Tribe Chalks Up 17th Win in Williamsburg

 

Comfortable Margin

 

Powerful Three Point Duo

William and Mary continued its march to a third straight 20 win season today, handily defeating the University of Delaware 90-64 before 6,028 fans --- the most this year --- in Williamsburg.  The Tribe sank thirteen three point shots, including two each by Terry Tarpey (pictured above on the left) and Omar Prewitt (pictured above on the right).  Prewitt scored 21 points, leading a balanced scoring attack that left five Tribe players in double figures.  Tarpey also snagged 11 rebounds, and Sean Sheldon added 8.  (Go here for the game's box score.)

The Tribe now sits in sole possession of second place in the CAA, with a 17-6 record (9-3 in conference play), just one game behind the UNCW Seahawks.  Even before today's win, William and Mary stood 34th in the RPI power rankings, ahead of Arizona, Michigan and Indiana, for instance.   With six games left in the regular season, three potential games in the CAA tournament, and a possible bid to the NCAA tournament beyond that, the Tribe seems poised to match or exceed the 24 wins it earned in the 1948-49 season, when the team finished second in the Southern Conference, behind North Carolina State..  (That season's schedule included games against the Norfolk Naval Air Station, Quantico Marines, Langley Field, and the Little Creek Amphibious Base.)

The Tribe takes on Hofstra at William and Mary Hall this Thursday, February 11 at 7:00 PM.   Go Tribe!

 

Go Tribe!

Good Omen? 

Tonight's CAA Championship game between William and Mary and Northeastern will tip off at 7:00 PM. at the Baltimore Arena.  William and Mary, led by CAA player of the year and Tribe all time leading scorer Marcus Thorton, has already enjoyed a remarkable season: Coach Tony Shaver chalked up his 500th coaching victory, and the Tribe finished first in CAA regular season play with an 18-11 record.  With a win tonight, the Tribe can earn its first NCAA tournament berth,  Let's hope that the Tribe's 78-62 January 24 victory over the Huskies is a harbinger of this evening's result!  

Go Tribe!!  

Congratulations on Tony Shaver's 500th Career Win!

Last night William and Mary defeated the Washington College Shoremen, 86-46, extending the Tribe's record for the year to 6-3.  (For the story, including box score, go here.)  The victory was a milestone for head coach Tony Shaver, who chalked up his 500th career coaching victory.  Shaver, who previously coached at Hampden-Sydney College, is enjoying his 12th season at William and Mary.  He is the Tribe's winningest coach, with 142 wins thus far.   Congratulations to Coach Shaver and the Tribe.  Keep up the good work! 

Good Luck to the Tribe in the CAA Tournament!

First Baltimore and then ..... ???

Harbinger of Things to Come?

As most Tribe fans know, the CAA Tournament, which usually takes place in Richmond, has begun in earnest at the Baltimore Arena. (According to this story, the CAA has committed to holding the tournament in Baltimore, AKA "Charm City," for three years in a row.)   Let's hope the new and neutral venue is a good luck charm for the Tribe, which compiled an impressive 18-11 record this year (including a convincing win over JMU at Kaplan Arena), the fifth most season victories in team history. According to this story, the Tribe has appeared in two of the last five CAA championships, only to lose both times.  A victory in this year's championship game will earn the Tribe an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament, at a yet-undetermined location, the first such berth in school history.  Let's hope the Griffin gets a taste of "March Madness" after a successful trip to Charm City!

Update:  As many already know, the Tribe prevailed Saturday over the College of Charleston, 70-59, after trailing at half time.  (Go here for the box score.)  Today the Tribe takes on Towson State in the semi-finals.  Good luck to the Green and Gold! 

The Tribe is Virginia's Highest Ranked Men's Basketball Team!

The latest Associated Press poll is out. Inexplicably, William and Mary, with a ten game winning streak, including wins over Wake Forest and Maryland, is not among the top 25. Still, the Tribe received more votes (37) than any other Virginia team. (Virginia Tech received 20, and VCU received 5.) Wherefore art though "the" University of Virginia??

Here's a link to the poll.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/basketball/ncaa/01/04/top.25.ap/index.html

Tonight the Tribe takes on the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Good luck and Go Tribe!