reserve quarterback who hadn't thrown a pass in six weeks.

It banked on Pat Julmiste running free in the secondary.

Neither happened, and now USF is left to wonder about what could have been. A possible BCS bowl berth is gone, and a bowl game is not guaranteed.

The biggest play in South Florida's 15-10 loss to UConn Saturday was a botched fourth down reverse pass from Courtney Denson to Julmiste.

With 6:02 left, and after a false start penalty backed the Bulls up from the 1, USF had fourth and goal from the Huskies' 6-yard line. Instead of calling on freshman Kyle Bronson to try a 23-yard field goal, coach Jim Leavitt and offensive coordinator Rod Smith called for a double reverse pass.

Julmiste handed off to senior running back Andre Hall. As Hall sprinted left, toward Denson, Julmiste ran right. Hall handed the ball to Denson, who looked for Julmiste, but Julmiste was held up by the secondary. Denson, without a second option, reversed field until he was sacked by defensive end Dan Davis at the 19. Instead of the lead being cut to two, the Bulls remained down five.

"We were fourth and 6," Leavitt said. "I thought about the field goal. The reason I didn't do it was I wanted two opportunities to win the ballgame and not one. I felt if we didn't make it, our defense was playing really well and would give our offense good field position to go ahead to do it again."

The offense got the ball back, with 2:46 remaining. But on first down, Julmiste and junior wide receiver S.J. Green miscommunicated on a pass route. Green stopped running at the UConn 10 and sophomore Tyvon Branch intercepted the pass in the end zone.

"You can go ahead and question (the call), but I felt like I really wanted to go for the touchdown," Leavitt said. "It was a play we've been working on quite a bit. Connecticut did a very good job of (defending) it."

Julmiste did not talk to the media and left Rentschler Field through a back door. Denson, who injured his Achilles' on the play, spoke briefly before boarding the team bus.

"Pat was covered. That messed up the whole play right there," said Denson, who has played some at receiver but hasn't caught a pass this season. "In practice, the play works perfectly every time. I guess they probably knew I was at wideout and had a chance to do it (run the play)."

Leavitt had an opportunity to blame Smith, but didn't, saying that the play call was "all of ours, all of us. I knew what we were doing. I can easily tell them not to do it. It was my call and I didn't (overrule Smith)."

Some fans had another view, however, quickly posting a Web site, firerodsmith.com.

Leavitt was philosophical about the play, its outcome and where the Bulls go from here.

"It'll be tough. You have to bring your team back from that; it won't be easy. We're (going) to have to do some work.

"When you invest a lot in something, and you had the opportunities in that fourth quarter, it's tough.

"If it works, everyone thinks you're brilliant. If it doesn't, then you're foolish.
"So, we're foolish."

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/11/27/Sports/Potential_turnaround_.shtml

Providence-Hofstra men's soccer for the Projo

Game-winning o.t. goal propels Friars

But Providence College must now face powerhouse North Carolina on Tuesday.

BY DENIS GORMAN
Special to the Journal

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- The dream season continues.

Senior Forward Eion Lynch's leaping header five minutes into overtime (95:05) was the only goal in Providence's 1-0 win over Hofstra University last night. The Friars now advance to play perennial power North Carolina on Tuesday. Sophomore midfielder Alex Bury was credited with the assist on Lynch's goal. The goal was Providence's first in overtime, after an NCAA record 12 games.

"It's obviously an exciting night for our program," said head coach Chaka Daley. "It's a massive step forward for the program. We hadn't been to the NCAA Tournament in 22 years. To come to Hofstra and find a way to win in extra time was tremendous."

In the extra time, Bury lifted a perfect corner kick that Lynch headed past Hofstra goalkeeper Matthias Gumbrecht. Before the ball landed in the net, Lynch, Bury and the Friars were celebrating at midfield with the contingent of Providence fans that made the trip to New York.

"I was able to get a head on it and redirect it," said Lynch, with a wry smile. "I started sprinting; I knew there was a lot of our alumni at the middle of the stands. I was trying to get to them."

In the game's first 45 minutes, Hofstra pressed the Friars, forcing turnovers at midfield. However, Providence's defense bottled the middle of the field up, not allowing the Pride any shots from in close. "At halftime, the game was probably too direct for our liking," Daley said. "I give all the credit to my players for hanging in there; we weren't spectacular by any means in the first half.

