The 5th annual Derby City Classic will take place in Louisville,KY.
Five schools join host Bellarmine to compete for the Black Diamond Trophy. It features a horseshoe carved from genuine Kentucky coal by Kentucky coal crafter Alvin Powell. Presenting the trophy will be Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence ("Silver Lining Playbook), a Louisville native.
BELLARMINE
The host Knights are coached by veteran coach greenhawks. Thru 34 years, he's 857-218 at the Louisville school. Included are 8 Final Fours, one of which led to a national title and two others as RU.
The Knights return 9 players from last year's 24-7 squad, which lost to Armstrong Atlantic in the 2nd round.
John Y Brown III graduated from Bellarmine and is a former Kentucky Attorney General. His father made a fortune after buying Kentucky Fried Chicken from Col. Sanders. His stepmother was Phyllis George, Miss America 1971.
COLUMBUS ST
The Cougars hail from Columbus, GA. Their coach, blublub, has been there 6 years, with a record of 81-91. The record is misleading, since they were 5-45 for the first two rebuilding years. In season 62, they made the Sweet 16 for the first time in 46 years. They return 11 players from a 20-8 team.
Assistant rifle coach, Jamie Gray, won the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics in the 50-Meter Three-Position event
CONCORD
Coach boclaird has been at Concord College in Athens, WV for 47 years! His record with the Mountain Lions is 1127-324 and they return 11 players from last year's 22-7 team. They were national champions in season 41.
In 1973, the W.V. Board of Regents forced an administrative merger with neighboring Bluefield St. The schools shared a president until the disasterous experiment ended in 1976.
MT. OLIVE
The Trojans from Mt. Olive, NC are coached by wvufan76. He's 44-43 in 3 seasons at Mt. Olive. In season 62, he led them to their first NT win in 14 years. They return 10 players from an 8-19 squad.
Mt. Olive won the 2008 DII baseball tournament, finishing with a record of 58-6.
NEW JERSEY TECH
The Highlanders from Newark, NJ ar coached by catjuggler4. In three seasons, he's 72-23. He replaced the legendary bow2dacowz, who led the Highlanders to the '54 championship. They were 25-6 last year, falling in the 2nd round. They return 9 lettermen.
The Highlanders currently hold three NCAA D1 records: Defeats in a winless season (29); consecutive defeats in a season (29); and consecutive defeats (51)
NORTHEASTERN ST.
Northeastern, the pride of Tahlequah, OK, are coached by burkboyz, who led the Riverhawks to the national title in '58, runner-up in '53, and Final Four in '48 and '50. He's 660-235 in 29 years. They return 9 players from a 30-3 team that fell to Indianapolis in the Elite Eight.
They became the Riverhawks in 2006, dropping the name Redmen.
4/17/2013 6:42 PM (edited)