Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 7, 1992 TAG: 9203070047
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: ASHEVILLE, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
Surely, the Keydets were down after a debacle ended their season in the Southern Conference tournament, but coach Joe Cantafio - and obviously, his bosses - still are able to view the situation with a measure of realism.
"Maybe," Cantafio said, "winning 10 games isn't bad with this group."
Cantafio, who has coached 69 victories in six VMI seasons, wasn't making excuses to protect his own job security. He's a little guy with a grasp of the big picture.
Cantafio has three years remaining on his contract, and he doesn't seem to begoing anywhere except recruiting for a point guard and a couple of rebounders. The team that finished its season with an 84-49 loss to Tennessee-Chattanooga has players of promise.
That isn't to say VMI will win big next year, however. The Keydets' 10 wins this season match conference foe The Citadel for the most among the five Division I military schools. Navy and Army have combined for 10.
The Citadel, however, probably will tell coach Randy Nesbit to clean out his desk in a few days - although his 75 wins in seven seasons are a similar number to Cantafio's.
The difference is that VMI hears what others say about Cantafio and his program, and realize that at a military school, good shooting is more often done with a rifle than a basketball.
UT-Chattanooga coach Mack McCarthy was the conference coach of the year this season, and the Moccasins are headed for another postseason bid. He isn't sure he's the league's best sideline strategist, however.
"Joe Cantafio does a great job," said McCarthy, a Covington, Va., native and Virginia Tech grad. "Joe could be the conference coach of the year every year. For single-game preparation, Joe's the best in the league."
McCarthy said all this before his team, which is dominated by junior-college maturity, pounded the Keydets. He didn't change his opinion afterward, either, because he realizes the Keydets' perennial struggle.
VMI can look forward to next season because of the improvement this winter of center Lewis Preston and forward Jonathan Penn, both close-to-home juniors. Add sophomore Jonathan Goodman and freshman off-guard Bobby Jones, and Cantafio needs only a distributor and depth to challenge the .500 mark next season.
Preston's development in the pivot from walk-on status three years ago assures that Boones Mill, Va., will be known as more than the home of the apple festival and the U.S. 220 speed trap. At a school where most big men have had the mobility of Stonewall Jackson's statue on the parade ground, Preston reflects a 1992-93 team that promises athleticism.
Penn, from Pulaski, Va., will improve as the Keydets' leading scorer if he gets tougher physically to handle more inside play. To the four returning starters, Cantafio needs some rookie "rats" who can contribute more than minutes.
Will VMI's returnees - Cantafio can only cross his fingers and hope there are no off-season defections - put the Keydets into the SC's first division? It won't be easy.
The eight-team league is adding prodigal son Davidson from the Big South and Georgia Southern, which is incorrectly known primarily as a football power.
Georgia Southern (22-5) is the Trans America Athletic Conference regular-season champ and is seeking its third NCAA bid in a decade. Of the top returning teams, only East Tennessee State loses most of its contributors.
VMI will have better players next season. With that and a coach who isn't just a regular Joe on the sideline, the Keydets should smile more often.
by CNB