Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 9, 1991 TAG: 9103090245
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Three weeks ago, it just didn't seem to be in the Cards.
The Seminoles were starting a late-season rush in a schedule that had included games against Nevada-Las Vegas, Arkansas and Syracuse. Louisville had accomplished a first - last place in the Metro.
However, in tonight's 7:10 tip-off at the Roanoke Civic Center, the Cardinals come in with a five-game winning streak, playing to take a 15-15 record into the NCAA Tournament. Florida State (19-10) likely already has locked up an at-large NCAA spot.
Louisville is the lowest-seeded team to reach the Metro final. The Cardinals were 4-10 in the league regular season.
The only Metro team to have a losing regular season and win the tournament was Virginia Tech, which went 4-6 against a designated schedule in its Metro debut, then won the 1979 tournament as the fifth seed.
The 1985 Seminoles finished seventh in the regular season, then advanced to the Metro championship game before losing 90-86 in overtime to top-seeded Memphis State.
As of Friday night, 6,789 tickets had been sold for the championship game, civic center ticket manager Vern Steed said.
Tickets, priced at $15, will be on sale today at the civic center box office. More Louisville fans are expected to arrive to push that crowd figure upward.
Tonight's game offers a special challenge for the Seminoles in their last Metro game before moving to the ACC. Florida State has played in five Metro title games, losing them all. Florida State has won eight of nine since an 88-72 loss at Louisville's Freedom Hall on Feb. 9. Cardinals coach Denny Crum said that game, ending a five-game losing streak, may have been Louisville's best this season.
The Seminoles won a Jan. 12 game at home over the Cardinals, 77-66. That, however, wasn't the confident bunch that has put Louisville one victory from its 13th NCAA berth in 15 seasons.
"This is a different Louisville team than in the early part of the season," said Memphis State guard Elliot Perry after his team was ousted 72-70 by the Cardinals in Friday night's semifinal opener. "The big key, down the stretch, is there has been no pressure on them."
Florida State, which went 9-5 in the Metro to finished second behind regular-season champion Southern Mississippi, poses size problems for Louisville. The Seminoles' front line of Douglas Edwards, Michael Polite and Rodney Dobard is the league's best frontcourt.
Florida State also has prospered with Seminoles backup quarterback Charlie Ward as the point-guard starter. The Seminoles are 13-5 since coach Pat Kennedy put Ward into the lineup.
"Florida State poses the same problems for us as they do for others," Crum said. "Their size, their athletic ability are the keys, and their depth. They have 10 great athletes."
by CNB