ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, January 10, 1997 TAG: 9701100081
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: TALLAHASSEE, FLA.
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
VIRGINIA'S KRIS HUNTER filled in during Wednesday night's win against Florida State, and he hopes he'll be called on again soon.
There was the potential for disappointment for the large group of family and fans who came to support Virginia freshman basketball player Kris Hunter on Wednesday night.
Hunter hadn't played in three games and, with eight minutes remaining, it appeared there was little chance he would play against the team from his hometown, Florida State.
Then, 7-foot-4 Chase Metheney picked up his fifth foul, Norman Nolan needed some repair work by the trainer, and coach Jeff Jones headed down the bench in search of a big man.
The only one who was available was Hunter.
Hunter entered the game with 7:44 remaining and scored five points in the space of 35 seconds as the Cavaliers rallied for a 64-61 victory over favored Florida State at the Tallahassee-Leon Civic Center.
``That was amazing,'' said Hunter, who had scored a total of six points before Wednesday night. ``I never thought that would happen in my wildest dreams.''
After the second of Hunter's two field goals, teammate Jamal Robinson wrapped him in a bear hug that nearly flattened Hunter's already thin, 6-foot-10, 206-pound frame.
``I was hoping I would get in the game,'' said Hunter, who played at Florida A&M University High School. ``I would listen when coach Jones gave instructions to the other men, so I would know what to do if I got in there.''
Although circumstances played a large part in Hunter's most eventful stint of the season, his performance left many wondering if he will get more of a look.
Another freshman, 6-10 Craig McAndrew, had been ahead of Hunter until a pulled hamstring caused him to miss the trip to Florida State.
McAndrew never has scored five points in 35 seconds; fact is, he has scored only four points in 92 minutes spread over six games.
``Kris has developed slowly this year,'' UVa point guard Harold Deane said. ``He has the talent. He just needs to catch up in the other parts of the game, in knowing what do out on the floor.
``He shows signs in practice of becoming a good player. That's the reason I was getting the ball to him. I know, if he gets the ball in the paint, he can score. He's done it in practice.''
Yet, if the trainer wasn't taping Nolan's ankle, Hunter may not have played Wednesday night.
``We definitely felt we needed to go with some size,'' Jones said. ``The other thing is, you never know what might happen. Emotion is such a factor and I think he was certainly jacked up to play.''
Hunter said he was nervous while watching the starters get introduced, but had reached a state of calm by the time he went in the game. He had been on the floor for 19 seconds before he went to the free-throw line for two shots.
``I was nervous on the first one and that went in,'' said Hunter, who was 4-of-4 from the line before Wednesday. ``Then, I relaxed on the second one.''
Until Nolan returned to the floor with 5:18 left, UVa's inside game was in the hands of Hunter and fellow freshman Colin Ducharme. Ducharme started, played 31 minutes and had a game-high nine rebounds.
``I think there were two or three plays where there was a lot of big bodies and a lot of hands under the boards and Colin stuck his nose in there and ripped the basketball away,'' Jones said. ``He must have done it three or four times in the last three minutes.''
Hunter was rated the No.37 prospect in the country last season, but he has been the fifth post player on a team that sometimes doesn't use two. He played less than 21/2 minutes Wednesday night and Jones didn't commit to more activity in the future.
``We'll have to look,'' Jones said. ``It's nice to know it's there. I think he responded and some times things like that help a player grow up.
``Hopefully, that will be the case with Kris. He's been a joy to be around all year and is very well-liked by his teammates. He's going to keep getting better.''
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Hunterby CNB