Andrew Mitchell had been involved in two of his favorite pastimes — going to church and coaching his Livingstone College women’s basketball team.

So why did he greet me with such a disappointed look?

His Blue Bears, who had big dreams when the year began, had been soundly whipped 71-47 by crosstown neighbor Catawba. His two best players, Erica Deas (Miss Outside) and Julie Tarrance (Miss Inside) were mired on the bench. Not because of foul trouble. Not because of injuries.

Because of discipline.

Mitchell wouldn’t say why the two didn’t play. But his sadness showed. Livingstone was 6-6 overall, and despite losing to a bunch of ranked teams, he had wanted to show Salisbury what a good product he had built in his five years as head coach. After all, he grew up right up the road in East Spencer. He had played at Catawba.

His wishes had gone unfulfilled on this day. “I wish we could’ve played better,” he sighed.

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Flash forward two months. When March Madness rolled around, that Sunday in early January seemed like ancient history.

Mitchell was smiling again. Discipline was not a problem any longer.

Discipline was an asset. Livingstone had proven that in the final seconds of the CIAATournament championship game against perennial power Bowie State. Down two with 11 seconds left, Mitchell drew up what he called one of his pet plays. Adrienne Webster set a perfect pick, Deas got off the perfect shot and — BOOM! — Livingstone had made history. It had won the first women’s title of any kind, 63-62.

The Blue Bears were 18-10, winners of 12 of 16 since Jan. 2.

Mitchell said he couldn’t remember much about the CIAAtitle, only that there wasn’t much celebrating.

“We were tired,” he said. “Everybody on my van slept. But we didn’t want to get too high or too low. We had to come to the regionals.”

Suddenly, his team had four new letters to concentrate on.

Instead of CIAA, it was NCAA. His team was in the Division IIplayoffs.

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Mitchell was asked how the Blue Bears had turned it around since that January loss.

“It wasn’t me,” he insisted Thursday in Clinton, S.C., where Livingstone was preparing for its first round game. “I suspended players and kicked some players off. But in the next week or two, they were back.”

That’s where Webster comes in. The senior from Richmond wouldn’t allow this talented group to fold back in January.

“She’s kinda the team bully,” Mitchell chuckled playfully. “She was ready to fight some people if they didn’t listen. She’s our spiritual leader and our team leader. She’s a wonderful person that everybody loves.

“I don’t think we realize right now the value of what Adrienne brings. She was the reason we were able to get things turned around. We continued to believe and here we are.”

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Yes, here Livingstone is — in the national spotlight.

The playoffs lasted for just one day. Kennesaw State defeated the Blue Bears 77-62 but the exposure will certainly get the attention of recruits as talented as Deas, Tarrance, Webster, Chanel Edwards and even freshmen Angela Thomas and Robyn Wright.

A Georgia product, Thomas stepped right in at point guard after the graduation of heralded Tricosa Green and became an assist machine. The 5-6 whirling dervish dished out seven against Kennesaw State. Wright, a sturdy 6-footer from Vance, S.C., has the potential to be one of the CIAA’s top players.

Deas and Tarrance already are.

Deas, a 5-10 do-everything sophomore from Sumter, S.C., had 17 points against Kennesaw State and also recorded three steals and six assists.

At 6-5, Tarrance should be the CIAA’s preseason pick as the top center next season. Even though the junior played less minutes against Kennesaw State than any of the other starters (27 minutes), she still led the Blue Bears with 18 points and 12 rebounds. She drilled two of the prettiest jump hooks you’ll ever see and forced several errant shots due to that long reach.

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Mitchell said in a couple of weeks, the Blue Bears would be back in the weight room and on the track.

On track is exactly where his program is. It was a painstaking process when he signed on five years ago and took the challenge of rebuilding a team that had the reputation as the female L.A. Clippers.

First, he wanted the Blue Bears to win their first-ever game in the CIAAtournament. That happened in 1998.

Then, he wanted the Blue Bears to advance to the tournament finals. He did that in 1998 and 1999, losing each time to Bowie.

Then he wanted to win the whole darn thing. The Blue Bears accomplished that feat this season and got some national attention to boot.

The next thing Mitchell wants to check off his list is a national playoff win.

“I think this can be an annual event,” he said of the Division II playoffs. “Some good things will happen for Livingstone and our program.”

Make no mistake. That Clippers reference is a thing of the past. The Blue Bear women are now resembling that other L.A. team — the one that gives us Showtime.

The Livingstone Lakers?

“We talk national title,” Mitchell said. “That’s a goal for us.”

Andrew Mitchell was wearing a confident smile when he said that.

Boy, Jan. 2 sure does seem like a long time ago, huh?

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