ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 16, 1996 TAG: 9603180034
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: DALLAS
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
IT'S AN AWFUL JOB playing against Kentucky, but somebody's got to do it.
Virginia Tech likes to think it has joined the pack of college basketball's big dogs.
Today at 4:40 p.m. in the second round of the Midwest Regional at Reunion Arena, Tech will find out if it can run with the biggest and baddest dog on the block - Kentucky.
In a game they're calling the chance of a lifetime, the Hokies (23-5) face the ferocious Wildcats (29-2), who have chewed up and spat out opponents by a nation-leading margin of 24.2 points per game this season.
Going one-on-one with King Kong might be an easier assignment for Tech.
``Kentucky has, I believe, eight or nine guys in its top 10 that played in the McDonald's All-Star Game,'' said Chris Ferguson, a Tech assistant coach.
``Us? Well, we've got guys who go to McDonald's, all right - they go there to eat.''
While most figure Tech will get eaten alive today, the Hokies maintained Friday that every dog - even the top dog - is capable of choking on a bone.
``Kentucky is Kentucky and it's a great team and all that,'' said Shawn Smith, Tech forward.
``But they put on their shoes and clothes just like we do and they're basketball players. The way college basketball is today I don't think any team anymore is invincible. Hey, everybody can be beaten.''
Junior forward Ace Custis said the Hokies can't be in awe of scrapping with the deep and talented 'Cats.
``We can't fear those guys,'' Custis said. "You've got to respect all, but you can't fear anyone.
``We can't dwell on the fact we're playing Kentucky. Once you step on the court, all the rankings and stuff are put aside. Everyone is picking Kentucky, but you can't play the game on paper. That's why they play the games. Now, it's just 40 minutes of basketball.''
For all but Massachusetts and Mississippi State, that's translated into 40 minutes of hell against Kentucky. Twenty-seven of Kentucky's 29 victories have come by 22 or more points.
Since Tech beat Wisconsin-Green Bay 61-48 in Thursday's first round to set up today's matchup, Hokies coach Bill Foster has had to turn salesman.
``It's one of [the] biggest selling jobs I've had with our players, because they're human, they watch TV all year and they read the papers,'' Foster said. ``I've got to convince our kids we can win.
``They'll tell you they think they can, but as a coach I've had to keep pumping them. That's why we elected to show 'em that film [of Mississippi State's 84-73 win in the Southeastern Conference title game].
``Not that we're going to play like [Mississippi State]. They hit some unbelievable shots in that game. I see how they won and I think it helps our guys to see that. I'm trying to play up the positive part of it.''
The Hokies, a 17 1/2-point underdog, have more worries than just Kentucky. To have any chance to win, Tech must hope that starters Damon Watlington and Smith are raring to go physically.
Watlington, whose sharp transition-game tools will be a must for Tech against UK's break-neck, fullcourt-pressing style, was nursing a tender right ankle sprain sustained last week and saw limited duty in Friday's practice.
Smith, meanwhile, took another hit on his partially separated left shoulder against Green Bay.
``We need those guys to score a little bit,'' Foster said. ``I'd never believed we'd won [over Green Bay] with those two guys averaging a field goal apiece. I've got my fingers crossed they'll be ready to go full ticket.''
Of Tech's multitude of worries, the biggest have to be Kentucky's depth (11 'Cats average at least 9.5 minutes), explosive up-tempo running game (the 'Cats score 92-plus a game, second in the country) and relentless fullcourt pressure that has forced opponents into 700 turnovers in 31 games.
``I see handling their pressure as the big key,'' said Tech guard Shawn Good, who had a career-high 25 points against Green Bay.
``We can't let them trap us in the corners or on the baseline. We've got to somehow get the ball to the middle of the court. And when we break it we're going to have to take it and score.''
Foster, who used only seven players against Green Bay, said he will have to go deeper in the bullpen today to stay reasonably fresh against a club that reloads in droves every four or five minutes.
``You can't play Kentucky with just seven,'' Foster said. ``I believe we have to go with 10 guys in the first half or we'll be dead in the water with no chance.
``You've got to have more people because of the pace of the game. We don't mind running a little bit, but we don't like to run as much as we're going to have to against Kentucky.''
Quite likely, the Hokies will have to muster up a near-perfect game to win.
``We haven't really had one of those full 40-minute jobs this year'' Foster said. ``This would be a heck of a time to have it. We're going to have to play smart and shoot well to have any chance. If we shoot it well it can make up for a multitude of sins.
``Hey, this is [a] great opportunity for our kids. They're looking at it like we've got nothing to lose because everybody already has penciled Kentucky in for the Meadowlands [and the Final Four]. But it'd be great to be the giant-killer.''
LENGTH: Long : 101 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. AP Tech seniors Shawn Good (left) and Travis Jacksonby CNBhope today's game against Kentucky isn't the last of their careers.
color
2. headshot of Foster color