School by School Previews: Coppin State | Loyola | Morgan State | Navy | Towson | UMBC

By Mathew Schlissel 

Men's coaches: Todd Bozeman, Morgan State; Jimmy Patsos, Loyola; Pat Kennedy, Towson; Ron "Fang" Mitchell, Coppin State; Billy Lange, Navy; Randy Monroe, UMBC.

Women's coaches: Joe Mathews, Towson; Tom Marryott, Navy; Derek Brown, Coppin State; Donald Beasley, Morgan State; Phil Stern, UMBC; Joe Logan, Loyola.  (Photos: Sabina Moran/PressBox)

Baltimore's local college basketball may not be ready to challenge the status of Philadelphia's legendary "Big Five," but the overall talent level is definitely on the rise and every coach exudes hope.

A recent luncheon sponsored by PressBox for local coaches indicated that Maryland's Terrapins may still be the area darlings, but there are other teams in the city that are ready, willing and able to create a noise. 

Can the "Big Six" of Baltimore finally make waves this year in the area and in their conferences? In order to get the notice they feel they deserve, the programs have to produce.

Navy was the last local men's team to earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 1998 and it is now a decade removed since Coppin State's fantastic run in 1997, when the Eagles upset South Carolina in the tournament's first round.

Of course, oldtimers can probe the past even further and recall when Baltimore produced two national champions. In 1974 Marvin "The Human Eraser" Webster took Morgan State to the Division II title, the championship coming in a 67-52 victory over Southwest Missouri State.

Webster went on to play 10 solid years in the NBA.

Just two seasons after Morgan's triumph, Joe Pace was a dominating figure as unheralded Coppin State brought home the NAIA championship with a 96-91 thriller over Henderson (Ark.) State.

While those memories of long ago have faded, Baltimore has built a reputation as a hotbed for high school basketball. From the national champions of Dunbar to Southern to Calvert Hall to Mount St. Joseph, the high school scene has always been in the forefront of local hoops.

As the glory days of Morgan and Coppin faded, local college basketball has played second fiddle, whether it's to the University of Maryland or the great Charm City high school teams.

In recent seasons, however, the local college outlook has brightened considerably with an influx of new coaches and enthusiasm. Add Todd Bozeman (Morgan State) to a scene that already includes legendary Coppin State coach Ron "Fang" Mitchell, Towson's Pat Kennedy, Loyola's Jimmy Patsos and UMBC's Randy Monroe, and there is tremendous reason for optimism. The presence of these coaches should spice local rivalries for a long time to come.

"This area has great passion for college basketball," Navy coach Billy Lange said. "It would be great to see us unite as coaches and universities to promote college basketball."

Issue 1.29: November 9, 2006