"We knew they score goals. We were concerned about individuals who can hurt you. Our defenders had a pretty good day. We didn't give [Hofstra senior forward Michael]Todd too many opportunities today."

The Friars controlled the attack in the second half, sparked by freshman forward Tim Ritter. On three separate occasions, Ritter had shots go just wide or off the crossbar. Providence attacked the Pride, who seemingly had no answer.

"I finally got into the game in the second half. I realized I could beat their backs with speed, so I used it," said the freshman from Weston, Mass. "I got into channels and got a couple chances. They didn't go in, but we're sitting here winners."

Providence didn't win a game last season, finishing with a 0-16 record. This season, the Friars tied their way into the NCAA Tournament, in certain critics' eyes. Daley wasn't shy about rebuking the criticism.

"I would hope so," Daley said when asked if the win put his program on the map. "I don't think many people thought we were deserving to get into the NCAA Tournament, as a result of having six wins and nine ties. Those ties are against some of the best teams in the country, being in the Big East.

"Seven teams make it [into the tournament]from the Big East and we're one of those seven. It does the Big East proud and shows the strength of our league."

Daley was upfront when asked about North Carolina on Tuesday. "As soon as Eion scored, I thought about North Carolina," Daley said matter-of-factly.

"We know they are a national powerhouse; it's a mountain to climb for our guys, but our guys will be prepared. They are looking forward to the challenge North Carolina presents."
Carolina will be a challenge, but Providence is dreaming. Still.

PC (1): Lynch; assist -- Bury. HOFSTRA (0). Halftime 0-0. End of regulation 0-0. Saves -- Konopka, PC, 4; Gumbrecht, H, 5. Records -- PC 7-3-9; H 14-5-3.

South Florida-Syracuse sidebar for St. Pete Times

College football: USF 27-Syracuse 0

History in triplicate for star rusher

Andre Hall scores three times and breaks three USF records.

By DENIS GORMAN

Published November 13, 2005

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Saturday had to be one of the best days of Andre Hall's life.
On the same field where his hero Jim Brown was among the players feted, Hall ran over Syracuse and the USF record books. The senior running back rushed for 222 yards and three touchdowns and set three school records in USF's 27-0 win over the Orange.

Hall set USF's career mark in rushing yards (2,345) and rushing touchdowns (23). He also set the school record for rushing touchdowns in a season with 12, breaking the record of 11 he set last season.

The last time a running back rushed for 200 yards against the Orange was Oklahoma's De'Mond Parker in 1997.

It was his second-best career day for yardage; only his school-record 275-yard game against UAB on Nov. 3, 2004, was better. It was also the second best rushing game in the Big East this season, behind Syracuse's Damian Rhodes, who gained 236 against Buffalo. Hall leads the conference in rushing, with 988 yards.

"It's all right," Hall said, laughing. "I give all the credit to my big boys up front."

On USF's second drive, three plays after safety Johnnie Jones' interception of quarterback Joe Fields, Hall scored on a 4-yard touchdown for a 10-0 lead.

But Hall's signature play came late in the second half. Facing second and 25 from USF's 6-yard line, Hall busted a 34-yard run down the left sideline for a first down. USF capped the drive on Kyle Bronson's 22-yard field goal.

"After that, I felt they gave us a little more room to run," Hall said. "That's when I noticed they switched their defense; they weren't coming in from the edge as hard."

Syracuse might not have been attacking as hard, but Hall continued his assault on the Orange; he had four runs of 30 yards or more.

USF coach Jim Leavitt appreciated his star running back's effort.

"Andre Hall is a good football player; he makes a lot of good things happen," Leavitt said.

He might not appreciate a third quarter Hall highlight, though. After a 33-yard touchdown run to make the score 20-0, Hall said he struck a pose in the end zone, drawing a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Hall expects to face some tough love from Leavitt.

"I did a little pose, it was nothing major," Hall said. "I guess I have to pay my dues come Monday."

In the past, Hall has said Brown was one of his idols.

"I didn't get to see him," Hall said of Brown, attending as part of Syracuse's ceremony to retire
his No. 44.

It's a good bet Brown and Syracuse won't forget Andre Hall.

