Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 5, 1995 TAG: 9503060072
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
So, maybe it should have been called ``History Day,'' because the Hokies' 86-72 victory over UNC Charlotte was a reminder of where Tech has been.
That said, the Hokies' primary thoughts are about where they are going, first to the Metro Conference tournament next weekend in Louisville, Ky. And then ... ?
In its last Metro regular-season game, Tech reached 20 victories for the first time since 1985-86. That also was the last time the Hokies reached the NCAA Tournament.
Tech's largest home crowd of the season, 9,081, was a noisy reminder of what used to be a staple of the program, too. When a team has sold out only one of its past 64 home games, it really appreciates when its home isn't so empty a Cassell.
In a must-win situation while straddling the NCAA fence, the Hokies (20-9) were aided by the emotion delivered by the second-largest crowd here in five years. Still, Bill Foster's team was 12-1 at home this season, only a missed tip against Louisville from perfection.
It has been years since Tech played - and won - a regular-season game this crucial to NCAA chances. It likely was 1979-80, when Charlie Moir's Hokies got to 20 victories with late home triumphs over Florida State and St.Louis, before losing a first-round Metro game to Cincinnati.
Those Hokies still went to the NCAA Tournament. No matter what happens at Freedom Hall next weekend, so should Foster's fourth Tech team, although beating Southern Mississippi for a third time this season in Friday's Metro tournament opener certainly would cinch an at-large bid.
If all those things the NCAA Basketball Committee says mean something really do, then leaving the Hokies for the NIT should be difficult.
Foster's team hasn't been blown out. It has no embarrassing losses. It is 3-3 against Top 50 teams in the Ratings Percentage Index rankings. The Hokies' RPI standing should be the Metro's best when the printout is done today.
Among the Metro teams, only Louisville has played a much tougher schedule. The Hokies are 6-5 on the road. Tech has won six of its past 10 games. None of the other Metro contenders has played better in the past 10 games.
When UNC Charlotte star Jarvis Lang went down and out with an ankle sprain just before halftime, the Hokies were buoyed. What was just as significant to their spirit was that their own first-team All-Metro player was on the bench then, too.
Tech played without its scoring leader, Ace Custis, for the last 7:18 of the first half. The Hokies built a two-point lead into 40-34 by the break without their Ace, and historically speaking, David Jackson was hitting like Dell Curry.
Then, midway through the second half, Foster went to a zone for about two minutes. UNCC had no shooters on the floor. Tech scored seven consecutive points to take a 64-51 lead.
The Hokies' defense - the major reason Foster's program has climbed to more than respectability - turned Charlotte's offense inside-out. The 49ers couldn't solve the Metro's best defensive club with a perimeter attack.
Since he arrived at Tech from a one-year coaching sabbatical as a TV analyst, Foster has heard time and again about the very good old days at Tech. He's coached on pins and needles for years and now he's sitting on a fence.
In two seasons at UNCC in the mid-1970s, his teams won 22 and 23 games. The NCAA said that wasn't enough. He had two 20-victory teams at Clemson that didn't get a tournament bid, either.
In his previous 27 years as a head coach, Foster has been to the NCAA once, when Clemson reached the final eight in 1980. He thinks his Hokies have accomplished enough to merit a bid.
He isn't alone.
Rightfully so, this has been perhaps Foster's most gratifying season in 28 as a bench boss. His team is short on a lot except success, but this will be one of the longest weeks of his career.
On Saturday, his team played its way into one tournament bracket it wanted. It will be a week before the Hokies know for sure if that's happened again.
by CNB