Coach leads 49ers against old team
By Andres Cardenas
Daily Forty-Niner
It will be homecoming weekend for Long
Beach State men's basketball Head Coach Wayne Morgan and 49er Ramel Lloyd
as they head back to Syracuse University to play in the Carrier Classic.
Morgan said that he is happy to go back
to New York and he is looking forward to seeing people he knows. However,
Morgan does keep in mind why he is actually returning home.
"The main thing I am going for is to try
to win some basketball games," Morgan said.
This will be the first time that both Morgan
and Lloyd will be at Syracuse as the opposition.
This will also be the biggest tournament
that most 49ers will play while at LBSU. Joining the 49ers at the Carrier
Classic will be three East Coast schools: host Syracuse, first round opponent
St. Joseph's, and Richmond University.
Morgan spent 12 years at Syracuse University
as an assistant coach to Jim Boeheim before he came to LBSU. Morgan helped
coach Syracuse to 316 wins and to the 1996 NCAA championship game during
his time at Syracuse.
As for Lloyd, he was at practice on Tuesday
running down the court with appearance of the tendonitis that has been
plaguing his knees.
"I wish I was going back there playing
a little better," Lloyd said about the trip.
Most of the 49ers said that they were concerned
with their shooting at the Carrier Dome, since the stadium is big enough
to hold football games and can seat up to 33,000 for basketball.
"My understanding is that the backdrop
is different from that of The Pyramid," guard Ron Johnson said.
"We will be able to shoot around before
the game, hopefully that will help us be able to shoot better in the game."
49er center Mate Milisa played at James
Mason University and said that he, along with Lloyd, has told the team
know what to expect.
"East Coast basketball is more physical,"
Milisa said.
"Referees are not going to call as many
fouls as they would call here."
St. Joseph's is first up for the 49ers.
The Hawks are two years removed from a
"Sweet 16" appearance in the NCAA tournament.
Last year they slipped to 12-18, however,
this year they have 13 returning players and all five starters.
The 49ers' next opponent could be either
Richmond or Syracuse. |
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