Eaves gets ejected, and A&T falls short

[krazykev]

WASHINGTON -- N.C. A&T coach Jerry Eaves was ejected from a game for the first time in his career Monday night, and the Aggies lost 80-75 at Howard.

Eaves received a double technical foul with his team trailing 78-75 with 1.8 seconds left. His exasperation stemmed from a call with 1:29 to play, when officials allowed a 3-pointer by Howard's Darek Mitchell to stand.

The Aggies trailed 73-72 when Steven Rush blocked a 3-point shot by Howard's Will Gant as the shot clock ran down. Mitchell picked up the loose ball and made a 3-pointer, but he appeared to release the ball after the shot clock expired. Rush responded with a 3-pointer, cutting A&T's deficit to one again, but Gant made an eight-foot runner with 13.4 seconds left. Howard (4-7, 8-15) sealed the victory at the free-throw line.

"We don't blame anything on anyone," Eaves said. "We had our chances tonight, and we just didn't capitalize."

Mitchell scored a career-high 32 points. Howard's leading scorer, Darryl Hudson, was ejected for committing a hard foul in the first half.

N.C. A&T (6-5, 10-13)

N.C. A&T 33 42 -- 75

Howard 37 43 -- 80

Officials--Villanueva, James, Haskins. Att -- 2,007

[hawkeye]

I normally rather a coach to show restraint when responding to questionable calls. For this particular situation, I can't knock Eaves for standing up for the team. Hopefully the team will rally together and finish out the season stronger.

[Bigboy]

Who was at the game and saw this controversial call? Was Eaves right to be upset at the call?

[Aggie One]

As bad as the MEAC officiating for basketball has been this year, it's not surprising.

[JayBee]

I was at the game and Eaves had every right to be upset. The officials were making terrible calls all night, but we shot ourselves in the foot once again at the free throw line. If we could shoot free throws, we would have at least 4 more W's in our favor.

[Aggie77]

jaybee said:

I was at the game and Eaves had every right to be upset. The officials were making terrible calls all night, but we shot ourselves in the foot once again at the free throw line. If we could shoot free throws, we would have at least 4 more W's in our favor.

Not only did the players shoot themselves in the foot, so did Coach Eaves. Sure he had a right to be upset, but if that is what he was upset about, that happen with a minute and a half on the clock. HTF do you get back to back technicals after a time-out, a minute and 28 seconds later with the ball under your basket, with 1.8 on the clock, down by three?

Plus that shot was so close, I can't say for certain if he got it off in time or not, and I'm sure none of the officials know either. One thing for sure is that dude drop 32 on us.

[aggiejazz]

We had the ball with 2 seconds left and a chance to tie with a three and Eaves got a tech Back to back has nothing to do with it because one tech wins the game. Oh boy! I am a little worried now. The girls are dangerously close to last year faltering at the end and the guys are becoming more inconsistent while MSU, Hampton and NSU are getting stronger, FAMU is good and Del State still top dog.

This four game home stand is a chance for both the men and women to not only get back on track but a chance to move ahead in the conference.

[JayBee]

aggie77 said:

jaybee said:

I was at the game and Eaves had every right to be upset. The officials were making terrible calls all night, but we shot ourselves in the foot once again at the free throw line. If we could shoot free throws, we would have at least 4 more W's in our favor.

Not only did the players shoot themselves in the foot, so did Coach Eaves. Sure he had a right to be upset, but if that is what he was upset about, that happen with a minute and a half on the clock. HTF do you get back to back technicals after a time-out, a minute and 28 seconds later with the ball under your basket, with 1.8 on the clock, down by three?

Plus that shot was so close, I can't say for certain if he got it off in time or not, and I'm sure none of the officials know either. One thing for sure is that dude drop 32 on us.

I think Coach Eaves really got pissed when Glen Nelson tried a 3 point shot in the corner to tie the game. The shot was blocked, but dude actually fouled him and the refs didn't call it. At that point, Eaves was red hot, but he should have contained himself because we still had 1.8 sec with the ball under our basket. Skip Mitchell dropped 32 on us because he was open all night. No body was checking him, so he was letting 'em fly from beyond the 3 point line.

[Bornthrilla]

Yall might get mad at me for saying this, but Eaves is not a top tier coach. Above average, but not exceptional. I realized this during the Hampton game. I am not sure he is getting the most out of his players. The best thing he has going for him is that he speaks well to the fans and media and he has the best home court advantage in black college basketball.

Besides that, dude still has not shown that he can effectively recruit blue clip players, nor has he shown an ability to keep his best guys eligible.

[JayBee]

admin said:

Besides that, dude still has not shown that he can effectively recruit blue clip players, nor has he shown an ability to keep his best guys eligible.

True that! He really hasn't shown that he has the ability to keep his best guys eligible.

[Maxell]

Remember, his "best guys" were desperation recruits from Louisville that were borderline students to begin with. How quickly you jump off the bandwagon. This is the same guy that coached some pretty good money games earlier this season.

[antfan2003]

PLEEEAZEE stop saying that coaches cant KEEP their players eligible. They did EVERYTHING under the sun to get and keep booker and guions eligible. They checked their classes EVERYDAY.. i know that for a fact. Guys you gotta understand. We dont have the time nor the resources to babysit these kids. They have got to value being here and know that if they dont do what they are supposed to do that there will be consequences. I bet if these same guys were at UNCG they wouldnt have to be told but once that they were REQUIRED to be in class and i bet theyd have they butts in the seats everyday.. because they value being there. The athletes here ( across the board) have to value being here more than they do. That in my opinion is why we have some of the problems that we have...SO the point is/was and always will be that a COACH cant keep players eligible.. they have to want to be and stay eligible..

[Aggie One]

You speak the truth my brother.

[aggiejazz]

admin said:

Yall might get mad at me saying this, but Eaves is not a top tier coach. The best thing he has going for him is that he speaks well to the fans and media and he has the best home court advantage in black college basketball.

Senator Biden, I thought you learned your lesson last week when you called Obama the first African American to run for president who is clean and articulate. By the way, did you kidnap 'Thrilla and is using his handle to post on this board?

[4XLAGGIE]

admin said:

Yall might get mad at me saying this, but Eaves is not a top tier coach. Above average, but not exceptional. I realized this during the Hampton game. I am not sure he is getting the most out of his players. The best thing he has going for him is that he speaks well to the fans and media and he has the best home court advantage in black college basketball.

Besides that, dude still has not shown that he can effectively recruit blue clip players, nor has he shown an ability to keep his best guys eligible.

C'mom Thrilla... Hunter had the same home court advantage, didn't serve him too well. Eaves is a good coach who has grown with the program in terms of getting better in every way. And he will continue to do so.....