South Florida-Rutgers football sidebar for St. Pete Times

College football: USF 45-Rutgers 31

Knights receive Royal's treatment

By DENIS GORMAN
Published November 6, 2005

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - USF defensive end Terrence Royal stood in a hallway, wearing a huge grin.

"I always expect to play like that every game," the senior said after the Bulls' 45-31 win over Big East foe Rutgers. "I expect to play a big game every game.

"I have high expectations for not only myself, but the whole defense. It's not a surprise."
Royal was a one-man wrecking crew, finishing with six tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery, half a sack and his first career touchdown.

His fun began early.

Two plays after Johnnie Jones' 32-yard interception return for a touchdown, Royal and Jason Allen blitzed Rutgers quarterback Ryan Hart. Allen got to Hart first, from the blind side. As Hart went down, the ball popped free, right into Royal's hands. He rambled 11 yards into the end zone, holding the ball aloft.

Not a bad way to score your first touchdown.

"I wanted to dance," Royal said, "but I thought about the extra point. I kept to myself, held the ball and ran to the sidelines."

The fumble return for touchdown was USF's first since Nov. 24, 2004 when Craig Kobel recovered a fumble in the end zone against Cincinnati.

In the third quarter, Royal again tormented Hart. This time, the 6-foot-3, 255-pound end dropped into coverage and picked off a pass, returning it 22 yards to the Rutgers 25-yard line. On the ensuing drive USF scored on a 2-yard touchdown run by Andre Hall, but the extra point was blocked.

Midway through the second half, Rutgers began clicking on all cylinders, cutting a 37-17 lead to 37-31. It was a time when a young team needed a calming presence. And Royal was.

"It (the game) was swinging back and forth," Royal said, gesturing with his hands. "I went to the guys on the sideline, told them I loved them and said we as a defense have to (come together). I said if they didn't score, they wouldn't win."

For the game, USF forced six turnovers. Playing a team that had only turned the ball over 11 times (only losing one fumble) in eight games coming in, the takeaways were huge.

"Mainly, we knew we had to create turnovers in order to win the ballgame," Royal said.
Royal certainly thinks better efforts are ahead.

"Our defense is talented; our defense is talented," the senior said. "Basically, we need to stay focused throughout the game; play that kind of game for 60 minutes.

"That's when you'll see me in all smiles."

David Givens and Deion Branch sidebar for the Boston Herald

Givens, Branch deliver

By Denis Gorman
Monday, December 27, 2004

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Going into yesterday's tilt with New York, Patriots [stats, news] skeptics centered on the Jets' defense. How could the Pats, who were stymied by the Dolphins Monday night, score on a defense that had pitched seven second-half shutouts?

Deion Branch [news] and David Givens [news] provided the answer.

The Patriots' receivers continually got open against the Jets' cover-2 scheme, making life easy for Tom Brady [news] and Corey Dillon. And Charlie Weis made sure his wideouts got the ball.

Branch caught seven passes for 82 yards and a touchdown, and Givens caught two balls for 64 yards. Givens' 35-yard reception on a post-corner route in the second quarter set up Brady's 16-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Graham [news], which gave the Patriots a 10-0 lead and all the scoring they needed in their 23-7 victory.

Givens had been phased out of Weis' offense, much to his displeasure. After last night, Weis will likely go to Givens next week against San Francisco and throughout the Pats' playoff run. Givens declined comment after the game, but Brady spoke glowingly about the resurgent receiver.

``We were anticipating that type of play, where David can get behind the cornerback,'' Brady said of the former Notre Dame star. ``He was behind (the corner) just enough and made a great catch.''

Weis' game plan took advantage of the Jets' greatest asset: speed. Repeatedly, Brady hit Branch and Givens on wide receiver screens and post-corner routes after the Jets' defense bit on Brady's play action fakes.

Branch ended any hopes the Jets might have had for a comeback - and clinching an AFC wild card berth - with a 6-yard touchdown pass to start the fourth quarter.

On second-and-goal, Brady faked a handoff to Dillon, rolled to his right, and spotted Branch all by himself for a Pats touchdown, prompting a mass exodus by the Meadowlands crowd.

``It was just game planning,'' a grinning Branch said. ``They came up and bit on the fake to Corey, which they would do the majority of the time, and I ran a good route. The play fake did it.''

