THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 1, 1995 TAG: 9504020402
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Molinaro
DATELINE: SEATTLE LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
The most captivating figure at the Final Four is a flat-headed, round-shouldered hayseed who looks like the Pillsbury Doughboy on steroids.
Big Country is what they call Bryant Reeves, though for the sake of accuracy it should be noted that the Oklahoma State center actually is larger than some Third World countries.
The pasty, powerful 290-pound senior guaranteed himself the starring role in Friday's light workouts by shattering a backboard in front of several thousand fans.
``It was a common dunk, I do it every day in practice,'' Reeves said after his two-handed reverse slam sent a shower of glass to the Kingdome court.
``It was just a little drill that we do every day in practice. One of the coaches tosses the ball above the boards and you go get it and dunk it in. It just went out of my hand, and the rest is history.''
While Reeves brushed small pieces of the backboard from what passes for his haircut, a couple of his teammates walked over, all smiles, and picked up a few souvenirs. A moment later, Billy Packer appeared, reached down and took away a chunk of glass.
Knowing the NCAA, I wouldn't be surprised if the remainder of the glass shards go on sale today outside the Kingdome for $14.95 apiece.
As for Reeves, he looked a trifle chagrined about bringing down the backboard.
``I guess it was just a matter of it happening,'' he said.
Somebody wanted to know if he intended the dunk to send a message. That sounded good to Reeves.
``I think there could be a message sent by that, that we come here to play,'' he said. ``We came up here with one thing on our mind and that's to win the national title.''
In Reeves-speak, title comes out ``tottle.'' That's how the folks talk in his hometown of Gans, Okla.
``Gans is a terrific place,'' Big Country said Friday. ``It's a very small community. It's probably got 218, 220 people in it. It's got three buildings - a school, the post office and a store. Oh, excuse me. It has a volunteer fire department, too.''
This 7-foot Gomer Pyle was clearly having fun. Three weeks in front of the national media have helped him hone his countrified patter.
Gans, he went on to explain, features a single stop sign.
``The reason a stop sign was put there,'' he said, ``was so people coming through would have to stop, and then they could get a whole view of Gans before they left.''
Reeves, too, makes you stop and wonder: How did this Michelin Man in sneakers ever develop into a Final Four force?
When Eddie Sutton says of Reeves, ``He doesn't always look like a smooth, greyhound type of player,'' the Oklahoma State coach proves himself a master of understatement.
``But he's a very fine college basketball player and a remarkable young man,'' Sutton adds.
If he is often oaf-like today, what sort of unmade bed must Reeves have been when he arrived in Stillwater four years ago with a belly bigger than his potential?
``Well,'' said Sutton, ``he had a hard time running up and down the floor. His tongue would be hanging out, he'd be tripping over the lines, fumbling the ball. You ask what he couldn't do then. What could he do?''
He could learn. To lift weights. To move his feet. To improve coordination. To use his size for greatest impact.
``He has been a miracle for me,'' said Sutton. ``I've never had a player who maximized his ability as much, or one who improved as much during his years in college.''
Sutton says that one of the keys to Big Country's success is his hands. Reeves' hands are even softer than his love handles.
``Hands are important to a great center,'' said Sutton.
``Great'' does not exactly fit Reeves, unless you're talking about his circumference. But by throwing around every ounce of his weight, he averages 21.4 points and almost 10 rebounds, while clogging traffic on defense like an overturned tractor trailer.
In the East Regional, Big Country stood his ground against Wake Forest's Tim Duncan, then outplayed UMass center Marcus Camby, enabling the Cowboys to dictate the pace in victories over higher seeds.
If Reeves performs the same way today against favored UCLA, that backboard may not be the only thing at this Final Four that goes all to pieces. ILLUSTRATION: 1995 NCAA Final Four
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bryant Reeves leaves a backboard in shards Friday after hanging his
292 pounds on the rim during a dunk.
by CNB