THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 17, 1994 TAG: 9411170586
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 234 lines
Probably near the end of an uninspiring tenure at Virginia Commonwealth, coach Sonny Smith says he finally has the type of team he's wanted all along. Big, strong, beefy - the kind of Barkley-esque guys he had for 11 years at Auburn.
Four players of 230 pounds-plus are at VCU and ready to muscle around the Metro Conference.
Smith, though, might not be around VCU after this season.
On an annual roll-over contract, Smith has compiled a 73-72 record with no NCAA tournament appearances in five seasons with the Rams. Last year, Smith, 58, hinted he might retire after this season, assuming he wasn't fired first. But after meeting his cast of eight newcomers, largely transfers, Smith says he's changing his mind, that if VCU lets him, he might like to stick around to see how they turn out.
``I'm not gonna let age be a factor for me,'' said Smith, who said that with a more successful stay at VCU, he might have ``faded into the sunset'' by now. ``I'm prepared either way from an attitude standpoint. But I like these players. If they look like they're gonna be good, I want to coach them.''
The newness, among other things, is why the Rams are the preseason pick for last place in the Metro. Smith understands that and spouts the party line, tabbing Tulane, Louisville and North Carolina-Charlotte as the top contenders, with Virginia Tech as a sleeper.
``They're all capable of going outside the league and creating problems for people,'' Smith said.
``If not for that (back) injury to Jim Jackson, I think they'd be extremely strong,'' he added of the Hokies. ``And, of course, (coach) Bill Foster has done a great job.''
Neither Smith nor his performance, however, have been popular in Richmond for a while. His most recent skewering was over bringing in John Smith, a 6-foot-8, 270-pound center from Wichita State, who is not eligible to play until Dec. 21.
A touted high school prospect out of Columbia, S.C., Smith averaged about 12 points and seven rebounds in two years as a starter for the Shockers. But while in Wichita, he was arrested for driving drunk and assault, and Sonny Smith took heat for taking him in.
``I've been really sliced up over it . . . but he's been perfect for us,'' Smith said. ``I think he's a guy who's been labeled, in my opinion, and I think everybody's gonna see that before it's over. Everybody's gonna see he's a leader.
``He never has played up to his potential; he was a top-50 recruit. But I expect him to do it here and I think he will.''
A look at the Metro: LOUISVILLE
Location: Louisville, Ky.
Coach: Denny Crum; 546-198 in 23 years at Louisville and overall
Last season: 28-6, 1st in conference. Reached round of 16 in NCAA tournament but lost to Arizona.
Impact players: DeJuan Wheat, 6-0 so. (12.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg); Jason Osborne, 6-8, so. (9.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg)
Newcomer to watch: Samaki Walker, 6-9 fr.
Prospectus: With no seniors, the Cardinals are the youngest they've ever been under Crum, but they aren't lacking for talent. Wheat was the Metro's top freshman, and Walker is a major recruit who should start immediately and help lighten the blow of losing All-American Clifford Rozier. Louisville probably will have to nudge Tulane, against which it is 27-3 all-time, and UNC-Charlotte to repeat as champion.
Schedule: Nov. 23-26, at Great Alaska Shootout; Dec. 3, at Michigan State; 5, Western Carolina; 10, Eastern Kentucky; 17, at Georgia Tech; 22, UNLV; Jan. 1, Kentucky; 5, at VCU; 7, Notre Dame; 12, at Va. Tech; 14, Southern Mississippi; 19, at UNC Charlotte; 21, at Tulane; 23, San Francisco; 26, Va. Tech; 28, UNC-Charlotte; Feb. 2, South Florida; 4, Tulane; 9, at South Florida; 12, Temple; 16, at Southern Mississippi; 19, at Massachusetts; 25, at DePaul; March 2, VCU; 5, UCLA; 10-12, Metro Conference tourney at Louisville. UNC-CHARLOTTE
Location: Charlotte
Coach: Jeff Mullins; 149-118 in nine years at UNC-Charlotte and overall
Last season: 16-13, tied for 2nd in conference. After January, had just three two-game winning streaks. Lost in first round of NIT to Duquesne.
Impact players: Jarvis Lang, 6-7 sr. (16.4 ppg, 10.1 rpg); Shanderic Downs, 6-4 so. (6.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
Newcomers to watch: Ponce James, 6-2 jr., DeMarco Johnson, 6-8 fr.
Prospectus: Lang is the top returning scorer, rebounder and shooter in the conference and is a front-runner for player-of-the-year honors. The 49ers lost junior guard Andre Davis and his 11 points per game when he dropped out of school, but they could have their deepest talent pool in four or five seasons. A top-three finish and a run at the league title could be in the works.
