Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 16, 1995 TAG: 9503160069
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DAYTON, OHIO LENGTH: Medium
The prospect of meeting an ACC opponent doesn't seem the slightest bit intimidating for a Nicholls State team making its first appearance in the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
That goes not only for point guard Ray Washington, a veteran of five months in the Persian Gulf, but for five other seniors who have seen the program rise from obscurity to domination of the Southland Conference.
The Colonels are confident they can beat 131/2-point favorite Virginia in the first round of the Midwest Regional and become the first Southland team - in 10 tries - to win a game in the NCAA Tournament.
Game time is 2:35 p.m. at the University of Dayton Arena.
``It's not only a goal to get here,'' Colonels center Gerard King said. ``We expect to win some games up here. We feel we have a talented team and can play with the best in the country.''
Nicholls State (24-5) proved that during a non-conference schedule that included Oklahoma, Memphis, Mississippi State and Texas Tech - all on the road. Nicholls State lost all four games but led Oklahoma by 11 points with less than 16 minutes left.
``My philosophy throughout the years has been to schedule some tough opponents,'' Colonels coach Rickey Broussard said. ``If you never played anybody from the major conferences, I think you would be in awe of a team with a big name.''
As recently as 1993-94, Nicholls State beat Auburn and Oregon State, and Broussard believes the Colonels might have received an at-large bid this year even if they hadn't won the Southland tournament.
``We look at this as a dangerous team,'' Virginia coach Jeff Jones said, ``not because we knew so little about them, but because their defensive style is so different from what we see in the ACC.''
The Colonels' trademark is a press that caused opponents to commit an average of 22.7 turnovers, including 20 or more in 18 games. Northeast Louisiana committed 30 turnovers in a 98-87 loss to Nicholls State in the Southland title game.
Virginia (22-8) generally has been able to handle presses, despite the loss of starting point guard Cory Alexander in the 20th game. The Cavaliers have not had more than 18 turnovers in a game this season.
``I've heard media people call us a helter-skelter team,'' Broussard said. ``I think the more disorganized we can make it, the more helter-skelter we can make it, is probably to our advantage.
``We've gotten here doing it this way. I might change our press, but I'm not going to stop pressing. That's just the way we play. Even our first year, when we were 3-25, we caused 24 turnovers a game.''
Washington, a 5-foot-8, fifth-year senior, is the only player in Division I to rank among the top 10 in assists (201) and steals (85). He had a team-high 19 points in the Southland semifinals.
``I think Ray Washington is one of the top 10 guards in the country,'' Broussard said. ``I have no problem with Ray Washington covering [UVa point guard] Harold Deane.''
Nicholls State's most highly acclaimed players are its two post men, Reggie Jackson (6-6, 240 pounds) and King (6-9, 230). Both scored more than 20 points per game and Jackson was Southland Conference player of the year and tournament MVP.
Ron Everhart, the coach at rival McNeese State, said the Colonels' best player might be 6-3 Derek Watts, who has a team-high 54 3-point field goals. Watts frequently guards the opposing small forward.
Nicholls State starts three guards, but has made fewer 3-point field goals and has shot a lower 3-point percentage than its opponents. Moreover, the Colonels have been outrebounded for the year.
``The one thing we've got to a better job of is rebounding at the defensive end,'' Jones said. ``Defensive rebounding was the key area against Wake Forest [in the ACC semifinals]. That is why we lost the game.
``They had 17 second-chance points, [including] three or four three-point plays. We defend people really, really well on the first shot. Those second shots have beaten us twice now against Wake Forest.''
Virginia had more offensive rebounds than defensive rebounds in its 77-68 loss to Wake in the ACC tournament. As a result, 13th-ranked UVa dropped to a No. 4 seed; Nicholls State is seeded 13th.
``We feel this is a game we can win,'' Jones said. ``We don't look at Nicholls State as a team that we're going to beat or we're supposed to beat. They're a quality opponent.''
by CNB