Kutztown at West Chester Photo Gallery
East Stroudsburg at Kutztown Photo Gallery
KUTZTOWN, Pa (January 25, 2011) – Most people look forward to going to Disney World, Hawaii or the Bahamas'. However, for Kutztown University senior guards Julius Gray (Lincoln University, PA/Oxford Area) and Steve Coffey (Reading, PA/Wilson) it's only one trip that gets them excited and the juices flowing. They'll be making it for the last time as student-athletes in the maroon-and-gold.
The time has arrived for Kutztown's annual visit to Cheyney University's Cope Hall. The key Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division showdown starts Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. The Golden Bears (11-5 overall, 4-0 PSAC East) will look to remain perfect when they take on the Wolves (11-4, 1-3). Kutztown and Mercyhurst are the only PSAC schools without a conference loss through four games.
It may not be listed on a travel brochure, but Cope Hall along with Virginia State University's Daniel Gym is one of the best places in Division II to experience a college basketball game.
Cope Hall, a cozy sweatbox, vibrates like a rock concert. The decibel level is expected to be at the usual ear-splitting levels. The live disc-jockey is ready to keep the crowd grooving to the latest hits. With the dancers, in-house band, and drill team stepping and performing, the full house will be fired up. Sometimes, it gets so loud in Cope Hall that it's difficult to hear the person next to you.
“It's my favorite place to play because of the environment,” Gray said. “It's more than just basketball at Cheyney and that makes the game fun. However, we know what we have to do as a team. We know Cheyney will be ready for us so we have to make sure we match their intensity from the start.”
Entertainment aside, this is a business trip for the Golden Bears. With a victory, Kutztown will open a four-game lead over Cheyney with nine conference games remaining. So yes, the Golden Bears may enjoy all the sights that make Cheyney unique, but they are focused on remaining perfect in PSAC East after knocking off preseason conference favorite East Stroudsburg, 85-82 last Saturday.
Cheyney has dropped two straight games, including a shocking 93-73 decision to Bloomsburg at Cope Hall in its last outing. That was Cheyney's worse home defeat in over 10 years. The Wolves just don't get blown out on their home floor. Cheyney opened the season by winning its first six home games. Included in that six-pack of wins was a thrilling triumph over Clarion at the buzzer.
“It's probably the best place to play in the PSAC,” Coffey said. “We know Cheyney is going to be ready to play so it's going to be up to us to make sure we match their energy early. It was a shock to see them lose like that at home, but you don't know the circumstances behind it.”
Kutztown can relate as Cheyney emphatically ended the Golden Bears' 25-game homecourt winning streak with a 94-62 victory at Keystone Arena last season. The rematch was much closer, but Cheyney also came out on top, winning, 76-71, at Cope Hall on the strength of 14 3-pointers. The Golden Bears have won two of their last three games at Cheyney.
In being named the PSAC East Player of the Week, Coffey averaged 17.0 points and 2.0 steals while shooting a blistering 85.7 percent from the floor (12-for-14) last week in a pair of victories over West Chester and ESU. Coffey is averaging 9.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Coffey is one of many weapons that have contributed to the Golden Bear early season success.
In all of its conference games this season, the Golden Bears have had at least four players reach in double figures and they've been led in scoring by somebody different. Eric Brennan (Chester, PA/West Catholic) scored 16 points against Shippensburg. Gray's career-high 26 points fueled the Golden Bear win over Bloomsburg. Coffey led the way against West Chester with 17 points. Nate Edwards (Philadelphia, PA/North Catholic) 's 18 points lifted KU over ESU.
The one player who wasn't mentioned was senior Tamir Johnson (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter), who is Kutztown's leading scorer (14.4 points per game) and rebounder (8.4 rebounds per game). Johnson has been a rock for Kutztown this season. Johnson has reached double figures in scoring 12 times this year and he has recorded four double-doubles. Johnson is one of four Kutztown players averaging double figures.
Gray chips in at 14.1 points per game and he leads the Golden Bears with 34 3-pointers. Edwards is scoring at a 11.2 point per game clip and Brennan contributes 11.1 points per game.
Another secret to Kutztown's winning formula has been its ability to control the second half of games. The Golden Bears have trailed for a grand total of 5 minutes, 34 seconds in the second half. Kutztown has also held a double-digit edge at some point during the second half.
“Cheyney is a very good team and they have two of the most dynamite players in the conference,” Kutztown University head coach Bernie Driscoll said. “We know it's going to be a tough game and we're going to have execute. We are in a good position, but we have to take care of business.”
Cheyney has relied on the scoring talents of probably the best scoring duo in the PSAC in Sharif Bray and David Burton. They combined to win four straight PSAC East Player of the Week awards before Coffey ended Cheyney's monopoly. A returning All-PSAC first team selection, Bray is second in the PSAC in scoring (20.2 ppg.). Bray has made three game-winning shots this season.
Burton is fifth in the PSAC in scoring (18.4 ppg.) and rebounding (8.9 rpg.). He scored a season high 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Cheyney's setback to Bloomsburg. It was Burton's seventh double-double of the season and he has recorded double figures in all 16 games this season. In addition for Cheyney, guard Bruce Kennedy also averages 10.1 points per game.
Both teams return to action Saturday. Kutztown visits Millersville. Cheyney heads to Mansfield. Both games begin at 3 p.m. The Marauders have already knocked off Cheyney and West Chester at Pucillo Gym this season.
--KU--
