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News Nuggets, 02.19.05
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

South Carolina fined by SEC for fans rushing court

COLUMBIA — South Carolina was fined $5,000 by the Southeastern Conference on Friday for violating league policy that prohibits spectators from going onto the court during or after a game.

After South Carolina beat No. 3 Kentucky 73-61 on Tuesday night, fans rushed the court to celebrate.

The fine was part of the SEC's new policy for football and men's and women's basketball games. A second offense calls for a $25,000 fine; a third costs $50,000.

The policy went into effect Dec. 1, less than two weeks after a brawl involving players and fans at the Indianapolis Pacers-Detroit Pistons game Nov. 19 and followed the next day by a brawl among players in the Clemson-South Carolina football game.

``This policy is designed to create a safe environment for everyone who participates and attends our athletic contests,'' SEC commissioner Mike Slive said. ``I understand the exuberance of the moment but the security and protection of our student-athletes, coaches, officials and fans is our primary concern.''

South Carolina athletic director Mike McGee said, ``The rule is the rule, and we support the rule. We have addressed the situation, and we will do a better job of keeping the students and the fans off the court from this point forward.''

The university's Student Senate, some of whom admitted getting caught up in the moment, had agreed earlier to donate the money to cover the fine. However, the athletic department said Friday it would cover the cost of the fine.

Shocker boosts Hokies hoops to new pinnacle

BLACKSBURG — Seth Greenberg took over a bad team in the Big East when he was hired to be Virginia Tech's basketball coach before last season.

After Thursday night's shocking win over No. 7 Duke, Greenberg is leading an upstart team in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

``This is just one of those special nights,'' Greenberg said following the 67-65 win. ``It's something that as we're trying to build a program, you can hang your hat on.''

It's also a signal to other ACC schools that the Hokies are not just mere patsies on the basketball court, afterthoughts brought over when the university was recruited along with Miami to bolster ACC football. Incidentally, Virginia Tech also made a successful debut on the gridiron, winning the conference title and securing the ACC's BCS berth.

The Hokies (13-10, 6-6 ACC) ended a three-game losing streak and pulled into a three-way tie for fourth in the league with Maryland and Miami. They also avenged a 100-65 loss to the Blue Devils less than three weeks ago.

The Hokies went 15-14 last season but many thought that the move to the ACC — and the subsequent stacking of their schedule with traditional powers such as Duke, North Carolina and Maryland — would doom them to several years of sub-.500 records.

So far, however, Virginia Tech has shown it can compete.

``Now we belong,'' Hokies guard Zabian Dowdell said after the game. ``I mean, they have to take us serious now. Whether they like it or not, we're here.''

Duke is all too aware.

The Blue Devils seemed poised to run away with the game before Coleman Collins energized the crowd with a dunk midway through the second half. The Hokies also put together a 9-0 run to take a 58-54 lead with 7:07 left.

Then, after J.J. Redick hit a 3-pointer with 22.9 seconds left to give the Blue Devils a 65-64 lead, Dowdell made a 3-pointer from the right wing with 14.6 seconds remaining that caused the sellout crowd to erupt.

Moments later, hundreds of fans poured onto the court to celebrate one of the biggest wins in school history.

``They just willed us to win down the stretch,'' Greenberg said of the crowd. ``They were magnificent. They just embraced and took ownership and motivated and helped us go to another level. That's what college basketball is all about — having a chance to do what we did tonight.''

The Hokies had plenty to do with it. They outrebounded the Blue Devils 49-32, led by Collins with 18.

``They outfought us. They showed a great deal of poise,'' Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. ``For us to get outrebounded by 17 in a basketball game shows something about us, but more about the other team.''

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News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2005 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:21 PM