Cardinals Avenge Unfavorable Ratings

It is becoming so tiresome, so overused. Some school out there ought to change its nickname from “Tigers” to “Dangerfields.”

NCAA Tournament teams spout the “We don’t get any respect” line in unison. So do NJCAA teams.

So does North Idaho College’s men’s basketball team. In NIC’s case, though, it is somewhat warranted.

Seems a newspaper here rated the 16 teams at the national tournament and NIC plopped down at sweet 16. We couldn’t find the newspaper, but several Cardinals insist they saw it.

And NIC players, fresh from a 97-95 overtime win against Bossier Parish in Wednesday’s first round, felt insulted.

“They think it’s all about height,” said NIC’s Andre McKanstry, a 6-foot guard. “It’s all in the heart. Everybody’s overlooking us.”

Literally, perhaps, but not figuratively. Not after Wednesday’s win.

“They’re quick,” Bossier Parish coach Mike McConathy said. “They get the ball inside and dish it back out. They’re in excellent position to do well here.”

NIC sophomore forward Chris Harrison heard a Division I coach predict NIC would lose by 20.

“Stuff like that just ticks us off,” he said.

Champlain on ice

NIC faces undefeated Champlain in tonight’s quarterfinals. For NIC coach Hugh Watson, it’s a chance to even the score. Champlain defeated Watson’s Hiwassee College team at the 1990 national tournament.

Champlain (31-0) blew a big lead before edging St. Catherine 66-65. Tonight will be a battle of tempo control - NIC will push the throttle, Champlain wants a more relaxed pace.

Champlain’s O’Neil Kamaka (6-6), Terrell Baker (6-7) and Kojo Mensah-Bonsu (6-6) combined for 47 points.

St. Catherine guard DeJuan Collins missed a running baseline jumper at the buzzer. He’s being recruited by Idaho, but as UI coach Kermit Davis had feared, others such as Iowa State, Purdue and Oklahoma State have entered the picture.

St. Catherine’s other guard, DeWayne Saulsberry, is a transfer from Jacksonville, Texas, where he played with NIC’s Harrison, McKanstry and Shawn Myrick last season. Saulsberry poured in 20 points.

Nearly Vandal-ized

Tallahassee coach Mike Gillespie was an Idaho Vandals assistant last year. Don’t remember him? It was only for a few days.

Gillespie accepted the job before changing his mind to stay near his kids. His daughter plays basketball at North Carolina State and his son works in Georgia.

“Those are the only reasons I didn’t go to Idaho,” said Gillespie, minutes after his third-ranked Eagles thundered Vincennes 107-93 in the quarterfinals. “And the housing costs in Moscow were unbelievable.”

To replace Gillespie, UI’s Davis hired Dave Farrar, who coached hometown Hutchinson to the ‘88 national title. Farrar can’t take a step in the arena without being stopped by a well-wisher.

“Make sure you go to Roy’s Pit Barbecue,” Farrar said. “Then you’ll know you’ve been in Hutch.”

Notes

High-profile Division I coaches were in abundance, including former Washington State coach Kelvin Sampson, now at Oklahoma, Purdue’s Gene Keady, USC’s Henry Bibby, Missouri’s Norm Stewart and ex-UI assistant James Green, now the head coach at Southern Miss… .

In celebration of this being the 50th NJCAA Tournament, the Hutchinson News put together an all-time tournament team and the top five teams.

The all-tourney team included NBA veterans Walter Berry (San Jacinto ‘84), Mitch Richmond (Moberly ‘85-86) and Spud Webb (Midland ‘82).

The top team was Western Texas, the ‘80 champ coached by Nolan Richardson. Western, led by Paul Pressey, an all-time tourney selection, defeated NIC 108-94 en route to the title. Coached by Rolly Williams, that was the last Cardinals team to make nationals until the current bunch… .

A so-called Juco expert at courtside put together a list of rankings of top players, teams, freshmen, shooters, etc. For what it’s worth, the guru predicted NIC would finish fourth, Cardinals guard Shawn Myrick as the 9th-best player, teammate Todd Myles as No. 17 and Region 18 as tops in the nation. He also wrote that College of Eastern Utah, which lost to NIC in the Region 18 finals “got homered” in Coeur d’Alene.

Other scores

Champlain, Vt., 66, Catharine, Ky., 65

Mesa, Ariz., 88, Savannah Tech 78

Tallahassee, Fla., 107, Vincennes, Ind., 93

Indian Hills, Iowa 84, W. Nebraska 74

, DataTimes