Brian Roberts feature for the Chapel Hill News and Advocate

B-Rob still shines for Baltimore

The CHHS grad has cooled off a bit since the All-Star break, but Brian Roberts remains a star for the Orioles.

By DENIS GORMAN, CORRESPONDENT

BALTIMORE — These are not heady times for the Baltimore Orioles.

On top of the world, and the American League East, barely more than a month ago, the Orioles are 11 games off the pace for the AL wildcard.

Heading into Tuesday’s game with Tampa Bay, Baltimore (53-58) had lost 18 of its last 22 games.

The month of August has been the worst, and not just because the Orioles began it dropping five of seven games and firing manager Lee Mazzilli. They also had to witness star hitter Rafael Palmeiro being suspended for 10 days after testing positive for steroids. The revelation rocked all of Major League Baseball, but it shook the Orioles the most, and now the team seems almost devoid of hope.

“It’s not the kind of week that you want to have very often, that’s for sure,” said second baseman Brian Roberts, who played at Chapel Hill High School and UNC before making it to the big league. “I don’t think anybody really saw it coming.”

One of baseball’s most explosive offenses finds itself struggling to hit, to say nothing of scoring runs. The starting pitching, historically a Baltimore strength, has been hit hard in recent weeks, both figuratively (a 5.33 ERA for the month of July) and literally (Sidney Ponson and Daniel Cabrera left games last week, after being hit by batted balls). And a taxed bullpen hasn’t held anyone in check.

The Orioles’ hot start to the 2005 season has become a distant memory, as Baltimore seems destined for another postseason spent watching other teams battle in the playoffs.
But despite the gloom that surrounds one of baseball’s glamour franchises, there are rays of light. Brian Roberts is one of those.

At 5-feet-8, 175 pounds, with brown hair, brown eyes and a sly grin, Roberts still looks more like someone’s kid brother than a major league second baseman.

But, when he takes the field, it’s apparent why he’s on the verge of supplanting Alfonso Soriano as the American League’s best second baseman — and why he started for the A.L. in the All-Star game in mid-July.

Offensively, BRob, as he’s called by his teammates, has posted staggering numbers, despite a slight slowing since the all-star break: a team-leading .325 batting average, 135 hits, 30 doubles, 20 stolen bases, 52 extra-base hits, 17 home runs and five triples.

“It started off probably better than it’s going right now. You don’t expect to start off quite as good as I did,” Roberts said.

A right-handed batter, Roberts’ level swing allows him to spray the ball to all fields. He’s patient at the plate, where he’s compiled a .402 on-base percentage, fourth overall in the American League.

Defensively, he’s just as good, having committed only four errors through Baltimore’s first 104 games.

For casual observers, Roberts’ 2005 season has been a revelation. But a closer examination of his career statistics shows that Roberts’ numbers have improved every season.
In 2004, Roberts’ first season as the everyday second baseman, he hit .273 with 50 doubles, 53 RBI, 56 extra-base hits and 29 stolen bases. Before that, Roberts and Jerry Hairston Jr. split time at second base. It was tough for both because they were close friends who wanted to play every day.

“Anyone who plays this game knows how difficult it is, even when the job is yours,” Roberts said. “It’s a frustrating game. If you’re worried about going 0-for-15 and not playing for a week after that, it’s hard.”

On the rise

Roberts’ story, like any worth telling, wouldn’t be nearly as interesting if there wasn’t an obstacle to overcome.

He’s triumphed over two; one life-threatening, and the other still causes him and his family pain and confusion.

When Roberts was five, he was diagnosed with a hole in his heart. Doctors were able to surgically repair the defect, but the lasting result was intangible.
Roberts, maybe more than any other Oriole, can relate to the sick children he visits.

“I don’t know if I appreciate (baseball and the ancillary things that come with it) more than anyone else; I certainly see, when I visit a kid, that life can be a lot different than it is,” he said.

“I obviously feel very fortunate and very blessed. I appreciate everything I’ve been allowed to do.”

After graduating from Chapel Hill High School, Roberts enrolled at the UNC, where his father, Mike, was the baseball coach.

Brian won honors as the 1997 NCAA Freshman of the Year, but UNC fired his father after the season. Upset with the university’s decision, Roberts transferred to the University of South Carolina.

To this day, father and son say they don’t understand why North Carolina fired Mike.

