Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 27, 1995 TAG: 9502280046
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
In another of the ACC schools' to-the-buzzer basketball battles, the first-half technicals were ``fairly significant,'' figured UVa coach Jeff Jones.
The Cavaliers' coach was correct, but not just because of the two tweets by referee Dick Paparo after a Jason Williford personal. It was what the Demon Deacons did with that fat chance in a 66-63 triumph.
On an afternoon when Wake was opportunistic, too many Cavaliers were missing in action. The Deacons - with a switch to a zone defense - already had reversed the momentum when Williford and Jones were T'd off.
It was what Dave Odom's club did with the opportunity that was the difference. It's one thing to get to parade to the free-throw line. It's another to make them.
Wake does. It's one reason why they have 29 ACC wins in three seasons.
After three misses to begin the game, the Deacons converted their last 18 at the stripe. That gives them 36-for-40 in the last two games. In the last 11 games - starting with a 71-70 triumph last month at UVa - the Deacons are shooting 83 percent at the line.
Why is Wake ranked first in the ACC and fifth in the nation in free-throw marksmanship? Maybe because each of Odom's players has to make 25 before leaving every practice.
It wasn't just from 15 feet that Wake knocked Virginia from a share of the ACC lead. It really was an inside job. Randolph Childress' drive and driving tired Harold Deane, who has averaged 20 points and 38.2 minutes in the six games since Cory Alexander was injured.
And while Scooter Banks was Wake's go-to guy in the second half, his success was predicated on the presence of 6-foot-10 Tim Duncan. The 18-year-old sophomore probably was a reason besides Childress that Milwaukee Bucks' coach Mike Dunleavy watched Sunday's game from a seat in Section 106.
Duncan had his 15th double-double of the season (20 points, 15 rebounds) and 28th in two years. He erased Junior Burrough, on whose inside play the Cavaliers depend. Burrough didn't have a field goal in the last 27 minutes.
``He doesn't come out on the floor and guard you,'' said Burrough, whose regarded drop-step was no help against Duncan's wingspan. ``It would be easier if he did that. He doesn't guard me.
``Instead, he's coming at you from both sides. He's mostly a threat defensively on the help-side. In that situation, you have to know where he is.''
Williford, who continues to play well, admitted he deserved the technical after he tangled with Wake swingman - and quarterback - Rusty LaRue.
``I lost my head for a minute,'' said the UVa forward.
Jones continued to appeal to umpire Duke Edsall of Roanoke. Edsall had called the personal of Williford before Paparo whistled the obvious technical.
Jones kept waving one arm in a hooking motion, as if to indicate he thought LaRue had been holding Williford on the play, too.
The UVa coach wouldn't comment on the situation later, citing uncertainty about the ACC's gag rule.
``I want to be able to coach Tuesday night'' against Virginia Tech at the Richmond Coliseum, Jones said.
``I know [Jones] thought I was being held,'' Williford said. ``Coach was asking, `Where was the foul for the hold?'''
When Jones kept badgering Edsall, who was standing near midcourt, Paparo called the bench technical.
However, it wasn't two technicals that ended UVa's eight-game winning streak and denied the Cavaliers a 20th triumph. It was Wake's resilience, as the foursome at the top of the ACC standings remained tight.
North Carolina and Maryland share the ACC lead at 11-3, a half-game in front of UVa (11-4), which is a half-game ahead of the Deacons (10-4) with a week left in the regular season.
Although there is some question in the league about who really wants to finish with the first seed for the ACC tournament - and likely play Duke in the quarterfinals - the Cavaliers still can win the league outright.
All they need this week is to beat visiting Maryland next Sunday, have UNC lose twice at home, to Wake and Duke, have the Terps fall at Duke and pray that Wake trips here against N.C. State.
Even in the crazy world of college hoops, that's too much to ask.
by CNB