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After the Hampton Pirates defeated Manhattan in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament last year, Hampton head coach Edward “Buck” Joyner, Jr. was asked about facing then undefeated Kentucky in the next round.
“I told you all I had Jesus on speed dial,” he said as he pulled out his phone and pretended to talk to Jesus, that ended by Joyner saying, “Hello? Hello? I guess he’ll get back to me. I’ll get back to you.”
Another phone call may be needed for the Pirates as their next opponent is the University of Virginia, a No. 1 seed, who they will face in second round action Thursday at 3:10 p.m. ET at PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC.
While he and his team was making the just over three-hour ride from Hampton, VA to Raleigh, Joyner talked with BOXTOROW host Donal Ware.
Just three days ago, Joyner led his Pirates to their second-straight MEAC Tournament championship with an 81-69 victory over upstart South Carolina State. It was the first back-to-back title in the MEAC since Morgan State won in 2009 and 2010.
The victory also put Joyner in an elite group as one of only four other MEAC coaches to have won at least three tournament championships; Joyner also led the Pirates to the title in 2011. The other coaches are Don Corbett who led North Carolina A&T to seven-straight tournament championships; Cy Alexander with six (five at South Carolina State and one at North Carolina A&T); Ron “Fang” Mitchell who led Coppin State to five and Warren Reynolds who led North Carolina A&T to three.
In the interview below, Joyner talks about winning the title, his emotions after the game, which title means the most and facing off against University of Virginia at PNC Area in Raleigh, NC on Thursday.
