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Tampa enters tournament hot

Unlike last season, when the Spartans were underdogs, this year they are favored.

By ROD GIPSON
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 8, 2002

TAMPA -- Richard Schmidt is keeping things simple.

Prepare. Show up. And play basketball. That's the plan as Coach Schmidt and Tampa prepare to open the NCAA Division II South Region tournament today at the Bob Martinez Sports Center.

Host and top seed, UT enters as the defending region champion and favorite. A season ago the Cinderella-type Spartans didn't win their conference, yet earned an NCAA bid, ran through the region and advanced to the Elite Eight.

"There's hopefully not a lot of surprises this time of year," Schmidt said. "You just have to be prepared to play and we think our guys are."

The tournament winner advances to face the South Atlantic Region champion at the Elite Eight, which starts March 20 in Evansville, Ind.

UT has been hot most of the season, winning 18 of its past 19 games with four players averaging in double figures. Sunshine State Conference player of the year Jon Brown is averaging 15 points Forward and emotional leader Gecarri Freeman is averaging 13 points and center Sylvere Bryan is averaging 11. Junior forward James Mereus, who has been bothered by a nagging foot injury and sat out the conference tournament, is averaging 10 and is expected to play off the bench.

"We're excited and the guys are ready to play," Schmidt said. "James has been bothered with that foot but he's been going in practice so we are going to get him out there and see what he can do."

The Spartans are not strangers to this field. UT has lost twice against potential second-round opponent Delta State and is 1-2 against West Georgia. UT is 1-0 against Henderson State after beating the Reddies 60-51 in last season's South Region.

West Georgia was the surprise winner of the Gulf South Conference tournament, upending Valdosta State 72-69 in the title game last weekend. Henderson State and Valdosta State, however, would be considered the stronger squads from the Gulf South. Henderson State features solid players in senior forward Niki Arinze (18 ppg, 10 rpg) and freshman guard Tarvoris Uzoigwe (13 ppg). Valdosta State is led by guard Marcus Williams' 15 points a game and Delta State counters with double-digit scorers Walter Jackson and Ernie Ryans.

"We feel pretty good about our team but you always have to be aware of the unknown," Schmidt said. "It's that unknown that worries you. There are a lot of excellent teams here and there will be a lot of good basketball played this weekend.

"Hopefully, we'll come out and be a part of that."

NCAA DIVISION II SOUTH REGION TOURNAMENT

WHO: No. 1 Tampa (26-2), No. 2 Henderson State (21-6), No. 3 Valdosta State (22-7), No. 4 Delta State (22-6), No. 5 West Georgia (21-8), No. 6 Paine (16-12).

SCHEDULE: Today -- Valdosta State vs. Paine, 5; Delta State vs. West Georgia, 7:30. Saturday -- Henderson State vs. Valdosta State/Paine winner, 5; Tampa vs. Delta State/West Georgia, 7:30. Sunday -- championship, 4. TICKETS: $10 today and Saturday and $5 for students. $8 for Sunday's championship and $4 for students.

WHAT TAMPA MUST DO: With a surprisingly easy run through the SSC tournament last weekend if the Spartans can avoid a letdown and play their aggressive style of offense and strong defense, they should be around Sunday.

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