Only 1 Chance
Central Has To Be Perfect
March 15, 2007
By TOM YANTZ, Courant Staff Writer
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- From center Greg Oden to its top ranking, Ohio State towers over Central Connecticut. Central president John W. Miller gave each player and coach Howie Dickenman a small stone at the team's campus sendoff Tuesday to symbolize the Blue Devils' role of David against Goliath.
CCSU Campus Bleeds Blue...
Click here for Central Tournament Bracket Seeding story
UCONN Not invited to the postseason. First time since 1987. click here for story
Fans celebrate CCSU's NCAA tournament berth
By: Jason Vallee, Herald Staff
03/08/2007
NEW BRITAIN - When senior guard Javier Mojica drained a three with 1:36 remaining on the game clock before a capacity crowd at Detrick Gym Wednesday evening, a sea of blue exploded with excitement and fans began dancing in their seats. A minute and a half later, with a rebound by senior guard Obie Nwadike, the Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils danced as well, punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament. The 74-70 victory over the Sacred Heart Pioneers gave CCSU their third Northeastern Conference title since 2000 and the energy across the region has energized students and fans, as well as marking CCSU as the pride of Connecticut entering the field of 64. "This definitely puts us on the map," said Kevin Walsh, a CCSU senior from Middletown. "We're just a small school, but with UConn struggling, we are the team representing Connecticut at this point." The season has been delightful for fans throughout the area. Led by Mojica, the once walk-on freshman and now league and NEC tournament MVP, the Blue Devils overcame adversity and the limits of a nine-man roster to win 22 games. Furthermore the players' down-to-earth, blue-collar attitude has won over the hearts of the entire campus. Sophomore Kyle Langlais of Bristol said the campus has been astir of late, but unlike past years the fever started much earlier in 2007. Last year, it took until the NEC tournament for students to start talking about the possibility of a tournament bid, said Langlais, but the players have been interacting with students all season and when they jumped out to several quick league victories in January, whispers of a shot at the dance spread across campus like a wildfire. Langlais said a good reason for the hype is the players themselves. He said they often say "hello" to other students as they cross campus and always invite fans to come enjoy a game. This approachability has raised campus morale and given students motivation to get excited, he said. The road ahead will not be an easy one for CCSU, who will likely draw a No. 16 seed in the tournament and face the likes of a team such as Ohio State, Florida or UCLA, but fans say they are confident this is a team that could pull off an upset. "This team is not a Cinderella story," said Stan Bachiel, a 1982 alumni and season-ticket holder. "They have been there before and they are ready to go back. Their story is one of hard work, teamwork and heart. This could be the year we get our first NCAA tournament win." Bachiel said the team has fought hard in its two other NCAA tournament appearances. During the Blue Devils' last trip in 2002, the team hung close with the Pittsburgh Panthers on the road before losing. During the team's run in 2000 the team had a capacity crowd stunned when it tied then-No. 2 seed Iowa State at 69-69 after hitting a shot with only five minutes remaining, but CCSU would later fall 88-78. Winning 19 of their last 21 games, this year's Blue Devils will take their momentum into the tournament searching to complete one of the goals on head coach Howie Dickenman's checklist: to gain the school's first NCAA tournament win. Regardless of the tournament outcome, however, fans said Wednesday they are proud of the team and looking forward to watching the first round game. "This year has been one of over achievement," said Steven Lipka, a 1987 alumni who has not missed a home game in seven years. "They've gone from rags to riches and no matter what they faced, they've found a way to win. It'll be a longshot, but they have a shot." New Britain resident Joe Nestra said he realizes the challenge is great and doesn't expect a win - if they go in a 16 seed, they will be looking to be the first team to upset a No. 1 in the first round of the men's tournament - but said this may just be the team to pull off one of the greatest upsets in sports history. No matter where they play or what seed they are given when the brackets are drawn up this Sunday, one thing remains certain: there will be a sea of blue when they gear up for that shot at a first-round stunner.
