ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 9, 1996 TAG: 9603120037
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: GREENSBORO, N.C.
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
Not even the reprieve offered by the ACC tournament could awaken Virginia from its season-long men's basketball doldrums.
The Cavaliers, who had won at least one game in eight of their past nine ACC tournaments, fell victim to defending champion Wake Forest 70-60 Friday night at the Greensboro Coliseum.
``I feel like we've been stabbed a lot this season,'' UVa swingman Courtney Alexander said. ``Tonight, Wake Forest took the knife and twisted it upside down and from side to side. I feel pretty lifeless right now.''
And, that was a freshman speaking. Virginia, which finished 12-15, will be spending the postseason at home for the first time since 1987-88. It was the fewest number of victories for UVa since 1976-77, when the Cavaliers were 12-17.
``I think it's going to take awhile to forget this year,'' said UVa coach Jeff Jones, who became emotional and paused for a moment in his postgame comments. ``I don't think that's possible right now.''
The last game was nothing Jones hadn't seen before. The Cavaliers, who had led 10 ACC games at halftime, were tied with Wake twice to start the second half and even had possession once with a chance to take the lead.
After responding to a 10-0 Wake run with a 7-0 spurt of their own, the Cavaliers got as close as 47-43 following an Alexander fadeaway with 8:44 remaining.
A Tim Duncan turnaround upped the Deacons' lead to six; then, sophomore Steven Goolsby made back-to-back 3-pointers from the left wing and the margin never again dipped under double figures.
The Deacons (21-5) went ahead 59-43 before Virginia scored 17 points in the final 3:32, including 11 by Harold Deane, who until that point had hit one of eight shots.
``It's frustrating it took so long for me to find my stroke,'' said Deane, who finished with 15 points. ``I really thought it was going to be my night. I hardly missed a shot in practice.''
The Cavaliers came into the game with a healthy dose of confidence after beating the Deacons 67-49 less than two weeks earlier, but that was on a night when they hit 60.5 percent and Wake shot 29.0.
While the shooting was more even this time, one trend did continue. The Deacons, who had outrebounded UVa 45-28 in Charlottesville, enjoyed a 40-30 advantage Friday night.
``Teams did a good job of exploiting the fact that we aren't a very good rebounding team,'' said Jones, whose team gave up 53 offensive rebounds in its last three games.
``Wake Forest in both games and Maryland in the final regular-season game went to the boards very well. But, at times, it seemed like we made it easy for them to get offensive rebounds.''
Duncan, a unanimous first-team All-ACC choice, led the Deacons with 19 points and 15 rebounds. Tony Rutland and Ricky Peral had 13 apiece, followed by Goolsby with nine - all on 3-pointers and all in the second half.
``This was special for me because I didn't even get to play in the tournament last year,'' Goolsby said. ``They were slacking off me and doubling down on Tim, which they had to do. I got some really open looks and knocked down the shots.''
It was Jones' contention that Goolsby's man tried in vain to challenge Duncan on a defensive rebound and allowed Goolsby to do what he does best - spot up at the 3-point line
``They were big,'' Jones said. ``He got the open shot and hit it, but we left him open. Those are the things that we talked about not allowing Wake Forest to get. After that, they were definitely in control of the game.''
Duncan had six blocked shots, effectively shutting off UVa's erratic inside game, and Rutland had four steals. The Deacons finished the game with only six turnovers, their low for the season.
``I'm not going to say I was pleased with how the team played,'' Wake coach Dave Odom said, ``but I am pleased with the team's perseverance through a difficult first-round game. Hopefully, we'll play better tomorrow.''
The Deacons missed nine straight 3-point shots before Jerry Braswell hit a shot at the halftime buzzer from one step inside the halfcourt line. The Cavs, holding for a last shot that could have put them ahead, instead trailed 28-24.
``That's the way things have been going for us this year,'' said guard Curtis Staples, who missed the shot, then lost the rebound in a scramble with Duncan. ``I feel like Tim Duncan warded me off, but he's Tim Duncan.''
The inference was that the officials could have called Duncan for a push, but, otherwise, there were no sour grapes from Virginia. It wasn't the Cavaliers' worst game, but, typical of so many UVa performances, it wasn't enough.
``I'm a die-hard competitor,'' said Staples, who had a team-high 18 points, all on 3-pointers. ``I wish the other teams good luck, but I can't see myself sitting around and watching the rest of the tournament. It hurts too bad right now.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Wake Forest's Tim Duncan dunks the ball againstby CNBVirginia during their ACC tournament quarterfinal game on Friday in
Greensboro, N.C. color.