ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 21, 1996 TAG: 9603210008
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: College Notebook
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
Lubomyr Lichonczak was delighted to be taking his Radford women's basketball team to the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year, but he was realistic last week about a first-round matchup at Tennessee.
``The growth of the game is such that it's necessary to have the games at home sites,'' Lichonczak said, ``but it puts the home team at a big advantage. I honestly think the home court in the early games is worth 20 points.''
Lichonczak was not disappointed with his team's performance against the Lady Vols, seeded first in the East Regional, but the Lady Highlanders still got blown out 97-56. In its three first-round games, Radford has lost by 47, 40 and 41 points, respectively.
``You're seeing upsets in the men's tournament because the games are moved to neutral sites,'' said Lichonczak, whose first two NCAA games were against powers Purdue and Florida. ``With 16 teams hosting first- and second-round games, upsets are few and far between.''
None of the home teams lost in the first round. Colorado, Duke and Clemson lost at home in the second round, with Colorado and Clemson falling in overtime.
Virginia and Stephen F. Austin, an upset winner at Clemson, will be playing in regionals at home. DePaul would have had the same opportunity if it had won at Iowa in the second round.
``If you're Virginia and play Friday night at home, Sunday night home, and then you get to sit around all week before playing at home again, that's a tremendous advantage,'' said George Washington coach Joe McKeown, whose team fell to the Cavaliers 62-43 in the second round.
``I think there's a feeling of, `We're invincible at home.' We're undefeated at home, so I'd like to play at home, too,`` McKeown said. ``Last year, the shoe was on the other foot. We were a top-four seed, so we hosted. We beat Drake in the second round and our fans won that game for us.''
RECRUITING: Scott Shepherd, Hargrave Military Academy's coach, confirmed 6-foot-7 1/2 Jesus Rodriguez has made an oral commitment to Virginia Tech and has met NCAA guidelines for freshman eligibility.
``He plays inside and outside,'' said Shepherd, reporting George Washington was among the schools most interested in the native of Levittown, Puerto Rico. ``He's a big perimeter player, but he can post you up. I think he has a chance to be really good for Tech.''
Rodriguez is the fifth player to commit to the Hokies, who have four scholarships available, although it is not expected that all five will enroll next year. Rodriguez and point guard Brendan Dunlop have qualified academically and shooting guard Tony Stanley is close.
Rolan Roberts and Nathaniel Bailey still have some ground to cover academically and may spend the 1996-97 season at Hargrave in Chatham, although Roberts insists he will qualify. Hargrave also has a commitment from 6-8 Kenny Inge of Atlantic Shores Christian in Chesapeake.
TRANSFER TALK: The Internet is full of rumors that talented Florida State freshman Randell Jackson will transfer to Connecticut; however, Jackson told the Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat this week he isn't going anywhere.
Clemson lost players in back-to-back days this week when 6-9 freshman Patrick Garner and 6-3 sophomore guard Danny Johnson announced plans to transfer. Garner saw little chance of gaining playing time behind classmates Tom Wideman, Andrius Jurkunas and Harold Jamison - all 6-8 or taller.
ROOM UNDER THE CAP: Wake Forest sophomore Antonio Jackson, who recently announced plans to transfer, is the seventh scholarship player with remaining eligibility to leave the Deacons during the 1990s.
Coach Dave Odom's philosophy, dating to his days as a Virginia assistant, is to use all available scholarships. It enables him to find some sleepers, but makes him more susceptible to attrition than most coaches.
KENNEDY SET: Coach Pat Kennedy, whose Florida State Seminoles have had three consecutive losing seasons, has four years remaining on a contract that pays $529,000 annually, including fringe benefits.
The Seminoles have until May 1 to exercise the rollover option in Kennedy's contract. It would take more than $1 million for Florida State to buy out Kennedy, who has one ACC tournament victory in five years.
One of Florida State's big problems is apathy. The Seminoles' average attendance was an ACC-low 5,851 at Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center, and only seven students applied for the 250 ACC tournament tickets made available by the school.
PICKED AGAIN: College wrestling official Rick Schilling of Roanoke has been selected for the NCAA Division I championships for the sixth consecutive year and eighth time since 1987. Schilling, who also officiated in the Division I-AA football playoffs this year, was a 133-pound state champion at Northside High School.
LOCAL UPDATE: Matt McLeod, a freshman from North Cross School in Roanoke, scored points for UVa in two events at the ACC men's swimming and diving championships. ... Robey Caldwell from Cave Spring High School is a freshman pitcher on the baseball team at Longwood. ... Lacrosse player Rich Lesko, a four-year starter for Patrick Henry High School, is one of four goalies on Washington and Lee's roster.
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