greg.mcilvain@gaflnews.com



VALDOSTA — Valdosta State men’s basketball coach Jim Yarbrough can tell you about expectations.

“I had a booster in here the first week I was here. He was in the office and wondering what was going to happen,” Yarbrough said. “He said, if it takes you five years it takes you five years. Have patience and build the program.

“Now we’re in our third year. And the question is, are you going to the Elite Eight this year?”

Answers begin this weekend at The Complex, as both the Blazers and Lady Blazers open the 2002-2003 season. Tonight, Puerto Rico de Cayey visits for a doubleheader — women at 6 p.m., the men to follow.

The men play Carver at 6 p.m. Saturday (game time changed because of VSU football), and fans get free admission with presentation of a canned good.

The women play Spelmen at 6 p.m. Monday.

Friday’s games and Saturday’s game will be broadcast on WWRQ-FM (107.9) in Valdosta. The radio station’s group has moved the first five VSU games to Rock 108 to avoid conflicts on WVGA-FM (105.9).

Yes, expectations are high for this winter. The school announced Tuesday it has sold over 625 season ticket packages, a school record. The Complex Crazies, a colorful student group which makes plenty of noise at games, is bigger, more colorful — and noisier.

Gulf South coaches not only picked VSU to win the Gulf South East, but the conference tournament.

“It’s kind of funny how soon we forget,” Yarbrough said. “But that’s OK. I’d rather be in that boat with expectations high.

“We come out every day with expectations high. We want to practice hard every day and play hard every night. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.”

Last year’s Blazers went 24-8, winning the Gulf South East for the first time. They finished second in the Gulf South tournament and South Regional to West Georgia.

And it also helps expectations that the Elite Eight, featuring the eight regional champions, will be played down the road in Lakeland, Fla., one of the shorter trips VSU would make this season.

But the Blazers lost three senior starters. Senior point guard Jeremy Brooks is out until mid-December with a broken foot. Senior forward John Prize leads the returnees.

Women’s coach Kiley Hill doesn’t have a senior on his squad. But there are internal expectations that this bunch is better than last year’s 10-16 team or the predicted sixth place fellow Gulf South East coaches placed VSU in the preseason poll.

“That’s posterboard material for us,” Hill said. “We have a lot of self-respect. We’re out to earn respect … sixth place is not part of our expectations.

“Last year was an odd year all the way around, and that’s in the past,” said Hill, also in his third year.

There are eight newcomers on the team among the 12 active players (guard Deanna Earl had back surgery Wednesday). Three newcomers could start tonight.

“I can count very few days we’ve had a lack of effort,” Hill said. “We’re on a journey, and we’re trying to enjoy the process to the journey.

“At this stage, we’re where we need to be.”