Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 30, 1992 TAG: 9203300024
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That would be understandable for a wide-eyed freshman, but Stith is a senior who played in the NCAA Tournament after each of his first three seasons.
"I don't think I had any other choice," said Stith, the leading scorer in UVa history and a three-time All-ACC selection. "I just wanted to make the most of what time I had left.
"As far as I'm concerned, it's a way to finish the season on a positive note and, for the younger guys, it's a major part of their development for next year."
So, what's in it for Stith?
"Just the fun of playing," he said. "I enjoy playing basketball, and this is a chance to play a few more games. Once the other guys saw my enthusiasm, I think the feeling spread."
In the NIT, unlike the NCAA Tournament, there is a third-place game. UVa (18-13) will have two more games regardless of its showing against Florida (19-12) at 7 tonight at Madison Square Garden.
Tonight's second semifinal will feature Notre Dame (17-14) against Utah (23-10) at 9:15. Both games will be televised nationally by ESPN.
The third-place and championship games will be Wednesday, with the players certain to observe the off-day by attending Tuesday night's game between the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks.
Obviously, one of the college teams will lose two games in New York, "but, regardless of what happens, I can't see us being discouraged by what has happened in the tournament," UVa coach Jeff Jones said.
The Cavaliers have won six of their past seven games, including three in the NIT. That contrasts with last year, when UVa lost eight of its last 12 to finish 21-12.
"It's really hard to compare those things," Jones said. "I do remember last year, finishing the way we did, I felt I had to defend what had been a pretty good year."
Jones speculated that things were a little different at Stanford, which won the NIT.
"I think winning the NIT would feel the same as advancing pretty far in the NCAA Tournament," Stith said. "It's definitely been a satisfying feeling so far."
Jones, a sophomore guard on the UVa team that won the NIT in 1980, described that experience as "one of the highlights" of a successful college career.
In Florida, Virginia will be facing a team that, like itself, might have received an NCAA Tournament bid with a victory in the first round of its conference tournament.
The Gators had a winning record in the Southeastern Conference but lost three of their last four games, including a 62-60 loss to Alabama in the SEC Tournament.
"It's a very well-coached team," Jones said. "I understand [Lon] Kruger won the coach-of-the-year award by far. They were picked at the bottom of their conference."
Stacey Poole, averaging 19.3 points, is one of only two double-figure scorers for the Gators, whose center is 6-foot-10 freshman Andrew DeClercq, who was recruited by Virginia.
DeClercq will be matched against UVa junior Ted Jeffries, who had a season-high 14 points and 12 rebounds Friday night in the Cavaliers' 76-71 victory over New Mexico at the Richmond Coliseum.
Freshman point guard Cory Alexander was 1-of-12 from the field and the Cavaliers failed to make a 3-pointer for the first time all season, but they were relentless inside.
When they weren't scoring, the Cavaliers were getting to the free-throw line. Freshman forward Junior Burrough, who was 4-of-13 from the field, hit his first 10 free throws.
"It's psychological," Jones said of his team's 83.7 percent free-throw shooting in the tournament, "but, in Junior's case, he's been to the line a lot [he is 17-of-19 in the tournament] and that helps a lot."
Stith, averaging 24 points in the NIT, is 25-of-30 on free throws. He has pushed his career points total to 2,465 and has a legitimate shot at becoming the 42nd Division I player to score 2,500 in his career.
"I don't think there's any question that Bryant and [fellow senior] Anthony [Oliver] have set the tone for this and challenged everybody else," Jones said. "When I addressed the team after the ACC Tournament, I asked the seniors if they wanted to say something. Bryant declined, but Anthony had a few choice words. He, as well as everybody else, was hurt and a little embarrassed."
The feeling has not persisted.
by CNB