ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 23, 1997 TAG: 9701230030
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: TECH NOTES
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
The Virginia Tech men's basketball team maintains steadfast belief it can earn a third straight bid to postseason play.
The Hokies' great faith will be severely tested tonight at 8 when they congregate with upset-minded Liberty University in the house that Dr.Jerry Falwell built.
If its postseason prayers - translation, NIT bid - are to have any chance at being answered, Tech (9-7) had best survive its sold-out Vines Center revival with Liberty (12-6).
``We need this game, we really do,'' said Tech's Jim Jackson. ``We can't lose to Liberty.''
Tech, which plays eight of its final 13 games on the road, can ill afford a slip tonight if it wants a realistic shot at enough victories to land an NIT berth.
Tonight's game becomes more important when one examines Tech's closing schedule. The Hokies figure to be underdogs in six of their final 13 games, and that's not including a Feb.4 home test with up-and-down George Washington.
If Tech is to win 16 regular-season games - which some think could be enough to sway the NIT to invite its 1995 champion - it had better not flame out against Liberty.
After all, it could happen. Tech hasn't forgotten last season, when coach Jeff Meyer's team pushed the NCAA-bound Hokies to the final horn in Blacksburg before falling 56-53.
This one certainly is no bargain. Not in front of Falwell and some 9,000 screaming disciples.
``No, it's not,'' Jackson said. ``They think you say, Liberty, heh, but it's not. That place is a tough place to play. We got 'em the last time we went there [101-70 in 1995], and they're going to want us.''
Tech coach Bill Foster doesn't have to be reminded this could be a ``trap'' game.
``It will be the biggest thing since the big flood when we go over there. Always is,'' Foster said.
``And other than the crowd at Xavier, this will be the toughest crowd we've seen this year, by far.''
The one guy who scares Foster most will be on the court. Liberty is led by Peter Aluma, a 6-foot-10 senior center many consider a sure-fire professional prospect.
``He's a prime-time player, a kid all the NBA people like,'' Foster said. ``He's going to be a handful for us.''
Tech's trump card, Ace Custis, said he and his teammates must be ready to deal.
``They're not a big-time name like a UVa, but as far as in-state rivalries, they're capable of beating us,'' Custis said. ``We've got to go out and take over early.''
Or likely kiss any postseason hopes goodbye.
WHY PLAY?: Why Liberty? In Lynchburg?
More than one Tech fan must wonder why the Hokies would risk playing a game in which it seemingly has everything to lose and nothing to gain.
The answer is two-for-one. Tech gets two home games in the three-year scheduling deal with the Big South Conference school.
``It's a situation where our players don't miss class, we eat the pregame meal here, ride the bus over and play,'' Foster said. ``There's not a lot of places you can do that and get two home games back.
``Plus, besides Richmond and Northern Virginia, Lynchburg is our biggest alumni base close to Roanoke. The people over there love us coming there to play.''
Foster knows the setup is not without risk. Foster's Hokies lost 71-65 to Liberty in Blacksburg in 1993.
``You know if you play 'em enough, you're going to get beat some because Jeff Meyer does a good job and they get some good players.''
KUDOS TO JACKSONS: Foster started both Jacksons - Jim and David - for the first time this season Monday against La Salle. The twins, who were on the court together for a career-high 75 combined minutes, cumulatively supplied 23 points and huge defensive efforts.
``You can live with those two kids, because you never worry about effort,'' Foster said.
``I tell you what: When they don't play well or you lose, they're the first two guys that say it's my fault. And we've got a few guys that ain't said `my fault' ... ever.
``But those two guys will and it might not be their fault. You kind of like that as a coach. It's nice - those kids are both going to be coaches - and for that reason I think they'll be pretty good ones.''
REBOUNDING ACE: Foster said he was glad to see Custis' second-half fire in Tech's 57-46 victory over La Salle.
Custis, coming off a lackluster eight-point game in Tech's 73-52 loss to Rhode Island on Saturday, came to life in the final 20 minutes against La Salle, scoring 14 of his 18 points and collecting nine of his 16 rebounds.
``Ace takes not playing well at little more at heart than most players,'' Foster said.
TECH TIDBITS: Another nearby Big South school - Radford - appears on Tech's schedule next season. Like Liberty, it's a two-for-one deal for Tech. The two New River-area schools played in 1988, with Tech winning 70-56 at Cassell Coliseum. ... Tech has held four of its past five opponents to fewer than 50 points. ... Of the Hokies' seven losses, only one (Duquesne) has come to a team with a losing record. The other six teams that have beaten Tech were a combined 72-23 entering Wednesday. ... The start of tonight's game was moved back 30 minutes from the original 7:30 p.m. tip-off because of a Radford-Liberty women's game, which is being televised via tape-delay.
LENGTH: Long : 102 linesby CNB