THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 21, 1995 TAG: 9511200142
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: College Preview Basketball
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
With no conference to play in this year, Hampton University will spend a great amount of its first year in Division I on the road, playing 14 of its first 16 games away from home.
All told, the Pirates have only nine home dates on a 27-game schedule, and most of those home games fall in February.
``At least next year we have 13 or 14 home dates,'' said first-year coach Byron Samuels, whose squad will play in the MEAC next season. ``Really, there's nothing we could do about it. Nobody wants to play you at your place if they don't owe you anything.''
Leading the road trip with be the backcourt combination of seniors Jafonde ``J.J.'' Williams and Jermaine Gholson and junior transfer Al Bell.
``We'll be going with a three-guard lineup,'' Samuels said. ``I'm not afraid of playing a small lineup. We did it last year at Washington State (where Samuels was an assist coach) and finished fourth in the Pac-10. When you've got quality guard play, you can play in any league at any level.''
For a first-year Division I program, the Pirates will get their share of national publicity. They play twice on ESPN2, visiting The Citadel on Dec. 5 and hosting Manhattan on Jan. 20.
VMI: If the Keydets can pick up where they left off last season, this could be their best campaign in some time.
They won more Southern Conference games (six) than they had in the last five years and finished by winning eight of their last 12 regular-season games.
The Keydets return four starters, including point guard Bobby Prince who led the SC in assists with 6.4 per game. Leading scorer Lawrence Gullette is also back after averaging 16.4 points and 6.5 rebounds.
If Bryan Taueg can zone in his 3-point accuracy (37.3 percent) and burly 6-7, 230-pound freshman Brent Conley from Fork Union can become an inside force, the Keydets have a chance to make some noise.
The schedule, however, doesn't give the Keydets much chance for any record-padding, out-of-conference wins. VMI travels to North Carolina, N.C. State, Penn State and Virginia Tech.
RADFORD: Too bad Anthony Walker doesn't play in a higher profile league. The TV talking heads would eat up his ``Walker, Texas Ranger'' moniker.
The guy's been the law for the Highlanders and should continue his dominance this year. He led the Big South Conference in assists last year (5.4), was second in three-point field goal percentage (41.1 percent), fifth in scoring (15.3 ppg) and fifth in steals (1.7).
``Anthony's not flashy, so sometimes he doesn't get the attention he deserves,'' said head coach Ron Bradley. ``I don't know if he's a true point guard or a true two guard. I just know he's a true player. I'll put Anthony up against anyone in our region.''
Walker will pair with 6-3 running mate Jason Lansdown. Sophomore horses Eric Parker and Kevin Robinson will provide the inside punch for a squad picked second in the preseason in the Big South behind only UNC Greensboro.
LIBERTY: The Flames will host the Big South Conference tournament this season, but chances are they won't be in the championship game.
Liberty wallowed through a 12-16 campaign last season and while three starters return, the Flames are picked to finish fourth by the league's coaches.
Preseason all-conference center Peter Aluma is back, but the Flames will be searching for parts to the puzzle around him. Guard Larry Jackson will fill one of the slots. ILLUSTRATION: [Side Bar]
State Div. I at a Glance
For complete listing, see microfilm.
KEYWORDS: SPECIAL SECTION by CNB