
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 29, 1995                   TAG: 9511290062
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

UVA'S BIG MAN TAKES GAME TO NEW HEIGHTS TONIGHT

Now that he has established he can play against Colonial Athletic Association competition, 7-foot-4 Virginia center Chase Metheney will learn tonight if he's ready for the big boys.

Although it can't match his height, second-ranked Kansas will provide the kind of competition Metheney never has faced. The Jayhawks (1-0) will meet No.15 Virginia (2-0) at the Great Eight Invitational at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich. (9 p.m., ESPN cable)

``I don't know anything about them,'' Metheney said with an innocence that appeared genuine. ``They're a pretty good team, I've heard.''

Presumably, Metheney is aware Virginia upset Kansas 67-58 last season in an NCAA Midwest Region semifinal at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo., but he was being redshirted at the time.

He's playing a much more active role this year and had a significant impact Monday night in the Cavaliers' 87-58 victory over William and Mary.

Virginia was 2-for-16 from the field and trailed 11-5 before Metheney entered the game with 11:30 remaining in the first half. In succession, he grabbed an offensive rebound, scored on the follow, then blocked two shots at the other end.

``I think the presence of Chase in the paint made the [William and Mary] guys a little shaky,'' forward Norman Nolan said. `` I know, from two years in practice, it's hard to shoot over him.

``He intimidates people. It caused them to walk quite a few times in the second half.''

Metheney finished with six points, 12 rebounds and six blocks in less than 18 minutes. While he was in the game, Virginia outscored the Tribe 49-21.

``He changes things,'' said UVa coach Jeff Jones. ``He comes in there [and] his size is a factor. We've been saying that for a while. The fact that he blocked some shots was big, but just as big was he got some tough rebounds and allowed us to get some easy baskets in transition.''

Metheney was almost as impressive in the Cavaliers' opening game, when he played 15 minutes and had eight points and four rebounds in the Cavaliers' 84-65 win over Tennessee-Martin.

``I felt pretty comfortable tonight,'' he said Monday. ``It was good to get that first college game behind me.''

by CNB