College Basketball Preview - University of The District of Columbia

University of the District of Columbia - Independent
                         (11-16 Overall)

     The most impressive thing written about the University of the District of Columbia's basketball program in recent years has nothing to do with the team's performance on the floor.  Last year, an official NCAA committee report following an investigation  into the program’s disbursal of financial aid and into academic eligibility irregularities stated that UDC exhibited “the single most egregious lack of institutional control ever seen by the committee."  UDC is no stranger to this type of negative attention.  They received similar reviews in the early 1990s, and in 2004, the NCAA cancelled UDC's men's and women's seasons altogether. In the NCAA's history, no other athletic season has been cancelled due to rule infractions.  Currently, the program remains on probation and is banned from all post-season play until October 2013. Sounds hopeless, right?

    Not to new head coach Jeff Ruland. (Yes, that Jeff Ruland.) Coach Ruland, who played for legendary college basketball coach Jim Valvano at Iona College, was on the 1981-82 NBA All-Rookie Team and was an NBA All-Star in 1984, took over the UDC Program in August, signing a five year $190,000.00 contract. If only the 6’11” former superstar known as “McNasty” could suit up, UDC wouldn't have to worry about using questionable recruiting practices to attract players.

Frontcourt:

     Ruland inherits only four returning players on a team that had a less-than-stellar outing last season. Sophomore forward Chris Leach (6’6”) averaged only 3.3 points per game while junior Gani Cole (6’6”) added 2.7 per contest. Some new additions who remain unproven this season are sophomore forward Purvis Rollins (6’4”) who played locally at Albert Einstein High School, junior Omar Blair (6’7”), and freshman Dyrek Jones (6’7”). While not impressive, rest assured that Ruland will work hard this season instilling his style of aggressive, hard-nosed play into his group of unseasoned big men.

Backcourt:

      Coach Ruland hired former University of Maryland standout Terrell Stokes as his assistant soon after his arrival on campus. Ruland and Stokes, who has done a majority of the recruiting, were able to land former DeMatha High School star Nigel Munson (6’0”) who averaged 17 points and 8 assists per contest his senior year. Munson played at Virginia Tech for a season before he left for personal reasons and many thought that he would resurface at George Washington University.  He brings some big time college basketball experience to a team that needs it and has already been named team captain.  He will join UDC’s top returning scorer from last season, 6’5” Junior guard Tim Ellison. Ellison averaged 15.5 points per game. Sophomore Justin Smith (5’7”), who will probably play backup this season to Munson, also saw some action a season ago, averaging 3.4 points and 3.5 assists.

Who To Watch:

     It will be interesting to watch Coach Ruland in action. He is not shy about letting people know that he wants to bring UDC back to national prominence. In 1982, when Ruland was starring for the Washington Bullets, the team he's now coaching won the Division II National Championship. With the University’s support and a President who wants to move the school’s athletic programs up a division to compete on the Division I level, the sky is the limit for the Firebirds. Coach Ruland is said to be the coaching incarnate of Jim Valvano and there’s no question that his personality will bring some excitement that has long been missing from the campus of UDC. Hopefully, Nigel Munson will be as exciting to watch as he was in high school. As a senior at DeMatha, he broke the career assist record and led his team to a 34-1 record and a  #4 ranking nationally.

Final Projections:

      Since UDC doesn’t belong to a conference, they are able to play competitive teams throughout the east coast. This year’s schedule is as tough as their probationary status will allow.  They play teams throught Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York.  With a new coach, a superstar point guard and an administration that’s fully supportive, this team could end up winning some games and garnering some much needed positive attention from the media. Coach Ruland knows how to win on the college level.  Following his professional playing career, he returned to Iona where he successfully lead his team to three conference championships and three NCAA tournaments.  Just last season, he was an assistant with the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, before getting fired after Eddie Jordan took up head coaching responsibilities. UDC can't compete in the post-season, but that won't stop them from competing during the regular season.  The Firebirds will likely experience some growing pains this season, but that won't stop Coach Ruland from putting a strong foundation in place for what proves to be a refreshing few years.