Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 7, 1994 TAG: 9405070036
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Although Alexander said in March that he would return for the 1994-95 season, nobody ever said he couldn't change his mind. And, he has a few times during his career.
"No chance at all," Alexander said of the possibility he will renounce his eligibility. "I've still thought about it because you get tired of school, but now is not the time for me."
Alexander thought about turning pro after this past season, but that was before a broken ankle ended his season in UVa's first game. He has appealed for a hardship ruling that would give him two more seasons of eligibility, although he does not plan to stay past 1995.
"It's more of insurance policy than anything else," Alexander said. "There's no guarantee I'll be injury-free next year."
Alexander said he has 75 percent flexibility in his injured ankle, which is one reason he will not become involved with any USA Basketball tours. Last year, Alexander was a substitute on the team that represented the United States in the Under-22 World Championships.
"I think the constant pounding - twice a day, every day - had a lot to do with the injury," Alexander said. "Obviously, [the fracture] was something that had existed before last fall."
The addition of Alexander, a second-team All-ACC selection two years ago, has analysts mentioning Virginia as a possible top-10 team next season. UVa loses only Cornel Parker and picks up two high-school All-Americans in Curtis Staples and Norman Nolan, as well as 7-foot-3 Chase Metheney.
"A lot of people think we were overachievers last year, so who knows?" Alexander said. "It's going to be different, though, because we've got so many players. I can't wait to get started."
\ UNC-UVA NO. 3?: Virginia men's lacrosse coach Dom Starsia said he thinks the Cavaliers will play North Carolina for a third time in the semifinals of the Division I tournament, although the pairings won't be announced until Sunday.
"I think it's where we're headed, quite frankly," said Starsia, whose Cavaliers won 16-6 in Chapel Hill, N.C., before losing to the Tar Heels 15-7 in the ACC championship game in Charlottesville.
Fourth-ranked Carolina and No. 5 UVa each beat Johns Hopkins, but Starsia thinks the sixth-ranked Blue Jays could move ahead of both ACC teams with a victory today over No. 3 Loyola of Baltimore.
\ SURPRISE IN SOFTBALL: One of the most impressive performances at UVa this spring was turned in by the softball team, which joined men's soccer as one of two ACC championship squads this year.
The Cavaliers (33-18) have one of the top pitchers in college softball in junior Michelle Collins, who ranks among the Division I leaders in strikeouts with 335 in 271 innings. Collins has a 1.21 earned-run average and a 25-13 record, 10-2 since April 16.
\ NCAA BIDS: UVa has received its second consecutive NCAA bid in women's tennis. The Men's and women's lacrosse teams are expected to follow, with softball a possibility and golf a long shot. The school has received five NCAA bids so far after getting nine last year.
\ BASEBALL WOES: Virginia's baseball team (18-31), which carries a 1-20 ACC record into a May 13-15 series against No. 2-ranked Florida State, has broken the record it set in 1992 for conference losses in a season. Seven of the losses have been by one run.
by CNB