Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 4, 1990 TAG: 9003042019
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Long
In fact, if Virginia basketball coach Terry Holland wasn't swearing, he must have used a lot of restraint.
"I don't think there's any question there was a carry-over," said Holland, whose team played Maryland on Saturday, less than 48 hours after Thursday night's debacle against the Demon Deacons.
"I really tried to scare it out of them at the half, really got eyeball to eyeball with them," Holland said. " But I've used up all my tricks. That's why I'm getting out of coaching."
The Cavaliers picked up the pace in the second half, but so did the Terrapins, who defeated Virginia 89-74 at Cole Field House.
Maryland (6-8 in the ACC, 18-12 overall) moved into a tie for sixth place with UVa (6-8, 17-10) but will get a higher seeding for the ACC Tournament based on two regular-season victories over the Cavaliers.
"Two days ago, we were talking about finishing third in the ACC," said UVa guard John Crotty, who finished with a game-high 28 points. "And now, God, I don't know where we are."
Virginia remains hopeful of getting an NCAA Tournament bid, as does Maryland, but the Terrapins' fate is out of their hands. Most feel the NCAA will announce sanctions this week that will prohibit Maryland from receiving a bid.
"I think 18 wins would get us there if we were eligible to play," first-year Terps coach Gary Williams said. "It's not my call. I would like to know, but I don't.
"It's tough for the players to have this constantly in the back of their minds, but it's something they can't control. Hopefully, it'll come out before the ACC Tournament."
The Cavaliers looked like a lock for an NCAA bid before Thursday night, when they were upset by Wake Forest 51-50 at University Hall in Holland's final home game. It was one of three road wins for the Deacons since 1985.
Virginia shot a season-low 30.8 percent against Wake Forest, then came out Saturday and shot 30.3 percent over the first 20 minutes. Crotty was 6-of-12 and the other four starters were 2-of-18.
"I think the Wake Forest game may have been lingering in a lot of people's minds," Crotty said, "but, in my mind, this game was as big as that one."
Virginia cut a nine-point halftime deficit to 43-39 with 16:58 remaining, but Maryland used a 9-1 spurt to regain control and the difference never got inside 10 points thereafter.
The Cavaliers, once down by 18, had a chance to reduce the margin to single digits before Anthony Oliver missed a 3-point shot with three minutes remaining and the Terps ahead 74-64.
"In the second half, we did not play poorly," Holland said, "but it didn't matter because Maryland played as well in the second half as we've had a team play against us for a half this year."
The Terps shot 66.7 percent from the field in the second half and made 20 of 25 free throws. They were 9-of-11 from the line in the final 2:33.
Sophomore Walt Williams, a 6-foot-8 guard, led Maryland with 26 points and eight rebounds, and 6-10 classmate Jerrod Mustaf had 20 points and seven rebounds. The Terps dominated the rebounding, 47-35.
"Jerrod Mustaf has really made a turnaround in his game over the last month and a half with his ability to score inside," Gary Williams said. "He still has the outside shooting and that will always be there.
"I was surprised at the end of the game to hear that [Walt] Williams had 26. He is just a very difficult player to play when he's hitting his outside shots."
Oliver scored 14 points in the second half to finish with 18 for Virginia. Bryant Stith, who did not have a field goal in the first half, added 15.
"My confidence is not where it was," said Stith, who was held to a season-low eight points against Wake Forest. "I go to the free-throw line and think, `Oh, my God, what can go wrong next?' "
Stith finished 5-of-13 from the field, making him 8-of-26 over the last two games. Kenny Turner, the Cavaliers' other starting forward, was 2-of-16 against the Terps.
"I just find it inconceivable that a team should be asked to play a game on the road at 1:30 on Saturday after having played at 9 on Thursday night," said Holland, whose team is 0-2 in such games.
Holland, who will become athletic director at Davidson, won't have that problem to worry about anymore. A more immediate concern is the NCAA Tournament and UVa's chances of participating.
"I'd like to think we're in," said Holland, whose 1984 team made the field at 6-8 in the ACC and 17-11. "If we have to fight to get in with 17 wins, I think we've got a pretty good case."
VIRGINIA MP FG FT R A F PT
Turner 342-161-46245Stith 345-133-641415Jeffries 221-40-03232Oliver 335-128-852518Crotty 389-206-747128Blundin 232-20-05044Daniel 30-00-02000Kirby 101-40-00132Smith 30-10-01110Totals 200 25-72 18-25 35 16 25 74
MARYLAND MP FG FT R A F PT
Martin 182-50-06244Mustaf 357-106-871220Massenburg 276-104-571416McCoy 342-33-53829Williams 378-146-783326Broadnax 171-24-54216Lewis 112-40-04114Anderson 71-20-02122Young 50-10-00110Burns 50-00-02010Kasoff 10-00-00000Kaluzienski 10-00-00000Walker 11-10-01002Etienne 10-10-00000Totals 200 30-53 23-30 47 20 21 89
Rebounds include team rebounds Score by periods: Virginia 29-45-74 Maryland 38-51-89
Three-point goals - Virginia: Turner 0-4, Stith 2-3, Crotty 4-9, Kirby 0-3, Smith 0-1, Totals 6-20. Maryland: McCoy 2-3, Williams 4-7, Totals 6-10.
Turnovers - Virginia 9 (Kirby 3); Maryland 17 (McCoy, Williams 4). Blocked shots - Virginia 2 (Turner, Blundin); Maryland 8 (Lewis 3). Steals - Virginia 4 (Kirby 2); Maryland 1 (Williams).
Technical fouls - None. Officials - Wirtz, Gordon, Hartzell. Attendance - 14,400.
by CNB