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Daniel and Kari asked for people to comment on the blog entry Daniel used to break the news.  With that came 38 comments! And no, I didn’t leave a comment.  Why?  Because I’m too good for comments!  I raise the bar, not answer to it!

That is where this post comes in.  This one is for you Lil Zebra (and Daniel and Kari too).  This is my open letter to my future niece/nephew.

Dear Daniel and Kari’s child,

I’ll tell you what.  Your parents’ little announcement of your pending birth really ruined millions of jokes I had about their lack of children.  But there couldn’t be a better way to ruin jokes than to have the jokes end by bringing in another beautiful person into the world.

Your parents’ announcement pleased many in our family because we have lots of love to share and have waited some time to share it with you.  You have people that will cook, entertain, teach you, you teach us, help you through life problems, share life’s joys with you and many, many more things.  Our family might be a little unconventional at times, but hey, name one that isn’t?  We sure have fun at doing it and will always have the love.

And don’t you worry, love will come in bundles from me.  I have a few promises I have thought of for you.  Why, you might only be in your first trimester, I still can make some promises to you.

I promise you that no matter how far we are away from each other by domiciles, we will be near each other in thought.  Visiting you will be fun, I might even make time to see your parents too!

I promise you, an addendum to the first promise, I will try to make as many of your life changing experiences as possible.  I don’t know how far we will live away from each other, but I will try my hardest to make it like we are 10 steps away even if we are 10 hundred miles apart.

I promise to play you in whatever technology games whenever we can.  Let’s face it, your parents, especially your father, will always want the newest games.  If they don’t, I’ll be on your side to persuade them, or whatever else you want to persuade them on (except not anything that brings a permanent change to your body and/or relationship with your parents).

I promise to also play with you outside.  Throw a baseball/softball, take a walk, ride bikes, whatever.  We can’t always be inside; every now and then we have to go outside.

I promise to be whatever you need and the greatest uncle you could imagine.  I guess that’s kind of an open-ended, all-inclusive promise.  Good thing I left it for last.  Maybe you don’t want me in play video games or walk outside or whatever.  I just want to make sure you can think of me, a smile comes to your face because I know when I think of your family, a smile will always come to my face.

I can’t wait to meet you and see you in January!

Love,

Uncle @HeRaisesTheBar

This will be Cherry’s first time at the helm of a program and he becomes the 11th head coach in HPU. He was an assistant at University of South Carolina this past season. He also made coaching stops at George Mason, Western Kentucky and Tennessee Tech.

“Sometimes you just feel it is right and I knew it was right from the beginning,” Cherry said.

Keilitz outlined what he was looking for in a head coach including ethics, concern for the student athlete as well as a winner.

“He’s won every place he’s been, and that’s no coincidence,” Keilitz said at the press conference.

Cherry has never had a losing season in his 14 years involved in college basketball. He has been in postseason play in ten seasons, including a national championship as a player at UNC under Dean Smith.

He was an assistant at George Mason during their improbable run to the Final Four in 2006. Cherry also helped Western Kentucky march to the Sweet 16 in last year. This year’s South Carolina team made it to the NIT before being bested by Davidson.

Cherry admitted, “There’s big expectations and there should be. [Winning] can be done here. There’s no question about it.” He continued, “I want to win now and we are going to win now.”

HPU has only been to one Big South Championship game, which happened in former coach Bart Lundy’s first year in 2004. HPU has never made it to the NCAA tournament or the NIT. In the last ten seasons, HPU has won 18 or more games twice. Cherry has won 18 or more games in nine seasons.

The terms of the contract were not released but his contract is a four-year minimum deal with a buyout encouraging Cherry to stay the length of the deal. Keilitz said, “There is no way he’s leaving. I tell you that.”

