Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 26, 1993 TAG: 9310260018
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
In Foster's first two years at Tech, the Hokies have beaten nationally ranked teams such as Tulane and Virginia but lost to weaklings such as George Mason and East Carolina.
Tech begins practice Saturday for the 1993-94 season with a tougher schedule, a bit more experience, a couple of talented second-year freshmen and hopes of improving on back-to-back 10-18 seasons. Tech opens its season Nov. 27 against West Virginia in Landover, Md.; the Hokies' home opener is 1 p.m. Dec. 4 against Coastal Carolina.
"We'd have a great win, and the next week we'd have a loss that's hard to explain," Foster said Monday on a Metro Conference media teleconference. "I think sometimes we overachieved. It takes two to perform an upset."
Tech was picked to finish last in the seven-team Metro by the media, and the Hokies tied for last with South Florida in a poll of the league's coaches. Louisville, which won the Metro last year, is an overwhelming pick to do it again.
Foster said he hopes more experience and depth, plus extra work on shooting and rebounding, help bring the Hokies their first winning season since 1987-88. Senior guard Jay Purcell, who averaged 10.3 points per game and had 101 assists, returns, as does a sophomore class that includes all-Metro rookie team selection Shawn Smith, fellow forward Jim Jackson and and guard Shawn Good.
Redshirt freshmen Ace Custis, a 6-foot-8 forward, and Delwyn Dillard, a 6-6 perimeter player, are expected to contribute. Custis was to have have played last year but underwent knee surgery in the preseason. Senior center Jimmy Carruth returns, although he is still recovering after breaking a toe about a month ago.
Of his rebuilding job, Foster said, "I think we've stopped the bleeding."
Tech's women's team has the opposite forecast: High expectations.
The Hokies were picked by league coaches to finish second behind Southern Mississippi. Tech forward/center Jenny Root and forward Christi Osborne were preseason first-team all-conference picks.
The Hokies were 20-8 last year, a school record for victories, and they finished second in the Metro at 8-4. They lost in the Metro tournament semifinals.
"I just want to be there at the end," said Tech coach Carol Alfano, last year's Metro coach of the year. "I want to be in the finals of the Metro tournament. We still have a lot to prove. We're still the new kids on the block."
by CNB