CC! SU!... follow the men's basketball team here
Blue Devils set to make history
By: Matt Straub, Assistant Sports Editor
03/07/2007
NEW BRITAIN - Javier Mojica came to Central Connecticut looking for a chance to show he belonged on the floor for a game of this magnitude. Obie Nwadike came to New Britain to win this one game. Jemino Sobers fought through injuries for four years, hoping to get the chance to play tonight. Ingo Beaudet came across the country to be a part of this moment. Tonight, the four seniors on Central Connecticut's men's basketball team take their shot at history. They have been close before, but never like this. Now, they can taste it. Now, they know they are 40 minutes from having their names remembered around these parts for decades to come. Four years of work for 40 minutes of play and a lifetime of glory. "The seniors on this team have sacrificed so much, worked so hard, I really feel like they deserve to go to the NCAA Tournament," CCSU coach Howie Dickenman said. "Right now, all we have is the opportunity to play (tonight.)." The Blue Devils host tonight's Northeast Conference championship game tonight against Sacred Heart (7 p.m. ESPN2, ESPN Radio 1410) for the right to get to the NCAA Tournament. They have earned that opportunity, but they must win tonight to get what they deserve. "It's a great accomplishment. For me, Javier, (Sobers) and Ingo this is the reason we came to Central Connecticut. Especially in our senior year, to be a big part of it is a great feeling, but it's not complete yet," Nwadike said. "Our goal wasn't to get to the title game. I guess you could say that was the first goal but the goal was to win the whole thing." Nwadike said after Sunday's semifinal victory over Mount St. Mary's that he and his teammates could enjoy the win "for maybe 15 minutes." From there, the Blue Devils turned their attention to Sacred Heart and the game they most want to win. This is the game that could put Obie Nwadike along with Ron Robinson in Blue Devil lore. This is the night Javier Mojica can place himself next to Corsley Edwards. No matter what the outcome, tonight will be the latest chapter written into the history of Central Connecticut basketball. Before the ball ever gets thrown in the air, this will already be one of the biggest nights in the history of Detrick Gymnasium. Fortunately for Central, the Blue Devils have a pretty good track record on nights like this. The 2002 NEC championship game was against another in-state rival, Quinnipiac. "It was a great atmosphere and I don't remember this place being as it was (that night) ever," Dickenman said of Detrick Gym in a Northeast Conference recap of the game. Dickenman has made his mark on his alma mater as a player, becoming the first in history to get 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds (and doing it in just three years). He is on the doorstep of his third NEC title as coach. Someday, there will be a dedication ceremony in his honor. It will be tough to top the first game the Blue Devils played in Division I, a night dedicated to Bill Detrick. Central used its home court energy to roll over St. Peter's in a stunning upset. A win tonight would be special. The team that was 3-9, the squad with nine players, the group everyone had left for dead would cut down the Detrick Gymnasium nets and move into the NCAA tournament. In the process, four student-athletes would finally get to complete the mission they came to New Britain to accomplish. Herald columnist Bart Fisher contributed to this story ŠThe Herald 2007
Another Blue Out! CC!......SU!
7:00 pm Tonight at Detrick. And on The Deuce!
Nwadike and Sobers Power Blue Devils to Northeast Conference Championship Game
Blue Devils Defeat Mount St. Mary's, 74-68, in NEC Semifinals
Mount St. Mary's .............39 29 68
Central Connecticut State 35 39 74
March 4, 2007
New Britain, CT - Seniors Obie Nwadike and Jemino Sobers both posted 20 points to lead top-seeded Central Connecticut (21-11) to a 74-68 victory over fifth-seeded Mount St. Mary's (11-20) in Northeast Conference semifinal action. Nwadike added a game-best 12 rebounds for his 18th double-double on the season. Junior Chris Vann paced the Mount with a game-high 22 points, while senior Mychal Kearse added 16 points and nine rebounds. Central Connecticut will host Sacred Heart (18-13), the second seed, in the NEC Championship on Wednesday, March 7. The 7 p.m. contest will air on ESPN2.
2/15/07 Blue Devils Win Third Northeast Conference Regular Season Title
Central Connecticut won for the 12th straight time and clinched its third regular season Northeast Conference Championship with a 70-65 win on the road at Monmouth on Thursday night. With the victory, the 13th in 14 games for CCSU, the Blue Devils improve to 17-10 overall and 14-1 in NEC play. They clinch the top seed in the 2007 NEC Tournament and will host every game that it plays in the tourney. Monmouth falls to 11-15 overall and 6-8 in NEC play with the loss.
2/26
Blue Devils Top Wagner; Finish Conference Regular Season 16-2
Behind Blackwood, Central closed the regular season with a potent offensive display in a 79-54 victory Monday before 2,317 at Detrick Gymnasium.
office pools and more
three weekends of pure madness
nothing else on tube
3/8 the Haiku Thursday theme was... CCSU making the NCAA Tournament! We'll leave it up there until they play.
First time in 5 years! New Britain represented!
I used to play pickup games on that court.
I'll start it off. Remember, 5,7,5 syllables.
Hardware City rocks
Big win for school with big heart
Too legit to quit!
..........below 2 contributed by Lou Delbone of www.goat-track.com fame
dancing blue devils
trading in their adidas
will glass slipper fit?
