THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 21, 1995 TAG: 9511190423
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: College Preview Basketball
SOURCE: BY KEVIN DOEPP, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
When the Fabulous Thunderbirds recorded the song, ``Are You Tuff Enuff?'' they had no idea that a small Division III basketball coach would use it as a motto for his players.
Virginia Wesleyan basketball coach Terry Butterfield is asking his team that question daily.
``Last year we just didn't come to play every night,'' Butterfield said. ``I think this year that the guys are very much up to that challenge.''
First in line to accept Butterfield's challenge is Indian River graduate Percy Slight. A sophomore, Slight was an honorable-mention All-ODAC member averaging 13.8 points per game and was second in rebounding at 5.6 per game.
``Percy is a warrior and the type of guy you want to take to battle with you every night,'' Butterfield said. ``He can score in bunches and is a bigtime defender.''
The Marlins lost their biggest rebounder from last year in Sean Blackwell, who transferred to Norfolk State.
``Sean thought that he was better than a Division III player,'' Butterfield said. ``We are a better team without him. His leaving the team helps because it makes us a lot more unselfish. I know the guys we have now will play together.''
Russell DeMont, a 6-foot-8 sophomore, will take over for Blackwell. Last year he averaged 4.3 points and three rebounds per game in limited action.
Senior Bernie Hynson will run the floor at point guard. Butterfield expects Hynson to be better than 4.1 points per game and 1.4 assists a season ago.
``Bernie had an outstanding freshman year and a very poor sophomore year,'' Butterfield said. ``We expect him to have a strong year this year.''
At the two and three guard positions will be junior James MacLeod and sophomore Ryan Bradford. MacLeod was second on the team in scoring (11.6 ppg); Bradford (10.1 ppg) was in the top 10 in Division III from behind the three-point line at 46 percent.
Four solid returners off the bench are guards Gene Pleyo, Rob Reich, Pat McCabe and Norfolk Collegiate graduate Brad McMurran.
The top three newcomers are Indian River graduate Gerald Martin, forward Don Mercier and guard Sam Presti. Martin will see time in the post as will Mercier. Presti will play guard.
``Right now we feel like we are solid with seven guys and that we have solid experience at every position,'' Butterfield said. ``However, we have to find someone to fit into the rotation and beyond those seven we are unsure.''
The Marlins' schedule includes Division II Longwood and Division I newcomer Hampton. ILLUSTRATION: [Side Bar] Marlins at a Glance
For complete listing, see microfilm.
KEYWORDS: SPECIAL SECTION by CNB