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Salem

About the 2003 Division III
men's basketball tournament

Tigers bring
new attitude
in Salem return

By Pat Coleman
D3hoops.com

SALEM — When the Hampden-Sydney Tigers took the Salem Civic Center floor for their practice before the beginning of the 1999 Final Four, it was with a great deal of confidence, enthusiasm, and players reminding each other that "This is our house."

In the four years since, almost everything has changed. No players are left. The other three Final Four teams (UW-Platteville, Connecticut College, William Paterson) didn't even make the tournament this year, and two weren't even close.

In fact, the two teams could barely be more different. There's no T.J. Grimes to be the go-to guy, and nobody is in the vicinity of his nearly 18 points per game.

"We remember those guys even though we weren’t a part of that team," said Brandon Randall, above. "I feel like it’s just a continuation of that ’99 year."

"In ’99, we had a great basketball team," said head coach Tony Shaver, "but I wasn’t sure how we would fare with the best in the country at that time. This team I think will play very well. We’ve had enough NCAA experience to feel like if we play well, we’ve got a shot."

It's a more balanced, deeper Tigers squad Shaver brings to Salem, and a business-like attitude they carried into their home away from home.

"These guys have never experienced it, so I hope they feel a great deal of excitement, a lot of energy," said Shaver.

Hard to imagine it could be more exciting for them than the sectional final win against UW-Oshkosh, when combined with the joy of cutting down the nets on archrival Randolph-Macon's home floor.

"I was sad to see them lose," said forward Lane Brooks, "but it’s just icing on the cake to get to cut the nets down here."

Perhaps, since Randolph-Macon cut down the Salem Civic Center nets in the ODAC tournament, Hampden-Sydney can return the favor.

What does it all mean?
Since there is no UW-Platteville in this tournament, or even in Division III at all this season, the 2003 Final Four is wide-open. Anyone could come away with the bronze-and-walnut and a lot of memories.

Because anything is possible, we'll tell you now what each of the possibilities means.

If Hampden-Sydney wins: Perhaps playing road non-conference games is overrated. Or, more likely, it can be overcome when you don't have to play in a single unfamiliar venue in the postseason (see 1999).

If Wooster wins: There's just too much good non-scholarship basketball in Ohio.

If Williams wins: The Northeast passes the East once and for all and is no longer the worst region in D-III men's basketball. Unfortunately, even if they balance out teams between the two regions, it won't help the East much.

If Gustavus Adolphus wins: The SCIAC is even better than we thought, and so is the NWC. Plus, never give up on anyone, even when they lose four out of six.

Who will win? Your guess is as good as ours. Any team which can go on the road and beat a WIAC team is a worthy foe, but even that doesn't whittle it all the way down.

Consider, however, that four years ago Hampden-Sydney rode the "home" court advantage and nearly beat the unbeatable Platteville. This year there won't be an invincible opponent.

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