BCSP IX-33: BCSP Notes

BCSP Notes . . .

All-Americans
All-CIAA forward Tim Washington of Bowie State and CIAA Player of the Year Patrick Pope of St. Augustine's were named to the second and third teams of the Daktronics NCAA Div. II All-American squads this week.

Washington, a 6-9 senior from Washington, D. C., led the Bulldogs to the CIAA and South Atlantic Region Tournament championships and was named most valuable player in both. He was chosen for the second team. Washington averaged 20.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game as the Bulldogs won their first-ever conference and regional titles and a spot this week in the D-2 Elite Eight.

Pope, a 6-1 senior guard from Clinton, Md., capped a brilliant career at St. Augustine leading the CIAA in scoring (24.6 ppg.), free throw percentage (86.8%) and steals (2.96 spg.). He capped his year with a 49-point effort in the CIAA tournament semifinals.

Ben, Again
Detroit Piston center and former Virginia Union standout Ben Wallace was named as the NBA's Player of the Week after leading his team to a 3-1 record.

Wallace led the Pistons to a 3-1 record by averaging 20.0 rebounds, 7.5 points, 6.0 blocks, 2.5 steals and 2.0 assists.

Here's a closer look at what earned Wallace the award that he shared with Sacrament's Peja Stojakovic. March 18 at Washington Had 20 rebounds, seven blocks, six points, two assists and two steals in four-point overtime victory over the Wizards

March 20 vs. Philadelphia Tallied 22 rebounds, nine blocks, eight points, two assists and two steals in 113-85 victory over the Sixers.

March 23 vs. Chicago Pulled down 20 rebounds to go along with seven points, five blocks, four steals and two assists in 23-point win over the Bulls.

Wallace, named an NBA All-Star Game starter this year, leads the league in rebounds at 15.3 per game and blocks at 3.09 per game one year after winning both titles en route to taking the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.

NABC D-2 District All-Stars
The National Association of Basketball Coaches has announced its All-District teams and coaches of the year and players from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association took seven of the 11 spots in the men's South Atlantic District.

CIAA and Region champion Bowie State head coach Luke D'Alessio was named the district's top coach after leading the Bulldogs to a 29-4 record.

Named to the six-man first team were four CIAA players; St. Augustine's guard Patrick Pope, Johnson C. Smith forward Marco Spears, Bowie State forward Tim Washington and Shaw forward Kenyon Booker. Named to the five-man second team were three more CIAA standouts; Bowie State forward Jon Smith, Fayetteville State forward Bryan Chapman and Virginia Union center Wayne Wallace.

The selected players are now eligible for the NABC Division II All-American Team to be announced at the conclusion of the 2002-2003 NCAA men's basketball season.

NAIA Tournament
Pairings have been announced for the 32-team NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament being held March 26 thru April 1 in Kansas City Missouri. Four black college teams made the championship field.

On Wednesday, March 26, Dillard (13-18) will meet Houston Baptist, at 2:15 p.m. Jarvis Christian (18-16) takes on McKendree at 8:45p.m. On Thursday, Southern-New Orleans (22-4) faces Reinhardt at 10:45a.m. and Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion Barber-Scotia (25-8) meets Westminster (UT) at 2:15 p.m.

Winners will advance to the second round on Friday, March 28, followed by the quarterfinals on Saturday, March 29, the semis on Monday, March 31 and the Tuesday, April 1 final game.