ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 17, 1996 TAG: 9604170036
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
THE CAVALIERS' COACH defends his men's basketball program and himself in a meeting with the media in the wake of a disappointing season and a rocky off-season.
The spring normally is a time for college basketball coaches to meet with the alumni, maybe recruit a little and generally unwind from the stress that builds up during a four-month season.
For Virginia's Jeff Jones, however, there has been little normal about this past season or the off-season.
Jones, who awakened Saturday morning to the news that his leading scorer, Harold Deane, had been arrested, met privately Tuesday with a small group of reporters, then went on the record during a session that was joined in progress by athletic director Terry Holland
``The perception [and] the image of the UVa men's basketball program has been damaged,'' Jones said. ``It's important that everybody associated with the program does everything humanly possible to avoid any more negative attention to our team and program.''
Deane, the fourth player with UVa connections to be arrested since mid-February, was charged with trespassing and resisting arrest following a disturbance at a private party.
``I'd say [my reaction] was one of frustration because I know how Jeff, in particular, and members of his staff have been conscious of not getting involved in that kind of situation,'' Holland said.
``I know what Jeff told the team Friday before [the players] left here. Our [coaches] pretty much are on top of things and know when the dangerous times were. The campus is big enough that they know when a big weekend is coming.''
The UVa grounds were the setting this past week for Spring Fling, an African-American celebration that annually draws large crowds to Charlottesville.
``I don't want to comment on a specific day,'' Jones said, ``but it's not unusual for the coaches and even the players to encourage or caution [their teammates] to behave in a way that doesn't cause problems.''
His reaction: ``Probably the same that it has been any time that one of our young men gets into trouble - surprise, concern and disappointment.''
Jones said he would have more to say in coming weeks about Deane and any team-imposed penalties he might incur and about signee Melvin Whitaker, indicted this month on a felony charge of malicious wounding.
``Our legal counsel said we can't comment because [Whitaker and his attorney] are in the legal process,'' said Holland, when asked why Virginia has not confirmed reports Whitaker never will play for the Cavaliers.
``You know what the answer is. Nobody like that has ever played here. But, I hope we're never so insecure that, with Melvin Whitaker in the [legal] fight of his life, we feel the need to come out and trash the kid.''
UVa freshmen Darryl Presley and Scott Johnson pleaded guilty this past week to petty-larceny charges resulting from a shoplifting incident, and Jones confirmed Tuesday that Johnson intends to transfer to another school.
Although Presley could face an honor charge, Jones said he expected all seven returning scholarship players to be available for a 10-day trip to France and Belgium starting Aug.14. That includes ACC All-Freshman choice Courtney Alexander, who has remained a subject of transfer rumors.
``I've met with him, and he seems a little bit irritated by the constant rumors,'' Jones said. ``He fully intends to be back next year.
``I will say there was a point in the season when he was unhappy with a lot of things - himself, me, his playing time, Virginia's performance - but that's not unusual for a young player.''
Jones expressed chagrin at a steady tide of rumors, some of them concerning his personal life. Privately, he challenged their veracity.
``I guess it's unfortunate, but there's not a whole lot I can do about it,'' said Jones, who is separated from his wife, Lisa. ``It's something, in a lot of ways, that's out of my hands.''
Holland said he has met with Jones on several occasions since the end of the season and is convinced the program is being operated in an upstanding manner.
``My personal observation is that he's probably learned more this year than in any other year,'' Holland said. ``He's a better coach now, in terms of dealing with all situations, than he was two years ago or three years ago. I'm entirely comfortable that he's doing the best job he can.
``I could say other people have problems. But that sounds like a cop-out, like I'm saying, `No big deal.' It is a big deal. A big, big deal. Are there other things we can do? Possibly. Will we explore them? Absolutely.
``Maybe somebody else has better answers than we do. I'm not going to brush it off and say there's no pattern here, but there doesn't seem to be a direct link. There is nothing we're doing consciously that's making these [incidents] more likely to occur.''
Jones pointed out that his players, who traditionally have been given a break after the season, now meet four times a week for conditioning, as permitted by the NCAA. Coaches also monitor their study-hall attendance.
``I think anybody, in my situation, would go back and question, `What could I have done?' `What could I have done better?''' said Jones, who was the ACC's youngest head coach until Herb Sendek was hired today at N.C. State. ``Quite honestly, I can't come up with an answer.
``For those who think there haven't been any precautionary measures or any long, open, heart-to-heart talks or anything else put into place, they would be mistaken.''
Jones, 35, also said it would be wrong to draw the conclusion that Virginia pays no attention to character in the players it recruits.
``We've had situations where players have made bad decisions,'' he said, ``but I'm completely satisfied with the scrutiny given potential recruits, not just with the kids we sign, but with the players we consider.''
The anticipated loss of Whitaker, in particular, has left many questions about the caliber of a team that reached the final eight of the NCAA Tournament in 1995 but slumped to 12-15 this past season.
``While I'm certain some people hold the opinion that we're trying to win at all costs, that's not the case,'' Jones said. ``Are we trying to win? Absolutely. That's one of my charges as head coach, but it's not the only one. Right now, the main thing is to win back the respect we've lost.''
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