Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 16, 1995 TAG: 9502160048
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Radford has won four consecutive Big South Conference games, the past two on the road, in improving its record to 14-9 overall and 8-5 in the conference.
This from a team picked to finish fifth in the Big South in a preseason poll of coaches.
``Over the past five years, with the exception of one year when I felt I did a bad job, we typically have gotten the most out of what we have,'' said Bradley, in his fourth year as Radford's head coach after one season as an assistant to Oliver Purnell.
``These kids have really found a way to win games. We've had seven of what I'd call `one- or two-possession games' since Christmas and won six of them.''
The Highlanders finished 20-8 last season, their third 20-victory season in four years, but No.1 and 2 scorers Tyrone Travis and Don Burgess were seniors. Then, when the Big South lost its automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, Bradley offered this year's seniors the opportunity to redshirt.
Damian Walker, the assists leader for the Highlanders' 1993-94 team, was the only player to accept that option. However, Bradley also decided to redshirt 6-foot-4 Johnny Watkins, who played in every game last season.
``We've made these decisions historically on what's best for the individual,'' said Bradley, who in his first year as head coach redshirted Travis. ``Maybe it was not the best thing for this year's team, but we were not looking toward the future. We would never write off a season.
``We did sort of search for an identity for a while, though.''
Providing stability has been leading scorer and point guard Anthony Walker, a 6-foot sophomore described by Bradley as ``20 years old, going on 35.''
The biggest surprise has been Antoine Dalton, a 6-8 senior who is averaging 15.2 points and 6.0 rebounds. Dalton has combined with freshmen Eric Parker (6-9) and Kevin Robinson (6-8) to give Radford its deepest post unit during the Bradley era. Dalton averaged 2.9 points in his first three seasons at Radford, when he started only eight of 80 games.
``We started him the first five games when he was a sophomore, so we could see the potential,'' Bradley said. ``I'm not sure that [Dalton] could always see it.''
BACK ON TOP: The departure of first-round NBA draft pick Carlos Rogers has done little to slow Tennessee State, which is 17-5 overall and has a three-game lead in the Ohio Valley Conference under fourth-year coach Frankie Allen. The Tigers have gone to the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons under Allen, who previously coached Virginia Tech.
Tic Price, named head coach at New Orleans after Tommy Joe Eagles suffered a fatal heart attack, has the Privateers (14-9) in second place in the Sun Belt Conference. Price played and coached at Virginia Tech. ... Ron Everhart, in his first season as head coach at McNeese State, carried a 7-13 record into Wednesday night's game with Southern-Baton Rouge. Everhart played at Tech and was an assistant at VMI and Tulane.
MIXED EMOTIONS: First-year Furman basketball coach Joe Cantafio said he feared he was to blame for inadequacies in both teams Monday night, when the Paladins recorded a 60-59 victory over visiting VMI, where he previously served as head coach and assistant for 12 years.
``It was really weird,'' said Cantafio, whose Paladins are 9-14 after going 10-18 in 1993-94. ``For the first time in 20 years, my wife, Della, had to leave the gym. That's how emotional it was.''
Cantafio's former boss at VMI, Marty Fletcher, is suffering through his worst season at Southwestern Louisiana. The Ragin' Cajuns, who have made the NCAA Tournament in two of the past three years, took a 5-17 record into Wednesday night's game with Pan American.
IN THE ACC: Patrick Sapp, Clemson's starting quarterback at the beginning of the 1993 football season, said he will miss the start of spring drills - if necessary - to remain with the Tigers' basketball team. Sapp has played in three basketball games.
RECRUITING: The only surprise on a list of 23 football signees released by the University of Virginia was the absence of 6-foot-5, 220-pound J.J. McQueen, rated one of the top 25 prospects in North Carolina by several publications.
McQueen, a tight end and outside linebacker, remains committed to the Cavaliers, but his grades slipped during the first semester and UVa is waiting until he meets NCAA eligibility standards before pushing him to sign a letter of intent.
LOCAL UPDATE: Virginia Tech swimmer Robin Shores, a senior from Cave Spring High School, took first place in the 100-yard freestyle in two of her final three regular-season meets. Shores, who frequently places in the 50 and 200 freestyle, was head coach at Hidden Valley Country Club during the summer.
Four of UVa's men's soccer recruits and two of the Cavaliers' women's soccer signees have been ranked among the top 25 prospects in the country.
by CNB