Cherry takes over a maturing basketball team with everyone eligible to return except for Melvin Crowder. Gene Harris returns just nine points short of 1,000 for his career total. Nick Barbour is coming off of a stellar freshman campaign with Big South All-Freshman honors and averaged 14.2 points per game. David Singleton started every game in his first year with 4.8 assists per game.

On the post Cruz Daniels almost doubled his career points this past year while averaging 8.1 rebounds a game and blocking a school record 83 shots. Steadman Short averaged 6.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest. Jourdan Morris put up similar numbers with 6.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per clip.

Cherry will immediately begin searching for assistant coaches as well as spring workouts with the team.

More information will follow in the paper edition of the Campus Chronicle on Friday, March 26. You can listen to the entire press conference here.

Bryan’s Bracket

Mike’s Bracket

“Our desire and commitment to build a successful and championship-caliber basketball program are very strong,” said athletic director Craig Keilitz in a press release on www.highpointpanthers.com.

This past year HPU went 9-21, marking the second time in program history losing more than 20 games. In Lundy’s six years, the Panthers compiled a record of 96-87 overall and 48-46 in Big South play.

Reached by phone Tuesday, Gene Harris said, “We didn’t think this was going to happen at all.”

Lundy told the High Point Enterprise the move was “a surprise.” Returning next year are the team’s top nine scorers including Harris, Cruz Daniels and Big South All-Freshmen team member Nick Barbour.

The Panthers also expect to see redshirt freshman Corey Law and signed recruit Jairus Simms.

Harris also said, “(Lundy) really cared for his players on the court and especially off the court. It is a tough time for me right now and I know for a lot of the players.”

Lundy’s HPU-era started in 2003-04, finishing 19-11 and an appearance in the Big South Tournament Championship game. That year he was named National Rookie Coach of the Year by www.collegeinsider.com. The highlight of Lundy’s tenure came in the 2006-07 season going 22-10 and finishing second in the Big South.

Under Lundy’s guidance, the Panthers have had three players reach 1000 points while Harris is nine points away. Also, Arizona Reid and Danny Gathings earned three Big South Players of the Year awards combined. Both are HPU’s only NCAA Division I AP All-Americans. Gathings was named 2004 NCAA Division I National Sportsman of the Year.

Lundy previously coached at Queens and was an assistant at Queens and Winthrop.

Harris added, “I wish the best for coach Lundy, definitely. It is a tough time right now.”

Triad rival, Elon also made a coaching change yesterday firing Ernie Nestor. Both coaches were hired April 2003 and dismissed the same day.

HPU (9-21) could not stop the inside presence allowing Radford (19-11) to score 38 points in the paint. In the second half, High Point also shot a dismal 11-for-35 from the floor for 31.4 percent.

“They did extend their pressure and we were challenged at the rim,” Panthers coach Bart Lundy said.

Pacing the Panthers was Gene Harris with 12 points, all were converted three-pointers. David Singleton scored 11 points while dishing out six assists. Cruz Daniels finished with four blocks and nine rebounds.

Big South MVP, Art Parakhouski, scored 24 points for the Highlanders. Junior Amir Johnson finished close to a triple-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Kenny Thomas and Joey Lynch-Flohr finished with double figures, 19 and 12 points respectively.

Daniels said of Parakhouski’s play and the game’s result, “He’s a good player. I figured we prepared well for the game but it’s completely different when you are out there.”

Coming out of the break HPU trailed by 13. After a 5-0 run, Harris missed a 3-pointer leading to an emphatic dunk by Parakhouski who was fouled by Daniels on the play. The fast break led to a 28-6 Radford run that put the game out of reach for the Panthers.

In the first half HPU could not stop the inside presence of Parakhouski and Lynch-Floh posting 16 and 10 points respectively. Floor general Amir Johnson played all 20 minutes dishing out six assists.

Guards Nick Barbour, Harris and Singleton dominated HPU’s first half. Barbour scored all of his eight points while Harris and Singleton chipped in six apiece. Cruz Daniels pulled down three rebounds, all on the defensive end.

