Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 10, 1995 TAG: 9511100079
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PHILADELPHIA LENGTH: Long
Coach Bill Foster's club, which has every player back from last season's 25-10 National Invitation Tournament championship squad, was an overwhelming pick to win the A-10's West Division in the league's preseason poll released Thursday.
In balloting among coaches and media members, Tech was the choice to win the West on 35 of 40 ballots. George Washington received three first-place votes and Xavier and Duquesne had one each. La Salle and Dayton, picked fifth and sixth, respectively, failed to garner a first-place vote.
Tech is one of five schools that will be competing for the first time in the A-10, but that didn't deter the voters from picking the Hokies.
``Hey, it's nice to be picked on top, but that stuff doesn't mean much when you roll the balls out,'' Foster said. ``A bunch of our new neighbors are going to want to knock us off.
``It's nice, though. We have worked hard to put ourselves in this position. Now we have to step up to the plate and deliver.''
Four-time defending A-10 champion Massachusetts was a top-heavy pick to win the East Division, collecting 32 of 40 first-place votes. Temple, which received the other eight first-place votes, St.Joseph's, St.Bonaventure, Rhode Island and Fordham followed.
``I'm not surprised Tech is so heavily favored in the West,'' said John Calipari, UMass' coach. ``They probably should be the favorite over us to win the entire league.''
ACE IN THE HOLE: Junior forward Ace Custis was the only Hokie named to the first-team preseason all-conference squad. Custis was the second leading vote-getter behind UMass junior center Marcus Camby. Two GW players - senior guard Kwame Evans and 7-foot-1 sophomore center Alexander Koul - and Duquesne junior guard Tom Pipkins completed the first team.
Tech senior forward Shawn Smith was named to the second team.
There were three teams picked, which made the absence of the name of Tech senior guard Shawn Good glaring.
FROM THE PRACTICE FLOOR: Foster said the cast will be removed from 6-foot-8 forward Keefe Matthews' right foot on Nov.16 for additional X-rays.
The injury-plagued junior has a stress fracture in the foot. Matthews missed all of last season when he suffered a dislocated kneecap in preseason practice. Matthews eventually underwent arthroscopic surgery and was redshirted.
``You can only tell so much by X-ray on that,'' Foster said. ``We're going to take [the cast] off and make an educated guess ... do a feel test. We're optimistic that if again we can put the orthotic [in his shoe] and let him go 50 percent of the time, maybe we can start working him back in.
``If the doctor doesn't feel good about it, he'll recast it again for another week. Right now, it's up in the air. I don't know.
``That kid has had nothing but bad luck. He's been a walking injury.''
Foster said Matthews' physical woes have been the only downside since the Hokies opened preseason drills Oct.15.
``Except for that, everything has been a nice, normal progression,'' Foster said. ``Our kids are kind of pumped. They're ready to play somebody different, particularly the older guys. When you've been there four years, beating on each other gets a little old.''
That ends at 2 p.m. Sunday, when the Hokies play the first of their two exhibition games. B.C. Benston, a touring squad from Croatia, will supply the opposition at Cassell Coliseum. General admission is $5; students with an ID card will be admitted free.
Tech faces Court Authority at 7 p.m. Nov.20 at Cassell. The Hokies tip-off the regular season Nov.28 against Coastal Carolina at home.
WOMEN'S UPDATE: Coach Carol Alfano's Tech club, facing a major rebuilding job after consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, was picked second in the West behind unanimous choice GW. La Salle, Duquesne, Dayton and Xavier followed.
In the East, UMass was the choice, followed by St.Joseph's, Rhode Island, St.Bonaventure, Temple and Fordham.
Tech was picked second, despite the fact that none of its players made any of the three preseason all-league squads.
``We don't have holes to fill; we have craters,'' said Alfano, who lost every starter but senior point guard Terri Garland of Pulaski.
``Things have been coming along pretty well, though. We just need to keep getting better as the season goes along. If we can, we've got a shot. We've got the tournament at the Cassell [March 1-4], and that should be a huge advantage for us.''
Garland figures to be joined in the starting lineup by three other players with area roots - guard Sherry Banks (William Byrd), center Cynthia Lee (Martinsville) and forward Lynette Nolley (Floyd County). Michelle Hollister, a forward form Yardley, Pa., is the other projected starter.
The Tech women entertain Ferencvarosi Torna Club in a 7 p.m. exhibition Wednesday at Cassell. Alfano's club opens the regular season Nov.24 at Stetson.
RECRUITING UPDATE: Alfano took a big step toward rebuilding the Hokies' program by announcing the signing of four recruits.
Tech signed Meg Hunter, a 6-4 post player from Ravenscroft School in Raleigh, N.C.; Missy Lemons, a 5-9 guard from Buffalo High School in Huntington, W.Va.; Kim Seaver, a 6-3 post player from Mount Lebanon High School in Pittsburgh; and Amy Wetzel, a 5-7 point guard from North Schuylkill High School in Fountain Springs, Pa.
``We have signed a really outstanding class and have definitely filled our needs,'' Alfano said. ``Amy Wetzel is one of the best guards on the East Coast. Kim Seaver is one of the best post players in Pennsylvania. Missy Lemons is a diamond in the rough who can play either small forward or shooting guard for us. Meg Hunter is a strong 6-4 kid who will help us down low.``
by CNB