At the beginning of August, Norfolk State University's mens basketball team took a trip to Puerto Rico to compete in three exhibition games against Liga de Baloncesto Puertorriquena (LBP) teams.
This is NSU’s basketball first offseason trip since they went to Costa Rica in 2016.
The Spartans who are fresh of a 2023 MEAC championship runner-up, took their talents to
Puerto Rico and finished 2-1 after 3 games.
The team participated in bonding activities on Friday, August 11th the team faced their first professional match-up Saturday at 6 pm against LBP White All-stars.
They lost 72-61. After Saturday's loss, the Spartans came back victorious defeating LBP Blue
All-Stars 90-82. The Spartans held the blue All-Stars to a 34.9 shooting percentage from the
field. Finally, on Sunday, the Spartans won a down-to-the-wire game 96-88.
Tyrese Jenkins led the way with a 20-point effort. The Spartans hope to use this momentum to take into the 2023-2024 basketball season.
College football season is underway, and the Spartans kick off their 2023 season with an out-of-conference game versus Virginia State in the Labor Day classic.
This will be the first time in 4 years that Norfolk State and Virginia State will battle on the football field. The Spartans lead 8-1in the battle of “Big State” and Little State”.
In addition to the football game both universities our hosting “Battle of the States: The Ultimate Giving Challenge”.
This challenge is a fundraising competition between Norfolk State and Virginia State to see which schools Alumni, friends, students, faculty, and staff will have the biggest donor amount.
The competition began August 28th, 2023, and concludes September 2nd, 2023, at halftime of the football game.
The Spartans are looking to start the 2023 season with a good game after last season's struggles.
The Spartans finished 2-9 (2-3) last season ranking last in the MEAC. The Spartans also ranked
last offensively and defensively in the conference.
This offseason the Spartans lost their two leading tacklers on defense. Inside linebacker Tyler Long and inside linebacker Marquis Hall.
Also, this off-season Otto Kuhns won the QB battle.
“We're excited about him,” Head Coach Dawson Odums said.
“Were also excited about his development at the position and were looking
for great things out of him,” Odums continued.
In the 2022 season, Otto Kuhns passed for 1,420 yards completing 117 out of his 213 passing attempts, he also passed for 11 touchdowns over 9 interceptions with a
54% completion percentage and a 119.52 QBR rating.
The Spartans passing offense ranked 4th in
the MEAC with Kuhns under center last season.
The Spartans added 5 new members to their coaching staff this off-season. Offensive coordinatorand QB coach Ray Pickering, running back coach Lenny, defensive line coach Lamont Butler,
linebacker coach Kevin Weston, and cornerback coach Frank Wilson Jr. With these new
additions Coach Odums is confident.
“We added a lot of guys but were getting better,” Odums
said.
“We are developing, a lot of these guys were here in the spring, and we had 2 guys come this
June, so we are excited about where we are with our staff and we are looking for great things
from these young men.”
With these new additions to the coaching staff, a solidified starting quarterback, and some new transfer players the Spartans are excited to see what the 2023 football season has in store for them.
LABOR DAY CLASSIC ANTICIPATION
By Ahmad Garnett
17
Spartan Sports