ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 7, 1996 TAG: 9603070031
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
HE DIDN'T MAKE the All-ACC team like he wanted, but UVa's Courtney Alexander did earn a spot on the All-Freshman squad. His slashing moves and emerging perimeter shot have made him one of the Cavaliers' most dangerous weapons.
Almost four months after the fact, no one can remember exactly what Courtney Alexander told the media on the eve of preseason basketball practice.
However, the gist of his comments was, he wanted to make All-ACC.
Some people considered that a bit premature.
``What I meant to say was, `I didn't just want to be picked to the all-rookie team,''' Alexander said . ``I wanted to make one of the [All-ACC] teams, whether it was first team, second team or third team.
``I don't think that's an outlandish statement. I didn't say I was going to make those teams. I just said I wanted to. I can see how people could have listened to that and said, `Whoa. He hasn't played a minute.' But that's just a goal I've set for myself.''
If the season had lasted any longer, Alexander might have made one of the All-ACC teams. As it was, he was an easy choice for the ACC All-Freshman team.
That was no foregone conclusion in December, when Alexander missed six shots from the field and went scoreless against Kansas in the Great Eight Invitational, or in January, when Alexander lost his starting job for four games.
Alexander's scowl became a trademark and there were rumors he might transfer. Coach Jeff Jones asked him about the stories and got the same answer reporters heard this week.
``Nonsense,'' Alexander said.
``I heard the rumors,'' he continued. ``I don't know who started them. I don't know why they were started. I'm fine.''
It hasn't hurt that, in the past eight games, Alexander has played fewer than 33 minutes only once. That was against Wake, when he sat out much of the first half with two fouls, then opened the second half with a five-point flurry that got UVa rolling in a 67-49 romp.
``I saw him in a different light that night,'' Deacons coach Dave Odom said. ``If you're guarding him and you don't arrive at the moment he catches the ball or before, it's too late. Then, it becomes hit and miss. You're not going to affect his shot.''
Even Alexander can't affect his shot, much as he would like. His vintage move is to beat a defender to a spot, elevate over him and arch his back in such a way that Dikembe Mutombo couldn't block his fall-away jumper.
``That's a habit that I've had since I was a little boy,'' Alexander said. ``My father tried to get me out of it. My coaches have tried to get me out of it. I fade sometimes, and then sometimes I don't fade. I can't explain it. It's a habit I've got to break.''
Or, does he? Alexander is shooting 48.6 percent from the field, including 52.2 in his past eight games. He just recently started taking 3-pointers and is 17-of-34 from beyond the arc.
``Shooting 3-pointers is not my strength,'' Alexander said. ``I'm not going to sit up here and say that I'm a good 3-point shooter. I think I'm a fair 3-point shooter. I had no idea I was shooting 50 percent.''
When the team goes through drills, it's hard to get most of the UVa players to shoot from inside the arc. Alexander almost never sets up behind it.
``Early in the year, before we were playing games, I made the point of telling him, `You need to improve your range,''' Jones said.
Alexander's emergence gave the Cavaliers a third perimeter scorer to go with Harold Deane and Curtis Staples, which is one reason UVa (12-14) approached respectability in February. Virginia was 5-4 for the month and led all nine games at some point in the second half.
``Personally, I felt I played all right,'' said Alexander, who averaged 21.3 points in a seven-game stretch. ``Really, it's not enough because we're losing. If we were winning, I'd feel great.''
Alexander's rebounding has become more consistent. He has become a better passer, with 19 assists in the past eight games, compared with 14 in the first 18 games. And, his defense has picked up.
``He's still learning,'' Jones said. ``He tries. At times, he does a so-so job. I think he values it. When I rewind the film now, he knows what's coming. He no longer says, `What do you mean?'''
It could have been worse. Alexander could have been like heralded North Carolina freshman Vince Carter and never found his game.
``I feel sorry for Vince,'' Alexander said. ``I don't know what he's doing over there. He's a good friend of mine and we've talked on occasion. I'm not going to put his business out there, but he's not himself right now. He's a totally different player than I know.
``His adjustment has taken longer than mine. There are players out there still going through it, like Ron Mercer and Wayne Turner [at Kentucky]. People don't realize, no matter what you do in high school, this is a totally different level and you really can't rest on your laurels.''
LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: KEITH GRAHAM/Staff. Some thought Courtney Alexanderby CNBmight transfer when he was benched early this season. He said the
thought never crossed his mind.