Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 10, 1993 TAG: 9303100134
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
CENTER SPOT WILL OPEN UP NEXT SEASON
There is something about a starting job that would make Yuri Barnes overlook the inconvenience of playing out of position.Unless Virginia can recruit a basketball center in the next month, Barnes is almost certain to replace the Cavaliers' lone departing starter, 6-foot-9, 245-pound Ted Jeffries.
Barnes, listed at 6-8, looks to be closer to 6-7. Although he gets most of his playing time in relief of Junior Burrough at power forward, he is the primary backup to Jeffries at center.
"Either one of us [Burrough or Barnes] could play center," Barnes said, "or they could list us as having three forwards. Wake Forest did that [in 1991-92] and it worked for them.
"We're used to checking bigger guys, and I think we've held our own. I know the coaches are looking at some [centers], but I don't think it'll hurt us a lot if we don't get one."
Barnes came off the bench to score a career-high 15 points in 17 minutes Saturday in the Cavaliers' 88-74 victory over Maryland, but his scoring has been up-and-down.
"More up than down," he said. "I wouldn't say my confidence was down, but it's always reassuring to know you still have the ability. I still felt I had the ability, but you have to go out there and do it."
Nobody on Virginia's team collects rebounds as a faster rate than Barnes, who has played just more than 16 minutes per game but is averaging 6.0 points and 4.2 rebounds.
"Yuri really got off to a slow start [against Maryland]," Jones said, "but he worked through it and responded with what might have been his best game of the season."
\ IN THE RUNNING: Virginia is one of five schools chosen for campus visits by 6-11 George Formanek, a transfer from Czechoslovakia who is in his second year at Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Formanek is averaging 14.7 points and 10.3 rebounds and had 33 blocked shots in a recent three-game stretch. Coach Howard West, who once questioned whether Formanek could contribute as a freshman in college, now thinks he can.
West said UVa's Jeff Jones is the only coach who said he would redshirt Formanek as a freshman. The other finalists are Pittsburgh (the only school Formanek has visited officially), Vanderbilt, St. Joseph's and UNC Charlotte.
\ NEAR TRIPLE: It has been more than 13 years since Ralph Sampson recorded the last "triple-double" in UVa history, but UVa's Cornel Parker came close Saturday with 12 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
Parker continues to struggle with his shot, however. Over the past eight games, he is 3-of-20 on 3-point attempts and has made only six of 16 free throws. Nevertheless, he was the only two-time selection for ACC player of the week this year.
\ PINE TIME: Chris Havlicek, nominally the Cavaliers' eighth man, has not played in three of the past six games. In two of the other three games, he played one minute.
Havlicek, son of former Boston Celtics star John Havlicek, does not have a field goal in his past 13 games, missing all seven of his shots. He has not made a 3-pointer in three years.
\ NOT HAPPY: The seniors were not the only people feeling nostalgic Saturday at UVa's final home game. Many fans were sitting in their seats for the last time.
Athletic director Jim Copeland has said there will be a new seating plan at University Hall next season, and proposals include turning the court and moving the students behind the basket.
Longtime UVa booster Bobby Smith from Roanoke folded his chair after the game, picked it up and carried it across the arena, where he shook it in the direction of Copeland's box.
\ IN THE BONUS: Salem High School junior Mark Byington, who scored 32 points Friday night in the Spartans' four-overtime loss to Laurel Park, was a visitor to the Virginia-Maryland men's game. . . . UVa has held opponents to below 40 percent shooting in 12 games. The Cavs are 11-1 in those games, with the loss to Virginia Tech.