The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, January 8, 1997            TAG: 9701080567
SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C2   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER 
                                            LENGTH:   73 lines

CAVS, TECH ALREADY FACE ``PLAY IN'' DANGER

Virginia's Jeff Jones and Georgia Tech's Bobby Cremins are coaches with struggling teams, and chances are one will find itself in the dreaded ``play-in'' game at ACC tournament time.

Both are off to 0-2 league starts and it could get worse. The Cavaliers are at Florida State tonight while Tech is home against No. 2 Wake Forest.

Although in similar situations, the coaches are taking different attitudes about their teams.

Jones seems irritated that anyone might criticize his Cavaliers, though they are easily the most disappointing ACC team so far.

``While we are 0-2 in the ACC,'' Jones says, ``it is not as if it is the end of the world. It is way, way too early to get our heads down about where we are. It is amazing how quickly some people, including the media, jump on and off the bandwagon. It is not time to start worrying and dwelling on anything negative.''

Meanwhile, Cremins, who should be demanding patience with a team that includes four freshmen among its top eight players, speaks with more urgency.

He isn't reluctant to call a negative what it is, and to put the blame squarely on his shoulders.

``The team has not come together, and the bottom line is that I have not done a good job,'' Cremins says. ``That is frustrating to me because one of my strengths is supposed to be bringing teams together. We showed some spark in Sunday's loss to Duke, but games prior to that were almost embarrassing.''

Tech's biggest problem is its backcourt of rookie point guard Kevin Morris and another first-time starter, sophomore Gary Saunders.

Virginia's problem is the lack of a consistent inside game, which kept the Cavaliers home from the NCAA tournament last year and might do so again.

Jones brought in several new candidates to plug the holes, but an inside game has not developed.

In Saturday's loss to Maryland, a trio of perimeter players took 46 of U.Va.'s 67 shots and made only 16.

STARTING OVER: Virginia's Courtney Alexander, who sulked over not getting enough playing time last week, will return to the starting lineup against Florida State tonight.

The Cavs, who have lost six of their last seven ACC games, won at Tallahassee last year.

RUTLAND UPDATE: It turns out the knee injury to Wake Forest point guard Tony Rutland is more serious than initially thought.

Rutland sat out most of the second half of Sunday's win over North Carolina after twisting the knee - the same one he had major surgery on last March - but coach Dave Odom said the knee was fine and Rutland would have played if needed.

However, Odom said Tuesday the knee is still sore and Rutland might not play tonight at Georgia Tech.

BLUE DEVIL WOES: Duke backup center Taymon Domzalski may decide to sit out the rest of the season because of knee problems.

The 6-foot-10 sophomore has played little since early December when his knees began aching and swelling.

Doctors have not pin-pointed the injury, but Domzalski says the knees are getting worse and he may apply for a medical redshirt year.

Meanwhile, freshman forward Nate James, out since hurting his right thumb Nov. 17, still hopes to play this season. He'll get a medical progress report Friday.

TERP MYSTERY: Maryland is off to its best start (12-1, 2-0) in recent seasons, but coach Gary Williams says he still doesn't know how good the 19th-ranked Terps might be.

He'll have a better idea after tonight's game at North Carolina.

``We are not the biggest team, and we want to see if we can rebound with North Carolina and are good enough to hold our own,'' Williams said.

The game may be even bigger for the Tar Heels, who lost their ACC opener to Wake Forest and go back on the road Saturday at Virginia.

Tar Heel Vince Carter (hip pointer) has missed practice this week but is listed as probable.

Carolina, dating to last season, has lost five of its last six games against ranked opponents.


by CNB