Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 27, 1995 TAG: 9503270103
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
In the spirit of Academy Awards night, let us offer what is arguably college basketball's Most Overachieving Team.
The envelope, please.
The winner is: Virginia Tech.
The Hokies, who have fought long odds and a short bench all season, roll into Madison Garden tonight as the favorite in the 58th National Invitation Tournament.
In tonight's first semifinal, Tech (23-10) faces Canisius (21-12) at 7. Penn State (20-10) meets Marquette (20-11) in the finale of the doubleheader, which will be shown on ESPN cable.
If these computers really know their stuff, the Hokies figure to throw a Garden party following Wednesday's 8:30 p.m. title game.
For instance, in the latest Sagarin ratings, Tech was 33rd, Marquette 56th, Penn State 59th and Canisius 72nd.
The other well-respected numbers machine, the Rating Percentage Index used by the NCAA Tournament selection committee, says the Hokies are in better shape. The final RPI list had Tech 36th, Marquette 80th, Penn State 82nd and Canisius 88th.
``I don't think there's any doubt we're playing the favorite of the tournament,'' said John Beilein, Canisius' coach. ``For the most part, if you're a betting man, you can go by those RPI numbers and do pretty well. That RPI number definitely makes them the favorite.
``After seeing them on film, I don't know how they didn't make the NCAA [Tournament]. I'm glad to be here, but I'm definitely not looking to be playing Virginia Tech. They could beat us real good.''
Bill Foster, the Hokies' coach, must like Tech's chances, too. Foster didn't exactly back off when the role of favorite was mentioned.
``I like our position,'' Foster said confidently. ``We're excited about it, we're playing well, and I think we'll play well here.
``Still, what do those numbers mean? They didn't mean much on that Sunday [March 12, when NCAA bids were announced], did they?
``We might be the highest-rated team going in, but this is one shot and you're out. It's like shooting dice. You might roll 7-11 for a while, but snake eyes is going to come up sometime.''
In Canisius, Tech can look in the mirror for a scouting report. The Golden Griffins aren't particularly big or deep, but like Tech, they are versatile. All three of Canisius' big men - like the Hokies' Shawn Smith, Ace Custis and Travis Jackson - often roam to the perimeter to shoot or create shots.
The Griffins go eight deep in most games, but three players do the majority of the damage. Nearly 70 percent of their points and rebounds come from their front line of 6-9 junior center Michael Meeks (16.6 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game), 6-4 senior forward Craig Wise (16.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and 6-5 junior forward Darrell Barley (15.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg).
``There's a lot of similarities, for sure,'' Foster said. ``They're a lot like us in that their inside people, their leading scorers, can all shoot, step out and score. And they hustle. I talked to 12 people about 'em, and everyone said, `They ain't ever out of it.'
``It's a good matchup. Neither one of us is a low-post, power team. We're both more movement teams. Both can pass and handle it.''
Believe it or not, Beilein said he wished Tech's top scorers, Custis and Smith, were 6-9 instead of only 6-7 and 6-6, respectively.
``What I don't like about playing Virginia Tech is that it's not a real big team,'' Beilein said. ``We've have had some success playing the UNC Charlottes and Washington States, where they have a couple of big 6-9 guys down on the blocks. It creates a mismatch for us, but it also creates a mismatch for them.''
Basically, the Hokies have played all season with seven guys. And in late March, they're one of only eight men's college basketball teams in the nation still playing.
``Win, lose or draw here, we've had a great season,'' Foster said. ``We feel fortunate to be here.
``When we reassembled after Christmas and found out we had two medical redshirt guys [forward Jim Jackson, last season's leading scorer, and 6-8 junior college transfer Keefe Matthews] out for the season, I wouldn't have given a nickel for this club's chances.
``Before we played Tennessee in Knoxville in late December, we had to dress an assistant coach and a graduate assistant simply to have 10 bodies to scrimmage. At that point, I wasn't sure we'd finish the year.''
The Hokies aren't finished yet. An NIT title would apply a huge exclamation point to a season Foster often has referred to as one of the most satisfying in his 28 years as a college head coach.
``We want the kids to have fun here,'' Foster said. ``We intend to play hard and have a good time.
``And while we're here, yeah, it'd be nice to win it.''
by CNB