Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 23, 1993 TAG: 9311240277
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Long
Yet Radford coach Ron Bradley has no fear of his group being a one-dimensional team.
He fears a repeat of 1992-93. A year ago, the Highlanders could hardly stop a soul defensively. That was one of the reasons they went 15-16 and won only three of 14 games on the road.
A statistic that has kept the normally level-headed Bradley up nights is Radford's surrender total of 82.9 points per game. The scoring escalated as the year went on as Bradley, seeing chronic defensive problems, decided to back his guys off and play a cotton candy-soft scheme.
Bradley would have rather drunk a cod liver oil cocktail, but he had little choice.
"It got to the point where we had to outscore the other team or we could just forget it," Bradley said. "We don't have the offensive firepower this year that we did last year, but I do think we have some guys here who can get after it defensively."
So although offense was virtually ignored during the current preseason, Radford didn't seem to suffer from it. Keep in mind, too, that Radford must replace all-time leading scorer Doug Day (2,027 points and 401 3-pointers made). In the first exhibition game, the Highlanders went out and rang up 89 points.
"Offense doesn't worry me," Bradley said.
Aside from defense, Bradley has a number of concerns going into his third season at the Highlanders' helm. One is height. The Highlanders don't have a lot of it outside of 6-foot-8 Antoine Dalton and 6-9 transfer Jon Hunter.
Dalton has been inconsistent for Radford and saw his role diminish as the year went on before his stock rose again toward the end of the season. Hunter, a sophomore, does not figure to be much of a contributor.
If Radford is going to accomplish much inside, it's going to have to do so with 6-7 senior Tyrone Travis (11.7 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game), 6-6 Eric Bowens and 6-5 Chris Harvey. Harvey, who isn't shy about banging with bigger players, is a short 6-5. Bowens can be an offensive force, but he has a bum knee that likely will require surgery at season's end.
Then there's Travis.
"Tyrone Travis should be a dominating player in the Big South Conference," Bradley said.
The problem this year has been that Travis has been less than dominating against his own teammates in practice. Thus, he appears to have lost his starting job until he begins to show the proper enthusiasm.
"Tyrone and I have an understanding," Bradley said.
So don't be surprised if Radford returns to a familiar look from the past by employing three, maybe even four guards, at a time.
There are plenty backcourt players from which to choose, including Jason Lansdown, Johnny Watkins, and newcomers Anthony Walker, junior college product Damian Ingram, and Shane Weddle, another transfer. Walker, a freshman who is a true point guard, and Ingram started the first exhibition game. Both can play either the point or the shooting guard positions.
That leaves the team's best player, senior Don Burgess, a lean 6-6 forward who has played every position on the floor for Radford.
"I honestly believe that if he had 20 or so more pounds and some more strength, he could be an NBA player," Bradley said. "As intelligent player as you'll find. He sees the game and moves without the ball as well as anybody."
Radford has been picked by the Big South coaches to reside in the middle of the pack this year.
Coastal Carolina returns four starters from a 22-10 conference tournament champion team. Although the Chanticleers will miss four-time conference player of the year Tony Dunkin, they still have plenty in forward Mohammed Acha and guard KeKe Hicks.
Other contenders will include Towson State with guard Terrance Alexander (19.3 ppg); Maryland-Baltimore County and its inside-outside combination of Sonique Nixon (14.1 ppg, 8.5 rpg) and Skip Saunders (45.7 percent 3-point percentage); and Campbell, led by returning all-conference senior Joe Spinks (18.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg), a 6-7 forward.
Elsewhere, Liberty is going to have to replace the lost production of 6-10 Julius Nwosu and Parish Hickman. Winthrop has a stout backcourt in LaShawn Coulter and Roanoker Mike Fayed. North Carolina-Asheville is rebuilding under first year coach Randy Wiel, a former assistant to Dean Smith at North Carolina. Charleston Southern was picked to finish last by the coaches, but could surprise with Clemson transfer Eric Burks, a junior guard, and 6-7 JUCO player Maurice Colburn.
North Carolina-Greensboro is not eligible for the conference championship until next season.
\ RADFORD HIGHLANDERS\ BASKETBALL PREVIEW\ \ COACH: Ron Bradley, age 42, 35-25 in two seasons at Radford.\ \ LAST SEASON: 15-16, fifth in the Big South Conference (8-8)\ \ RETURNING STARTERS: Don Burgess, 6-foot-6, Sr., (14.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg); Tyrone Travis, 6-7, Sr., (11.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg)\ \ TOP NEWCOMERS: Anthony Walker, 6-0, Fr.; Damian Ingram, 6-0, Jr.\ \ POSSIBLE SURPRISE: If 6-8 Antoine Dalton develops some consistency inside, Radford could be better than people think.\ \ STRENGTHS: The Highlanders are athletic and quick and should be much better equipped to employ the pressing, running style favored by Bradley.\ \ WEAKNESSES: There isn't much height and aside from Burgess and Travis, most players are lightly experienced at best. FAST FACT: Radford does not have a player who ranked in either the top 10 of conference scorers or rebounders last year. Burgess was the second-best free-throw shooter in the league at 87.9 percent.\ \ OUTLOOK: There is potential here if Travis plays the way he's capable, and Walker and Ingram are immediate contributors. Burgess is a terrific player who should really shine this year. Radford ought to be exciting but doesn't figure to be a contender for the conference championship.
by CNB