..................
announcers observe
dietrick "not wine and cheese crowd"
hard hittin' new britain
...................Commodore contributes:
new britain played great
made everyone very proud
now the final act
Central Has To Be Perfect
March 15, 2007
By TOM YANTZ, Courant Staff Writer
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- From center Greg Oden to its top ranking, Ohio State towers over Central Connecticut. Central president John W. Miller gave each player and coach Howie Dickenman a small stone at the team's campus sendoff Tuesday to symbolize the Blue Devils' role of David against Goliath.
CCSU Campus Bleeds Blue...
Click here for Central Tournament Bracket Seeding story
UCONN Not invited to the postseason. First time since 1987. click here for story
Fans celebrate CCSU's NCAA tournament berth
By: Jason Vallee, Herald Staff
03/08/2007
NEW BRITAIN - When senior guard Javier Mojica drained a three with 1:36 remaining on the game clock before a capacity crowd at Detrick Gym Wednesday evening, a sea of blue exploded with excitement and fans began dancing in their seats. A minute and a half later, with a rebound by senior guard Obie Nwadike, the Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils danced as well, punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament. The 74-70 victory over the Sacred Heart Pioneers gave CCSU their third Northeastern Conference title since 2000 and the energy across the region has energized students and fans, as well as marking CCSU as the pride of Connecticut entering the field of 64. "This definitely puts us on the map," said Kevin Walsh, a CCSU senior from Middletown. "We're just a small school, but with UConn struggling, we are the team representing Connecticut at this point." The season has been delightful for fans throughout the area. Led by Mojica, the once walk-on freshman and now league and NEC tournament MVP, the Blue Devils overcame adversity and the limits of a nine-man roster to win 22 games. Furthermore the players' down-to-earth, blue-collar attitude has won over the hearts of the entire campus. Sophomore Kyle Langlais of Bristol said the campus has been astir of late, but unlike past years the fever started much earlier in 2007. Last year, it took until the NEC tournament for students to start talking about the possibility of a tournament bid, said Langlais, but the players have been interacting with students all season and when they jumped out to several quick league victories in January, whispers of a shot at the dance spread across campus like a wildfire. Langlais said a good reason for the hype is the players themselves. He said they often say "hello" to other students as they cross campus and always invite fans to come enjoy a game. This approachability has raised campus morale and given students motivation to get excited, he said. The road ahead will not be an easy one for CCSU, who will likely draw a No. 16 seed in the tournament and face the likes of a team such as Ohio State, Florida or UCLA, but fans say they are confident this is a team that could pull off an upset. "This team is not a Cinderella story," said Stan Bachiel, a 1982 alumni and season-ticket holder. "They have been there before and they are ready to go back. Their story is one of hard work, teamwork and heart. This could be the year we get our first NCAA tournament win." Bachiel said the team has fought hard in its two other NCAA tournament appearances. During the Blue Devils' last trip in 2002, the team hung close with the Pittsburgh Panthers on the road before losing. During the team's run in 2000 the team had a capacity crowd stunned when it tied then-No. 2 seed Iowa State at 69-69 after hitting a shot with only five minutes remaining, but CCSU would later fall 88-78. Winning 19 of their last 21 games, this year's Blue Devils will take their momentum into the tournament searching to complete one of the goals on head coach Howie Dickenman's checklist: to gain the school's first NCAA tournament win. Regardless of the tournament outcome, however, fans said Wednesday they are proud of the team and looking forward to watching the first round game. "This year has been one of over achievement," said Steven Lipka, a 1987 alumni who has not missed a home game in seven years. "They've gone from rags to riches and no matter what they faced, they've found a way to win. It'll be a longshot, but they have a shot." New Britain resident Joe Nestra said he realizes the challenge is great and doesn't expect a win - if they go in a 16 seed, they will be looking to be the first team to upset a No. 1 in the first round of the men's tournament - but said this may just be the team to pull off one of the greatest upsets in sports history. No matter where they play or what seed they are given when the brackets are drawn up this Sunday, one thing remains certain: there will be a sea of blue when they gear up for that shot at a first-round stunner.
