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mm (hksmp i New women's basketball coach Si use wel NATHAN BROWN Senior Writer After posting a 12-14 record during1 the Lady Gamecocks may have final! they needed all season long. On April 28, Susan Walvius was na basketball coach for USC. "I am extremely excited about becoi Walvius said. "The challenge of buildir caliber program in the SEC, the nation is an opportunity of a lifetime." Before Walvius came to USC, sht basketball head coach at West Virginia in Morgantown, she rebuilt the prog team to a 19-12 record last year. She a together a recruiting class that ranks i nation, which will now be left to assi who took over the head position at W When asked why she would leave a ] Walvius said, "Doors like the Universit don't come open all the time. And whei and it's an opportunity for me to adv even though we would have won at We did win at West Virginia, this is a stej "Ib coach in the SEC, to have an o and coach against the best and to be atmosphere, which we will, I think i everyone would want to have," she si i , i T rnn _ m tier decision to came to uou coma n by her five-year contract, reportedly which includes a $90,000 per year bai Recognizing the challenge that lay al remains confident that the Gamecocks of the SEC. v^ t I m i itf|f ?S J isan Walvim discusses her goals at comes ^ "This is a challi to do it. I have doi the 1996-97 season, [32 years old] and y gotten the spark my career. I wouli know I could get t med head women's "I see the pote we will be good. It ming a Gamecock," basketball progr ig a championship- conference, whicl 's finest conference, women's basketb* South Carolir i was the women's speaks very highl i University. While the demands of tl ram, coaching the "Our goal he: [so managed to put basketball progra n the Tbp 20 of the for a conference cl stant Alexis Basil, proven and inno\ VU. one of the outstar promising situation, "We are confic y of South Carolina basketball to the i a these doors open, will be a perenn ance in my career, Conference," he s; ist Virginia and we Senior Women d up. regards Walvius a pportunity to play of head coach at I ?.1 i.1 i. UXtT 1 suixessiui m uiai we nave a gr s a challenge that lot of success recn lid. She is also cogniz ave been influenced is. We took everytl i worth $500,000, was the best pers se salary. The success th lead of her, Walvius didn't just start ai will rise to the top jjm I I'll ; ft "#8 m w i BRYAN JOHNSTON The Cameowk her first USC press conference. ValvillS rnge and a lot of work. I have the energy le it before," Walvius said. "I am young [ have established myself very early in 1 not take over this program it l didn't lie job done. intial here to be very good and I think hink we can build a very strong women's am here and a contender in the SEC 1 is going to have to be one of the best ill teams in the country" she said. ia Athletics Director Dr. Mike Mcuee y of Walvius and of her ability to meet le SEC. re at Carolina is to have a women's m that every year is among those vying lampionship," McGee said. "Susan is a native recruiter. She is regarded to be iding young coaches in America, lent Coach Walvius will take Carolina lext level and develop a program which ial contender in the Southeastern aid. 's Athletic Administrator Laurie Massa s an excellent person to fill the vacancy JSC. eat person for this job. She has had a riting and that's going to be important. :ant of how important the community tiing into consideration and felt like she on," Massa said. at Walvius is expected to bring to USC t West Virginia. WALVIUS page 11 Game fall to Ineligibility gives 1 second SHANNON E. MOTLEY Staff Writ. Thanks to an ineligible Vanderbi tnI r?t?an fV* r\ TTCP Vv n n aIn oil fnnm tirr jjiayci, tuc UU\J uaocuaii icaiu wo given a second chance to advance 1 the SEC Tbumament. But the eightl seeded Gamecocks fell 12-9 Wednesda night in a play-in game agains Mississippi State. Carolina allowed 12 hits and tw home runs to the Bulldogs, ranke seventh nationally by Collegiat Baseball. USC, which is the fourt leading scoring team in the natioi put up a good fight with 11 hits an three home runs. Gamecocks head coach Ra Thnner and his team had said goodbj to the 1997 season after a 5-0 loss I Kentucky on Sunday. But Vanderbilt starting thir baseman and top-hitter Hunter Bledsc was declared ineligible Monday becaus of an NCAA rule that requires 24 hoir be completed from a transfer athlete junior college. Bledsoe did not mee this requirement, and Vanderbil relinquished its spot in the toumamen allowing the Gamecocks to advanci W If. waison, ivic to 1997 US FROM STAFF REPORTS USC basketball players Melvi Watson and BJ McKie have bee invited to attend the 1997 USA Men National Tfeam Trials. Sixty-six of the nation's to collegiate players were invited to th trials, which will be held at the U.f Olympic IVaining Center in Colorad Springs, Colo. May 30 through Jun 1. The trials will select the finalist 10 T TO A OO nn/] T JLUI UiC urmciiii^i uua cuju vjiiu^ World Championship and Worl University Games squads. McKie and Watson are the on] two native South Carolinians invite to the trials. McKie, a native ( GAMECOCK TRIVIA AIVSWE The record belongs to form< J who dished out 182 assists cocks 1/TC2TT > lfMCJU "Its not exactly the way we wanted to get into the tournament," Tanner said. "We all have to play by the same rules. I feel bad. It was just an oversight ar Unfortunately, you have to suffer the - consequences." It USC outfielder Derick Urquhart is said, "The seniors were sitting there ? shaking hands and saying their last l- goodbyes." ly After hearing the announcement st of the Commodores' tournament withdrawal, Urquhart said, "lb have ro this happen, man, this is great." id Despite the favor Vanderbilt ;e seemed to give, the Gamecocks couldn't ;h take advantage of the situation, a, Carolina trailed MSU 7-0 before id making a valiant comeback effort. Urquhart led the team, hitting three iy for four with a homer and two RBI. re Pitcher Brett Jodie got the loss to and finished the season 84. The loss knocked USC out of the d tournament, ending their season with ye a 33-24 record. se "We needed this experience," rs Tanner said. "We don't like to lose, but 's obviously, Fm delighted to be here. We it made some strides this year, and we It didn't finish the way we wanted to. t, But we're determined to get better i. next year." Kie invited A team trials Columbia, is eligible to compete for either team. Age restrictions will permit n Watson, from Charleston, to only n compete for the World University 's Games team. Both players were first-team All p SEC selections this past season, leading ie the Gamecocks to the school's first 3. SEC Championship. McKie led the lo team in scoring with 17.4 points per ie game. Watson averaged 11 points, ;s while leading the team in assists at 3* 5.2 per contest. d The 22 and Under World Championship will be held Aug. 1-10 ly in Melbourne, Australia. The World d University Games are scheduled for >f Aug. 21-31 in Taipai, Italy. R 3r Gamecock Gerald Peacock, in the 1982-83 season.