10
Wbt §uiltortrian
ACC hoops are here again!
Christopher Behm
That nemesis to the best laid of
academic plans is here once again
in the form of the Atlantic Coast
Conference basketball season. This
time of year even the most dedi
cated student is apt to find his
concentration hindered greatly by
visions of three-pointers, slam
dunks, and driving lay-ups. So that
we can all devote more time to our
studies (yeah, whatever) prior to
taking in this year's action, I have
prepared this brief overview of the
participants in an effort to ensure
that all hoop fans are properly pre
pared when it comes time for tip
off. Here follows, in alphabetical
order, my expert analyses of this
year's combatants:
Clemson: Prior to the start of the
season, many people didn't give
the Tigers much of a chance. How
ever, this team has shown some
promise in early action. Espe
cially in their game against UNC,
the Tigers demonstrated that they
can hang with better teams. As
expected, Sharone Wright and
Devin Gray are the two mainstays,
but Chris Whitney is also danger
ous at limes. The real question
about this team will be depth: Do
they have anyone off the bench
A Slice of Life from the Butcher
Yes Virginia, you deserve respect for the Wahoo-was
Butch Maler
Sunday afternoon the Univer
sity of Virginia Cavaliers marched
out of Cameron Indoor Stadium
with a 77-69 win, their first victory
at the Durham locale since the days
when Ralph Sampson had knees.
Oh, how UVa stood tall this
weekend, while the Dookies sat on
their hands—the Cameron Crazies
bedeviled and bewildered by this
'Hoo team, the only remaining
undefeated Division I school in the
country.
Picked to finish as an ACC also
ran, Coach Jeff Jones opened up
Virginia's outside shooting and
also ran more to jump out of the
gates at 11-0 (4-0 in the ACC).
Quite a contrast to Terry Holland' s
stick in the mud squads during the
late 'Bos.
A question remains. 'Hoo is this
tea
Sensational sophomore forward
Junior Burrough is the Cavs' go-to
guy, earning him the nickname of
"The Black Hole." When the ball
is sent in to Burrough, you're not
likely to see it come out again.
Second-year point guard Cory
'exander has stepped ud to take
who can produce some points? If
someone steps up and fills the role,
watch for Clemson to grab a few
wins.
Duke: As expected, Duke has
looked very impressive at times
this season. However, they have
already accumulated two losses in
ACC action. Against both Georgia
Tech and Virginia, Duke proved
that they are not invincible. Bobby
Hurley, Grant Hill, and Thomas
Hill are three of the best in the
country, but three does not a team
make. Cherokee Parks and Anto
nio Lang must come to play every
night and the Blue Devils must get
quality minutes from Marty Clark,
Chris Collins, and Eric Meek to
have any hopes of bringing an
other championship banner to the
temple that Krzyzewski built.
Florida State: Pat Kennedy's crew
faced high expectations coming
into this, their second season in the
ACC. But now the Seminoles seem
to be suffering from their own pre
vious successes. Although they are
still a very good team, FSU is not
able to sneak in and steal wins as in
the 1992 season. With excellent
starters in Doug Edwards and Sam
Cassell, help from the bench in
Bob Sura, and the long-awaited
(and much needed) return of
over ball-handling duties, break
ing Jones' assist record last sea
son.. Senior Doug Smith spelled
the foul-plagued Alexander with
14 second-half points versus Duke.
Cornel Parker has improved
immensely this year as a shooting
guard after changing his jersey
number. Parker, in his third year at
Charlottesville, did a number on
Duke with nine boards Sunday.
Senior center Ted Jeffries has
hinted as emerging as a scorer,
flirting with 20 points aginst Florida
State.
Forwards Jason Williford and
Yuri Barnes offer consistent inside
play—nothing spectacular—and if
Chris Havlicek ever emerges from
beneath his father John's
shadow...well, 'Hoo knows.
Besides these unassuming play
ers, the cupboard's pretty bare. The
Cavs would do better to suit up
their coach, a fine guard in his own
right a decade ago, than to pry any
other guys from their seats on the
sidelines. The depth factor aside,
Thomas Jefferson's hoop reps are
a top ten item i n every poll for now.
That's nice for an ego boost, if for
not much else.
Where in college footbaii teams
Sports
Charlie Ward from football, the
Seminoles will continue to improve
greatly and be a force to be reck
oned with come tournament time.
