THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 17, 1996 TAG: 9603170189
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Long : 102 lines
Georgetown's Allen Iverson was voted the best defensive player in the Big East for the second year in a row, but according to the All-American guard from Hampton, he's not even the best defender on his team.
That honor, Iverson says, goes to his roommate, Boubacar Aw.
``Boubacar is the best defensive player, I think, in the country,'' Iverson said. ``He can guard anybody on the floor.''
Aw, a 6-foot-7 sophomore from Senegal by way of Waccamah, N.C., has been the ``glove'' for the Hoyas all year - the player assigned to envelop the other team's top scorer. He'll be a key again today when the Hoyas (27-7) face New Mexico (28-4) in an NCAA second-round game at the Richmond Coliseum.
``Bou is an excellent defensive ballplayer,'' Georgetown coach John Thompson said. ``He's had to guard people like Ray Allen and people like (Kerry) Kittles and has done a very good job.''
Aw, a solid 222 pounds, has served as Iverson's on-court protector this year, and has a couple of technical fouls to show for it. Iverson's been able to help Aw as well, Thompson said.
``Allen talks all the time. Bou talks very little,'' Thompson said with a smile. ``That's why we put them in the room together - so Bou could learn English. Bou is protective of Allen because they're friends . . . but he beats the hell out of him during practice.''
GETH MOVING ON: Ed Geth, the Granby High graduate, who never played much for North Carolina, is finishing up his career a year early. A redshirt junior, Geth has one year of eligibility remaining. But because he's on schedule to graduate in May, he and North Carolina coach Dean Smith have agreed that this will be his last year.
``I just felt it was time to move on,'' Geth said. ``If basketball wasn't going to be the high point of my career, education was.''
Basketball was never the high point of Geth's Chapel Hill experience. The 6-foot-9 power forward is closing out his career the way he began it: on the bench. He averages just 1.2 points and 0.9 rebounds.
James Madison coach Lefty Driesell predicted as much four years ago. When Driesell lost out on Geth he sent the player a letter, telling him he would never play for the Tar Heels.
Driesell was right about the playing time, but Geth says he would sign with North Carolina again.
``I got to go to two Final Fours, won a national championship, an ACC championship. I've got a trillion rings,'' he said. ``I was one of a lot of kids fortunate enough to go to college without my family having to pay for it, and that was important, because my family could not have afforded it.
``I've had a great experience that has shaped me into a man, ready to face the world.''
A communications major, Geth hopes to play overseas next year. If not, he's hoping to land a job in television. He'd also like to publish a book of poetry.
EXTREME EXPOSURE: Those who were watched the closing minutes of UNC's lopsided victory over New Orleans might have noticed Smith gesticulating toward his 7-2 center Serge Zwikker.
What was that all about?
``They were trying to pull Serge's pants down,'' Smith said. ``I didn't want Serge embarrassed.''
NO TECH RESPECT: They're 29-1, and have won 22 in a row, the longest winning streak in the nation. But because they play in the Southwest Conference and didn't play a tough non-conference schedule, Texas Tech's Red Raiders find themselves responding to questions on how good they really are.
``It's a shame when you can't get recognition for your hard work,'' said forward Darvin Ham.
Tech, which takes on North Carolina (21-10) in today's second game, beat Texas twice and also knocked off Oklahoma, and features a third-team All-American in forward Jason Sasser, A Dallas native who nearly signed with N.C. State four years ago.
``A lot of players left the state of Texas and built other programs,'' he said. ``I wanted to stay close to home and build Texas Tech up. It took four years but it's finally happened.''
NEXT QUESTION: Iverson is playing only an hour away from his hometown, but it isn't old home week.
``You obviously don't know much about the Georgetown program,'' Thompson joked when Iverson was asked if he's seen any old friends.
``I haven't seen anyone,'' Iverson said.
Thompson is routintely shields his players from the media.
``I'm overprotective, and proud of it,'' he said.
A reporter from New Mexico asked Iverson to talk about the ``second chance'' Thompson gave him following a conviction - and a jail sentence - for his involvement in a bowling alley brawl.
Thompson quickly grabbed Iverson's arm and said, ``No, he can't.''
After muttering some four-letter words, Thompson berated the reporter. ``He's a child,'' he said. ``We're here to talk about basketball. How would you like it if I asked you about your children, your family, your wife?''
One last question coach, this from another New Mexico reporter: Can you give us a quick rundown of how you see the ``Xs and Os'' of the Lobos?
``No,'' Thompson said.
End of press conference. MEMO: The Associated Press contributed to this report. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Georgetown's Allen Iverson, voted the best defensive player in the
Big East Conference this season, is an All-American guard better
known for his offensive maneuvers.
by CNB