On the other hand

Miguel Tejada is considered one of the 10 best players in the game. At 5-9, 215 pounds, without an ounce of fat on his body, Tejada looks as if he is built out of granite. If Michelango’s David came to life, he’d bear a resemblance to Tejada.

He plays baseball’s glamour position, shortstop. He’s among the American League leaders in eight offensive categories.

Indisputably, he’s the Orioles’ most important player.

Except...

Tejada doesn’t think so. In his mind, the player Baltimore can least afford to lose is the one he sees over on the other side of second base.

“He’s great,” Tejada said of Roberts. “He does everything. I’m really comfortable (playing with him). We’ve been here last year and this year. We are where we are because of him. It’s not easy to find a good leadoff man in this game, and he’s (played well) this year. He’s the reason we’ve done so (well).”

Roberts laughed off Tejada’s comments.

“It’s nice of Miggy to say something like that,” Roberts said. “I don’t think it’s true. We have
guys — a lot of guys — who make other guy’s jobs easier. That’s how a good team should be: Everyone should fill a role.

“It’s a good place to be, when you’re in a lineup with Melvin Mora, Tejada, Javy Lopez, Sammy Sosa. It makes my job a little easier.”

Craig Hansen sidebar for Rockaway Wave

Closer Doesn’t Get Chance To Finish In New York

By Denis Gorman

The Boston Red Sox may have their successor to Keith Foulke. And all it took was 25 teams passing up St. John’s closer Craig Hansen.

In a somewhat shocking development, Hansen slid down the 26th pick of Tuesday’s Major League Baseball draft, where he was drafted by the World Champion Red Sox.

“What I’m looking to do now is do whatever I can to help the Boston Red Sox, whether it’s starting, closing or setting up,” Hansen told reporters, after being notified that the Red Sox had selected him. “Any way I can help the Boston Red Sox. I have no preference. I just want to go out there and pitch.”

Should Hansen “go out there and pitch,” the Red Sox and their fans will be excited. The St. John’s career saves leader was thoroughly dominant this past season, finishing with 14 saves and a 1.68 ERA.

The junior’s legend grew at the College World Series. Starting the Red Storm’s first game, due to SJU starter Anthony Varvaro’s knee injury, Hansen threw seven innings, only allowing three runs in St. John’s 5-3 over Virginia.

After the game, St. John’s Head Coach Ed Blankmeyer raved about his closer-turned-starter. “When we got the bid, I said to Craig, ‘You may be getting that ball game one.’ He got an inkling, but he’s got the closer mentality. After two years as a closer, to pitch and start a game of this magnitude, what he did is just outstanding.”

Don’t think that the Red Sox didn’t notice. And don’t think that the Red Sox have any plans to turn their potential closer of the future into a starter.

“I just think now college sports, in general, has become such a big money event—even college baseball, it doesn’t get as much notoriety—but the pressure on those college coaches to win [is intense], and I think that’s why you see more college pitchers that have those specialty reliever roles such as Craig,” said Red Sox director of amateur scouting Jason McLeod.

“I’m sure he’s been asked that question [about starting] many times. He does have the three pitches that he throws for strikes, but I figure at St. John’s, they had a scenario there where they thought it was best for him, to help them win, to be in a closer’s role.”

Considering that scouts believe the Glen Cove, Long Island native can pitch at the Major League level right now, how could Hansen have slipped so far? Leading into the draft, Hansen was a consensus Top-10 pick.

It might have to do with Hansen’s choice of representation, super agent Scott Boras. Teams might have been scared off, considering that Stephen Drew and Jered Weaver, both Boras clients, sat out the entire year while negotiating with the Diamondbacks and Angels.

McLeod admitted that the Boras factor might have been a reason that Hansen dropped, but reiterated that the Sox are happy with their No. 26 pick.

“Getting to Craig’s selection, yes, of course, there are some teams that are somewhat scared off by Scott, and we look at it as when Craig was there at our pick, he was the highest-rated guy we had on the board and we wanted to try to acquire that talent. And that’s why we selected [him].

“We were surprised that he got to our pick and we were just happy he did. So that’s why we decided to select him.”

Fred Neinast feature for Rockaway Wave.

Neinast Proves That Age Is Nothing But A Number

By Denis Gorman

Fred Neinast is pictured during one of his many practice runs. Running a triathlon at 52 years old? It doesn’t make sense.

