Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 16, 1990 TAG: 9003162796
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Never mind that the Fighting Irish have to play Virginia at the Richmond Coliseum, 65 miles from UVa's campus.
"We were just glad to get out of town," said Joe Fredrick, a starting guard for the Fighting Irish.
Ever since the basketball pairings were announced Sunday, Notre Dame has heard it has no business in the field because of its 16-12 record.
Nowhere has the outcry been more vocal than in the Midwest, particularly after the Fighting Irish lost to DePaul for the second time this season, 64-59, the day before the tournament field was announced.
"People in Chicago figure that Notre Dame took DePaul's spot in the field," said a reporter who covers Notre Dame for one of the Chicago newspapers.
Anybody with an understanding of the seeding process can see that at least four other teams made the field after Notre Dame was selected. Notre Dame was a No. 10 seed, and at least one at-large selection, Southern Mississippi, was a No. 13.
Nobody from Virginia is going to question Notre Dame's inclusion in the field, but that doesn't mean the Fighting Irish will receive a warm reception when they meet the Cavaliers (19-11) at 9:37 p.m.
Tournament official Mike Ballweg estimated that Richmonders will make up 75 percent of the crowd of 12,500. That figure includes approximately 2,000 Virginia Commonwealth season ticket-holders, who were given an option on NCAA tickets.
"We've been around long enough to know that, since we're Notre Dame, people either like us or hate us," Fredrick said. "Since we're in their home state, I'd say the fans are going to hate us.
"I'd say it's probably going to be a little bit like it was down at Duke."
The Blue Devils defeated Notre Dame 88-76 at Cameron Indoor Stadium in one of 15 road games played by the Fighting Irish. Coach Digger Phelps said his team has traveled 20,000 miles this season.
Clearly, Notre Dame's schedule was a big factor in its invitation, but when asked if he was worried about the Irish's chances, Phelps replied, "Absolutely."
Said Fredrick: "After 32 [teams] go by, everybody starts to look around the room. I was scared to death."
Once the Irish went on the board, Fredrick had to start worrying about his right ankle. He suffered a sprain eight days ago and did not play against DePaul.
Fredrick took part in a shooting practice Thursday and is expected to be able to play tonight. Also, reserve guard Jamere Jackson is due to rejoin the team after attending the funeral of his 2-year-old niece.
Virginia is without the services of senior forward Mark Cooke, who received increased playing time in the ACC Tournament. Cooke was on crutches Thursday with an injured right leg.
While rushing down the stairs of his apartment, Cooke cut his leg on the metal portion of a mop. The injury required some surgery to repair ligaments and 15 stitches to close the wound.
Fredrick, who is the top 3-point threat for the Irish, will not start. Sophomore Daimon Sweet, who has not attempted a 3-pointer in his career, will take his place.
Notre Dame's other starters will be 6-9 senior Keith Robinson, 6-9 sophomore LaPhonso Ellis, 6-5 sophomore Kevin Ellery and 6-1 sophomore guard Elmer Bennett.
The Irish shoot 51.1 percent from the field and have outrebounded their opponents by an average of 8.9 per game, which ranks third in Division I.
Robinson, who shoots 60.3 percent from the field, leads the team in scoring with a 14.8-point average. Ellis averages 14.3 points and is expected to rank among the nation's leading rebounders this week with a 12.8 average.
Ellis did not qualify for the NCAA statistics until this week because he had not played in the required 75 percent of his team's games. He missed the first seven while on school-imposed academic probation.
"I think their record is strictly a product of their schedule," said Terry Holland, Virginia's coach. "When you play that many games against teams in the NCAA field, you're going to lose some games."
What Holland didn't say was that the Irish were 4-8 against teams that made the NCAA Tournament. In addition, while Notre Dame played a respectable schedule, the Irish were 5-10 on the road and at neutral sites.
Virginia was 9-6 against NCAA Tournament teams, including a 69-57 victory over Richmond in the championship game of the Times-Dispatch Invitational at the Richmond Coliseum. Moreover, the Cavaliers have won all three of their Friday games this season.
The statistic that concerns Holland most is UVa's shooting percentage. The Cavs have shot worse than 35 percent in four of their last eight games and are shooting 43.2 percent for the season, low for a Virginia team in the last 23 years.
by CNB