Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 23, 1995 TAG: 9502230107
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ATLANTA LENGTH: Medium
``Not even a peek,'' senior forward Junior Burrough said.
``Besides, I already know where we are.''
The Cavaliers, who were 21/2-point underdogs to Georgia Tech on Wednesday night, took sole possession of first place with an 83-60 romp at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
It was the seventh consecutive victory for 11th-ranked Virginia, which improved its record to 19-6 overall and 11-3 in the ACC, a half-game ahead of idle North Carolina.
The Cavaliers have not led the ACC standings this late in the season since 1983, when three-time national player of the year Ralph Sampson was a senior.
``I wasn't even aware of'' the ACC standings, said UVa coach Jeff Jones. ``At the end of two weeks, if we're still on top, then I will enjoy it immensely.''
Virginia had not beaten Georgia Tech in Atlanta since 1990, but there was no sign of the letdown that many had predicted after the Cavaliers upset then-No.2 North Carolina 73-71 on Sunday in Charlottesville.
The Cavaliers led 39-31 at the half - only the second halftime lead in their past 11 ACC games - and shot 64.3 percent while increasing the spread to 26 in the second half.
``It was the best half, offensively, that we've had all year,'' said Jones, whose team also shot 64.3 percent in the second half Sunday. ``It wasn't just that we were making good shots; we were making good decisions.''
The offensive efficiency overshadowed the latest in a series of strong defensive performances. Georgia Tech (16-10, 6-7) shot 34.4 percent from the field, the 24th-ranked Yellow Jackets' low for the season.
``We're all embarrassed,'' said Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins. ``You know, we can make excuses, but there really are no excuses. It was worst performance of the year and it was really ugly.
James Forrest, playing in his second game after breaking his left (non-shooting) hand, led the Yellow Jackets with 17 points, but was 6-of-16 from the field.
Travis Best, who had scored 20 or more points in seven consecutive games, finished with 12 and was 4-of-16 from the field as UVa made extensive use of a diamond-and-one zone defense.
Four walk-ons had a total of 19 points for the Yellow Jackets, who were without ACC assists leader Drew Barry, who has missed three consecutive games with a sprained ankle.
``We can't make the excuse of an injury,'' Cremins said. ``That's the easy way out. Does losing Drew Barry hurt? No question. But Virginia lost Cory Alexander and it didn't hurt them.''
Alexander, out for the season with a broken ankle, hit a late 3-pointer and scored 24 points to lift Virginia over Georgia Tech 91-88 in double overtime when the teams met in January. This time, the Cavaliers had five scorers in double figures.
Virginia shot 55.9 percent from the field and 57.9 percent from 3-point range. Harold Deane hit his first five 3-point shots, giving him eight in a row over two games, and Curtis Staples was 4-of-5 from 3-point range in the second half.
At one point, Jones got up to scold Staples for shooting over 6-foot-10 Ed Elisma, but Jones had to sit down as the ball floated through the net. Staples, a freshman, was making his first collegiate start.
``It felt good to start a basketball game again,'' said Staples, who finished with 17 points and six rebounds. ``I've gotten used to coming off the bench, but I'd rather start than not start.''
Staples started in place of sophomore Jamal Robinson, who missed two days of practice after the death of his grandfather but contributed 11 points in 16 minutes. UVa was led by Deane and Burrough with 19 points apiece.
Burrough added a career-high six assists. ``That first triple-double is just around the corner,'' he said.
But Jones singled out senior forward Jason Williford, who had a season-high 15 points and a game-high seven rebounds.
Remarkably, it was UVa's fifth victory in seven ACC road games, a comforting sign as the Cavaliers prepare to visit Wake Forest on Sunday.
``This us-against-the world attitude has really helped us,'' Burrough said. ``This team [Georgia Tech] has kicked our butts for three straight years, but we came in here and dominated them end to end, start to finish.''
by CNB