THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 19, 1997 TAG: 9701190222
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Molinaro
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: 68 lines
``It's been a streaky year for me,'' Mark Poag, Old Dominion's long-distance specialist, was saying early Saturday evening.
Loyal followers of Monarch basketball may spot the adjective ``streaky'' for what it is: a euphemism used to characterize a season in which Poag is shooting about 35 percent from behind the 3-point arc, just below 40 percent overall.
Streaky?
``Well,'' said Poag, ``I never say I'm in a slump. I believe the next one's going in. That can be a dangerous thing, but that's a shooter's mentality.''
Against Virginia Commonwealth University Saturday, Poag exploded those suspect statistics when seven of his 3-point shots went in and he finished with 24 points.
Forgotten in ODU's 82-65 victory was Poag's 2-for-13 3-point shooting in the recent loss to American University. And his six points the game before that against UNC Wilmington.
Has the sophomore from Knoxville, Tenn., experienced an up-and-down season? Like a Poag-o stick.
``You live and die with a shooter,'' said teammate E.J. Sherod. ``You can't tell him not to shoot anymore than you can tell a rebounder not to rebound or a point guard not to pass.''
In two games this season, Poag has failed to score a single point. But he lit up George Mason for 32. He riddled Eastern Michigan for 26.
Streaky, indeed.
Midway through the second half against VCU, Poag drained back-to-back 3-pointers in a 30-second span to break open the game. Each basket was like a lightning bolt shooting from his right arm.
The baskets came in transition, which used to be called the fast break. Poag is at his best when ODU is on the run and he can unload before the defense finds him.
Perhaps more than with any other Monarch, Poag's offense begins with ODU's defense and rebounding.
When the defense comes up with the ball, as it did so often in the second half against VCU, the Monarchs are a different team, and Poag is a bigger threat.
``We need to score in transition,'' said coach Jeff Capel. ``Teams can stop us in the half-court set. In transition, it's a lot easier for us to get shots.''
And a lot easier for Poag to break free behind the 3-point line.
Even so, there are those games when the trey won't drop. When nothing works, and people start wondering if he's rushing his shots; if he's in a slump.
Ah, but they don't understand the shooter's mentality. Poag doesn't waste a lot of time analyzing his less productive games. He doesn't second-guess his shot selection, or fret about his form.
``I look back,'' he said, ``and I say, `That one should have gone in. That was a perfect shot.' I'm surprised when a lot of my shots don't go in.''
Poag copes better with his chilly spells now that his game is more well-rounded.
``Last year, I was such a one-dimensional player,'' he said. ``But this year, I can grab a rebound, drive to the basket, make a pass. That can get me going.''
Saturday, Poag was credited with four assists, his season high, and a point of pride for the team's designated gunner.
``I like my assists,'' he said. ``I usually don't get too many.''
In jest, somebody wondered aloud if Poag was starting to develop a passer's mentality.
He just smiled.
``My coaches,'' he said, ``would never tell me not to shoot an open shot.''