Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 12, 1994 TAG: 9402120039
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
If the Virginia men's basketball team doesn't beat Clemson today in Charlottesville, the Cavaliers could be looking at a five-game losing streak.
Coach Jeff Jones isn't about to concede road games next week against Atlantic Coast Conference kingpins Duke and North Carolina, but the Cavaliers have put themselves in a difficult position with consecutive losses to Florida State and North Carolina State.
"I think when you look at this as one of our three remaining home games and the fact that it comes after two subpar performances, it takes on added significance," Jones said Friday.
"I don't want to classify any game as a must-win, but clearly we do need to get things turned around."
More than anything, Virginia needs to start making some shots. The Cavaliers (12-7 overall, 6-4 in the ACC) have shot worse than 40 percent in nine games, including five of the past eight. For the season, UVa is shooting 39.9 percent.
Maryland was the last ACC team to shoot less than 40 percent for a season, when it finished at 38.9 in 1967-68. UVa's lowest shooting percentage in the past 25 years was 43.2 percent last season.
"We've thrown around some crazy ideas - brainstorming mainly, looking for answers," Jones said. "Sometimes they might be there right under your nose. We tried to see if there was something we needed to change or address.
"One of the big things for this team is just to rest and come out with fresh legs and, hopefully, fresh minds."
The Cavaliers rarely press, which means they neither score nor give up many easy baskets. It was hard to remember UVa scoring a single basket in transition Wednesday in a 67-54 loss at N.C. State.
"There may have been one in the first half," Jones said, "but there weren't a whole lot. . . . I don't think we have the depth to [press]. There are certain key individuals who have to play a lot of minutes and the added physical strain would reduce their effectiveness."
Starting guards Harold Deane and Cornel Parker have played approximately 34 minutes per game in the absence of Cory Alexander, who broke his right ankle in UVa's first game. Jones said the Cavaliers would have pressed more with Alexander available.
UVa's defense has been good enough to keep the Cavaliers in most games, but Florida State shot 51.5 percent Sunday in a 100-64 romp in Tallahassee, Fla., and N.C. State hit 47.2 percent, a vast improvement on its 40.5 percent shooting before Wednesday.
"When you're as bad on offense as we've been, it puts strain on the defense, too," Jones said. "If you're turning the ball over on offense, the defense isn't going to stop Florida State from making layups and open shots."
\ GROUNDED: Clemson had to change travel plans because of bad weather in Virginia and, as of Friday afternoon, was preparing to fly into Charlottesville this morning for a noon tip-off.
"I don't know what the weather will do to the crowd," Jones said. "You can take this for what it's worth, but, after the way we've played at home, the students gobbled up the Clemson tickets."
\ MR. CONSISTENCY . . . NOT: Junior Burrough, leading the Cavaliers in scoring with 16.6 points per game, has scored 20 or more points in eight games and 10 or fewer in five games. He has made 50 percent of his shots in eight games - more than any other UVa player - but also has had games when he has shot 2-for-11, 3-for-14, 3-for-15, 4-for-18 and 4-for-19.
\ FOUL-PLAGUED: Jason Williford, who scored 23 points in the Cavaliers' 61-59 victory over Wake Forest on Jan. 26, has had a total of 18 points in three subsequent games. Williford played 26 minutes in each of the Cavaliers' past two games before fouling out, and against the Wolfpack, he did not attempt a 3-pointer for the first time this season.
\ MORE DUBIOUS STATS: UVa's starting point guard, Deane, has more blocked shots (11-10) than the starting center, Yuri Barnes. . . . Freshman guard Mike Powell is averaging 8.9 turnovers every 40 minutes, one reason his playing time has been limited. . . . Senior center Shawn Wilson is averaging more than 11 fouls every 40 minutes. . . . Chris Havlicek has gone 0-for-12 from 3-point range since November and is 2-for-27 in his career.
\ ODDS AND ENDS: UVa has lost only two games when favored, the opener against Connecticut (77-36) and Wednesday night at N.C. State. . . . Virginia's loss was its first in five ESPN appearances this season and first in five games with Dick "Froggy" Paparo officiating. . . . UVa has outscored the opposition by one point, 1,254-1,253. . . . Deane has attempted 102 free throws for the season, 30 in the past three games. . . . The UVa coaching staff sees some potential in Martin Walton, a 6-foot-8 walk-on who is likely to be redshirted.
by CNB