THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 22, 1995 TAG: 9501220212
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
Georgia Tech normally looks forward to its ACC games against Virginia, a team it has beaten nine times in the last 10 meetings.
But the Yellow Jackets (11-5, 2-2) can't be too enthusiastic about today's game (4 p.m., WAVY) against the Cavaliers (10-4, 4-1) in University Hall.
Eighteenth-ranked Virginia, which plays the toughest defense in the league, is hardly a pleasing opponent for a team having offensive problems.
The No. 22 Yellow Jackets have shot only 44 percent from the field since getting off to a 6-0 start against a weak December schedule.
They have won only two games when scoring fewer than 80 points, and are 5-5 when shooting less than 50 percent from the field.
Virginia, meanwhile, is limiting opponents to 67 points and 38 percent field goal accuracy.
Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins admits he is not sure of the cause for the Yellow Jackets' offensive problems.
``It might be the offense, or maybe our good shots are not going in,'' Cremins said. ``Some of it is just bad shot selection.''
Travis Best and James Forrest, Tech's leading scorers, combined to make only 10 of 33 shots in last Tuesday's 67-65 victory over Wake Forest.
``Some of those shots, no way were they going in,'' Cremins said.
``We have to be more patient, especially against a team that plays defense as well as Virginia.''
The Cavaliers are tied for first place in the league with North Carolina after having their four-game winning streak snapped by the Tar Heels on Wednesday.
After being on the road for four of their first five ACC games, the Cavaliers play eight of their next 10 games in University Hall.
``We have to remember, though, that being at home doesn't necessarily make things easier for us,'' coach Jeff Jones said.
``If we don't have the same intensity and focus we had on the road, it won't be that much of an advantage.''
In another ACC game today, Maryland (13-3, 3-1) tries to keep pace with the league front-runners against North Carolina State (10-4, 2-2).
Notes: Four of Virginia's last five games against Georgia Tech in University Hall were decided by four points or less, including overtime games in 1990 and 1994 . . . The Cavaliers are 12-4 against Georgia Tech in University Hall, but have lost three of the last four games. by CNB