NORFOLK, Va. — "They really get along. They do a lot of laughing in the back of the bus, even during moments when I don't think we should be laughing," NSU women's basketball coach Larry Vickers will take a little bit of poorly timed laughter. After all, the trade off is pretty good, "If you can have a locker room that gets along, that's a big piece of the puzzle," says Vickers about his lighthearted Spartans.
That puzzle has come together to the tune of a 6-1 first place MEAC conference record. The Spartans are 17-5 overall and are on a 5 game winning streak. With that in mind, it's hard to argue with their approach.
"We all just goofy, so that connected us. Every time somebody say something we all just laugh," says leading scored Diamond Johnson. The NC State transfer is averaging 20 points and 4 steals for the Spartans, and has twice dropped a career high 29 points this season.
"I'm wearing my glasses now, I'm trying to be taken a little more serious, but yes...I am the class clown," says Kierra Wheeler, in agreement that this team loves to laugh. The sophomore has built on her stellar freshman season, averaging a near double double with 17 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
The only thing this Norfolk State team does more than laugh, is win. The laughter connects them, brings them closer together, and it shows on the court.