Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 11, 1994 TAG: 9403110053
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BILOXI, MISS. LENGTH: Medium
"What you might find in us is that we're the most unpredictable team in the [Metro Conference] tournament," Smith said with a drawl Thursday afternoon.
The Rams - Tech's first-round opponent at 1 p.m. today at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum - have beaten Xavier and Louisville. They also have lost seven of their past 10 games entering the Metro tourney.
Everything depends on whether the ball goes in the basket.
"If we shoot the ball, we're pretty tough," Smith said.
Foster knows that. He also knows that VCU (14-12) shot 40 percent from the field in two games against the Hokies this season (each team won once).
And he knows that only one team (Virginia, at 51.1 percent) has shot better than 36.5 percent from the field against Tech in the past five games. Tech (17-9) has won four of those and enters today's game knowing what the script will be if the Hokies are to advance to a semifinal Saturday.
"Play the way we've been playing and shoot a little better," Foster said.
Fourth-seeded Tech knows it needs to score. VCU was third in the Metro in points (78.4 per game) and made 45.9 percent of its field-goal attempts during the season. The Hokies averaged 72.9 and shot 43.9.
A victory would put Tech in a Metro semifinal - against 14th-ranked Louisville - for the third time in four years. The Cardinals have a first-round bye.
Fifth-seeded VCU, with outside shooters such as Kenny Harris and Tyron McCoy, can ignite at a moment's notice. Tech's Jay Purcell says stopping the Rams' perimeter game starts inside.
VCU forward Kendrick Warren, a first-team All-Metro choice, isn't dangerous only when posting up.
"The key really is getting back in transition, not letting their big guys beat you downcourt," Purcell said. "They run so well. We have to have our post guys getting back. We usually have trouble with them when our guards have to pick up their big men."
Tech should know by now. Before the Hokies beat VCU 75-59 on Feb. 17 in Blacksburg, the Rams had knocked off Tech five consecutive times - three times last season, including the semifinals of the Metro tournament in Louisville, Ky.
In that Feb. 17 victory, Tech held Harris to 1-for-9 shooting and no 3-pointers. Harris' backcourt mate, Terrence Gibson, was 3-for-10.
"You can't count on them having a shooting night like that," Foster said. "[But] I think our guys think they can defend them."
Foster said forward Corey Jackson, who took over injured Jim Jackson's starting role, has recovered well from a sprained ankle and should play. Foster said he's not sure whether he'll open the game with Shawn Good (23 starts at point guard this season) or Don Corker (two starts, including the regular-season finale at North Carolina Charlotte).
If Corker starts, that moves Purcell to point guard.
Foster also said 6-6 Shawn Smith, who had 45 points in the two VCU games on 15-for-27 field-goal shooting, won't start but will see plenty of action.
Last year, Tech stunned the Metro by upsetting Tulane in the first round. This year, few would be surprised to see the Hokies advance.
The Hokies started the season 13-2 and broke out of a six-game losing streak by winning four of their last five regular-season games.
"They feel good about themselves," Foster said of his Hokies. "They really feel like, for the first time, they can beat anybody in the league."
by CNB