Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 4, 1995 TAG: 9503090004
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Forget Virginia, South Florida and Virginia Commonwealth. The real must game comes today at 3 p.m., when UNC Charlotte invades Cassell Coliseum.
``They don't get any bigger than this one,'' said Bill Foster, Tech's coach.
What transpires today at Cassell likely will determine whether Tech's postseason destination includes four letters (NCAA) or three (NIT).
Tech (19-9) needs to win its regular-season finale to finish at 6-6 in the Metro Conference, considered imperative to remain in the race for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid.
``Charlotte is a must for us,'' Foster said. ``To be able to get to .500, to get that win playing against the team that's wrapped up the regular-season [Metro title] would carry so much weight.''
Speaking of weight, one has to wonder if the Hokies might still be carrying the emotional baggage of Tuesday's 63-62 gut-wrenching loss to 13th-ranked Virginia. Tech led by seven points with 21/2 minutes to play.
Plus, UNC Charlotte (19-6 overall, 8-3 Metro) isn't exactly chopped liver. The 49ers hammered the Hokies 71-60 on Feb. 16 in Charlotte.
``We certainly can't let 'em come in and rule things like they did down there,'' said Tech forward Ace Custis.
``But it's our last home game, the last time our students can probably see us play. Charlotte is coming to our house, and we've got to defend our crib. We'll be ready to defend the Cassell [where Tech is 11-1 this season], count on it.''
PERSONAL DUEL: Custis has a debt to settle with UNCC's Jarvis Lang.
In the first meeting, Lang got the upper hand on Custis, scoring 30 points and gathering 11 rebounds.
Custis, who had 13 points and six rebounds, reminded everyone that night that Lang still had to come to Blacksburg.
``Don't worry,'' Custis said, ``we'll meet again.''
Lang is the odds-on favorite to nose Custis out for Metro player of the year.
TECH TIDBITS: College basketball analyst John Feinstein must be counting on a Tech win today. On Thursday night's ``Around The Rim'' show on Home Team Sports, Feinstein included the Hokies in his 64 NCAA teams as a 12th seed in the West. ... Talk about a lost Tuesday. After Tech flew back from Richmond following the UVa loss, Hokies assistant coach Dean Keener said he went straight to his office to watch the excruciating final 21/2 minutes again. Only one problem: Keener set his VCR to cut off at 11 p.m., and when the game ran long the tape cut off before Tech's collapse. ... After shooting better than 50 percent in 12 of their first 20 games, the Hokies have shot in the 40-percentiles the past seven straight ... Shawn Smith eclipsed the 1,000-point mark against UVa. The junior has 1,007 points, 450 this season.
by CNB