Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 28, 1993 TAG: 9303280147
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. LENGTH: Medium
The Cavaliers were in trouble when they had to score out of their half-court offense.
The Bearcats called off their press with slightly less than 10 minutes remaining Friday night and pulled away for a 71-54 victory in the East Region semifinals.
"People say we live and die with our press," Cincinnati basketball coach Bob Huggins said Saturday, "but we're a good half-court team. When we blew the game open, we were in our half-court defense."
Virginia took its biggest lead of the game, 40-36, after a pair of 8-foot jumpers by Junior Burrough in transition. After a dunk by UVa's Yuri Barnes, Huggins had seen enough of the press.
The Bearcats, ahead 47-46 at the time, scored the next 10 points. The Cavaliers had no trouble getting the ball upcourt all night, but when they had to run an offense, it was a joke.
"They did a good job against our pressure," Huggins said. "They got a dunk and another fairly easy basket and I think the intent was to fall back and give them another look.
"They came down and tried to get back in the game by taking perimeter shots and we were controlling the rebounds. There was no need to go back to the press."
Virginia was outrebounded 48-32, yielding a season-high 24 offensive rebounds, but that shouldn't have been a big surprise. The Cavaliers had given up 20 or more offensive rebounds in four previous games, all in the first half of the season.
"We did not de-emphasize rebounding," UVa coach Jeff Jones said. "We told them, `They've got guys like Harper Williams and Louis Roe [of Massachusetts], except Cincinnati's got more of them.' "
The Cavaliers overcame 16 offensive rebounds to beat Massachusetts 71-56 and they had similar chances against Cincinnati. At the point Virginia had its last lead, 44-43, Cincinnati already had 19 offensive rebounds.
UVa let the game get away on offense, where it failed to score on six straight possessions, and at the free-throw line. Cory Alexander missed a one-and-one when the Cavaliers could have taken the lead and Junior Burrough missed two one-and-ones.
The Cavaliers shot 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from the line, which was an improvement over the previous six games, in which they shot 55.2 percent (79-of-143).
Only sophomore Jason Williford, who played well overall Friday night, was immune to the foul-shooting demise. He had 35 points, 20 rebounds, eight assists and six steals in three NCAA Tournament games.
The biggest disappointment for Virginia in the postseason was senior guard Doug Smith, who did not make a shot after a blackout in the second half of UVa's game with North Carolina in the ACC Tournament, going 0-for-12 to end the season.
UVa's only offense off the bench was provided by Barnes, who had 13 points in 36 minutes, but played only eight minutes against Cincinnati. As it stands, Barnes will be the starting center next year although he stands barely over 6 feet 7.
"I thought they'd be a lot taller than they were," said 6-6 Cincinnati forward Erik Martin, fearful that the Bearcats wouldn't be able to compete with UVa on the boards. "[Ted] Jeffries [listed at 6-9] wasn't much taller than I am."
The Cavaliers remain in the running for 6-10, 245-pound Jason Lawson from Indiana, the nation's top uncommitted big man, but Bobby Cremins' return to Georgia Tech stiffens the competition.
The good news for Virginia is that four starters return, three of whom averaged in double figures. Alexander, who makes no secret of his NBA aspirations, said Friday night that he definitely will return for his junior year.
The Cavaliers, whose early schedule included seven home games in the first eight, have a more imposing task next year with road trips to Nevada-Las Vegas, Stanford and Old Dominion. Minnesota will come to University Hall.
"I'm just worn out right now," said Jones after having some time to digest the Cincinnati loss. "I'm disappointed because we had our chances, but, at the same time, part of me says we had a pretty good run."
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB