Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 9, 1991 TAG: 9102090026
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL BRILL
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Highlanders have been this year's regional surprise. At this time a season ago, they were in the midst of an 11-game losing streak, and once their record fell to 4-20. They won three of their final five to at least finish on a positive note, but coach Oliver Purnell's job security was a bit shaky.
Now, going into the Dedmon Center game against Coastal Carolina, Radford is 16-5, the last loss by 33 points at Virginia on Monday. That was a learning experience. Tonight can be a different sort of circumstance.
The Highlanders are 12-0 at home and 8-1 in the Big South, a game behind preseason favorite Coastal Carolina.
The league is strictly a two-team race, and, as Purnell and a couple of his players said in Charlottesville, "We expect to see them [Coastal Carolina] again in the tournament."
The Big South tournament title game, to be played in Anderson, S.C., on March 2, will be televised by ESPN. For a budding Division I mid-major, that's pretty heady stuff.
But there's an even more important reason Radford would like to be seen on cable TV. It would mean the Highlanders were just one waltz away from the big dance, the NCAA Tournament.
The Big South, which began operation in 1984, gets to participate in what the NCAA is calling a "play-in." That means six leagues, either the lowest rated or the youngest - or both - will participate in a triple-header on March 6, with the three winners advancing to the 64-team field.
It will be the Big South's duty to play the champion of the Southwest Athletic Conference in the final game, at 9:30, of that play-in. The game will be on the road, but who cares? What we're talking about is opportunity. And, oh yes, that also will be shown by ESPN.
The Highlanders will need to win the league tournament, but they would like to establish their credentials by whipping Coastal Carolina tonight. Give them something to think about, don't you know.
They met previously at Coastal Carolina, and Radford lost 78-76 in overtime.
"We only shot 25 percent for the first half," Purnell said. Actually, the Highlanders tossed bricks all night, finishing at a woeful 35.1 percent, and they still almost won.
Shooting is not Radford's forte. The Highlanders are hitting a mere 43 percent for the season, and they have won five times when they made less than 40 percent.
"We need to play a lot of defense," said sophomore guard Doug Day, Radford's 3-point bomber who averages 20 points.
Defense has carried the Highlanders, who can tie a school record for Division I victories if they win tonight. Their previous best was 17-14. If Radford can hold an opponent to less than 50 percent shooting, it figures to win.
The opposition has made half its shots only five times, including a three-game losing streak on the road against East Carolina, Iona and Brooklyn. UVa also shot 50 percent. Winthrop shot 52.4 but lost in overtime.
Purnell, armed with a new three-year contract, starts a young team. Ron Shelburne, the steady center from Pulaski, is the lone senior who plays regularly. The eight-man rotation includes three sophomores, three juniors and skinny freshman Don Burgess from Harrisonburg.
Only Day and Shelburne average in double figures, and Radford's biggest weakness - rebounding - was exposed by nationally ranked Virginia. The Highlanders were beaten on the boards by an incredible margin, 53-20. But they've been outrebounded all year and they're still winning.
"We shoot in the 43-45 [percent] range and we can win with that [in the Big South]," Purnell said. "We've done it with defense. We're a year older, more experienced, and we really play hard."
Since Coastal Carolina's front line is as tall as Virginia's, the Highlanders will have to box out well.
"This is one of the biggest games of my career," Shelburne said. "I've only got two more games at home, and any time you've got a chance to go to the NCAA . . ."
Shelburne said Radford needs to learn from the humbling experience at Charlottesville. "That showed us we have to have offensive execution," he said. "That's something we can control."
Day, held to one field goal at UVa, was disappointed. "This was a big game, and we wanted to play well. It didn't happen. But Coastal will be bigger. This will be the first time we've had a chance to play for first place."
by CNB