Schedule: Dec. 1, Coastal Carolina; 3, at Duquesne; 5, at Furman; 10, Southern Illinois; 17, at Davidson; 20, Appalachian State; 28-29, at Lobo Invitational; Jan. 5, Canisius; 7, George Washington; 12, Davidson; 14, at South Florida; 16, UNC Wilmington; 19, Louisville; 21, Southern Mississippi; 26, at VCU; 28, at Louisville; Feb. 2, Tulane; 4, South Florida; 9, at Southern Mississippi; 11, at Tulane; 16, Va. Tech; 18, VCU; 22, at East Carolina; 27, at JMU; March 4, at Va. Tech; 10-12, Metro Conference tourney at Louisville. SOUTH FLORIDA
Location: Tampa, Fla.
Coach: Bobby Paschal; 97-131 in eight years at South Florida, 250-216 overall
Last season: 10-17, 7th in conference. Bulls lost 15 of their last 18 games.
Impact players: Jesse Salters, 6-6 sr. (13.0 ppg, 7.2 rpg); Jerome Robinson, 6-7 sr. (11.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg)
Newcomers to watch: Torrance Archie, 6-7 fr.; James Harper, 6-7 so.
Prospectus: The Bulls ought to be better on the basis of five returning starters and the presence of Archie and Harper, who transferred from Central Florida. A defense against which opponents shot 47 percent, by far the highest mark in the league, last season must improve, however.
Schedule: Nov. 25, Appalachian State; 29, at Florida State; Dec. 3, at Baylor; 6, Jacksonville; 10, Central Florida; 17, at Jacksonville; 20, at Pepperdine; 28, Baylor; 30, Hartford; Jan. 2, UNC Wilmington; 7, at VCU; 14, UNC-Charlotte; 18, Alabama-Birmingham; 21, at Florida Atlantic; 28, VCU; 30, Tennessee; Feb. 2, at Louisville; 4, at UNC-Charlotte; 9, Louisville; 11, Va. Tech; 16, at Tulane; 18, at Southern Mississippi; 23, Tulane; 25, at Va. Tech; March 2, Southern Mississippi; 4, Southeast Missouri State; 10-12, Metro Conference tourney at Louisville. SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
Location: Hattiesburg, Miss.
Coach: M.K. Turk; 271-239 in 18 years at Southern Mississippi and overall
Last season: 15-15, tied for 5th in the conference.
Impact players: Glen Whisby, 6-9 sr. (14.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg); Maurice Morris, 6-4 sr. (8.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg)
Newcomers to watch: Damien Roberts, 6-7 fr.; Steve Anderson, 6-9 jr.
Prospectus: Another middling output is expected from the Golden Eagles, who haven't had a winning season since '90-91. Nine players return, but the loss of Bernard Haslett (and his 20 points per game) is a significant obstacle to clear. Anderson, a junior-college horse, has to step right in.
Schedule: Nov. 29, Tennessee-Chattanooga; Dec. 2, at Ameritas Classic; 10, Florida Tech; 17, vs. Mississippi State in Biloxi; 20, at Northeast Louisiana; 22, Mississippi; 29, Southeastern Louisiana; Jan. 7, Va. Tech; 10, at Southwestern Louisiana; 14, at Louisville; 17, at Memphis; 19, South Alabama; 21, at UNC-Charlotte; 23, Northeast Louisiana; 28, Tulane; Feb. 2, at Va. Tech; 4, at VCU; 7, at Alabama; 9, UNC-Charlotte; 11, VCU; 16, Louisville; 18, South Florida; 22, Auburn; March 2, at South Florida; 4, at Tulane; 10-12, Metro Conference tourney at Louisville. TULANE
Location: New Orleans
Coach: Perry Clark; 81-66 in five years at Tulane and overall
Last season: 18-11, tied for 2nd in the conference. Beat Evansville in the NIT before losing to Siena.
Impact players: Jerald Honeycutt, 6-9, so. (15.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg); LeVeldro Simmons, 6-4 jr. (12.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg); Rayshard Allen, 6-7 so. (8.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg)
Newcomer to watch: Lawrence Nelson, 6-10 fr.
Prospectus: Despite being loaded with underclassmen, the Green Wave is primed to roll into the top 25 and return to the NCAA tournament. Honeycutt, who led the team in scoring and rebounding last year, is a thrilling player, and Simmons became a force over the second half of last season.
