Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 7, 1990 TAG: 9003071954
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: John Smallwood sportswriter
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
With the graduation of the Williams twins, VMI loses nearly half of its scoring. Add the loss of senior starters Mark Craft and Lennon Mings, and Cantafio has a team without 70 percent of its scoring and 50 percent of its rebounding.
Yet, the coach says the outlook isn't nearly as gloomy as one might expect.
"Everyone thinks the cupboard is empty," said Cantafio. "It was the same thing in 1988, when Gay Elmore and Mark Current graduated. I'm really looking forward to coaching this next group of kids. A lot of them are unproven because they haven't had a chance to play much."
VMI's 1989-90 season could be divided into two parts.
The Keydets were 4-11 before a five-game homestand turned around their season.
A three-point victory over Tennessee-Chattanooga was the first of six consecutive wins. In that span, VMI rallied from an 18-point second-half deficit to beat East Tennessee, knocked off Appalachian State when Damon Williams scored five points in the final two seconds, took out Marshall in overtime and blew out Bluefield College and William and Mary.
VMI finished the season by winning 10 of its last 14 games. The Keydets' 14-15 mark was their best since 1984-85.
"Anytime you have a losing record it's disappointing," Cantafio said. "You want to win every game, but the last 14 games we played as hard as we were going to play."
Only three of VMI's first 15 games were at Cameron Hall. The Keydets were as bad on the road (1-11) as they were good at home (11-1). They were 2-3 on neutral courts.
Obviously, losing four starters will have a tremendous impact on any team.
Without Ramon Williams, who had 1,630 career points, and Damon Williams, who had 1,622, VMI's system is "going to be a lot different," Cantafio said. "We'll be more patient and run more offensive sets. Ramon and Damon had the green light to shoot at anytime."
Much of the burden will fall on sophomore point guard Percy Covington.
Hampered by mononucleosis for the first half of the season, Covington improved as he regained his strength. The former Patrick Henry High standout proved to be a capable floor general and became a scoring threat in the last part of the season.
Covington scored in double figures in six of the last seven games and had a career-high 23 points Saturday. He nearly doubled his scoring average to 8.9 points and finished the season with 152 assists.
"Percy has come on so strong," Cantafio said. "The last couple of games he's been very good. He's so quick and is growing more and more confident in his shot."
Although the Keydets lose their top rebounder in Craft, their strength next season will be on the inside.
Junior forward Greg Fittz, who averaged 10.7 points and 5.1 rebounds as a sophomore, started the first four games of the season and had 52 points with 32 rebounds before suffering a back injury. He lost his starting spot to Mings, but finished the season with 215 points and 126 rebounds.
"It really set him back a lot," Cantafio said of the injury. "Fittz has the potential to be very good for us."
Freshman Lewis Preston gave the Keydets more than expected, leading the team with 25 blocks and contributing 87 rebounds. The former Franklin County High player was VMI's best interior defender.
Erek Perry, one of the few players ever to transfer to VMI, will be eligible next season and should be an ideal wing player. In a season and a half at Delaware, Perry averaged 9.4 points and 3.4 rebounds.
Reserve forwards Charlie Petzold, Prince Strobert and Jonathan Penn at times showed they have the potential to play bigger roles. VMI also got an early signee in 6-foot-7 Jonathan Goodman from Olar High in Denmark, S.C.
Still, Cantafio somehow must fill the huge void left by the Williamses. Beyond the twins and Covington, VMI had no effective perimeter scorers.
"We've got to get some more shooters," Cantafio said. "I guess I'm going to have to teach three guys to shoot instead of two."
by CNB