ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, October 15, 1996 TAG: 9610150099
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
THE HOKIES open basketball practice without their top player, injured forward Ace Custis.
This is not exactly the way Bill Foster wanted to start his final season as a college basketball coach.
Foster's sixth and last Virginia Tech team opens practice for the 1996-97 season today without its best player, not to mention without its home court.
``It's always an adventure,'' Foster said Monday, attempting to make light of the situation. ``I guess you've just got to play the cards that are dealt you.''
For now, that means no Ace. Forward Ace Custis, the main cog in Tech's resurgence the past two seasons and the Hokies' only returning starter, will miss the first two to three weeks of practice after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Thursday.
``Ace will be there, but he probably won't be able to do much for at least three weeks,'' Foster said. ``It hurts because Ace adds so much to practice as far as effort, leadership and enthusiasm. It will put him a little behind personally, but I don't think that's a big problem. I just hate not having him out there to get things going.''
Custis suffered a lateral sprain of the knee Sept.17 during a conditioning drill. After further examination, doctors decided on surgery to repair a cartilage tear. Custis missed the 1992-93 season when had surgery to fix ligament damage in the same knee.
``Ace was concerned about it, but he feels a whole lot better now,'' Foster said. ``They've taken a look and did a little clean-up work. He has a clean bill of health, so I think from a mental standpoint that when he starts practice he'll feel a whole lot more comfortable and won't be worrying about the knee.''
In addition to no Ace, Tech has no regulation-size court on which to conduct practices. Because of ongoing construction to the roof of Cassell Coliseum, the Hokies will have to practice in a bandbox-size gym in the back of Cassell.
``I heard today we might get the [Cassell] floor pretty quickly,'' Foster said. ``That would be nice.''
The Hokies couldn't launch drills with the ``Midnight Madness'' session that has drawn sizable crowds the past two seasons.
``We couldn't get any fans in there due to the construction,'' Foster said. ``They told me a couple of weeks ago to forget about that.''
Aside from the two big problems, Foster said he's looking forward to getting started with a group that lost four starters from last season's 23-6 NCAA Tournament squad.
``It's kind of exciting, in a sense, because there's so much unknown about it. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather have'' last season's scenario, said Foster, who announced in September that this would be his final season on the bench.
``I do think it's going to be lot of fun to see how some kids develop who really aren't rookies guys who are fifth-year seniors who have played roles and spots, but haven't played consistent time and haven't been counted on to be a starter.''
Foster was referring to players such as the Jackson twins (Jim and David), center Keefe Matthews and Troy Manns, all seniors.
``I'm encouraged,'' Foster said. ``We've got some good pieces of the puzzle to work with. Now, if we can just get everything squared away. I think it can be a fun team and a good team.''
Foster said Custis is the only certain starter at this point.
``Matthews has the edge on [Alvaro] Tor at center right now, but there's six weeks to go,'' the coach said. ``Everything else is still wide open.''
Foster said junior guard Myron Guillory was impressive on the club's European tour in August. Others battling for playing time will be 6-foot-4 forward Andre Ray, who was redshirted as a freshman last season, and a trio of freshmen - 6-8 forwards Russ Wheeler and Jesus Rodriguez and 6-2 guard Brendan Dunlop.
``I think all three freshmen have got a chance'' to play, Foster said. ``All three are going to get a good look. We're going into this thing with the idea nobody is remotely being considered a redshirt candidate.''
The Hokies, who likely will be picked third behind George Washington and Xavier in the Atlantic 10 Conference's West Division, open the season at the Big Island Invitational in Hawaii on Nov.29.
Like Foster, Tech women's coach Carol Alfano opens drills today without her best player. But unlike Foster, Alfano won't be getting her star back anytime soon - if ever.
Tech will go without forward Michelle Hollister, who withdrew from school for unspecified personal reasons Oct.4. The 6-1 junior led the Hokies in scoring (17.3 points) and rebounding (9.1) this past season.
Alfano said she ``hasn't ruled out [Hollister] may return next year.''
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