THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 22, 1995 TAG: 9512220572
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
With his starting backcourt shooting a combined 31 percent, Virginia coach Jeff Jones decided last week that it might be prudent to begin looking elsewhere for scoring.
So after a 67-52 win over Richmond on Dec. 9, Jones drew up some plays with forward Norman Nolan's name on them.
``We had to find a way to make Norman our inside scoring threat,'' Jones said.
Virginia found a way Thursday, when Nolan scored a career-high 21 points to lead the Cavaliers over Virginia Commonwealth, 80-65, in front of 7,804 at University Hall.
Nolan, a 6-8 sophomore, shot 9 of 14 from the field and scored 10 of Virginia's final 14 to break open what had been a tight game.
``Things worked our pretty well,'' he said. ``I got some good shots.''
Jones has frequently said that strong play from Nolan, who is stepping in for Junior Burrough, is a key to Virginia's success this year.
He's said that Nolan, a former high school All-American from Baltimore, has as much offensive potential around the basket as any Cavalier since Ralph Sampson.
But before Thursday's game, Nolan was averaging just 10 points a game on a little more than eight shots. Many of his shots came off of offensive rebounds.
``Maybe we were giving up (trying to get the ball to Nolan) too soon,'' Jones said.
``We put in four or five wrinkles to try to get shots.''
Nolan's play was key on a night when guards Harold Deane and Curtis Staples shot a combined 10-for-27. The pair combined for 29 points.
``I've always thought Norman was an excellent offensive player. He showed that last summer, playing against Burrough,'' Deane said. ``He looked consistent tonight. ``Anytime someone is feeling it on the floor you want to take advantage of it and give him the ball.
Deane, who was shooting just 27 percent coming into the game, did not start the game because of a violation of a team policy, Jones said. Neither Jones nor Deane would elaborate, except to say the penalty was a ``one-time'' action, and that Deane will be back in the starting lineup when Virginia plays next, Dec. 28 against Virginia Tech in Roanoke.
Virginia (4-2) was also without freshmen Scott Johnson and Daryl Presley, who were suspended Wednesday for an unspecified violation of team rules. Jones refused to comment when asked when Johnson and Presley might return.
With the 6-8 Johnson and the 6-7 Presley out of service, Jones said front-court depth was a ``major concern.''
It became even more of a concern when center Chris Alexander picked up his third foul early in the second half, and Nolan picked up number four with 14:47 left to play.
But the Cavaliers got a boost from frontcourt reserves Chase Metheney and Martin Walton. Metheney scored four points and nine rebounds in 11 minutes. Walton, who had played just four minutes all season, scored two points and grabbed four rebounds in 11 minutes.
More importantly, Virginia's frontcourt players shut down VCU's inside duo of Bernard Hopkins and George Byrd in the second half.
``Their inside people flat took us to school in the second half,'' VCU coach Sonny Smith said.
Virginia's defense also took VCU out of its game in the second half. The Rams (5-5) shot 50 percent in the first half to take a 43-35 lead at the break. VCU led as late as the 11:18 mark of the second half, but made just one field goal the rest of the way and sank just six of 12 free throws.
``We played good free throw defense,'' Jones quipped.
Virginia has not lost to a state opponent at University Hall since Old Dominion beat the Cavaliers, 65-61, on Dec. 2, 1978. But VCU was hot early and ran to leads of 9-0 and 18-9. Guard Patrick Lee had 13 of his 15 in the first half, and Hopkins scored 14 of his 24 before the half. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Virginia forward Norman Nolan tips in a rebound over John Smith of
Virginia Commonwealth in the Cavaliers' win Thursday.
by CNB