THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9603030219
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BOB MOLINARO
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
Perfection should not be required for Old Dominion to win its first-round game in the Colonial Athletic Association basketball tournament.
Fortunately for ODU, Joe Bunn did not take this attitude with him to the free-throw line Saturday night.
If Bunn isn't perfect from the foul-line against James Madison, ODU is back in Norfolk today, wondering where it all went wrong.
If Bunn doesn't hit all 15 of his foul shots, if he doesn't put the charity back in the charity toss while setting a CAA tournament record, the Monarchs don't beat JMU, 75-72.
``I got to the free-throw line early and often,'' Bunn said after scoring a season-high 33. ``I think when I get to the free-throw line early, that sets the tone.''
Nationally, the tone has been set when it comes to free-throw shooting. Overall, college players are notoriously dismal, hitting around 65 percent.
If Bunn is average against JMU, he sinks maybe 10 of 15. Not bad, but not good enough to prevent Lefty Driesell from stomping into the next round.
Bunn's precision staved off a Madison team that bore little resemblance to Driesell's dregs of a month ago. Old Dominion shot 53 percent from the field and still could not shake these Dukes.
Down the stretch, the Monarchs also got a big lift from Brion Dunlap. Over the last eight minutes, the point guard hit a 12-footer and a driving 5-footer.
These were his only baskets of the game, and while that may not sound like much, a couple of well-timed field goals from ODU's reluctant shooter is like a deluge of deuces from anyone else.
Even so, Driesell did not second-guess his decision to leave Dunlap virtually unguarded.
``(Odell) Hodge and Bunn killed us,'' he said. ``We were holding off of Dunlap to get help on those two guys. If we hadn't done that, Hodge and Bunn would have had 30 apiece.''
Though Driesell didn't feel it was necessary to defend Dunlap, Jeff Capel did.
``Brion's often maligned,'' said the ODU coach. ``People say he's not this or that. But he's a player. We want the ball in his hands at the end of the game.''
And in Bunn's hands at the free-throw line.
``My whole career, I've always been a good foul shooter,'' Bunn said, ``because I've always gotten fouled a lot. I get a lot of practice.''
Bunn shot 74.7 percent for the regular season while attempting 80 more free throws than Hodge, the next closest Monarch.
But Bunn's practice habits play the biggest role in his success. Each day during the season, he shoots 100 free throws, the last 50 after everyone but Mario Mullen, his shooting partner, has hit the showers.
``I practice free throws more than any other part of my game,'' said Bunn. ``The last few days, I've been working on it even more.''
Bunn's style of finishing a made free throw also sets him apart from his contemporaries. After releasing the ball, he leans over the line, then continues into the paint to slap hands with teammates.
``It's just a little something I do,'' he said, ``to make sure I follow through.''
Maybe. But Saturday, Bunn often sauntered up the middle of the lane until he was almost under the basket. Stylin' is what it is.
``Sometimes,'' he said, smiling, `I'm a little excited and I go a little farther.''
For ODU, Saturday's game was a little too exciting. But thanks to Bunn's perfection, the Monarchs get to go a little farther. by CNB