ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, November 26, 1996 TAG: 9611260094
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
THE HOKIES WILL TRY TO MAKE coach Bill Foster's last season on the Virginia Tech bench a memorable one.
If his players have their say, Virginia Tech coach Bill Foster won't quietly dribble off into the sunset.
"No way,'' said Keefe Matthews, Hokies senior center.
"We don't want to let his great career end on a sour note. So all the players are thinking, `Let's send the guy out with a bang.'''
How much noise the Hokies can make in Foster's 30th and final season on a college bench remains questionable, however.
When Tech tips off its season Friday against Hawaii-Hilo in the Big Island Invitational, Ace Custis hopes he won't be playing solitaire.
The Hokies' deck is no longer stacked with four starters who ranked Nos. 2-5 behind Custis in scoring and rebounding on last season's 23-6 NCAA Tournament team - Shawn Good, Shawn Smith, Damon Watlington and Travis Jackson.
"It was really strange at first not seeing those guys on the floor,'' said Foster, who will turn over the reins to veteran assistant Bobby Hussey following the season.
"So it's a whole new deal now. But let me tell you, I like what I've seen. I think we've got a chance to be a very good basketball team.''
Some old parts and a lot of new parts will have to fit into place for Tech to come close to the outfit that produced 66 victories, an NIT title and the school's first NCAA bid in 10 years the past three seasons.
"We'll miss those four guys, no doubt about it,'' said Custis, who enters his senior season as one of 10 finalists for the Naismith Award, given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to college basketball's player of the year.
"They showed us what winning was all about. But we've got some guys who can play, and I think we can have a big year and send Coach Foster out the way he deserves to go out - the right way.''
Foster, whose 517 career victories ranks 13th among active Division I coaches, appears to be enjoying his latest and final challenge.
"It's sort of exciting in a way because of all the unknowns,'' Foster said. "In the past a lot of times we rolled the same guys out there and let 'em go play. Everything is pretty much up for grabs.''
The one given is Custis. The 6-foot-7, 218-pound senior needs 101 rebounds to become only the third Tech player to hit four digits in career scoring and rebounding.
Custis said he's primed to go after undergoing minor arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in September.
"I'm ready to take care of business,'' Custis said.
For Tech to be successful, Custis's business partners will have to be ready to go to work.
In addition to Matthews, forward Jim Jackson and guards Myron Guillory and Troy Manns will go from reserve roles to starting jobs this season.
Off the bench, Foster hopes to go 10 deep, with the likes of senior swingman David Jackson, redshirt freshman forward Andre Ray, freshman guard Brendan Dunlop, 6-9 sophomore center Alvaro Tor and 6-8, 220-pound freshman center Russ Wheeler.
"I'd like to play 10 guys,'' Foster said. "We're just going to have to bite the bullet and do it. With the potential to injury, you'd better get some people ready.''
When Foster hints about injury, there's no doubt he's referring to Matthews. The 6-8, 228-pound center has shown signs of being a bona fide inside presence when he hasn't been saddled by injuries.
"It's really key for us that Keefe stays healthy,'' Foster said. "He's been a walking injury ever since he's been here. But if he stays healthy he can probably average as many rebounds as [Smith and Travis Jackson] did together.''
Matthews said he's ready.
"I'm past the injuries now,'' he said. "I'm not going to let something like that slow me up or hold me back. It's my last year. It's time to play.''
Wheeler, whose wide body will be a good fit in the brawny-bodied Atlantic 10, and Tor, who needs to get meaner, will spell Matthews in the middle.
Jim Jackson fills the small forward slot opposite Custis. The scrappy senior will try to lead by example.
"I want our team to be a team nobody wants to play,'' Jim Jackson said. "I want it to be like, `Gosh, we've got to play Virginia Tech they're scrappy, they never quit, they play good defense, they play well together I just hate playing Virginia Tech.'''
At the guard spots, Manns will be counted on to run the show, with Guillory being the club's top outside shooting threat. Guillory also will see some time at point as will Dunlop.
"Myron has really improved his shot,'' Foster said. "Ask anybody on the team and hands down they'll tell you he's our best shooter.
"Troy will be our penetration guy. Not many can drive in there and do what he does with the ball. At the other end, we think he can be a defensive stopper for us.''
Foster said to make up for the scoring load lost through graduation the Hokies will have to turn it up on defense and on the backboards.
"We've been a good defensive club, but we've got to be better than a good one because we've got to shoulder the loss of points and experience from last year.
"You're not going to make it up in a hurry on the offensive end. Where you've got to make it up the difference is defensively and rebounding. I think this can be the best rebounding team we've had.''
Most figure Tech, a preseason pick to finish third behind George Washington and Xavier in the A-10 West Division, should win 18-20 games.
"We'd like to take Coach Foster back to the big show [NCAA] again,'' Jim Jackson said.
"He's totally a class act. I think we're all just glad to have the opportunity to play for him. Now we'd all like to make his last season one to remember.''
VIRGINIA TECH SCHEDULE
NOVEMBER
29, vs. Hawaii-Hilo in Big Island Invitational, 12:45 a.m. (Saturday); 30, Big Island Invitational.
DECEMBER
1, Big Island Invitational; Dec. 5, East Tennessee State, 8 p.m.; 7, Coastal Carolina, 1 p.m.; 9, UNC Greensboro, 7 p.m.; 14, Georgia, 1 p.m.; 22, at West Virginia, 1 p.m.
JANUARY
2, St. Bonaventure, 7 p.m.; 4, at Xavier, 8 p.m.; 6, at Duquesne, 7:30 p.m.; 9, William and Mary, 7 p.m.; 12, at Massachusetts, 2 p.m.; 15, Georgia Southern, 7 p.m.; 18, Rhode Island, noon; 20, La Salle, 7 p.m.; 23, at Liberty, 7:30 p.m.; 25, at St. Joseph's, 7 p.m.; 28, at Wake Forest, 7 p.m..
FEBRUARY
1, Dayton, noon; 4, George Washington, 9:30 p.m.; 8, at Fordham, 1 p.m.; 10, at La Salle, 7:30 p.m.; 15, at Dayton, 2 p.m.; 18, Temple, 9:30 p.m.; 20, at George Washington, 7:30 p.m.; 23, Duquesne, 2 p.m.; 25, Virginia in Richmond, 8 p.m.
MARCH
2, Xavier, 2 p.m. 5-8, Atlantic 10 Tournament in Philadelphia.
LENGTH: Long : 132 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. ALAN KIM STAFF Ace Custis needs 101 rebounds toby CNBbecome only the third Tech player ever to hit four digits in career
scoring and rebounding. color
2. chart - 1996-97 Virginia Tech Basketball Roster STAFF KEYWORDS: BASKETBALL MGR