Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 5, 1995 TAG: 9501050050
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NEW ORLEANS LENGTH: Medium
As if facing Tulane in cozy Fogelman Arena wasn't enough, the Hokies could be without the services of starting center Travis Jackson.
The 6-foot-9 junior twisted his left ankle in practice on Monday and is questionable for tonight's Metro Conference opener for both teams.
If Jackson can't play, coach Bill Foster's already short bench will be even shorter. Due to injuries to Jim Jackson and Keefe Matthews, plus Shawn Browne's ineligibility case, Tech has played with only nine players thus far, including two - guard Kelly Mann and center Brandon Price - who rarely see action.
Travis Jackson, a starter in each of Tech's first 11 games, recently had been playing his best basketball of the season. He had 11 points and a career-high eight rebounds in Tech's 73-64 win at Tennessee on Dec.28.
If he can't play, Foster will give the starting nod to 6-5 sixth-man David Jackson.
The Hokies (10-1), riding an eight-game winning streak for the first time since 1985-86, will be the underdog in the 7:30 p.m. game that will be televised on HTS cable.
The Green Wave (10-2), most experts' pick to win the Metro, is 7-0 this season in its 3,600-seat home trap where few opponents escape with a win.
After facing Tulane, the Hokies travel to Hattiesburg, Miss. on Saturday, where they face longtime nemesis Southern Miss. The Hokies have lost 11 straight games to the Golden Eagles and haven't won in Hattiesburg since 1985.
TECH TIDBITS: The Associated Press basketball pollsters may not like the Hokies - Tech was 35th in this week's balloting - but USA Today's Jeff Sagarin loves them. Tech was listed seventh in the nation in Sagarin's weekly Division I computer power ratings released Wednesday. Tech was ranked ahead of national powers Kentucky, UCLA, Arizona and Indiana ... Tech was ranked 25th in this week's USA Today-CNN Coaches poll ... Tech is 0-4 in Metro openers played on the road ... Tech hasn't won nine games in a row since '81-82 ... After committing a season-low four turnovers against Tennessee, Tech had a season-high 20 miscues in Saturday's home win over Delaware State ... The Hokies have five players averaging 10 or more points. Tech has not finished a season with five or more double-figure scorers since '68-69 ... Tech has out shot the opposition from the floor in all 11 games.
by CNB