Roanoke Times Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: MONDAY, February 18, 1991 TAG: 9102180036 SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
"I don't think we had to have this game," Jones said Saturday after a 57-47 victory against Clemson. "I thought we put ourselves in a position a while back where we just needed to play.
"We shouldn't have been counting wins [or] worrying about the NCAA Tournament. As long as we took care of business, I thought we were going to be in."
The Cavaliers are 6-5 in the ACC and 19-7 overall. The last two years, UVa has gone to the NCAA Tournament at 19-10 and 19-11.
Only two ACC coaches have taken teams to the NCAA Tournament in their first years, Press Maravich at North Carolina State in 1965 and Gary Williams at Maryland last season.
"I'm not politicking or campaigning now," Jones said. "I'm not that concerned about it. As long as we keep playing well, things will take care of themselves."
Virginia needs one more victory for Jones to tie Maravich for the most victories by a first-year ACC coach. N.C. State went 20-4 in 1964-65 after Maravich took over for Everett Case.
Jones could have a problem finding time for all of his shooting guards after the return from injury of Anthony Oliver and Doug Smith's emergence as a second ball-handler who can be used with point guard John Crotty.
Oliver and Smith were two of four players used at the off-guard spot Saturday. The group included starter Cornel Parker and substitute Terry Kirby.
Kirby made his first appearance Saturday with 13:58 remaining in the first half, but played only five minutes and did not get on the floor in the second half. He made the only shot he attempted.
"It's kind of like a guessing game right now," Jones said. "Cornel, Terry and Anthony give you a little more athletic ability and more defensive pressure. They don't provide you with the ball-handling."
"Terry and Anthony probably give you a little better offensive production. Cornel's a better rebounder, so it's almost a situational kind of thing."
In the last nine games, Smith has played as much as 24 minutes (at Duke) and not played at all (against Wake Forest). He has played 18 minutes in one game and two the next.
"I think Doug, if he can get two minutes or whatever, he's pleased," Jones said. "Cornel, Terry and Anthony - they probably want to play a little bit more."
Don't bet on it.
"I do care, sure," Smith said. "I want to play. I just don't feel you can be vocal about it in the middle of the season. There's no reason to concentrate on yourself."
\ JUMP SHOTS: Smith, who was 6-of-22 from the field in 1989-90 as a freshman, is 12-of-21 this season. Smith also has made all five of his free throws. . . . The biggest casualty of Smith's improved play is freshman Derrick Johnson, who played in 13 straight games before sitting out four of the last six.
by CNB