Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 14, 1993 TAG: 9303160271
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Doug Doughty
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C. LENGTH: Long
ELLIS WILL BE JUDGED ON MORE THAN WINS AND LOSSES
The point long has passed where Clemson is trying to win games for beleaguered basketball coach Cliff Ellis."I'm not worried about his status," sophomore center Sharone Wright said Friday night after the Tigers' 87-75 upset of 11th-ranked Florida State in the ACC Tournament.
"I think he deserves to stay, but it's not in my hands. The man molded my career. I came here because of what he's done with big guys. He has prepared us well."
The victory against Florida State was the fourth in five games for the Tigers, but Clemson sources say Ellis' fate won't be determined solely - or even largely - by wins and losses.
There is the matter of an NCAA investigation that brought a relatively light sentence, but the school has been trying to improve a law-breaking image that also has hounded the football program.
Also, Ellis will be judged on the academic standing of his teams, an unusually high number of transfers, a decrease in season-ticket holders and a growing number of no-shows.
"There have been no supportive comments from the administration," a person close to the Clemson basketball program said.
Clemson must pay former head football coach Danny Ford $190,000 per year for the next five years, even though he has taken another position at Arkansas, so some have wondered if Clemson can buy out another coach. No problem.
The strain is evident on Ellis, who appeared near tears Friday night after the victory against Florida State, his second in 10 ACC Tournament games.
"A lot of things were said about this team; a lot of spears were thrown," Ellis said. "It was a huge win, needless to say."
The Tigers lost 10 of 13 games during one midseason stretch and the 69-61 loss to Georgia Tech in the semifinals Saturday won't leave Ellis resting easy over his future after nine seasons at Clemson.
"We can read what's being written; we can hear what's being said," point guard Chris Whitney said. "I know he's caught a lot of flak, but he's never mentioned it in front of us."
\ Sharone the showman
At the end of Clemson's victory against Florida State, Wright tossed up an imaginary ball, took a swing with an imaginary bat and cupped his hand to his forehead to admire the result.
"It's something I've always wanted to do ever since I saw [South Carolina quarterback Steve Taneyhill] do it at midfield when they played at Clemson," said Wright, who also had Lou Richie pitch him an imaginary ball for the cameras.
\ Facts and figures
Wright, whose 111 blocked shots led the country before this week, was not called for goaltending until March 3. . . . Duke junior Grant Hill celebrated his return to the lineup after a six-game absence by hitting his first 3-pointer of the season and second in 12 career attempts. . . . Last-place North Carolina State led at the half in eight of 16 conference games and eight in a row, including two non-conference games, before Thursday night.
\ Leave wake-up calls
Georgia Tech forward James Forrest was one of three top players who failed to start Friday because he was late for a team meeting. North Carolina coach Dean Smith gave the same reasons for not starting Eric Montross and Brian Reese.
Forrest responded with what Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski called "one of the best performances in our conference all year." Forrest made all seven of his shots in the first half and finished 13-of-15 in the Yellow Jackets' 69-66 upset of No. 6-ranked Duke.
Forrest did not make any of the first three All-ACC teams despite averaging 18.5 points, sixth in the ACC, and 7.5 rebounds. He also ranked in the top 10 in the ACC in field-goal percentage (52.3).
"That will probably help me in the long run," Forrest said, "because I realize I'm not there [stardom] yet. The people who vote [for all-conference] think I'm not there yet."
\ Stockpiling
When Georgia Tech lost seven of 10 games during one midseason stretch, coach Bobby Cremins had severe misgivings about his decision to redshirt Fred Vinson.
Vinson, a 6-foot-4 senior from Murfreesboro, N.C., by way of Chowan College, played in 32 of 35 games last year but experienced a gradual decline in his time, mostly because he shot 35 percent from the field.
"I've really questioned myself," Cremins said. "Vinson has embarrassed us with his shooting in practice. I've seen him make 10 3-pointers in a row. A month ago, I was kicking myself in the a--.
"It's the best thing for Fred. He'll graduate on time [five years]; he's been able to hit the weights. But it's a joke how well he shoots in practice. What I really wish is that we'd redshirted him last year."
\ Climbing the ladder
Official Duke Edsall from Roanoke was rated one of the three best in the conference, along with Dick Paparo and Rusty Herring, in a poll of approximately 25 coaches, players and writers conducted by the Raleigh News and Observer.
\ Upsets galore
Three upsets Friday meant that, for the first time in the 40-year history of the tournament, the No. 5, 6 and 7 seeds were alive in the semifinals.
"I'm sure there is some significance - I guess it shows the tournament still means something - but I'll leave that to [the media]," Krzyzewski said. "I pledge allegiance to the ACC, [but] I'm no longer part of the tournament."
\ Quote-unquote
"I don't really like where the team is at right now or where it's headed. Even with a win, I still wouldn't have liked it." -\ Duke guard Bobby Hurley.