BSU Men's, Women's Basketball Teams Tourney Bound
By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The two celebrations were happening simultaneously in gymnasiums located more than 100 miles apart last Saturday afternoon.
The Bridgewater State University women’s basketball team was in Westfield and the Bears’ men’s basketball team was in Salem, both taking part in ceremonies after winning their respective Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament championships just minutes apart.
It didn’t take long for the news to spread to the women that the BSU men had joined them in the winner’s circle, and the Bears’ men team quickly found out about the title won by the women’s squad.
“As soon as we won, we were still cheering about our win and we hadn’t even gotten our medals yet,” said BSU men’s forward Nicholas Motta. “Our coaches announced that the girls had won, and then there was another cheer. It was like we won the championship again.”
“We were getting our awards in Westfield,” said BSU women’s guard Corey Cuddihy, “and they announced the men won and we just went crazy. It was a great feeling. We’re close with their team and they were able to win it just like we did in the same year.”
Bridgewater State basketball hit a rare daily double last weekend by earning MASCAC championships and automatic berths in the NCAA Div. 3 tournaments.
It marks only the second time in school history both basketball teams are in the national tourneys in the same year. The other time was in 1983 when both teams made their NCAA debuts.
The BSU women (19-7) open the tournament on Friday at 6 p.m. when they face Randolph-Macon College of Virginia in Annville, Pa. The BSU men (19-9) will be at Worcester Polytechnic Institute that same night for a 7:30 p.m. game against the Engineers.
The good times are rolling for the basketball programs at BSU as the men are making their third straight appearance in the NCAAs while the women have qualified for the second time in four seasons.
Prior to the current three-year run, the men’s team had been to the NCAAs only three other times (1983, 1999 and 2006) while the women’s appearance in 2008 was their first since going four straight years (1983-86).
Veteran coaches Joe Farroba, who has guided the men’s team for 19 years and was an assistant for six years before that, and Bridgett Casey, who is in her 14th season and recorded her 200th win last week, are strong supporters of each other’s programs, which trickles down to the players.
“We travel to all the conference games together,” said Casey. “Some schools, the men’s and women’s coaches don’t get along or they don’t like to travel together because the women leave too early, the men get home too late.
“For us, it’s something we’ve always done. I know my players like watching the men play and vice versa. I think both teams are really close, and Joe and I have had a great relationship since I’ve been here. He’s an easy guy to work with and I am fortunate to have a relationship like that.”
Farroba’s daughter, Justine, was a guard on the Bears’ women’s team that went to the NCAAs in 2008.
“Somebody asked me, ‘How do you get along with the women’s coach?’ and I always say that it’s been very good,” said Farroba. “We’re very supportive of each other and always have been.”
Said Casey: “This is great for Bridgewater athletics, the programs and the school. It’s just very special. The time I see my kids put in and Joe’s guys put in, and for him to win it three times in a row, it’s very special. You can go on these droughts where it can take 10 years to get to a championship game and next thing you know you’ve won three in a row.”
Salem State has always been a roadblock for the Bears and other MASCAC teams, but things have changed in recent years.
The BSU women broke through in ’08 and won the conference tournament, and the men are rolling along with three tourney titles in a row, two of the championship game wins coming over Salem State.
Having a modern facility like the Tinsley Center, which opened in 2002 and replaced Kelly Gym, has helped in the recruiting aspect.
“It’s big time,” said Farroba. “If you don’t have facilities like this, kids are going somewhere else.”
Now, with both BSU teams taking part in the NCAAs in the same year, another recruiting tool has been created.
“We support each other,” said Judah Jackson, the most valuable player of the MASCAC tourney.
“They’re out there practicing at 5:30 in the morning sometimes. You see the effort. They’re very deserving of what they’ve got.
“Hopefully, we can both keep the bus moving and keep winning.”