Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 20, 1995 TAG: 9503220007
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``I've taken teams to Kemper Arena, and it's not a neutral site,'' said former Oklahoma coach Billy Tubbs, a guest analyst Saturday on ESPN. ``It's like their home court. Trust me.''
Added full-time commentator Dick Vitale: ``There's no way Kansas should have been placed in that region. It's just not fair.''
Such commentary has done nothing but rile coach Roy Williams, whose Jayhawks (24-5) will meet Virginia (24-8) in a Midwest semifinal at a time to be announced.
``There was no chorus in our locker room of `Goin' to Kansas City' or `Kansas City here we come,''' Williams said Saturday after a 75-70 victory over Western Kentucky. ``I'm not a very good singer anyway, but that's not the song I would sing.
``I'd rather be in Maui, if they want to put a regional out there. I know I've got more ticket problems in Kansas City. I get sick and tired of all this talk about Kansas City, Kansas City, Kansas City.''
Virginia has won 10 games away from home this season, including a 60-54 overtime triumph Saturday over Miami of Ohio, but Kansas is 11-0 under Williams in non-conference games at Kemper.
``In the seven years I've been in the league, we've won one Big Eight championship,'' Williams said of the conference tournament, which is played at Kemper. ``It's such a tremendous advantage for Roy Williams, it makes me sick,'' he added sarcastically.
Many have questioned not only Kansas' placing in the Midwest, but its No.1 seed after the Jayhawks lost in a semifinal of the Big Eight tournament. Bob Frederick, Kansas' athletic director, is chairman of the NCAA selection committee.
``Sure, other coaches might have something to say about it,'' Williams said. ``I had no clue where we would we drafted and I did not care. Isn't there something else to talk about?
``Let's be realistic. Go watch the movie, `Hoosiers.' What did they do? They went to another gym, they measured the baskets, they saw how big the court was and they just played.''
Virginia got some experience in an unfriendly environment Saturday, when Miami had the bulk of the crowd support at Dayton Arena. Miami is located 46 miles from Dayton in Oxford, Ohio.
``I didn't pay that much attention to the crowd,'' said coach Jeff Jones, whose Virginia team trailed by 10 points with less than 161/2 minutes remaining. ``I had enough things to worry about.''
The University of Kansas is located less than an hour's drive from Kansas City, Mo., in Lawrence. No new tickets will be made available to the schools; however, most of the pre-tournament sales were to local buyers.
``Hell, we'll go play down in the stockyards if you want to put a court down there,'' Williams said.
Williams eventually lightened up and said he might camp out at Kemper today in hopes of feeling ``at home'' by Friday. Predictably, he was quick to praise the Cavaliers.
``I didn't realize we had never played them before,'' he said. ``I'm really impressed with Jeff's club. I'm not so sure they're not the best team in the ACC.''
by CNB