THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 29, 1995 TAG: 9511290555
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Long : 108 lines
Blue-chip freshman Courtney Alexander understood why he was on the Virginia bench for most of Monday night's 87-58 victory over William and Mary, but that didn't mean he had to like it.
And he didn't. The bench is no a place for a young man in a hurry to establish himself as the newest superstar in the ACC.
So Alexander scowled when he was removed from the game early in the first half. When he was benched again early in the second half, he flung a towel to emphasize his dismay.
``I was frustrated,'' said the 18-year-old Alexander, who was playing only his second college game. ``I knew I messed up. I didn't block out twice early in the opening minutes of the game. But I had no idea (coach Jeff Jones) would take me out the whole half and pull me again early in the second half.''
As frustrating as it was for the 6-foot-6 Alexander, North Carolina's high school player of the year last winter, he made clear he was not angry at Jones.
``He is expecting a lot out of me, and when I messed up a couple of assignments, I think he took that to heart and thought the only way to really get to me was to sit me down for a long period of time,'' Alexander said. ``I am going to be a man about this. I am going to take the blame.''
Alexander said he considered his benching only ``a minor setback'' in his goal to reach superstardom during his freshman season.
He hopes to make up for it tonight when the Cavaliers play their first nationally televised game of the season against No. 2 Kansas (9, ESPN).
``I have some high goals,'' Alexander said. ``I don't want to be just all-rookie team, I want to be All-ACC. I don't want to be just a good player in ACC. I want to be a great player. And, I mean this year.''
It isn't as if Alexander has embarrassed himself in his first two college games or is falling behind in his quest for superstar status. He had 15 points and seven rebounds in Saturday's season-opening win over Tennessee-Martin. Despite playing only 18 minutes against William and Mary, he made all four field-goal attempts and finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.
Jones isn't down on Alexander, either, having started him in both games over junior Jamal Robinson, a frequent starter on last season's Final Eight team.
Jones said coming into the season that Alexander was one of most talented players he had ever coached, but that he needed to become tougher and improve his defensive skills to be effective in Virginia's scheme.
Alexander is so talented that while he starts at small forward, he relieves both Harold Deane at the point and Curtis Staples at No. 2 guard.
``It is tough on a freshman coming in to adjust to this level, and much tougher when he has to learn three positions - all those plays, and where you have to be offensively and defensively,'' Deane said.
``You tend to worry too much about technical things instead of going out there and playing. But Courtney has the ability and is smart enough to pick up on those things quickly. That is why he is playing a lot and already contributing to the team.''
Alexander said it isn't as difficult as it might seem.
``First of all, I don't consider myself a freshman,'' he said. ``I love to play the game of basketball, you know. That is what I do, and it is no problem playing all three positions. I can score, I can hit the open man, and I can get the rebound. I am willing and able to do whatever it takes.''
Alexander, whose brother Andre played at Norfolk State, averaged 30.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists his senior season at Jordan High School in Durham, where his family had moved before his junior season from Connecticut.
Recruiting experts who initially had Alexander pegged for Duke say he cooled on the Blue Devils after they brought in three outstanding perimeter players last season.
Alexander says he ``broke a few hearts and caught a lot of flak'' when he picked Virginia over the ACC's Tobacco Road schools. But he denies that he was scared away by the competition.
``I had to do what was best for me and not what was best for the state of North Carolina,'' he said.
Besides, if competition bothered him, he would have been scared away from Virginia, too, since Deane and Staples form the best backcourt in the ACC.
``I wanted to play with one of the best backcourts in America, and that was a reason for chosing Virginia,'' Alexander said. ``I know some kids will shy away from a challenge, but I've been up for a challenge my whole life.
``I never worried about getting playing time if I came to Virginia, but I guess it surprises some people that I am starting.''
Robinson isn't sulking about being replaced in the starting lineup by a freshman. In fact, he seems to be playing better coming off the bench.
``The initial reason that Alexander was taken out so early against William and Mary was that he made some mistakes,'' Jones said. ``But the reason he stayed out for so long was because Jamal played well and gave us a lift.''
Most of Alexander's court time came in the final 11 minutes as he rotated smoothly from one position to another.
Staples, who didn't become a starter until the final 10 games last season, said he understands what Alexander is going through. That was why he put an arm around Alexander and offered encouragement as they walked onto the floor for the second half.
``Coach (Jones) kinda gets on you hard sometimes, and he is not used to that,'' Staples said. ``I just told him to keep his head up and not dwell on mistakes he made in the first half.
``He is learning and adjusting from being the key player in high school to a situation where he is not the key player, just one of the players. It takes a little time. It did for me. But when he settles down, he'll be fine.''
Deane thinks so, too.
``If he continues to work hard and has someone pushing him, like Curtis and myself, he could be one of the best players to ever come through this place,'' Deane said.
That is Alexander's goal, too. ILLUSTRATION: Courtney Alexander
by CNB