The 7^th 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 to the winning team will be Darrell Waltrip.  Born in Owensboro, KY, he was a 3-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion and the winner of 84 races.

 

BELLARMINE 

 The host Knights are led by veteran coach greenhawks. Thru 34 years, he’s 887-215 at the Louisville, KY school.   Included are eight Final Fours, one of which led to a national title and two others as RU.

The Knights return 8 players from last year’s 29-2 squad, which lost to U. of the Sciences in the 2^nd round. 

Alexa Groza, captain of Kentucky’s Fabulous Five 1948 team,  was on the 1948 gold medal  Olympic team. He later coached at Bellarmine.

 

BARTON 

The Bulldogs hail from Wilson, NC and are coached by jtmatt .In 26 years, he’s 425-386. They return 11 players from last year’s 13-18  team that lost to Bellarmine in the 1^st round. The Bulldogs were a surprise winner of the CVAC tournament as a #6 seed. 

Barton won the 2007 DII basketball title, ending Winona St. 57-game winning streak. The ending has been called ‘the greatest finish in college basketball history’ and can be viewed on youtube.

 

CSU LOS ANGELES 

Coach bistiza has led the Golden Eagles for 6 seasons and taken them to post-season each year. His 6 year-record is 109-73 and they return 11 players from a PIT team.

Artist Michael Davis donated a sculpture, “Time Line for Forgotten Ancestors” to the school in 1982.  It was supposed to face the sun, so it could create a very specific shadow, but the university installed it the wrong way destroying its main purpose.

 

E. STROUDSBURG

 Coach jgalt took over from successful coach billyho1515 and hasn’t missed a beat. He’s 69-18 thru 3 seasons with a NT bid each time for the Pennsylvanians.   They have 9 lettermen returning from a 25-5 squad that lost to Henderson St. in the 1^st round. 

In 1976 and 1977, there was a group of students known as the Mad Hatters who marched into the stadium before football games playing music without instruments and wearing a strange assortment of hats.  They were also well-known for their silent cheer during the games

LANDER

Getbedarded leads the Bearcats from Greenwood, SC.  He’s 460-157 thru 21 seasons and won the very first Derby City Classic in season ’59. They lost 2 players to  graduation from last year’s 22-7  team which fell to Valdosta in the 1^st round.

Landers was the Senators until 2012 when they changed to Bearcats

 

VALDOSTA ST

The Blazers from Valdosta, GA are coached by alazar . In his first 5 seasons, he’s 89-60 with 5 NT appearances. They return 11 players from a 22-7 team that lost to CSU-Chico in the Sweet 16. It was the Blazers’ first Sweet 16 in 34 years.

 

Mike Leach, fired as football coach by Texas Tech for forcing a concussion victim to sit in a dark closet, was formerly offensive coordinator at Valdosta. In 1996, he was named national “Offensive Coordinator of the Year”.

 

 

 

 

Barton draws first blood in the Derby City Classic, defeating  CSU-Los Angeles 77-67. 

Tonight's games:
#5 Barton (4-0) at #17 Lander (3-1)
#3 Valdosta (4-0) at #29 E. Strousburg (4-0)
Bellarmine (3-1) at #24 CSU-Los Angeles (3-1)

RESULTS

In probably the best game in the history of the tournament,  #17 Lander defeated  #5 Barton in 2OT, 126-116.
In other games:
#24 CSU-Los Angeles 68; Bellarmine 67
#3 Vadosta 82; #29 E. Strousburg 56

 

STANDINGS
1.  Lander            1-0
    Valdosta          1-0
3. Barton              1-1
4. CSU-LA           1-1
5. Bellarmine      0-1
6. E. Strousburg 0-1

TONIGHT:
Bellarmine (3-2) at #10 Barton (4-1)
#17 CSU-LA (4-1) at #3 Valdosta (5-0)
#9 Lander (4-1) at E. Strousburg (4-1)

 

RESULTS
#10 Barton 66; Bellarmine 58
#3 Valdosta 70; #17 CSU-LA 54
#9 Lander 69; E. Strousburg 61


STANDINGS
1.  Lander          2-0
    Valdosta        2-0
3. Barton            2-1
4. CSU-LA         1-2
5. Bellarmine    0-2
   E. Strousburg 0-2

TONIGHT
# 3 Valdosta (6-0) at Bellarmine (3-3)
#34 CSU-LA  (4-2) at #6 Lander  (5-1)

SCORES
#3 Valdosta 72; Bellarmine 50
#6 Lander 84; CSU-Los Angeles 76

STANDINGS
1. Lander            3-0
    Valdosta         3-0
3. Barton             3-1
4. CSU-LA          1-3
5. E. Strousburg 0-3
6. Bellarmine      0-3

TONIGHT
#6 Lander (6-1) at #2 Valdosta (7-0)
E. Strousburg (5-2) at Bellarmine (3-4)

SCORES 
#2 Valdosta 77; #6 Lander 62
Bellarmine 66; E. Strousburg 44

STANDINGS
1.   Valdosta      4-0
2.   Lander         3-1
3.   Barton          3-1
4. CSU-L.A.       1-3
5. Bellarmine    1-3
6. E. Stousburg 0-4

TONIGHT
#1 Valdosta (8-0) at #8 Barton (7-1)
#12 Lander (6-2) at Bellarmine (4-4)
E. Strousburg (5-3) at CSU-Los Angeles (5-3)

Essentially, Valdosta and Barton are meeting for the championship.  In a 3-way tie, Barton would be the champion with Valdosta 2nd and Lander 3rd.   Valdosta is the prohibitive favorite,however. They've won every game by at least 15 points. 

SCORES
#1 Valdosta  78; #8 Barton 62
#12 Lander 78; Bellarmine 71 (OT)
CSU-LA  64; E Strouburg 52

FINAL STANDINGS
1. Valdosta           5-0
2. Lander              4-1
3. Barton               3-2
4. CSU-LA            2-3
5. Bellarmine      1-4
6. E. Strousburg 0-5

Congratulations to Coach alazar and the Valdosta St. Blazers!

Good tournament everyone.  Thanks greenhawks for putting it together!

Good job Alazer. Your team is real tough.

And thanks again Greenhawks for the invite!

Yarnell runner-up taking on Derby City winner

BOOM!