Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 4, 1991 TAG: 9103040086
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"We're playing as well as anybody right now," Allen said Sunday.
Well, not quite. Florida State closed with a bigger rush than Tech, winning six of its last seven games. But Tech's stretch of four wins in six games - one victory coming against Cincinnati - has Allen hoping the Hokies can at least advance beyond their first-round game against the Bearcats at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday at the Roanoke Civic Center.
"We don't have to get on planes and travel [to the tournament]," Allen said. "I think that's got to be a plus."
Neither does Allen mind that the seedings worked out so Tech plays Cincinnati and not Florida State, as was possible before Cincinnati lost to Louisville on Thursday.
"Florida State's real hot right now," Allen said. "You'd much rather play a team like that in the semis."
Tech's victory against Memphis State made Allen only the third Metro coach to have swept Louisville and Memphis State in the same season. Hugh Durham (Florida State, 1977-78) and Southern Mississippi's M.K. Turk (this season) are the others. The win also highlighted some of the Hokies' recent improvements that Allen hopes continue on Thursday:
Tech shot 49.2 percent from the field, the third time in five games it has shot that well or better. And the Hokies made 54 percent of their field goals in the second half Saturday.
Tech had several crisp passes that led to layups, and often broke Memphis' press with good passing, something Tech hasn't been noted for in the past.
Tech outrebounded Memphis, an area in which the backboard-poor Hokies have improved recently.
Tech's changing defenses sometimes confused Memphis and helped hold guard Elliot Perry to 6-of-19 field-goal shooting.
The Hokies used at least three halfcourt defenses - man-to-man, 2-3 zone and a triangle-and-two - in addition to their full- and half-court presses.
"I can only think of once or twice when we weren't in sync [defensively]," Allen said after the game. "But Memphis State wasn't really adjusting, either."
Allen, who has used 14 different starting lineups and has 10 players averaging 10 or more minutes per game, recently has concentrated playing time among fewer players. Sophomore forward Thomas Elliott (12.4 points per game in his last seven games) and 6-10 redshirt freshman Jimmy Carruth have been playing more; sophomore swingman Dirk Williams, a Metro all-rookie team member last year, hasn't played at all in the past two games.
Tech beat Cincinnati 85-81 at Cassell Coliseum on Feb. 16 after losing at Cincinnati 77-61 in January. The Bearcats have lost four of their last six games.
"I'm concerned," Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins said. "I don't know that I'm overly concerned."
Huggins said that guard Tarrance Gibson, recovering from a sprained knee, probably won't play against Tech.
"That hurts us a bunch," Huggins said. "He's so good defensively."
Freshman center Curtis Bostic has a pulled hamstring and Huggins said he will not be at full strength Thursday.
The injuries, Huggins said, have hurt Cincinnati's depth.
"That's exactly our problem," Huggins said. "There were a couple games where we only had seven scholarship guys suited up. It makes it a little tougher."
by CNB