ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 1, 1995 TAG: 9512010026
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: AUBURN HILLS, MICH.
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DEFENSES ARE figuring out how to stop the Cavs' 3-point threats, so Jeff Jones must figure out how to get Harold Deane and Curtis Staples more shots.
The next order of business for Virginia following its first loss of the basketball season is to rediscover the shooting touch that has deserted guards Harold Deane and Curtis Staples.
Deane virtually willed his way to a season-high 23 points, but he was only 5-of-17 from the field as second-ranked Kansas held off No.15 Virginia 72-66 in the Great Eight.
It wasn't until Staples began driving to the basket, a previously undeveloped part of his game, that he enjoyed any success offensively. He scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half.
``I think they're pressing to some extent,'' UVa coach Jeff Jones said Thursday, ``but we also we have to accept that defenses now are geared to stop them and not be so reliant on quick [3-pointers].
``I think we've got to find ways to free up Curtis, in particular. If defenses are going to continue to focus on him, we've got to make them pay a price. We'll make 'em feel like a pinball by the time they're through with us.''
Staples is shooting 33.3 percent from the field, including 8-of-33 on 3-pointers, and Deane is at 26.4 and 5-of-22. However, after failing to make a field goal in the first half, Deane scored 20 points after intermission and was the catalyst for a stirring UVa comeback.
UVa, down 39-20 with less than 19 minutes remaining, closed to 65-64 after Deane made the second of two free-throw attempts with 1:52 remaining. They came no closer, failing three times to score when they had an opportunity to trim a three-point deficit.
On the last occasion, Deane drove the right side of the lane, had contact with Kansas freshman Paul Pierce and fed Jamal Robinson for a layup that would have made it a one-point game with 16.5 seconds remaining.
``Maybe it was just a late whistle, but it surprised me,'' Jones said after the basket was disallowed and Deane was called for an offensive foul. ``I couldn't tell you whether I agree or disagree with the call, but I know the ball was through the basket or up on the rim.''
It was a good look by Deane and a good move to get in position by Robinson, who finished with 10 points and six rebounds. He also helped take some of the pressure off Deane with his ball-handling ability.
``What we kept telling Harold was, it was going to be difficult to take [Jacque] Vaughn off the dribble,'' Jones said. ``We weren't going to come back with Harold dribbling down the court and going one-on-one. Or, one-on-five.''
Deane wasn't the only guilty party. Freshman Courtney Alexander was 0-for-6 from the field, 0-for-2 from the free-throw line and did not have an assist. Alexander, viewed as the Cavaliers' future point guard, has zero assists in 65 minutes.
``Our freshmen were not ready for the intensity of the game,'' Jones said. ``It was like nothing they had ever faced in high school or AAU ball. It's not that they backed down; they were caught off guard.''
There were some bright spots for UVa, including sophomore forward Norman Nolan, whose first-half success forced the Jayhawks to pay more attention to him. Although he was credited with a pair of free throws that should have gone to Staples, Nolan still had 14 points and 11 rebounds.
The stats crew was just one of the disappointments at the Great Eight, where the crowd was announced at 12,222 but appeared much smaller. The Palace, with a capacity of more than 21,000, appeared more than half-empty.
Many of the fans left when Kansas opened up a 35-20 halftime lead despite playing less than a flawless first half. Courtside observers said the Jayhawks, who committed 30 personal fouls and 20 turnovers, were little match for first-night Great Eight participant Massachusetts.
Vaughn did not live up to his preseason first-team All-America billing, although his second-half foul problems - he picked up four personals in less than four minutes - enabled UVa to commit an extra player to inside defense.
``He did as good a defensive job in the first half as I have seen a guard do and against an extremely talented young man [Deane],'' Kansas coach Roy Williams said. ``Jacque was sensational in the first half.''
Staples, for one, expected a halftime tirade from the UVa coaches. Instead, Jones, frequently dissatisfied when the Cavaliers win, took a conciliatory approach.
``There was a lot more basketball to played [Wednesday] night; there is a lot more basketball to be played down the road,'' Jones said. ``I think the last thing they needed was for me to be negative with them.''
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Deane.by CNB