Bleu Devils men's team aims for 4th Classic win in a row

NEW ORLEANS (February 15, 2019) – With three Bleu Devil Classic consecutive wins against Xavier University, the DU men’s basketball team is seeking to continue its streak at the 2019 Allstate Sugar Bowl Bleu Devil Classic at 5 p.m. Saturday.

The Lady Bleu Devils will play at 3 p.m. in Dent Hall.

Of the men’s team, Coach Mike Newell said he looks forward to the rivalry: “Each season is different. This season is different because we lost three players because of injuries. We didn’t have injuries last season. We were counting on them.”

The team lost players Malik Amos after foot surgery; Anthony Frazier after knee surgery; and Martavious Wilson because of knee problems.

Dillard University's overall record has been good the past two years. Last season's record was 23-10 and 9-13 in conference. The team won the conference. This season the team was 11-6 and 4-1 in conference as of the Courtbouillon deadline.

Dillard’s Bleu Devils has won the last five basketball championships.

New men’s players include Jeron Rogers, a forward from Detroit; point guards Nicholas Carmouche of Lafayette and Jeffrey Drake Todd of Grand Rapids, Mich.; point and shooting guards Tyrell Alcorn of Oakland, Calif., and Ray Pugh of Cedar Hill, Texas.

Graduating seniors include guard Jessie Ward of Maringouin and center Rick Curry of Dallas.

Overall, Coach Newell said he is happy where the team is despite the injuries.

Lady Bleu Devils

As for the Lady Bleu Devils, with a record of 15-9 as the Courtbouillon went to press, Head Coach Norbert Rome said he isn’t too concerned about The Golden Nuggets on Saturday despite the loss to the Golden Nuggets on Jan. 26 at Xavier’s Convocation Center. Instead, he said, he is focused on the season title. He said Lady Bleu Devils will be ready.

Rome said the team is moving forward after the loss.

 “If we would’ve played our best and lost the game, that would’ve been different. But we didn’t, so I’m not pleased with that,” Rome said.

The problem was that the Lady Bleu Devils simply didn’t execute properly, Rome said: Rosie Davis and Jaiylan Brown did shoot well.

“They have to focus on being able to knock down the perimeter shot,” said, adding he should have made adjustments in the third and fourth quarter. “We were the better team, but what you think will happen versus what does happen sometime doesn’t work that way – which is why we have to prove ourselves on the court.”

Rome said he is confident the Lady Bleu Devils can win the conference. Rome predicted that for the remainder of the season, supporters can expect a good brand of basketball, good product on the floor, consistency and relentless pursuit of excellence.

Senior Night is the same night as the team’s rivalry game. Rome said he is prepared to let his seniors have developing critical skills through the five core values: respect, responsibility, integrity, serving leadership and sportsmanship. Graduating seniors include guards Asia Partlow, Adrian Jackson, Alyssa Washington, Shaelynn Moore and Asia Powell.

(Kourtnie Leary and Lanece Webb contributed to this report.)