Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 9, 1990 TAG: 9003091983
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C. LENGTH: Long
"When they named me first-team All-ACC, that boosted my confidence to no end," said Stith, the leading scorer for Virginia's basketball team as a sophomore. "If they think that much of the rest of my season, then what's two games?"
Stith was held to a season-low seven points in a 51-50 loss to Wake Forest and was only 8-of-26 from the field against the Deacons and Maryland, which defeated UVa 89-74 in the regular-season finale.
Stith said he realizes he will need to find his shooting touch in order for Virginia to have much chance against North Carolina at 2:30 p.m. today in the first round of the ACC Tournament at the Charlotte Coliseum.
"I'm comfortable with that," he said. "I know that when Bryant Stith plays well, Virginia plays well. I need to make my presence felt."
Virginia (6-8 ACC, 17-10 overall) finished in a tie with North Carolina State and Maryland and won a draw for the fifth seeding. North Carolina (8-6, 19-11) was seeded fourth after losing a draw with Georgia Tech.
Regular-season champion Clemson (10-4, 23-7) will play eighth-seeded Wake Forest (3-11, 12-15) at noon as the ACC Tournament returns here after a 20-year absence.
Clemson, which had not finished first in 36 seasons as an ACC member, has lost two games in a row. Wake Forest, on the other hand, is the only team on a three-game winning streak.
Clemson, which has a 7-36 record in ACC Tournament play and never has reached the championship game, might be a big story if not for the controversy that has surrounded two other programs.
Maryland was the recipient this week of a two-year postseason ban, the severity of which surprised school officials, and N.C. State coach Jim Valvano faces an uncertain future as the result of point-shaving allegations.
Seventh-seeded Maryland (6-8, 18-12) plays second-seeded Duke (9-5, 23-7) at 7 p.m., followed by No. 3 Georgia Tech (8-6, 21-6) and No. 6 N.C. State (6-8, 18-11).
"How ironic!" Valvano said. "It's been such a long year and then we wind up playing the last game. Is the team going to look at it as a relief or go down there with the objective of winning?"
Maryland, which had volunteered to make itself ineligible for the NCAA Tournament this year, finds itself fighting for a bid. The Terrapins' probation starts in 1990-91.
"We all thought we weren't going to be playing in the NCAA," Terps coach Gary Williams said. "Now, all of a sudden, we're alive and well."
They may be alive for this year, but it is debatable whether Maryland's program is well. Maryland officials had not believed the postseason ban would exceed one year.
"That's the part I don't understand," Williams said. "With all we've gone through this year, it's like we've been penalized already."
Williams continued to promote Maryland against Virginia, a team the Terps have beaten twice, for an NCAA Tournament bid. Virginia coach Terry Holland has said he thinks the Cavaliers merit an invitation based on six victories over teams that already have made the NCAA field.
That doesn't mean Holland won't be watching the pairings show Sunday with a little trepidation.
"I'll be worried," Holland said. "I would be a little less worried if we could do something in the [ACC] Tournament."
Holland and his players have spent the week rooting for regular-season champions like LaSalle and Southern Illinois to win their conference tournaments.
"You're not really rooting for people," point guard John Crotty said. "You're just hoping that certain people don't get in. It's just crucial that all these league champions win the tournament."
Virginia's situation wouldn't have been so precarious if the Cavaliers had been able to get an 18th victory, which appeared likely when they played host to Wake Forest two games ago.
"It's tormenting me that we lost our last two games. I just had such a positive experience last year that I can't wait to get back," said Crotty, who averaged 19.3 points and 9.8 rebounds in four 1989 postseason games.
Crotty had 28 points in the loss to Maryland, but he said the Cavaliers will be nowhere without a return to form by Stith, who is averaging 20.4 points.
"Bryant just had a bad game against Wake Forest," Crotty said. "I think he was kind of shocked because I don't know how many bad games Bryant has ever had."
Stith said he was taken aback Saturday at Maryland when he failed to score in the first half. He finished with 15 points, 10 in the last 4:53.
"I was trying to avoid doing the same thing," Stith said. "Then, when I missed my first couple shots, I started thinking, `Here we go again.'
"The Wake Forest game was very hard to accept at the time. But I've talked to my parents and coaches and they've all told me, `It's natural. It happens.' Greater players than me have had two-game slumps."
\ NOTES: N.C. State sixth man Mickey Hinnant did not travel with the team because of an unspecified violation of team rules. He will not play today. . . . Clemson center Elden Campbell has been undergoing treatment for strep throat, but he practiced Thursday. . . . Wake Forest guard Robert Siler, believed lost for the season with a knee injury, also practiced Thursday and may play.
by CNB