Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 2, 1992 TAG: 9201010040
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD
DATELINE: ORLANDO, FLA. LENGTH: Medium
TECH'S FOSTER: NO MORE MR. NICE GUY
Virginia Tech's basketball players soon will see a new side of coach Bill Foster.The Hokies' first-year coach said up to now he's been reluctant to harshly criticize his players' shortcomings because, he said, he hasn't yet felt like Tech really is his team.
Gentle encouragement and praise haven't been balanced by an occasional chew-out. But Foster is sharpening his teeth.
"This team right now is a team that has a fragile confidence level," said Foster on Tuesday, after the Hokies went 1-1 in the Red Lobster Classic at Orlando Arena to leave their season record at 4-5. "We've got a lot of what I call nice kids. You've got to give more encouragement and not sit on them as hard as you might. But each game, I can see them being more and more my team."
After routing Florida on Saturday and losing the tournament championship 63-51 to No. 11 Michigan in a sometimes-ragged game on Monday, the Hokies are preparing for Old Dominion at Cassell Coliseum on Saturday. They open Metro Conference play at UNC Charlotte on Jan. 8.
Tech was picked by league media and coaches to finish last in the seven-team Metro, and the league has proven itself stronger than many expected with the addition of UNCC, South Florida and VCU. But what Foster didn't see on Monday - a Michigan blowout - convinced him the Hokies have at least a chance to avoid Metro embarrassment.
"There was some doubt about whether we could play with them," Foster said after the game. "We won't play anybody any more talented. We know if we take care of business, we can play with anybody on our schedule. . . . We've got a chance in January and February."
Foster has never been pessimistic about the Hokies, but reasonable observers looked at Tech's roster - low on scholarship players, low on experience - and pegged Tech for a wasted season.
Foster's incessant drilling of fundamentals has paid off, however, and was especially evident against Florida. The Hokies play more effective defense than under former coach Frankie Allen and, although their shooting percentage isn't any higher and they routinely get beat on the boards, Foster's more structured offense is slowly sinking in to players used to Allen's sometimes hectic offense.
Foster acknowledges there remains much work to do but said if someone had told him Tech would be 4-5 after nine games, "I'd have probably celebrated."
"[The players] all think we're getting better, and that's important," Foster said. "I still see lots of ways to improve; I think I'll be saying that at the end of the season. But most things are difficult before they're easy."
Despite the Hokies' improvement, their lack of depth is almost certain to hurt them as the conference season progresses. Blacksburg native Jay Purcell is getting only token rest at point guard, and admitted he forced some offense in a 5-for-20 shooting performance against Michigan.
Steve Hall has gotten some minutes at point guard, but the offense seems to stagnate without Purcell in charge. How long Purcell can keep up his iron-man pace - and be effective - will be a key to Tech's season.
The integration of 7-foot senior center Erik Wilson also is important for Tech. Wilson missed the season's first five games, didn't play well in his first game back but had 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting against Florida. He followed that by hitting just one field goal in 17 minutes against Michigan.
Foster, however, said Wilson will move into the starting lineup against Old Dominion with 6-10 sophomore Jimmy Carruth coming off the bench.
"It has nothing to do with [Jimmy] playing good or bad," Foster said. "[Wilson's] a senior; I'm into that senior stuff. The minutes may not change appreciably."