Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 24, 1993 TAG: 9311240255
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The Keydets lost their two top scorers from a 5-22 team that finished last season with 16 consecutive losses, the second-longest streak in NCAA Division I. They were picked to finish last in the Southern Conference in the coaches and media preseason polls.
But in the off-season, VMI has gotten a makeover, and coach Joe Cantafio says his team has a new look and renewed enthusiasm.
Gone are center Lewis Preston and forward Jonathan Penn, who both scored more than 1,000 points in their careers. Added are four freshmen, including three guards, prompting Cantafio to return to the three-guard set he used in the late 1980s.
"We're going to be a different-type basketball team this year," said Cantafio, who is two victories away from becoming VMI's winningest basketball coach. "We've changed the complexion. Lewis was a 6-foot-8 post guy we could go to all the time. Now we've got post people who can do different things and we've got guards who can do different things. . . . I think when you have good guards, you can compete."
Two of the incoming guards likely will start for the Keydets when they open their season Monday at home against Bluefield. Maurice Spencer, 6-1, 170 pounds, averaged 18 points last season at Martinsville High School. Warren Johnson, 6-3, 185, shot almost 60 percent from the floor and averaged more than 20 points last year at Denbigh High in Newport News.
The other freshmen, 6-6 forward B.J. Grinage and 6-1 guard Darryl Faulkner, will see considerable playing time.
"All [of the freshmen] can score," said Cantafio, entering his eighth season at VMI. "We're going to have to do several things to become a better basketball team. One is to shoot it better. The other is to focus on how to get good shots. It all comes down to focusing and execution."
An NCAA rule change also prompted Cantafio to add what he called "creators" to his team. The shot clock has been lowered this season from 45 seconds to 35 seconds, which would seemingly hurt a team like VMI which shot just 40 percent from the field last season.
"It doesn't make that much difference for a lot of basketball teams," Cantafio said. " . . But I think the game is going to change a little bit as far as how you run your offense. What they've done now to the clock is bring quickness and finesse back to the game. Now it's going to open up the court a little bit more. . . . You're almost forced to use the 3-point shot."
In two exhibition games, the Keydets have averaged 39 percent field goal shooting and 35 percent from 3-point range (19-53). Johnson scored 27 in the first game and nine in the second, both VMI victories. Spencer scored 19 and 31.
"Overall, I think [the rule change] is a plus because of the type of personnel we have this year," Cantafio said. "We're going to be smaller, but we're going to be able to do more things."
Key players returning for VMI are senior Jonathan Goodman and sophomores Bobby Prince, Terrell Spencer Milam, Jonas Callis and Lawrence Gullette.
Goodman, 6-7 1/2, averaged four points and four rebounds per game last year at forward. Prince, a 6-1 guard from Lord Botetourt, averaged almost five points per game and led the team in assists with 93.
Callis, a former Patrick Henry player, is 6-7 and will lend rebounding strength to the Keydets. However, he is recovering from a preseason thigh injury.
Gullette is academically ineligible for the first four games. A member of the conference's all-freshman team last year, he was the team's third-leading scorer with a 7.8 per game average. He was second in rebounding behind Preston with 5.1 per game.
Two other Keydets also could miss the start of the season because of knee injuries. Milam, of William Fleming, likely will be out 1-2 weeks; 6-9 center Larry Osborne is listed as day-to-day.
That's not good news for VMI, which has Richmond, Virginia Tech, Radford and Dayton on its schedule in December. In January, the Keydets travel to Wake Forest, Western Carolina and 1992 conference champion Tennessee-Chattanooga.
"Because we're so young, we will get better as the year goes on," Cantafio said. "What you see in December is, I hope, not what you get in February. . . . We have to be very successful every game. Whether we win or lose, if we can focus on running on our offense and getting better, I think that will help us."
VMI KEYDETS BASKETBALL PREVIEW COACH: Joe Cantafio, 74-124 in seven seasons at VMI. LAST SEASON: 5-22, ninth in the Southern Conference. RETURNING STARTERS: Jonathan Goodman, 6-7 1/2, Sr. (4.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg); Lawrence Gullette, 6-4, So. (7.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg). TOP NEWCOMERS: Maurice Spencer, 6-1, Fr.; Warren Johnson, 6-3, Fr.; Darryl Faulkner, 6-1, Fr. POSSIBLE SURPRISE: Freshman B.J. Grinage has size (6-6, 200 pounds) and shooting ability. He scored nine points while playing 13 minutes of VMI's first exhibition game. STRENGTHS: With four potent freshman added to the roster, VMI will be deeper than usual. Cantafio's new three-guard look could surprise some teams. WEAKNESSES: The Keydets are young and will rely heavily on freshmen and sophomores. VMI will start the season without some key players due to injuries and academic ineligibility. FAST FACT: Both assistant coaches are in their first season on the VMI staff. Ramon Williams, a William Fleming graduate, was a standout guard for the Keydets. Ed Conroy played point guard at The Citadel. OUTLOOK: The Keydets will take their licks with a tough schedule in December and early January, but should be able to break their 16-game losing streak. A strong Southern Conference this season won't make it any easier for the Keydets. The incoming freshmen will have to step in and take charge if VMI hopes to finish even close to .500.
by CNB