Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 3, 1991 TAG: 9102030200
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Long
The Cavaliers, upset by Wake Forest last year in Holland's final home game as coach, gained a measure of revenge Saturday afternoon with an 83-80 victory over the Deacons at University Hall.
This was the first meeting as head coaches for Jeff Jones and Dave Odom, who shared an office for three years as assistants under Holland. Odom was on the opposing bench last year when Wake edged Virginia 51-50 in Charlottesville.
"We made that game so ugly last year that Virginia didn't want to win and we couldn't help it. We were the only team out there," Odom said. "I think both teams played much, much better today."
UVa shot 60 percent from the field in the second half, giving the Cavaliers their fourth straight game of 50 percent or better, but they still had to sweat out a last-second 3-point attempt by Chris King that would have sent the game into overtime.
The Cavaliers had led 81-72 before Wake freshman Randolph Childress made a 3-pointer and was fouled with 28 seconds left. After Childress made the free throw, UVa's Matt Blundin threw away a pair of inbounds passes around two John Crotty free throws.
After the second turnover, Derrick McQueen tracked down the ball along the sideline and fed King, who barely had time to release the ball - much less set his feet - from several steps behind the 3-point line.
"Once it left his hand, I didn't think it had a chance," said Odom, who had a perfect angle to watch the shot. "I'm good on that. I'm good on heights, I'm good on weights, I'm good on shots that go or don't go. I'm not good on some other things."
The Deacons dropped to 10-7 overall and 3-4 in the ACC despite 26 points from King, who had averaged less than 12 points over the previous four games. Freshman Rodney Rogers added 15 points and 10 rebounds as the Deacons controlled the backboards, 36-27.
Bryant Stith scored 31 points and Crotty added 24 for the 15th-ranked Cavaliers, who improved their record to 16-4 and 5-2 in the ACC, one-half game behind first-place Duke. All of UVa's losses are to teams ranked in the Top 25.
"It is a veteran team and they should play well," Odom said, "but I think the country is full of exceptions to that rule. Jeff and his staff deserve a lot of credit. They could have taken this team and turned it upside down, but nothing could be further from the truth."
Virginia did not take the lead for good until Kenny Turner scored back-to-back field goals - his first of the game - to put the Cavaliers on top 54-53 with 11:52 remaining. The game stayed close, with UVa clinging to a 66-62 advantage, when seldom-used Dirk Katstra came off the bench to hit a 3-pointer.
That was followed by an equally unexpected occurrence, a steal by center Ted Jeffries, who was fouled after getting the ball from Crotty on the fast break. Jeffries hit the free throws and the Cavaliers went 10-for-10 from the line over the last 3:47.
Crotty, who shot 66.7 percent on free throws for his first three years, made two one-and-ones in the final 1:10.
"It used to be, I could play a great game and I wouldn't be able to finish it," said Crotty, shooting 78.6 percent on free throws this season. "There's been a definite improvement. I feel confident going to the line now. I feel like it's an automatic two.
"It's a matter of practicing, but you've got to hit a few to believe you can do it. I think that happened at the beginning of the season."
Crotty played 40 minutes - the first time all season he has played an entire game - and the Cavaliers used only seven players. They had not played fewer than nine in a game until Saturday.
"The way we were playing, I thought it was difficult to play a lot of players," Jones said. "We were very sluggish. But we kept plugging. I thought that was about as good a defense as any team has played against us all year."
Jones and Odom were generous with their praise for each other's teams, although Jones admitted to some mixed emotions concerning coaching against his former office mate.
"It was difficult, awkward, uncomfortable, whatever," he said.
Odom, who, at 48 has considerable seniority over the 30-year-old Jones, said he didn't notice.
"I think both of us are so engulfed in what we're doing that it might have passed me by," Odom said. "I think we'll always be friends first and foes second. I think there's enough wins out there for both of us."
WAKE FOREST MPFGFTRAFPT King 3713-210-041226Tucker 374-113-473111Rogers 396-173-5102215Siler 191-42-25014McQueen 262-50-01334Childress 264-115-521314Owens 122-20-03014Wise 31-10-01022Doggett 10-00-00020Totals 20033-7213-1636101780 VIRGINIA MPFGFTRAFPT Stith 3413-213-321331Turner 365-110-062010Jeffries 202-62-21136Parker 341-33-46755Crotty 409-205-522024Blundin 281-30-07032Katstra 82-20-01005Totals 20033-6613-1427131483 Rebounds include team rebounds Score by periods: Wake Forest 34-46-80 Virginia 36-47-83
Three-point goals - Wake Forest: King 0-1, Childress 1-4, Totals 1-5. Virginia: Stith 2-5, Turner 0-2, Parker 0-1, Crotty 1-6, Blundin 0-1, Katstra 1-1, Totals 4-16.
Turnovers - Wake Forest 13 (McQueen 4); Virginia 14 (Parker 5). Blocked shots - Wake Forest 2 (Rodgers 2); Virginia 7 (Turner 5). Steals - Wake Forest 10 (Childress 4); Virginia 9 (four with 2).
Technical fouls - None. Officials - Herring, Gray, Donato. Attendance - 8,864.
by CNB