KANSAS CITY, Mo. — There are several Cinderella teams in the NCAA Tournament. Morgan State’s story is made for “One Shining Moment.” There are elements of redemption, too.
It isn’t because the Bears, the No. 15 seed in the South Region, are some power trying to reclaim former March Madness. Tonight’s meeting with Oklahoma will be their first NCAA Tournament game.
Their coach, Todd Bozeman, has been in this situation before. Fifteen years ago he was a rising star in college basketball. At 29, he led Jason Kidd and California to the NCAA Tournament in 1993. He did it again in 1994 and 1996.
By the summer of 1996, his career was thought over. He was forced to resign prior to the 1996-97 season. He admitted paying more than $30,000 to the parents of a recruit. The NCAA leveled an eight-year “show-cause” ban on Bozeman, effectively banning him from college basketball until 2005.
“People make mistakes,” Bozeman said Wednesday. “The great thing about this country … is being able to come back from it.”
He spent nearly a decade running a basketball camp before working as an NBA assistant through 2005. Bozeman always thought he’d get another shot to be a college coach. He just didn’t know where or when.
Morgan State hired him prior to the 2006 season. He’s guided the Baltimore school to a 58-40 record, including 23-11 this season and its first MEAC title since 1977. He would prefer the story this week be about his team, not him. His players are the same way. They won’t say anything about Bozeman that isn’t in the present tense.
“I just know he’s a great man. He’s a great coach, great person,” said Marquise Kately, who averages 11 points a game.
But Bozeman’s return to the NCAA Tournament is one of the biggest stories around. Only Blake Griffin could overshadow him Wednesday. That would change if the Bears were able to shock the second-seeded Sooners tonight.
“I’m not much of a reflector while I’m in the moment,” Bozeman said. “But it’s a special moment and it was a long road back. I probably have five people that told me that I would have an opportunity to get back in.”
But it’s the NCAA Tournament and every team has the same opportunity. After a decade out, Bozeman’s back in.
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
Bozeman's had quite a trip
- OU Sports
-
-
It’s a recipe for success
Oklahoma softball coach Patty Gasso was answering questions Saturday after her Sooners clinched another return to the Women’s College World Series when, without really meaning to, she began to make it clear her job has, sort of, become ...
-
Tigers deny Sooners’ Big 12 title hopes
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma wanted to win its first Big 12 tournament in 16 years on Sunday. Missouri needed to win it to get in the NCAA Tournament. Need topped desire at Bricktown Ballpark....
-
Sooners make winning look easy
As Oklahoma’s players locked arms around the pitching circle, coming together for what passed as a celebration following Saturday’s 7-1 NCAA Super Regional-clinching victory over Arizona, three gloves remained near second base....
-
There are no easy outs in the lineup
Looking for a gameplan to stop Oklahoma? Well, one may or may not be available, but walking two of the first three Sooners you face certainly isn’t part of it. Just ask Arizona’s Kenzie Fowler....
-
Sooners will play for Big 12 championship
OKLAHOMA CITY, — It’s been 16 years since Oklahoma won the Big 12 tournament. It’s closer now than its ever been to ending the streak. The Sooners rolled through Baylor, 7-2, on Saturday at Bricktown Ballpark to advance to the tournament’s ...
-
Sooners send five more to nationals
AUSTIN, Texas — Oklahoma track and field teams had five more individuals qualify for the NCAA Championship on Saturday evening at the NCAA West Preliminary. The men’s 4x100-meter relay team also advanced to the national semifinals....
-
OU sophomore Jao-Javanil wins NCAA golf title
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Oklahoma’s Chirapat Jao-Javanil made Oklahoma golf history Friday, becoming the first Sooner, man or woman, to win an individual NCAA national championship....
-
Pitching staff is exactly where Golloway wants it to be
When the Big 12 tournament began, Oklahoma felt like it had the pitching staff to make a deep run. Dillon Overton, Jordan John, Jonathan Gray and Damien Magnifico gave them four quality starters and a closer — Steven Okert — capable of ...
-
Sooners shut out Wildcats, need one more win for WCWS entry
Oklahoma might have scored more runs, not committed an error and starting pitcher Keilani Ricketts could have been just a little more efficient along the way....
-
Sooners send 4 more to NCAAs
AUSTIN, Texas – Oklahoma’s track and field teams added four individuals to the list of Sooners advancing to the NCAA championship Friday at the NCAA West Preliminary. In addition to the four new qualifiers, Brittany Borman advanced to the ...
- More OU Sports Headlines
-
It’s a recipe for success