High Point is done for the year. This year’s 21 losses were the second most losses in High Point history and the most losses since the 1953-54 campaign. The team that year finished 7-23.

“[HPU's] record this year was not indicative of their season,” said Radford coach, Brad Greenberg, following the game.

All higher seeds in the Big South won the opening round. Thursday night’s action will feature VMI vs. Liberty for the early contest and Radford vs. UNC-Asheville in the late game. Both games can be seen on ESPNU and are hosted by Radford. The championship game will be played at highest remaining seed.

VMI (22-7, 13-5 Big South) won their first contest in High Point, 81-76.  HPU (9-20, 4-14) had four players finish with double figures.

Melvin Crowder shined in his final home game in front of 1,642 in attendance.  Crowder finished with a career best 14 points, including four 3-pointers.

“Melvin has meant so much to our program and a great kid.  He kind of is High Point University.  Everybody knows Melvin,” Lundy said.

Freshman Nick Barbour scored 15 points making it 11 straight games with double-digit figures.  Cruz Daniels recorded his team leading fifth double-double with 14 points and a career high 20 rebounds.

“[Daniels] development as a player and his confidence has been phenomenal.”  Lundy continued, “He’s becoming the best big man in the Big South.”

Leading VMI was senior Chavis Holmes with 19 points.  Also scoring double figures was Austin Kenon, Travis Holmes and Michael Sparks.

The Runnin’ Roos showed their “loot and shoot” style in the first nine minutes of the second half.  They stretched their half time lead of six to 22 points with 11:20 remaining in the game.  HPU ignited for a 22-6 run over the next six minutes to bring it within six on a Jacob Iati three pointer.

“[VMI’s] style is the most difficult style I’ve ever seen.  Their pressure the first game, I’ve never seen it.  I was up all night thinking about the pressure,” David Singleton said following the game.  The freshman guard finished with 10 points, eight assists and 3 steals.

VMI scored the next five points then the Panthers scored the eight straight points.  Travis Holmes converted on the second of two free throws to push the score 79-74 with 21 seconds left.  Singleton scored a layup to bring the deficit to three before Chavis Holmes hit two free throws to bring the game to the follow score.

High Point relied on rebounds to keep them in the game winning the battle 31-16.  The Keydets converted only on 24.5 percent from behind the arch.  They shot 53 of their 73 attempts from long distance.

Chavis Holmes said on the large lead VMI let disappear, “It’s easy to come back when you don’t feel you don’t you have anything to lose.  Give a lot of credit to them, at the end of the game they came back but we were able to hold them off.”

His brother, Travis said, “When we make shots, that’s when we can set up our defense and we start get steals and everything just starts flowing.”

High Point’s first basket was a 3-pointer from Crowder on the wing assisted by Steadman Short.  Crowder was honored before the game with a ceremony where he received a poster of his likeness and a raucous standing ovation and applause.

“That’s my boy.  I just wanted him to go out in fashion; unfortunately I didn’t want him to win.  We got the w tonight but he played hard tonight.  He got his chance tonight to show people what he can do,” Travis Holmes said of Crowder.  The twins and Crowder grew up together and spend much of their school breaks together.

Crowder said reflecting on his pregame ceremony, “I learned so much from the people here at High Point.  I don’t think the people here realize that everybody has made an impact on my life some way, some how.  I really do cherish everyone here no matter if we get along or we don’t get along.  I think everyone showed me so much here.  I’m really happy to be here.”

The Panthers play Tuesday at Radford for the quarterfinals of the Big South Tournament.  HPU has lost the two meetings this year against RU.  Game time set for 7 pm in the Dedmon Center.

High Point University was approached about buying Oak Hollow Mall. Rumors around school, community and the web speculate we will demolish it and then build a football stadium. Previously I have written how I feel about adding a football team: I am against it.

I, however, am not against Oak Hollow Mall being demolished for an HPU athletic venue. The City of High Point needs to act quickly on this matter.

