BCSP Notes . . .
Mercifully, conference hoops play starts
After another debilitating showing in Div. I non-conference play, black college men's basketball teams enter the new year ready to take their frustrations out on each other.
No teams emerged from their brutal pre-New Year's schedules with winning records. Hampton (6-6), Morgan State and Bethune-Cookman (both 6-7), all from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, came the closest. Jackson State (4-11, 2-0) and Texas Southern (3-12, 2-0) are the early leaders in Southwestern Athletic Conference play.
There were some bright moments like 5-9 Tennessee State's win last week over Illinois of the Big Ten, or 5-8 North Carolina A&T's win over Depaul of the Big East in late November. But mostly there were blowouts, none worse than Savannah State's 85-25 loss to Kansas State Monday night where the Tigers scored one second-half field goal.
The bottom line is there was no indication that any team from either of the Div. I conferences _ the MEAC or SWAC _ or Div. I independents will make any noise on the national scene. Keep in mind, however, that these teams usually hone their style of play when they face off against each other. That's something to look forward to.
On the women's side, Florida A&M (9-3), North Carolina A&T (7-5) and Morgan State (7-5), again all out of the MEAC, were the only teams to post winning marks. Defending champ Prairie View (7-7, 2-0) has the best overall record among SWAC schools.
As usual, things are a little different on the NCAA Div. II level. There are plenty of teams with winning records though no one at this point is considered a serious contender for a national title.
On the men's side, Virginia Union (6-2) and surprising St. Augustine's (8-2) have posted the best records in the CIAA, while Morehouse (7-2) and Benedict (6-2) pace the SIAC. Bowie State (9-1) and Johnson C. Smith (8-4) pace the CIAA women, with Kentucky State (5-4, 3-0) and Tuskegee (4-4, 3-0) early leaders in the SIAC.
The men of Central State, who play at the Div. II level, have the best record so far among black college teams at 11-1 but their only loss was last week to 4-8 Lake Superior State.
Individually, the CIAA has some national stars.
Elizabeth City State senior center Celeste Trahan is leading all of Div. II women in both scoring (23.3 ppg.) and rebounding (17.0 rpg.). Trahan set her career high last week with a 36-point outing against Mount Olive. She has already been selected CIAA Player of the Week four times this season.
St. Paul's forward Jack Browne is among the nation's men's leaders in Div. II scoring at 23.3 points per game.
Alabama A&M center Mickell Gladness, last year's national shot blocks leader, is at it again. Through 12 games he currently ranks second among Div. I men at 5.3 swats per contest.
West Virginia State junior forward Wade Pidock is among the best 3-point marksmen in the nation. He ranks third in Div. II with 4.1 treys per game and is hitting on 52.3 percent of his shots from behind the arc, ninth best in the country.
Two SIAC stalwarts are among the Div. II leaders in field goal percentage. Kentucky State senior forward Kenny Jones is fifth hitting on 70.1% of his attempts with Morehouse junior center Kenney Boyd is just behind him at 69.9%.
Morehouse guard Travis Floyd is canning 96.4% (27 of 28) of his free throws to rank third in Div. II. Benedict junior guard Charles Gibbs has hit on 19 of 20 free throws (95.0%) to rank sixth.
Dixon in Hula Bowl
Hampton defensive tackle Marcus Dixon is the only black college player on the roster for this week's Hula Bowl which will be played this Saturday, Jan. 12 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Dixon, a 6-4, 290-pound native of Rome, Ga., was a first team all-MEAC selection who totalled 58 tackles and six sacks this season.
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