Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 20, 1994 TAG: 9403200141
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SACRAMENTO, CALIF. LENGTH: Medium
As if its past NCAA Tournament performances weren't enough of a burden, Arizona will play the remainder of its games with the hopes of an entire conference resting on its shoulders.
The Pacific-10 Conference was 0-6 in postseason men's basketball games, including three first-round NCAA losses, before the Wildcats blew away Loyola (Md.) 81-55 on Friday afternoon.
Arizona, seeded second in the West Regional, will try to advance past the second round for the first time in three years when it plays seventh-seeded Virginia at 3 p.m. today at ARCO Arena (WDBJ).
"I don't think anybody at this point feels good about [the Pac-10's showing]," said Lute Olson, Arizona's coach. "We let the conference down last year, and maybe this year it's our turn to get the job done."
Some would say the Wildcats have let the Pac-10 down more than once, losing as a third seed to East Tennessee State in 1992 and as a second seed last year to Santa Clara. Arizona was only the second No. 2 seed to lose an NCAA Tournament game.
"We've approached this tournament, like anybody else, that you have a one-game extension of your season and, hopefully, you can get another one-game extension," Olson said. "It hasn't been an easy thing for these guys and the coaching staff over the last 12 months because it's [past NCAA disappointments] been thrown back in our face. It's just a constant."
Indeed, Olson snapped at the media before the Loyola game and refused to discuss his team's NCAA history. Yet, it clearly was in the thoughts of his players before and after the game.
"I felt there was no way we would lose in the first round," said senior guard Khalid Reeves, who had 32 points against Loyola, "but maybe this will get people to stop talking about the Santa Clara game and get the media off our back."
Although the Wildcats won their second consecutive Pac-10 championship and fifth in the past six years, Olsen noted that Arizona was picked anywhere from third to fifth in the preseason.
"Expectations for this team were not as high," said Olson, who lost leading scorer and rebounder Chris Mills, as well as center Ed Stokes. "We're shorter than we've been, but we've never been as quick as we are."
The Wildcats' offense is built around Reeves, a 6-foot-2 1/2 senior, and Damon Stoudamire, a 5-11 junior, who average 23.7 and 18.3 points per game, respectively. Both were selected to the All-Pac-10 first team.
Arizona gained a reputation for its size in the early 1990s, when it had the "Tucson Skyline" of Stokes, Brian Williams and Sean Rooks. Mills and Sean Elliott were among the nation's premier small forwards.
Arizona essentially has started three guards this season, with 6-2 defensive specialist Reggie Geary joining Reeves and Stoudamire. Geary had two points and zero rebounds in 25 minutes against Loyola.
Stoudamire and Reeves each has made more than 80 3-pointers, but Stoudamire also has 190 assists, many to 6-9 1/2, 256-pound sophomore center Joseph Blair, who was 6-of-6 on field-goal attempts Friday.
"We think they're similar to Georgia Tech because of the way their players create opportunities for each other," said Jeff Jones, Virginia's coach, "but, they're more physical than Georgia Tech, and they definitely have more depth."
The inside presence of Blair and leading rebounder Ray Owes left Jones contemplating the lineup that UVa has used for the past four games, in which former starter Yuri Barnes (6-8, 231) has gone to the bench.
"We're still mulling it over," Jones said. "The smaller lineup has its advantages but puts us at a considerable disadvantage. I doubt there will be a big change in everybody's minutes, though."
It will be the first meeting between Virginia (18-12) and Arizona (26-5). The teams were on track for a second-round meeting in the 1991 NCAA Tournament until Brigham Young beat the Cavaliers in the first round.
"I can't say I expect to be in the position to make the Sweet 16 again," said Jones, whose team reached the East Region semifinals last year. "Not two weeks ago. Not three weeks ago. It would be very rewarding."
The ACC was 5-0 in the NCAA Tournament before Wake Forest lost to Kansas in the second round Saturday, but Jones said he did not believe conference bragging rights are at stake today.
"Everybody likes that [angle]," he said. "It makes for interesting conversation, but they're the Pac-10 champion, and we were tied for fourth [and] fifth."
by CNB