The bottom line is Oak Hollow Mall is dying, slowly and painfully. Every month it seems another store closes. By an eye count, there are 36 store openings give or take a few. That doesn’t count the many locations of empty kiosks. The City of High Point wants growth in tourism and the furniture industry. Here is the best opportunity to satisfy HPU sports, tourism, furniture and much more.

This all, of course, is hypothetical. The government acquires the mall plot legally through imminent domain. They pay fair market value for it and also try to buy as many empty plots surrounding the mall. The mall is then immediately torn down along with the other structures on property the city buys (e.g. Circuit City, bank, empty land).

In a partnership with HPU and the city, construction of an arena complex begins. The arena seats no more than 10,000. Construction of other surrounding buildings can include small meeting halls and maybe even a simple auditorium. The signed agreement between HPU and High Point gives HPU first right to the building for athletic events. A management firm is contracted to arrange both basketball games and special events. HPU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams move to the new arena while volleyball stays in the Millis Center.

The management firm brings in small concerts, similar to those at area amphitheatres. The High Point Market Authority can use the meeting halls and arena as more furniture showroom space. Other events the firm can bring in are the circus, rodeos, minor league hockey and conventions. Local high schools can play large holiday basketball tournaments there, too. HPU can also use the arena for commencement and convocation, alumni and family weekends and two concerts a year.

Ticket sales pay for upkeep while both HPU and High Point both pay usage fees. Also, the city enacts a greater tax on tourism related industries to help pay for the costs. The city also actively recruits another hotel to be established on Mall Loop Road.

This set up accomplishes HPU’s need for greater space for special events. It also allows the team to host better schools because our facilities would be above par for a school of our stature. Concerts inside would not only be weather-friendly but also would provide better audio than that of the Millis Center.

The city gets a chance to grow tourism to a “High Point.” Events will attract people from Greensboro, Kernersville, Winston-Salem, Davidson County, and as far as Danville, Va. These people will sleep in hotels (less likely), fill up on gas (more likely) and eat in restaurants (most likely).

The construction of such a venture would add jobs to a failing economy. The short-term effect is increase in construction workers to do demolition, site work and construction. The long term effects include more restaurant staff, arena staff workers, hotel workers, gas station attendants, arena complex managers, etc. Also, this creates an entertainment corridor on Eastchester Drive. Currently, many plots are for sale or lease on Easchester. This will encourage more businesses to locate on Eastchester. This is an idea that supports itself after the initially large cost.

Also, losing the mall to something that does not bring in high tax return could be detrimental to the High Point economy. It is hard to regain any retail lost. If the city takes the retail to bring in entertainment then they not only will eventually regain the retail tax base but increase it. The mall is currently not increasing anything related to retail.

Having an arena is something the city has outlined in its “Core City Plan.” Although the “core city” ends at the corner of Easchester and College, this should be an exception. The City of High Point needs to move on it before it is too late. I’m asking for a lot, because I’m trying to raise the bar.

“It another disappointing loss. We played hard it’s just the little things that were not doing that are costing us the games,” Jourdan Morris said.

The Panthers were lead by inside forces Cruz Daniels and Jourdan Morris. Daniels finished with 25 points and 15 rebounds. Morris tallied his first 20-point outing, finishing with 21 points and three assists. Nick Barbour scored double-digits for the eighth straight game with 14 points.

“[Head] Coach [Bart] Lundy told us in practice we were going to have advantage of size. That’s just it. We just worked on getting it inside,” said Daniels. HPU outscored UNCA 40-30 in the paint.

Down by as many as 12 in the second half, the Panthers used an 11-0 run to claw back into the game before a hectic final minute.

HPU took a two-point lead with 1:50 left in the game. It was the first lead in over 33 minutes of play. Asheville regained the lead with 45 seconds thanks to a layup from John Williams.