Georgia Tech: Once again, Bobby
Cremins has demonstrated that he
is one of the top recruiters in the
nation. This year's team boasts an
excellent array of talent Malcolm
Mackey, James Forrest, and Travis
Bestare proven players, but Forrest
and Best are only sophomores! Into
this group, Cremins has added two
excellent freshmen, Martice Moore
and Drew Barry (whose brother
Jon graduated last year—where do
they grow these guys?). The key to
the season will be the play of cen
ter Ivano Newbill, who got off to a
shaky start If he comes around and
the Jackets get some bench sup
port, look for them to be running
on all cylinders.
Maryland: For the most part, things
look dire for the Terps this season.
The only real bright spot for Gary
Williams will continue to be Evers
Bums at forward. Johnny Rhodes
is a highly touted freshman, but he
has mighty shoes to fill following
the departure of Walt "The Wiz
ard" Williams to the NBA. An 0-4
start might be the unfortunate indi
cator of a long season to come.
frantically jockey for poll position
come bowl time, the college bas
ketball season is more of a prepa
ratory program for the advanced
courses dubbed "March Madness."
Since this article, Virginia has
traveled to the Dean Dome and
Butcher's Best Baker's Dozen
# Team W-L
1. Virginia 11-0
2. Kansas 14-1
3. Indiana 15-2
4. Michigan 13-2
5. No. Carolina 14-1
6. Kentucky 11-1
7. Duke 12-2
8. Arkansas 12-1
9. Cincinnati 11-1
1.0. SetonHall 14-2
11. Oklahoma 12-3
12. lowa 12-3
13. Purdue 11-2
Sporrswriters needed! If you are interested in sports and like
to write, The Gullfordian sports section wants you! CaU Klley
at 2306 or drop a note in Box 17273. No experience needed!
N.C. State: The Wolfpack seemed
to have the cards stacked against
them from the start. Shootings,
suicides, andkey injuries read more
like a soap opera than a sports
page, but Les Robinson's positive
attitude and leadership has demon
strated his worth. Still, there is not
much hope here now that Tom
Gugliotta is gone, Bryant Feggins
is inactive, and Migjen Bakalli is
injured. The only bright spot is
Kevin Thompson, who has greatly
improved in the last couple of sea
sons. Judging from an 0-3 start, the
freshmen will have to mature
quickly if there is to be any success
in Raleigh this season.
North Carolina: The Tarheels have
an excellent team this season. Eric
Montross and George Lynch are
playing at their peaks. Brian Reese
and Derrick Phelps are good role
players, while freshman Dante
Calabriahasprogressednicely. The
questions here are at second guard
and outside shooting. UNC must
be able to shoot from the outside to
keep defenses from collapsing on
Montross and they must find some
one who can play better than Henrik
Rodl (which shouldn't be hard). If
they can succeed at 'hese points,
the Heels may make a run to the
Final Four.
Carolina to Cameron, so early on
in this ACC season the conference
standings have already gone
through a game of musical chairs.
Come March, we'll have to see
who's sitting pretty when the mu
sic stops.
Comments
Excitedly undefeated; won at Duke
Hawks have truly balanced squad
Snuck by Michigan; Purdue's a test
Had beaten UNC; Wolves not soph-t
Beating U-Va would make them best
Frosh Rhodes needs no Cat's cradle
It was bound to happen—better now
Young Razorbacks are razor sharp
Nick at night shoots outta sight
Come March they'll be right De-here
Lost three Sooner th?n thev wanted
Wore them down did Earl of Duke
Mr. Robinson's not too neighborly
lanuarp 22, 1993
Virginia: Surprise, Surprise! The
Cavaliers (as of this writing) are
undefeated. For a team that lost a
player of Bry ant Stith,
this has been quite a feat. UVA,
however, is loaded with previously
unrecognized talent. Cory
Alexander, Cornel Parker, Doug
Smith, and Junior Burrough have
all progressed nicely in the league.
Even Ted Jeffries, who used to
have trouble finding even the
backboard, has developed some
offensive capability. The problem
with the Cavs is the lack of a "go
to" player; everyone must contrib
ute consistently. What happens
when someone hits a slump? If
slumps can be avoided, look for
the Cavaliers to go well into the
postseason.
Wake Forest: Things have not quite
gone as expected for the Deacons.
The loss of four starters has been
noticeable in their play. Randolph
Childress. Rodney Rodgers, and
transfer Charlie Harrison
(Georgetown) have played well,
but not excellent. The keys to this
team, however, will be consistent
play from center Derrick Hicks
and forward Trelonnie Owens. If
Hicks can't handle the big men of
the ACC and Owens is invisible
(as he has been so far), it may be a
long season for WFU fans.
Anyway, look for up to six ACC
teams to make the 64-team NCAA
toumamentand perhaps eight from
the Big Ten. That's nearly a quar
ter of the entrants coming from
two conferences.