Notes on the National Champions
March 29, 2005
THREE DECADES, THREE TITLES
Virginia Union University head coach Dave Robbins joined an elite group of coaches when he won his third national title over the weekend in Grand Forks, N.D. Only Arad McCutcheon of Evansville and Pat Douglass of Cal-State Bakersfield have won three or more national titles. Robbins also joins McCutcheon as the only coaches to win national titles in three different decades. Robbins led VUU to the crown in 1980, 1992 and 2005. McCutcheon led Evansville to the title in 1959, 1960, 1964, 1965 and 1971.
BROKEN FINGER
Virginia Union University senior Ralph Brown started every game of the Elite Eight, but few knew the pain he was in. Brown broke a finger on his left (non-shooting) hand in the Panthers first practice in Grand Forks, N.D., on Monday, and played the entire tournament with his ring finger and pinky finger taped together. Brown played over 30 minutes in both the Panthers' championship game against Bryant University and the national semi-final vs. Lynn University, scoring 7 points and 6 points, respectively. Brown will be evaluated this week to see if surgery is required to repair the fracture.
FOUR #1 SEEDS DOWNED FOR THE FIRST TIME
Virginia Union became the first team in the history of NCAA Tournament to down four number-one seeds in consecutive games to win the title. The Panthers defeated Bowie State University, the top seed in the South Atlantic Region, 70-64 to advance to the Elite Eight. Once at the national level, VUU downed Metro State 78-63, Lynn 76-61, and Bryant 63-58. All three schools were the number-one seed of their respective regions.
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