THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 23, 1996 TAG: 9603230473
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ATLANTA LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
Although Georgetown played in a tougher conference than Massachusetts, the Minutemen's 13 regular-season victories against NCAA tournament qualifiers was the most of any team in the nation.
UMass also was 5-0 in the regular season against schools that advanced to the Sweet 16.
``We've been challenged and have experience in close games,'' UMass coach John Calipari said.
``When you play in close games, you learn about the character of your team.''
UMass is an impressive 15-1 in games decided by 10 points or fewer, including four overtime victories.
``Their biggest strength to me is their composure,'' Georgetown coach John Thompson said.
The Hoyas had a 9-4 record during the regular season against the field of 64 teams, and a 3-3 mark against members of the Sweet 16. Georgetown is 9-3 in games decided by 10 points or fewer.
22 CANDLES: UMass center Marcus Camby celebrated his 22nd birthday Friday, but suffice to say he didn't spend too much time at the mall shopping for a present.
Camby was held out of the starting lineup Thursday by coach John Calipari - who insisted Camby get out of his room part of the day rather than just lay around - because he was late for a team bus. Camby got caught in Atlanta traffic while attempting to return from a mall.
``I think it's overpopulated here,'' said Camby, who sat out the first 73 seconds of UMass' East Regional semifinal drubbing of Arkansas.
MAMBY-PAMBY CAMBY? The 6-foot-11, 220-pound Camby said he expects the Hoyas to body and bump him all night tonight in an attempt to throw him off his game. Georgetown has five players in its rotation who are between 6-8 and 6-10 and range in weight from 206 to 270 pounds.
Thompson took umbrage to the suggestion the Hoyas go into a game seeking to be overtly physical.
``I just know we work hard on defense,'' Thompson said. ``I haven't seen Cinderella in the middle for UMass. He's hoping you write that we're going to be physical and the referees read it.''
TV LAYOFFS: The TV timeouts in this tournament are an interminable 2 1/2 minutes. ``I'm at a loss for words, they're so long,'' Calipari said.
NET GAINS: UMass did not cut down the nets upon winning the Atlantic 10 tournament, and does not intend to tonight if it advances to the Final Four.
``Those aren't the nets we want,'' UMass forward Donta Bright said. ``We want the nets at the Meadowlands.'' That's the site of next weekend's Final Four.
TIP-INS: Thompson announced at the beginning of his press conference that the Hoyas had a three-hour practice Friday morning. ``So we're a little tired,'' Thompson said. ``If you have any questions, ask quickly so we can get the hell out of here.'' . . . Georgetown has not been to the Final Four since 1985, when Villanova beat the Hoyas in the championship game in one of the biggest upsets in tournament history. The Hoyas were regional runners-up in 1987 and '89. . . . The Big East has not put a team in the Final Four since Seton Hall in 1989. . . . Georgetown's Allen Iverson and UMass' Edgar Padilla are two of only seven players in the nation this year with more than 100 steals. by CNB