Schedule: Nov. 21-23, at Maui Invitational; Dec. 3, Prairie View A&M; 5, ODU; 7, Texas-Arlington; 10, at Florida State; 17, vs. Mississippi, in Biloxi; 22, Alabama; 28, Bethune-Cookman; 30, UNC Wilmington; Jan. 2, Drake; 5, Va. Tech; 7, Florida Atlantic; 10, New Orleans; 14, at Cincinnati; 21, Louisville; 26, Sacramento State; 28, at Southern Mississippi; Feb. 2, at UNC-Charlotte; 4, at Louisville; 8, VCU; 11, UNC-Charlotte; 16, South Florida; 18, at Va. Tech; 20, Centenary; 23, at South Florida; 25, at VCU; March 4, Southern Mississippi; 10-12, Metro Conference tourney at Louisville. VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH
Location: Richmond
Coach: Sonny Smith; 73-72 in five years at VCU, 276-249 overall
Last season: 14-13, tied for 5th in the conference. Rams finished 3-8 as a promising season slipped away.
Impact players: Tyron McCoy, 6-5 sr. (15.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg); George Byrd, 6-8 so. (4.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg)
Newcomers to watch: John Smith, 6-8 jr.; Bernard Hopkins, 6-7 jr.; Sherman Hamilton, 6-1, so.
Prospectus: By combing the junior-college ranks and picking up some transfers, Smith has accumulated nice talent among his eight newcomers. But chemistry is a huge question, as often is the case at VCU, a noted underachiever under Smith. John Smith, a troubled transfer from Wichita State, isn't eligible until late December but is a good one. Hopkins was a second-team junior-college All-American, and Hamilton was a star at Division II Florida Tech. We'll see if they can all get along.
Schedule: Nov. 25-27, at Big Isle Classic; 30, Liberty; Dec. 3, Alabama; 5, at Tennessee-Martin; 10, at Florida International; 18, at Illinois State; 21, Tennessee State; 28, Mount St. Mary's; 31, Rhode Island; Jan. 3, George Mason; 5, Louisville; 7, South Florida; 11, at Richmond; 14, at Va. Tech; 18, at JMU; 21, Va. Union; 26, UNC-Charlotte; 28, at South Florida; Feb. 1, Radford; 4, Southern Mississippi; 6, vs. ODU in Hampton; 8, at Tulane; 11, at Southern Mississippi; 18, at UNC-Charlotte; 23, Va. Tech; 25, Tulane; March 2, at Louisville; 10-12, Metro Conference tourney at Louisville. VIRGINIA TECH
Location: Blacksburg
Coach: Bill Foster; 38-46 in three years at Va. Tech, 469-293 overall
Last season: 18-10, 4th in the conference. A weak early schedule apparently helped lead to a snub by the NIT.
Impact players: Ace Custis, 6-7 so. (10.9 ppg, 9.1 rpg); Shawn Smith, 6-6 jr. (11.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg)
Newcomers to watch: Myron Guillory, 6-2 fr.; Keefe Matthews, 6-8 jr.
Prospectus: Not as good now that Jim Jackson probably is out for the year, recovering from back surgery, and Matthews likely is out at least until January because of knee surgery. The Hokies also will have to handle the loss to graduation of point guard Jay Purcell and shot-blocker Jimmy Carruth. But steady forward Ace Custis is ready to shoulder even more of the responsibility for floor leadership. Tech has a load of experienced players, and though a run to the top of the Metro might not be realistic, chances of a trip to at least the NIT are good.
Schedule: Nov. 25-27, at San Juan Shootout; Dec. 3, W&M; 5, Xavier; 7, VMI; 10, Texas Christian; 17, at West Virginia; 19, East Tennessee State; 28, at Tennessee; 31, Delaware State; Jan. 5, at Tulane; 7, at Southern Mississippi; 12, Louisville; 14, VCU; 17, at Marquette; 21, vs. UNC, in Greensboro; 26, at Louisville; 28, at Liberty; Feb. 2, Southern Mississippi; 4, Florida Atlantic; 7, at Wright State; 11, at South Florida; 16, at UNC-Charlotte; 18, Tulane; 23, at VCU; 25, South Florida; 28, Virginia in Richmond; March 4, UNC-Charlotte; 10-12, Metro Conference tourney at Louisville. ILLUSTRATION: METRO AT A GLANCE
PRESEASON MEDIA POLL
1. Tulane
2. Louisville
3. UNC Charlotte
4. Virginia Tech
5. Southern Mississippi
6. South Florida
7. Virginia Commonwealth
PRESEASON TEAM
Jarvis Lang, UNC Charlotte
Jerald Honeycutt, Tulane
DeJuan Wheat, Louisville
Glen Whisby, Southern Miss
Tyron McCoy, Va. Commonwealth
1993-94 METRO STATS
For copy of stats, see microfilm
by CNB