THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 10, 1996 TAG: 9601100799
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
On paper, it seems Virginia couldn't be catching unbeaten Clemson at a better time.
The 16th-ranked Tigers are coming off a big victory over Duke and face a showdown against North Carolina on Sunday in Chapel Hill.
So, why get excited about a struggling Virginia team?
``Because we understand that last year, Virginia beat us as badly as anyone did both time we played them. They just manhandled us,'' coach Rick Barnes says.
``I don't think any of our players have even thought about going to Chapel Hill yet.''
The Tigers were 10-0 a year ago when Virginia brought them down to earth with a 61-37 defeat in Charlottesville.
While Virginia coach Jeff Jones thinks his team finally is getting its act together, he says serving up Clemson's first defeat again will be a tougher task than last season.
``They are bigger, stronger, and much more athletic,'' Jones says. ``We'll have to play our best game of the season to come away with a victory.''
ALSO PLAYING: Televised games tonight on ESPN matches Wake Forest against Duke at 7 and North Carolina against Georgia Tech at 9.
Both Tech and North Carolina are looking to go 3-0 in the conference, while Duke is hoping to avoid a second straight 0-3 start.
The Blue Devils have lost six straight to Wake, including the last three in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
HIGH-TECH DEVILS: Duke fans can keep in touch with the Blue Devils on their home computers.
Duke's games are being cybercast on the Duke Sports InfoNet and can be accessed at ``http://www.duke.edu/sports/.'' Also available are the latest news releases, statistics, and boxscores.
CHEER NOW: North Carolina's ``wine and cheese crowd'' in the Dean Dome has a new computerized toy to amuse it, too.
Large video walls, 16 by 13 feet, have been installed in each of the four corners of the upper levels.
One report says the purpose of the $1.5 million walls is ``to tell fans when and how to cheer.''
TERPS STUDY: Maryland athletics director Debbie Yow hopes to reach a decision by Feb. 1 on the future of Cole Fieldhouse, the third-oldest arena in the ACC.
The choices: Refurbish Cole, which opened in 1955, at a cost of $15 million; expand and remodel at a cost of $50 million, or build an 18,000-seat facility for $65 million.
The oldest arenas in the ACC are North Carolina State's Reynolds Coliseum, scheduled for replacement, and Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium, recently refurbished.
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CHEMISTRY: Georgia Tech's revival, winning two ACC games after four straight losses, can be explained: Guards Drew Barry and Stephon Marbury not only are on speaking terms again, but also are passing the ball to each other. ``Stephon loves to score, but he needs Drew,'' says coach Bobby Cremins. ``Together, they are very good.''
``BIG ED'': North Carolina's Ed Geth has joined the growing crowd of ACC players sporting tattoos this season. Geth's has the words ``Big Ed'' and a black panther with glowing red eyes about to devour a basketball.
Geth, of Norfolk, says the art work is ``a little something'' to psyche himself up.
JUST A TRIM: Wake Forest guards Jerry Braswell and Tony Rutland were held out of the first four minutes of the Utah game after being a few minutes late to a team meeting.
They explained to coach Dave Odom that they were tardy because they were getting haircuts.
``It was a TV game, you know,'' Rutland said.
AW, SHUCKS: Virginia coach Jeff Jones was asked about a television commentator saying Florida State point guard LaMarr Greer's playing style is similar to that of Jones when he was in the Cavaliers' backcourt:
``If I were Greer, I would be very upset,'' Jones replied. ``He is much more talented than I was.''
Actually, Jones was being modest. He was one of the better bottom-line guards to pass through the league during his career. by CNB