Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 28, 1995 TAG: 9503280067
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
George Raveling must have gotten some bad information when he informed CBS-TV viewers that Virginia might get blown out in an NCAA Midwest Regional semifinal.
This was a team that didn't get blown out all season.
Even in its most lopsided loss, a 94-83 setback to Ohio University in the second game of the season, UVa had a shot to tie the score with barely two minutes remaining.
The Cavaliers entered the closing minutes with a realistic chance to win every game, except maybe the Midwest championship game Sunday, when Arkansas stretched its lead to 62-49 with 2:47 left.
Virginia fought back to make the final score (68-61) respectable, but this season was not about respectability for the Cavaliers, who accomplished things not accomplished by any UVa team since the Ralph Sampson era (1980-83).
Not only did the Cavaliers finish 25-9, the most victories for a UVa team that didn't have Sampson, but the Cavaliers went 12-4 in the ACC and tied with Wake Forest, North Carolina and Maryland for first place.
Virginia showed its mental toughness by winning 11 games away from home and by winning 12 games in which it trailed or was tied in the second half. The Cavaliers have done that 24 times in the past two seasons.
``We probably grew more as a team, from start to finish, than any of the five I've coached,'' Jeff Jones said Monday. ``This team was the most consistent. Even when there were little blips, we kept going in the right direction.''
Jones cautioned against underemphasizing UVa's talent, although three players - Junior Burrough, Curtis Staples and Harold Deane - scored 108 of the Cavaliers' 128 points in two games at Kemper Arena.
``We weren't really flashy,'' Jones said, ``but not another [UVa] team since Ralph has had as many good players. The one in 1984 definitely underachieved [before reaching the Final Four], but it wasn't close in terms of character. That team had characters; this team had character.''
The UVa team that most resembled this one in terms of ability, Jones said, was the 1989 team that reached the final eight. Yet, that team was trounced by eventual NCAA champion Michigan 102-65 in a regional final.
Jones said he was proud UVa was able to average 20 victories in his first four seasons, but stressed he gladly would take more. He got his wish as the Cavaliers improved their record to 105-57 during his tenure.
Another 25-victory season would be a reach for a team that loses Burrough, an All-ACC tournament and All-Midwest Region selection. There's no telling how much NBA money Burrough made himself during an eight-game stretch in which he averaged 24.6 points, but it must have been considerable.
The Cavaliers lose their top four rebounders, including point guard Cory Alexander, who finished with a higher rebounding average (4.2) than starting center Chris Alexander (3.9). Cory Alexander, injured in the 20th game, has shown no desire to use the extra year of eligibility at his disposal.
``I'm going to sit down and talk with him,'' Jones said. ``I'm not going to talk him into playing, but I'm going to express my opinion and weigh the pros and cons as to what's best for Cory.''
Even without Cory Alexander, the Cavaliers will be loaded in the backcourt. North Carolina's high school player of the year, Courtney Alexander (no relation), is considered one of the nation's top point guards, but he can play any of the perimeter positions.
It's hard for Virginia not to be enthused about the progress of Staples, who had 103 3-point field goals - three short of the NCAA record for a freshman set by Keith Veney of Lamar in 1993. Once considered a defensive liability, Staples held Jerod Haase of Kansas and Clint McDaniel of Arkansas to one field goal apiece.
The big question is the frontcourt, where Chris Alexander is the only returning starter. In the final five games, Alexander averaged 19 minutes but went scoreless four times and did not grab more than six rebounds once.
``If certain individuals are willing to work really hard on their strength and conditioning, we should be all right,'' said Jones, referring to freshmen Chase Metheney and Norman Nolan. ``If given the same playing time, I think Norman can rebound with Junior.''
The Cavaliers would like to add one more post player, either 6-foot-9 Melvin Whitaker from Oak Hill Academy or 6-8 Marco Harrison from Petersburg, although neither has qualified academically. UVa is awaiting word on a hardship appeal for Metheney, who is 7-3, but had an assortment of injuries that prevented him from playing in an official game.
``I'm in the midst of trying to put together and coordinate a trip overseas,'' Jones said. ``We were thinking of doing that after the 1996 season, but Chase and Norman need to play very badly.''
The Cavaliers' 1995-96 season hasn't been finalized, but the most noteworthy non-conference games are with Vanderbilt and Old Dominion in Charlottesville, Virginia Tech in Roanoke and Connecticut in Storrs, Conn. UVa could play as many as seven in-state teams: Tech, ODU, George Mason, Richmond, Liberty, William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth.
``If we're going to play some of those type of games and give some people a shot at us, we've pretty much got to do it on our terms,'' said Jones, who wants at least two home games in return for one road game against most state teams.
Maybe the best news for UVa fans is that Jones, who turns 35 on June 29, is not being courted by any other team and has four years remaining on a contract that was reworked after the 1993-94 season.
``There are some nice jobs out there, like Georgia and Wisconsin,'' said interim athletic director Craig Littlepage, ``but, to be candid, I don't see anything out there that would be a step up for Jeff at this time.''
by CNB