Most 52 year olds aren’t running triathlons – they’re working and seeing retirement in the not-too-distant future. They may be gazing at their children, hoping for their best. Triathlons? Fifty-two year olds aren’t participating in triathlons.

Fred Neinast, however, is not your prototypical 52 year old.

Neinast, a Rockaway Beach native, will be running in Sunday’s New York City Triathlon. And, if history is any indication, Neinast should experience success. In his career, he has won his age group 90 percent of the time, and he’s been the overall winner 19 times.

The pharmaceutical home care manager for Coram Health Care remembers his first overall win vividly.

“I won at Point Lookout 10-to-12 years ago. At the half mile point, I realized I was going to win it all and it was a nice feeling, and I soaked it all in.”

How does a person decide to start participating in sport’s most grueling endeavor? For Neinast, it started after finishing a high school running career.

“I saw it as a healthier way to work out, a more well rounded workout,” he explained. “You use all of your muscles. I start January 1, seven to eight workouts a week; try to do something everyday.

“During the winter, I’ll swim in a pool. Summer, I’ll swim in the ocean. I take off October, November and December; a three month slow-down period.”

Sunday’s course is crafted to be physically taxing, to draw out the athletes’ best. A 40-kilometer bike race on the on Henry Hudson Parkway will be followed by a 10-kilometer foot race in Central Park and conclude with a 1,500-meter swim in the Hudson River.

And the No. 9 ranked U.S. athlete in the 50-and-up age group absolutely cannot wait. Even if he knows, much like the Yankees, that others in his age group will be gunning for him.

“Right now, as I get older, it gets harder. My goal is to win my age group, even with the good age group racers,” said Neinast.

Tom Crotty Classic sidebar and notes for the Rockaway Wave

Wood Powers McClancy Win In Crotty Classic

By Denis Gorman

If Sunday’s Tom Crotty Memorial Tournament was Stephen Wood’s formal introduction to St. John’s University, we may have the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Wood, a 6’4 junior at Monsignor McClancy, scored 24 points in McClancy’s 53-33 win over Bishop Ford, at Lou Carnesecca Court, along with displaying his splendid all-around game (five rebounds, three blocks and an assist).

The Crusaders’ star started the game in the frontcourt, due to a teammate’s illness. All Wood did was shut down Bishop Ford’s big men, grab rebounds and draw defenses to him, allowing his teammates open shots.

In the second half, McClancy coach Don Kent, worried about his star’s fouls (three), moved him to the backcourt from where he dominated the game.

Last week, Kent spoke glowingly about his star guard, who leads the CHSAA ‘A’ division in scoring at 23.6 points per game, and who earlier this season became McClancy player in the Kent era to score 50 points in a single game. “God willing, by the time Stephen graduates, he’ll be a 1,000 point scorer. He’s very skilled. He plays both ends of the court; has a good shot, a good three point shot.”

Bishop Ford learned that the hard way. Up five in the fourth, McClancy went on a 16-0 run that ended the game for all intensive purposes. Wood scored 11 of McClancy’s 16 points, including a dunk and two threes.

“It was the dunk, the dunk,” said Wood, emphatically, when asked about when he knew the game was over. “It turned me on, it woke me up. I knew I had to keep it going.”
St. John’s and Fordham are recruiting him, a fact that the probable ‘A’ South Division Player of the Year knows. He also knew that Carnesecca Court was the perfect place to showcase his all-around game.

“It was very exciting (to play at St. John’s),” Wood said. “Earlier in the season, we got to play at Wake Forest, at a Christmas tournament, that was exciting.” Wood later said that he goes as many St. John’s and Fordham games as he can.

With four games remaining in the regular season, McClancy has 13 wins and -most likely-a spot in the ‘A’ Division playoffs, which makes Wood very happy. “It feels real good. Last year, as a sophomore, we were losing a lot. We only won nine games last year. Now, we have 13. “I’m trying to win a championship. That’s the exclamation point to the season.”

Tom Crotty Notes

St. John’s Men’s Basketball Coach Norm Roberts was at Carnesecca Court on Sunday watching all seven games on the day.
When asked if he was recruiting some of the young talent on display, Roberts laughed and said, “Always recruiting.”