CC! SU!... follow the men's basketball team here
Blue Devils set to make history
By: Matt Straub, Assistant Sports Editor
03/07/2007
NEW BRITAIN - Javier Mojica came to Central Connecticut looking for a chance to show he belonged on the floor for a game of this magnitude. Obie Nwadike came to New Britain to win this one game. Jemino Sobers fought through injuries for four years, hoping to get the chance to play tonight. Ingo Beaudet came across the country to be a part of this moment. Tonight, the four seniors on Central Connecticut's men's basketball team take their shot at history. They have been close before, but never like this. Now, they can taste it. Now, they know they are 40 minutes from having their names remembered around these parts for decades to come. Four years of work for 40 minutes of play and a lifetime of glory. "The seniors on this team have sacrificed so much, worked so hard, I really feel like they deserve to go to the NCAA Tournament," CCSU coach Howie Dickenman said. "Right now, all we have is the opportunity to play (tonight.)." The Blue Devils host tonight's Northeast Conference championship game tonight against Sacred Heart (7 p.m. ESPN2, ESPN Radio 1410) for the right to get to the NCAA Tournament. They have earned that opportunity, but they must win tonight to get what they deserve. "It's a great accomplishment. For me, Javier, (Sobers) and Ingo this is the reason we came to Central Connecticut. Especially in our senior year, to be a big part of it is a great feeling, but it's not complete yet," Nwadike said. "Our goal wasn't to get to the title game. I guess you could say that was the first goal but the goal was to win the whole thing." Nwadike said after Sunday's semifinal victory over Mount St. Mary's that he and his teammates could enjoy the win "for maybe 15 minutes." From there, the Blue Devils turned their attention to Sacred Heart and the game they most want to win. This is the game that could put Obie Nwadike along with Ron Robinson in Blue Devil lore. This is the night Javier Mojica can place himself next to Corsley Edwards. No matter what the outcome, tonight will be the latest chapter written into the history of Central Connecticut basketball. Before the ball ever gets thrown in the air, this will already be one of the biggest nights in the history of Detrick Gymnasium. Fortunately for Central, the Blue Devils have a pretty good track record on nights like this. The 2002 NEC championship game was against another in-state rival, Quinnipiac. "It was a great atmosphere and I don't remember this place being as it was (that night) ever," Dickenman said of Detrick Gym in a Northeast Conference recap of the game. Dickenman has made his mark on his alma mater as a player, becoming the first in history to get 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds (and doing it in just three years). He is on the doorstep of his third NEC title as coach. Someday, there will be a dedication ceremony in his honor. It will be tough to top the first game the Blue Devils played in Division I, a night dedicated to Bill Detrick. Central used its home court energy to roll over St. Peter's in a stunning upset. A win tonight would be special. The team that was 3-9, the squad with nine players, the group everyone had left for dead would cut down the Detrick Gymnasium nets and move into the NCAA tournament. In the process, four student-athletes would finally get to complete the mission they came to New Britain to accomplish. Herald columnist Bart Fisher contributed to this story ŠThe Herald 2007
Another Blue Out! CC!......SU!
7:00 pm Tonight at Detrick. And on The Deuce!
Nwadike and Sobers Power Blue Devils to Northeast Conference Championship Game
Blue Devils Defeat Mount St. Mary's, 74-68, in NEC Semifinals
Mount St. Mary's .............39 29 68
Central Connecticut State 35 39 74
March 4, 2007
New Britain, CT - Seniors Obie Nwadike and Jemino Sobers both posted 20 points to lead top-seeded Central Connecticut (21-11) to a 74-68 victory over fifth-seeded Mount St. Mary's (11-20) in Northeast Conference semifinal action. Nwadike added a game-best 12 rebounds for his 18th double-double on the season. Junior Chris Vann paced the Mount with a game-high 22 points, while senior Mychal Kearse added 16 points and nine rebounds. Central Connecticut will host Sacred Heart (18-13), the second seed, in the NEC Championship on Wednesday, March 7. The 7 p.m. contest will air on ESPN2.
2/15/07 Blue Devils Win Third Northeast Conference Regular Season Title
Central Connecticut won for the 12th straight time and clinched its third regular season Northeast Conference Championship with a 70-65 win on the road at Monmouth on Thursday night. With the victory, the 13th in 14 games for CCSU, the Blue Devils improve to 17-10 overall and 14-1 in NEC play. They clinch the top seed in the 2007 NEC Tournament and will host every game that it plays in the tourney. Monmouth falls to 11-15 overall and 6-8 in NEC play with the loss.
2/26
Blue Devils Top Wagner; Finish Conference Regular Season 16-2
Behind Blackwood, Central closed the regular season with a potent offensive display in a 79-54 victory Monday before 2,317 at Detrick Gymnasium.
office pools and more
three weekends of pure madness
nothing else on tube
3/8 the Haiku Thursday theme was... CCSU making the NCAA Tournament! We'll leave it up there until they play.
First time in 5 years! New Britain represented!
I used to play pickup games on that court.
I'll start it off. Remember, 5,7,5 syllables.
Hardware City rocks
Big win for school with big heart
Too legit to quit!
..........below 2 contributed by Lou Delbone of www.goat-track.com fame
dancing blue devils
trading in their adidas
will glass slipper fit?
..................
announcers observe
dietrick "not wine and cheese crowd"
hard hittin' new britain
...................Commodore contributes:
new britain played great
made everyone very proud
now the final act