Cruz Daniels flushed a dunk after a David Singleton missed layup to tie the game for the sixth time. Williams responded with his own dunk on the other end of the court with four seconds remaining.

David Singleton drove the length of the court to pass off to Gene Harris who made a jumper on the baseline at the buzzer.

“I just had to throw it up and just lucky it went in,” Harris said following the game.
The Bulldogs controlled the overtime period. The Panthers never held a lead in the extra five minutes of play, trailing by no more than three points.

The first half featured high shooting percentage for both squads. UNCA shot 16 of 26 from the floor for 61.5 percent. The Panthers shot 15 of 27 from the floor for 55.6 percent.

Hurting High Point were the 12 turnovers. Asheville scored seven points off of HPU’s turnovers. The Bulldogs had a seven point lead heading into halftime.

“Really it comes down to playing hard. We are going to learn from this mistake and we are going to try to work on the next game,” Daniels said.

High Point takes the floor next Monday against Longwood University. The Lancers are 14-12 on the year including wins over George Washington, James Madison and Gardner-Webb. LU is 2-9 on the road and will bring a two game road losing streak to the Millis Center Feb. 23.

            High Point University won a home men’s basketball game on a night where HPU honored the all time winningest coach in program history.

            HPU defeated Winthrop University for the second time this season 63-58 in front of a raucous 1,449 in the Millis Center.  The win marks the first time HPU has swept WU in program history.

            “We are humbled to get any win.  I’m glad to get any win and hopefully we can spring board for this,” head coach Bart Lundy said.

            Leading the way for the Panthers (7-17, 2-11) was freshman guard Nick Barbour with 31 points on 50 percent shooting from the floor. Freshman guard Jacob Iati played a career high 31 minutes finishing with six points, four assists and five rebounds.  Four other HPU players were tied with six points apiece.

            Winthrop (6-18, 5-9) relinquished the lead 2:18 into the game and never held it again.  HPU stretched their lead to as many as 16 points with a Barbour fast break lay-up with 15:42 left in the game.

            WU slowly chipped into the deficit and brought it down to four points on a three-point play from Cameron Stanley to cap a 10-0 run for the Eagles with just under three minutes left.  Barbour made two free throws and Iati chipped in one of his own to finish the game for the Panthers.

            Following his second consecutive 30+ point scoring performance, Barbour said, “It was nice to know we can win the games if we can just do it.”

            Barbour and his teammates have had many close games this year.  HPU have gone 3-7 in games decided by eight or less points.

            “I’m proud of those guys.  The plays we haven’t been making we made down the stretch especially in the last 1:20 in this game,” Lundy said.

            Iati saw more time on the court because of foul trouble for freshman guard David Singleton who played 16 minutes compared to Singleton’s usual 28 minutes per game average.

            “I’ve been doing [late game situations] all day in practice.  I play against one of the best point guards in the conference in David Singleton [in practice].  He prepares me for stuff for this,” Iati said following the game.

            The Panthers were without the service of Gene Harris who did not dress for the game but was seated on the bench in street clothes.

            “[Harris not playing is] just an internal team deal. He’s great with the team, great with the coaching staff.  It was an internal suspension,” Lundy said about the absence of the junior guard.  Harris is averaging 12.3 points per game this season.

            The victory gives High Point its first victory against an NCAA Division I team at home and ends a six game home losing skid.

            At halftime, HPU honored Jerry Steele with the unveiling of a banner with his likeness on it.  Steele stood at half court with his wife Kitty and HPU athletics director Craig Keilitz.  During a standing ovation from the crowd, Steele blew kisses to the audience.  Steele is HPU’s all time winningest coach with 458 victories at HPU.  He is in the top 50 all-time winningest coaches in NCAA history with 609 victories from his time at both HPU and Guilford College.

            HPU travels to Boiling Springs, N.C. to play Gardner-Webb University on Feb. 14 at 2 p.m.  The game can be seen on MASN.