Unhappy with his team's worst start in more than a decade, Middle Tennessee State men's basketball coach Kermit Davis locked his players out of their plush locker room.
Junior center Theryn Hudson told The Daily News Journal of Murfreesboro, Tenn., that nobody even tried the door after the team's 62-51 loss Wednesday to Western Kentucky because Davis told them it would be locked.
Players have been relegated to stark facilities down the hall, with two showers and two toilets for the whole team.
Davis says the players' personal gear was in trash bags there and no one was going to step into the recently renovated locker room until attitudes improve.
“I want guys to appreciate college basketball and appreciate what we do it for,” Davis said. “I feel like our guys have been coming to practice without that razor-sharp energy and passion.”
The Sun Belt Conference's Blue Raiders, with winning records in all four seasons under Davis, have started 4-9, with a three-game losing streak heading into today's home game against Denver (6-7).
TRIVIA TIME
Of the 12 teams in the NFL playoffs, which ones besides the Chargers have never won a Super Bowl?
NICK'S TOP FIVE
Renowned tennis instructor Nick Bollettieri, who coached nine players at his Florida academy who went on to No. 1 world rankings, gives The Atlanta Journal-Constitution the best five juniors he ever worked with, in no particular order:
1. Andre Agassi. He never blinked. His hands were delicate but could withstand any challenge. His feet were pigeon-toed, but they flew like eagles soaring through the sky.
2. Monica Seles. One word to describe Monica: relentless. She would work night and day to master one shot . . . and you could hear her working on it from a mile away.
3. Jim Courier. “The Bulldog” never hit a backhand. He fought a 15-round, championship boxing match every single time he played, and at no time did he think he couldn't beat you.
4. Martina Hingis. She didn't have one physical weapon, but her mind was the sharpest I have ever seen. Her patience and continuous smile made her a champion.
5. Maria Sharapova. The girl with it all. She had the entire package - looks, personality and, most important, a competitive spirit second to none. Those two Grand Slam titles speak for themselves.
PARTING SHOT
From Dwight Perry of The Seattle Times: “The saddest bottom line in the NBA: The Timberwolves have 4 wins, 28 losses – and 15 guaranteed contracts.”
TRIVIA ANSWER
Jacksonville, Tennessee/Houston and Seattle.
– COMPILED FROM NEWS SERVICES
