Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 31, 1993 TAG: 9301310174
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
JUST WHAT UVA-TECH NEEDED . . .
The Virginia-Virginia Tech basketball rivalry got a much-needed wakeup call Saturday night.After another half of somnolence in the 78-year series, the Hokies and Cavaliers produced some play that finally had their fans standing, screaming and stammering again.
Scoring 17 of the game's last 20 points, Tech found emotion and the basket in a 59-53 victory. It was a slap in the face for the stumbling Cavaliers and this rivalry.
For years, Hokies and 'Hoos clamored in futility to have their annual hoop-de-do televised. No matter which side of the state was the site, Tech-UVa was a sure sellout.
The emotion overflowing from the stands was often as fierce as the furor on the floor. It may have been a non-conference game, but there was much more personal going on than fouls.
The 107th meeting, at the Richmond Coliseum, began like the 106th a year ago in Roanoke. There were about 4,000 empty seats, many of them vacant from no-shows.
In the record book, the last Roanoke meeting appears as a double-overtime thriller. In truth, it was a horrible game that happened to have a close finish.
This time, as the underdog Hokies won for the fourth time in the past 19 games of the series, recent history didn't repeat itself. Tech's comeback gave the game a compelling completion.
In a first half most notable for its 23 turnovers and 23 fouls, the most emotional exchange was a few heated words between Tech coach Bill Foster and referee Dick Paparo. UVa coach Jeff Jones wished his pitiful guards were that hot.
The Hokies shot 25 percent (6-of-24) in the first half. If Tech was inept offensively in that period, UVa - only 10 days removed from the unbeaten ranks - was embarrassingly so in the second half.
While Tech didn't have a great night - 18 field goals and 36 percent shooting - the Hokies were clearly good enough because UVa made only 15 shots and was 5-of-27 in the second half.
While the Hokies flew home despite riding in a bus, UVa continued its crash from seventh-ranked to simply rank. Over the same period, Foster has increased the potential for the Hokies making up a majority of the Metro Conference all-freshman team.
Before the Hokies played catch-up, the last real quality in the series was UVa's 113-106 overtime triumph also in Richmond in 1989, the highest-scoring game in Cavaliers history.
However, the last combustible competition in the series, was the 1990 mad-to-mad play provided by playmakers Bimbo Coles and John Crotty. The days of Tom Sheehey's elbows and Dale Solomon's shoves had become ancient history.
There has been talk about moving the series back onto the campuses, where it hasn't been played since the ACC tournament champion Cavaliers won at University Hall in February 1976.
In the 22 neutral-site games since - 10 each in Richmond and Roanoke and one apiece in Norfolk and Hampton - Virginia has won 16. It was pretty much even until UVa got a sizable advantage - the career of 7-foot-4 Ralph Sampson.
If Tech's freshmen continue to improve, the competitive juices in the series should heat up again. And only that will sell more $18 tickets.
Moving the games to campus isn't the answer, as the attendance at both schools has proven in recent years - although certainly the potential for student spectator venom at Cassell and U-Hall would spice the series.
What this series needed arrived Saturday night. It produced a game that enthralled and enraged its paying customers.
And in the commonwealth, there's nothing more scream-inducing than having the Hokies and 'Hoos sharing the same roller-coaster.