It's easy to see why Duke Crews created so much preseason buzz in the CIAA. Crews, Bowie State's 6-foot-8 junior forward, was arguably the most hyped player in black college basketball when he transferred from Tennessee.

He's lived up the talk, especially after dropping a career-high 25 points and 12 rebounds on Johnson C. Smith, a preseason favorite to win the West Division. "I'm just trying to make the most of my situation," he said. "I love the game of basketball and every time I get out on the court, I have a blast." Crews is having lots of fun in Division II and Bowie State, where he's played six games since his transfer was approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse.

He's playing in front of smaller crowds, but CIAA fans are every bit as knowledgeable and rabid as any in the nation. Crews is responded by averaging 18.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game for the 9-6 Bulldogs. "It's a different type of atmosphere (in the CIAA)," Crews says. "You've got the band; you got the dance line and the cheerleaders. You get to interact with the fans more.

It gives you a high school feel almost, but it's more intense and it's a totally different experience. You play in front of 25,000 people (in the SEC) but it's different, whereas at a historically black college, it's going to be a different environment everywhere you go with smaller gyms, but the people still love the game and you have to respect that."

And Crews respects what he's getting at Bowie State after being kicked off Tennessee's team after breaking undisclosed team rules. After a slow start without Crews, the Bulldogs have a three-game win streak and are playing like the team expected to win the CIAA East according to preseason polls.

"We kind of took a step back when I came back trying to get our chemistry and jell, but right now we're jelling better every day," he said. "We've just got to continue to do that, and by the time the (CIAA tournament) comes around, the sky's the limit."