Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 15, 1994 TAG: 9412150047
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
No wonder coach Bill Foster is using words such as ``fun bunch'' to describe his 1994-95 Virginia Tech basketball team.
Christmas has come early for Foster. His present is a 6-1 record.
``I really like what I see,'' Foster said. ``They're a really tight group. They're unselfish and really work well together.
``There are no egos that have to be massaged. Everybody's committed to having a good team effort and a good team.
``They ask me, `Coach, what does it take to get us in postseason play?' And I think they're focused on doing everything they can do to get us there.''
Despite playing with a short deck - only seven players have seen significant playing time because of injuries - Tech has aced every test but Illinois, an 85-75 loss in the final of the Puerto Rico Shootout.
Included in the six victories were a pair of head-turning verdicts over Nebraska, which has been to the past four NCAA Tournaments, and Xavier, another perennial power.
``I'll take 6-1 right now,'' Foster said. ``I don't think I want to play 'em over.''
The Hokies have done it with improved field-goal shooting (49.6 percent), strong rebounding - they've outrebounded every opponent but Illinois - and a smothering team defense that has limited the opposition to 38.2 percent shooting.
``We're rebounding better, and that's been leading to a lot of breaks and better offensive opportunities,'' Foster said. ``We've held the past three opponents under 40 percent shooting and we've been over 50. That means you're getting good shots.''
Despite not having enough players to run a five-on-five scrimmage in practice, Foster's club hasn't come up short in games. Tech has flourished behind the stepped-up play of its ironman starting five and its relentless sixth man, David Jackson.
``Knock on wood,'' Foster said, ``but hopefully we can keep playing people 30 to 35 minutes a game.''
Sophomore forward Ace Custis, whose game is as sound as his numbers (19.1 points and 12.1 rebounds) suggest, predicted the extra minutes on the court won't bother this group.
``This bunch is too hungry to worry about that,'' Custis said. ``Last year, we were 18-10 and it wasn't enough [for a postseason bid]. This year, they can't deny us if we put some more games in the win column.''
ACE ON THE ASSIST: Obviously, Tech junior guard Damon Watlington has called Custis on a recent bluff.
Before Tech met Xavier on Dec.5, Custis said he jokingly chided Watlington.
``Damon had been in a little early-season slump,'' Custis said. ``We were in the training room getting taped, and I told him, `Yeah, everybody has had a big game so far besides you, so when are you stepping up?'''
Since that conversation, Watlington has burned the nets for consecutive games of 23, 25 and 27 points - each a career high.
``Now you can't stop him,'' Custis said, grinning. ``I must have fired him up.''
Watlington is averaging 16.6 points per game - almost double last season's 8.8 - and is shooting 51.2 percent, compared to 39.8 last season.
DRY SPELL ENDS: When junior forward Shawn Smith won Metro Conference's player of the week honor Dec.3, it marked the first time a Tech player had been selected for the award since Foster came to Blacksburg in 1991. Bimbo Coles was the last Hokie to capture the honor, winning it three times during the 1989-90 season.
Watlington made it a repeat for the Hokies on Wednesday, when he was cited for averaging 25 points and 6.3 rebounds in three Tech victories last week.
TECH TIDBITS: Dave Braine, Tech's athletic director, said the Atlantic 10 Conference's acceptance of Fordham as a member Wednesday ``would in no way affect'' any possible Tech bid to land in the league. When Tulane, Louisville and Southern Mississippi officially bolt from the Metro, the Hokies' strongest option appears to be the Atlantic 10. ... Tech's four-game winning streak includes victories over four first-year coaches. Tech meets seven schools with new coaches this season. ... After taking three days off for exams, the Hokies resumed practice Wednesday. They play Saturday against West Virginia (3-1) in Morgantown, W.Va., where they haven't won since 1984-85.
by CNB