Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 15, 1990 TAG: 9003152682
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-5 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
"It was his last tournament," Krzyzewski said. "I just think it's an emotional reaction and I don't mind that. In a lot of locker rooms, it's almost like they pass out a paper telling kids what they can and can't say. We've always been open.
"I think he should have an opportunity to be human. I don't want puppets to play for me. Every once in a while, it's not bad. I don't have a problem with what was said, and our team doesn't have a problem with it."
The lead column in Sunday's edition of the Durham (N.C.) Herald featured 17 consecutive paragraphs of quotes from Henderson.
"It's obvious to me we've got a bunch of [expletive deleted] babies on this team," Henderson said. "People who are not upset need to quit the [expletive deleted] team. I don't know why we're not upset. It's like it's all right to lose.
"I think it's a lot of fake [expletive deleted] on this team, a lot of fake emotion, fake enthusiasm. . . . I'm mad at some of my teammates for not giving me everything they had today. I'm mad at them and I don't think there's anything wrong with that."
Many believe Henderson was aiming some of his comments at freshman guard Bobby Hurley, who reacts to some personal fouls as if he is about to break into tears.
"I don't know if you can blame it on a certain class," Hurley said. "I didn't shoot well, but I played as hard as I can. And I don't think the senior class had such a great game. . . . I'm disappointed that we lost and I'm sick of making excuses for it."
There appears to be little love lost between Notre Dame coach Digger Phelps and Krzyzewski, who has volunteered to provide Virginia with information on the Fighting Irish, 88-76 losers to the Blue Devils in early February.
"I'd be happy to discuss it," Krzyzewski said. "I don't know if they'll call. I'd love to see Virginia win. Any help I can give Terry, I'd love to do it."
Holland said earlier this week that the Cavaliers were "just beginning to get films and putting together a list of people we need to contact. I would like to talk with Mike."
Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins, whose Yellow Jackets meet East Tennessee State in the first round of the Southeast Regional, said he was disappointed with a No. 4 seed after winning the ACC Tournament.
"I thought we'd get taken care of a little better and get an easier first-round opponent," Cremins said. "I haven't talked to anybody. I don't know who to talk to. My feeling now is, `To heck with it.' I'll deal with that later in the summer.
"It's like last year, when we drew Texas in Dallas. I feel bad for the kids. I don't think my team realizes that East Tennessee State almost beat Oklahoma [last year]. I don't think they realize who East Tennessee is."
With that, Cremins spoke in favor of an expanded NCAA field, citing NIT teams Memphis State and Maryland.
"The NCAA has to look at adding eight or 12 more teams," Cremins said. "A lot of great teams win 19 or 20 games and don't go. That's putting a lot of pressure on a coach. You come so close with 18 or 19 wins, you might feel you've got to do something in recruiting to get in the tournament."
North Carolina coach Dean Smith objected to Cremins' proposal to increase the field by eight or 12. "Why not, then, the next 10?" Smith asked.
"I remember when they went to 64, which I had argued for a long, long time. Some people are in favor of letting everybody in, but that's like replaying the conference tournaments. I think if you expanded [by eight or 12] that would make it worse for the teams not in the top 70."
Clemson coach Cliff Ellis, a Marianna, Fla., native, is among those being mentioned in connection with the vacancy at Florida. Ellis attended Chipola (Fla.) Junior College and Florida State, and coached at three high schools in the state.
"I have not been contacted," Ellis said. "It's an honor to have your name mentioned, but I go through this every year. A lot of people's names get thrown in the hat, and it doesn't help your ballclub or recruiting. If I meet with somebody, I'll let you know. I'm not speaking with anybody at this point."
Virginia athletic director Jim Copeland, who has indicated that some coaches will not discuss the UVa vacancy until after the season, said that all coaches in that category are in postseason play. Does that eliminate Iowa coach Tom Davis, whose team went nowhere after a 12-16 season? "What makes you think I didn't talk to him during the season?" Copeland asked.
Analyst Dick Vitale, noting that Connecticut president John Casteen is going to Virginia, asked Huskies basketball coach Jim Calhoun if he would be joining Casteen. Calhoun offered no denials, but Connecticut athletic director Todd Turner said UVa had not asked for permission to speak with Calhoun and he does not expect any overtures.
It is believed that Virginia is one of the schools that would interest Jerrod Mustaf if he leaves Maryland. Mustaf, a sophomore, said he will consider his options in light of a two-year NCAA ban on postseason play. He would be eligible immediately at another school because of the probation. The NBA also is a possibility, but Maryland officials are optimistic of having the second year of the probation eliminated through appeal.
Florida State has agreed to flip-flop with Cincinnati and will serve as host for the 1992 Metro Conference Tournament in Tallahassee, Fla., Metro commissioner Ralph McFillen said.
Cincinnati originally was to hold the 1992 tournament under the Metro's rotating-site plan. But the Bearcats will have the first and second rounds of the 1992 NCAA Tournament. Instead of putting on the '92 Metro tourney, Cincinnati would hold the league tournament in 1993.
McFillen said he expects the '92 tournament games to be held at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center, FSU's home court. That will end two straight years of neutral-site tournaments: Biloxi, Miss., this year and Roanoke in '91.
Kansas State, with a 17-14 record, has the worst percentage (.548) of any team ever to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats are a No. 11 seed, which means they made the field ahead of at least three other at-large teams, No. 12 seeds Brigham Young and Villanova and No. 13 seed Southern Mississippi.
Waiting to board the team's seventh flight in four days on a late-season swing, Virginia Tech's Ibraheem Oladotun shook his head and remarked that during his two years at Pensacola (Fla.) Junior College, the team bused to games and never flew.
Asked if he'd rather bus to Tech's road games, Oladotun nodded.
"It's less risk," said the junior from Lagos, Nigeria. "You can yell at the bus driver. What are you going to say to the pilot?"
by CNB