Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 25, 1995 TAG: 9503270058
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: KANSAS CITY, MO. LENGTH: Medium
Just after the public-address announcer said that Williford would be making his final appearance at University Hall, Jones whispered to Williford, ``At least as a player.''
Never mind that Williford has gotten three technical fouls this season and was benched for the last 35 minutes of UVa's 128-98 victory over George Mason after threatening to throw a basketball at official Terry Nobles.
When asked earlier this month if Williford had ``a little bit of a short fuse,'' Jones said there was no ``little bit'' about it.
``He's had to fight that short fuse,'' Jones said. ``He and I have clashed on a number of occasions when he has not controlled it.''
Nevertheless, Jones admires Williford's intensity and drive, not to mention his loyalty. Williford stayed with the program despite playing a total of 36 minutes as a freshman in 1991-92. Williford was either Jones' first or second recruit, depending on how one classifies Cornel Parker. Parker first signed with UVa in 1989, when Terry Holland was coach, before spending a year at Fork Union Military Academy.
There is no indication that a spot on the UVa staff will become available any time soon, although restricted-earnings coach Pete Herrmann has expressed interest in a head-coaching position.
SERIOUS ABOUT GOLF: College basketball analyst Dick Vitale has named Kansas coach Roy Williams, whose Jayhawks lost 67-58 to Virginia Friday in the Midwest Regional semifinals, to his list of the top five golfers among college basketball coaches.
Joining Williams, a 7-handicap, were his former boss at North Carolina, Dean Smith; Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim; Indiana coach Bobby Knight; and Arkansas' Nolan Richardson.
Williams is a 7-handicap and has played with multiple Masters winner Tom Watson, a Mission Hills, Kan., resident who consulted with Williams on coaching strategy before serving as Ryder Cup captain.
Last year, Williams won a charity tournament sponsored by Richardson, who uses a set of golf clubs he was given by President Clinton, a former Arkansas governor. The Razorbacks will take on Virginia for the Midwest Regional title on Sunday.
ODDS AND ENDS: Of the 2,969 games Kansas had played before Friday, the only one against a team from Virginia was in 1987 against Hampton University. ... UVa had never played a team from Kansas. ... Virginia, playing in the NCAA Tournament for the 13th time, is making its first appearance in the Midwest Regional. ... Kansas has won 25 games or more for five straight years. The Jayhawks have won 12 straight NCAA first-round games.
by CNB