NSU Horizons Fall 2006

34 horizons scoreboard I n The Wizard of Oz , our heroine clicks her heels three times and proclaims, “There’s no place like home…” With the comple- tion of the $80+ million University Center, NSU’s men’s and women’s basket- ball teams find them- selves recalling those famous words. Previously, home games for the NSU Sharks were held at Broward Community College’s George Meyer Gymnasium. Practices were staged on courts belonging to NSU’s college preparatory school, University School. Now, for the first time in the history of the university’s basketball programs, the Sharks practice and play on their own court. “University School was gracious enough to let us use their facilities,” said Gary Tuell, entering his third season as head coach of the men’s team. “But it’s a good feeling to get out of their hair and not have to live out of the trunk of a car.” Marilyn Rule, head coach of the women’s team since 1998, added, “Our facility will bring recognition to the team and the university. It will allow us to attract quality recruits at a level we’ve never had before.” The student-athletes are equally excited. Their home court comes complete with team locker rooms, a club room, an equipment room, a state-of-the-art athletic training/ sports medicine suite, and an arena with retractable seats to accommodate thousands of spectators. “I’ve waited three years for this,” said Mechelle Jones, a senior. “It felt awkward using someone else’s gym. Now I feel like I’m at home.” Big crowds are something that the Sharks aren’t used to. The hope is that the University Center’s appeal and location will draw more fans. “For me, it was definitely a reason to come to NSU,” says LaShawnna Edwards, a freshman who graduated from North Miami Beach High School. “When they showed me what it would look like, I said, ‘This is where I want to be.’” While the Sharks are excited about the current state of NSU athletics, the teams are exponentially more excited about what the future will bring. “It’s going to be a great experience,” Edwards said. “The intensity will be greater and we should expect to win more games because of it.” For many years, the men and women in NSU’s basketball programs have been tapping their toes, waiting patiently for a home of their own. Now that they have one, the student- athletes said they are ready to show their full potential. As the coaches begin to see the results and the teams im- prove, the timeless words of Dorothy will take on new meaning in the minds of the Sharks and their fans everywhere: “There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home.” On the day of the University Center opening, junior Kevin Chester and a few of his teammates tested their new home court while hundreds of NSU employees toured the facility around them. When a reporter asked him what he thought of the place, the junior center, standing an intimidating 6'9", said: “We have a home for our team.” n Home Sweet Home University Center gives Sharks basketball the home court advantage By Guy Harrison Guy Harrison is the sports information assistant in the Department of Athletics.