Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 11, 1992                   TAG: 9203110026
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk/
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

CAVS HAVE WHAT IT TAKES FOR NCAAS

Will Virginia be in the NCAA Tournament field?

Only a serious injury to team leader Bryant Stith in the ACC Tournament could keep the Cavaliers from the 64-team bracket that will be revealed Sunday night. UVa (15-12) has too many pluses among the criteria used by the nine-man NCAA Basketball Committee to be left for the National Invitation Tournament.

The Cavaliers' .500 ACC record is important, as Iowa State (17-11 against Division I foes but 5-9 in the Big Eight) realizes in its hope for a sixth bid for its league. Virginia also fares well in strength of schedule - among the top dozen in Division I - conference power rating and recent play.

The NCAA committee puts a good amount of weight on a team's performance as tournament time approaches, and UVa has won seven of 11 after an 8-8 start. Among ACC teams, only Duke has a better record over the past 11 games.

The Cavaliers also have the strongest power rating for a team with more than 10 losses. Look for Virginia to be a No. 9 or 10 seed in the NCAA.

With Old Dominion winning the Colonial Athletic Association tournament in an upset, what happens to CAA regular-season co-champions Richmond and James Madison?

The NIT will welcome both. Richmond would get an NCAA spot ahead of the Dukes, but because the CAA is weak overall this season - ODU will likely be a No. 15 NCAA seed - the conference will not get a second bid.

Will Villanova (14-13) and Notre Dame (14-14) get NCAA bids?

Maybe and no. Villanova's 11-7 fourth-place finish in the Big East presents a dilemma for the NCAA committee. Can the NCAA take Connecticut, two spots below the Wildcats in the Big East, and not take 'Nova?

It says here the NCAA would love Villanova to beat Syracuse in Friday's Big East tournament first round to alleviate the .500 question. The committee hasn't selected an at-large team that was fewer than two games over .500 in Division I (Georgetown and Villanova, 1991).

Villanova also fares well in strength of schedule and play down the stretch against quality competition. Notre Dame has played the nation's toughest schedule and has some huge victories, but also some horrendous losses. They will put the Fighting Irish into the NIT.

The difference between Villanova and Notre Dame is the former has the overall strength of the Big East as a boost. If Notre Dame doesn't make the NCAA field, no independent will. Penn State (21-7) will be in the NIT.

The Metro and Great Midwest conferences have no automatic bids. How many teams will each put in the NCAA?

Three each. The Metro will get Louisville, slumping Tulane and, most likely, the winner of a tournament semifinal between UNC Charlotte and South Florida, although both have questionable power ratings. If the Atlantic 10 doesn't get three bids - Temple has played a terrific schedule - and the Metro gets four, it's a mistake. The Great Midwest will have Cincinnati, DePaul and Memphis State in the NCAA.