Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 30, 1995 TAG: 9503300088
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Long
The Hokies' run to the championship of the 58th NIT can't help but reap a bundle of fruit for a publicity-starved program.
``The NIT was great for us in so many ways,'' said Bill Foster, Tech's coach. ``You simply put a price tag on all the exposure we got off this thing.''
Thanks to the NIT, the country now knows Virginia Tech. The Hokies had their final four NIT games televised on ESPN. It was strong medicine for a program that hadn't gone live nationally on TV since 1990.
``The NIT should do wonders for our visibility factor,'' Foster said. ``The TV is a great shot in the arm for us. It's great for our kids and good for our program.
``It really enhances your ability to recruit. We've had at least two kids both of whom we were trying to get involved with but they weren't that interested, call us back. They watched a couple of these games, and all of a sudden, they're calling us back saying they want to make a visit now.
``I know in the case of recruiting, everybody watches. Those underclassmen are watching. They couldn't have done that a year ago because they couldn't have seen us.''
Foster said the exposure created by his club's NIT fit could snowball as Tech gears up to join the Atlantic 10 Conference next season.
``This will make us an attractive team, maybe, as we go into the A-10 for a [TV] matchup with a UMass, a Temple, a GW. Whereas, we might not have been as attractive to ESPN if we hadn't made this run. When you get in this position, you've got to go in and make some noise for people to really know who you are.''
The Hokies beat their drums with mostly six, sometimes seven players. Despite having possibly the nation's shortest bench, Foster pulled off what was perhaps his greatest job in his 28 years of college coaching.
``This definitely was one of the most satisfying years I've had in coaching,'' Foster said. ``This bunch was a lot of fun to coach, a lot of fun to be around.''
Foster's short deck becomes a full one next season. He loses no one. He picks ups a load.
Next season, Foster will have forward Jim Jackson, who started all 49 games and averaged 10.1 points his first two years before missing this season due to back surgery; 6-foot-8 junior-college transfer center Keefe Matthews, who sat all season due to knee surgery; forward Shawn Browne, who was declared ineligible this season due to a high-school transcript mixup; and guard Troy Manns, the Roanoke native transferring from George Mason.
``I'm looking forward to that,'' said Foster, his eyes beaming as bright as the lights of Manhattan.
``We have a good nucleus for a great two-year run. The NIT was the next step for us. Now maybe it's the NCAA next year.''
``The NIT should be quite a motivator for next year. I can't think of anything that may make the kids work hard in the offseason and be raring to go for next season.''
WHAT A SHOW: Tech saw one hit off Broadway. In a memory that will be forever etched in their minds, the Hokies were in attendance Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden for Michael Jordan's magnificent 55-point game.
``It was just awesome. I've never seen anything like it,'' Tech's David Jackson said Wednesday.
In his fifth game back since coming out of retirement, Jordan set a Garden record for most points scored by an opposing player in Chicago's 113-111 victory.
The NIT brass gave each of the four teams who made it to New York 20 tickets each to the game. Some scalpers reportedly were attempting to sell tickets for as much as $1,500 apiece.
Two Hokies, Shawn Good and Matthews, gave up their tickets to videographer Jon Kvatek and student trainer Jennifer Luedke.
``The big game is Marquette,'' Good said. ``Besides, I've seen Michael in Indianapolis before. I don't really like watching NBA games.''
ONLY IN NEW YORK: Tech sports information director Jack Williams experienced some day in the Big Apple on Wednesday.
Only hours after watching a speeding car strike a pedestrian on Tech's ride back from practice, Williams took the afternoon off to see Jerry Lewis in the Broadway hit ``Damn Yankees.''
Halfway through the 21/2-hour show, Williams glanced to the seat behind him. Lo and behold, there was actor Gene Wilder.
``I couldn't believe it,'' Williams said. ``I had a better seat than Gene Wilder.''
ANYBODY WANT TO PLAY?: Foster and his staff are still looking for four more opponents for next year's schedule.
Tech is guaranteed 16 games in the A-10. Virginia, VMI, William and Mary, West Virginia, Wright State and Coastal Carolina are the non-conference foes already locked in for next season.
Tech thought it had two of the four slots filled, but Tennessee and Vanderbilt both recently decided they wanted no part of the Hokies next season.
If Tech gets two of those four at home, it will play 14 times and Cassell and 12 times on the road.
``This is not an easy place to schedule,'' Foster conceded. ``We'd like to get some more attractive teams to come to our place, but that's tough.
``Face it, a lot of people aren't booking flights into Blacksburg. It's not the end of world, but you can see it from there.''
by CNB