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9 Sports Wednesday, January 21, 1987 9 l ? What's happe When we last saw our heroes of the hardcourts, they had just lost to the bad guys from Clemson. had 'A mcaslv rt*mn\ ? and had little or no hope for the W future because they just weren't playing well. But something happened to the Gamecocks over the break. They got a winning attitude, and now hold a 9-6 overall record while sitting atop the Metro Conference at 2-1. The keys to this turnaround arc: Coach Fclton ? For about the first six games Fclton main tamed he was trying only to "teach" his players. He was very vocal of all their faults and rode them hard from the bench. He stressed the importance of regaining basic fundamental skills he felt they lacked. It must have worked, because, as Felton has said, the Gamecocks have found "an identity as a defensive team." And as a wise man once said. "Offrno* miu people in the stands, but defense wins you games." Darryl Martin ? Returning as the league's leading re^ bounder, Martin has found a new talent, scoring. He is averaging 14.1 points per game and over nine rebounds. He takes pressure off of Terry Dozicr and Michael Foster because teams must now be aware of Martin as well. Michael Foster ? The only senior on the squad, Foster vowed, at the start of the season, to go out a winner. So ^ far, since coming back after a W three-game suspension, he has l Dm / ??????? eptalk Jeff Shrewshn r \/ 1 ned to USC? lived up to his word. Me is averaging 18.8 points per contest and is the leading 3-point shooter for USC. Tony Shaw ? After returning to the lineup from the land of ineligibility, where had had been banished since last spring, Shaw has had his troubles getting back into the groove and staying consistent, but when he takes the ball to the hoop he's devastating. He can power over people as well as open up shots for Do/.ier or Foster when the defense collapses. He's startiiiR to comc around and will be a big factor around tournament time. Terry Dozier ? What can you say about this guy that hasn't already been said. He's one of the premiere forwards in the conference and is getting better. He still needs to gain a little weight and learn a power move but he and Foster arc a serious one-two threat. Best of the rest ? Terry Gould lias helped tremendouslv as point guard, can be a scoring threat occasionally and is the team's leading assist man. Bill Vcrnau could be a 3-point king if he could get off the bench, and Perry Dozier is making strides in the right direction. As it looks right now, George has his team playing well and with confidence. He still lacks on depth and needs to implement a better 3-point philosophy, but at least there are a few Metro coaches who now stop and read USC's box scores with their breakfast instead of passing them over to read The Far Side cartoon. v>?\ 0S THE i? The NROTC is ol students can attend a other midshipmen lea $100.00 a month and apply by February 2( -~*r v, YB^n^v r^V^ * Darryl Martin f iHHH ! HH WZhm. Jh' pSS^wflEi wnL | IP f ***** wt A|f|| r* nr 1 H^^AD^V ?s KEITH JONES/The Gameco Center Darryl Martin illustrates his rebounding style. SOPH< TIRED OF 1 RO WANT TO 1 AN / COLLEG IfY EMflLLil ffering a 2-year college program designei 6-week course in Newport, Rhode Ish rn during the first 2 years of NROTC. earn a commission in the United State* ), 1987. TA CkOI w III I LT f 203 FL 777 V inds his love o ? By RONA SIMON Hi Sports reporter i If it's true that behind every great man I there's a great woman, then the | Gamecocks' 6-foot-7 center/forward Dar- 1 |H ryl Martin is a very lucky man. Uhawanda and Darryl Martin met three s f' years ago in the Army while stationed at t Ft. Hood, Texas. Iheir first meeting was, \ appropriately enough, on a basketball court, as they were both members of the i I All-Army basketball team. I While Darryl insists it was love at first c sight, Chawanda is slightly skeptical. < "It took him a while, to get into it. If it r was love at first sight for him, it took a I long time," she said. t According to Mrs. Martin, a native of Florida, it was Darryl's personality that < first attracted her to him. 1 I* am }>wi ovrjiaill^ I1III1 SIHIIO OUH. S He's always laughing, or he makes so- s meonc else laugh by saying crazy things," ' she said. \ As for their first date, its ending was anything but romantic. 1 "She cxpectcd me to kiss her on the t cheek, but I shook her hand." Martin said. I "I was trying to be a gentleman." t While they got off to a slightly rocky s ^ start, things have turned out well for the / B couple, who have no children but plan to < K start a family within the next five years. I "Everything's working out just fine for 1 H us. We haven't had a serious problem or s m anything like that . . .things are going just fine," said Darryl. ( Though there may be no major pro- c P blems, the twosome does have minor ones, c SThc most pressing problem is finding time i for each other. t !ouiuciimes mat orings on a lot of j arguments," explained Chawanda. "1 think that's the hardest part." g When they do find themselves together v in the same city, a common bond of ' basketball plays a large part in their lives, r Chawanda began playing the game in C (junior high school and gave it up after a \ knee injury made it impossible to continue. Martin, who is averaging 14.3 points per I game, often refers to his wife as 'coach' ' and for good reason: "Before the games I t have to give him a few pointers," said I 'Coach Martin.' "I say, 'Darryl you play s Sr defense with your feet, don't try to block r any balls, don't block out your man, just play the rebounds." v ? It must be working because Martin is the a . Metro rnnfcrpncp'c 1?~ ? >I?R ^w..? v..vv D JVVVI1U AVaUJJ!^ * C- 1 bounder, averaging 9.3 per game. \ PHE SAME OLE UTINE? 3E MORE THAIS VVhKACjb E STUDENT? BE d specifically for rising juniors. Qualii ind. This course teaches you the ba While in the NROTC, you will recc > Navy. For the adventure of a lifetii PLY. CALL SOUGAN INN HALL '-4124 m, off court With such impressive statistics, and havng recently been named the Metro Conerencc Player of the Week, it is not surmising Martin has his eye on the National basketball Association. "I feel that's what 1 want to do," he aid. "I want to play professional ball, hat's my goal. I hope someone out there is vatching me." Although the dream of joining the NBA s present, the Martins arc realistic. "I've )ccn trying to get him to concentrate more >n his school, academics first," said H ... .uanoiiua. net mum conccrn is that he eceives his degree, "Once he gets that, if le goes pro, fine, if he gets a good job, hat's fine too." Darryl realizes and appreciates "hawanda's concern for his future, ' . . .my wife, she pushes me a lot because he wants me to work toward my degree," aid the junior physical education major. 'I appreciate what she's doing, and I love ler for doing it." Through the ;ood, the bad, and he separation, the vlartins have main- V ained their keen icnsc of humor. \ m o n g iPPmy Dhawanda's net ^ >eeves arc DarryPs ack of cleaning s-' kills. Cfiawwnft Martin "I don't let him wash anymore," "hawanda says. "Once, he washed the :lothes, put too much soap powder in, I :omc home from work, he had them folded lp with dried, hard soap powder on hem," she said. "He tries to help, but it's ust not right." With four feet planted firmly on the ;round, their future is clear. "We know vhere we want to go." said Chawanda. 'Our major goal is to just be together, nore than we are now. . . to get Darryl out >f school, get him situated in a good job, vhether it's the NBA, or roofing." USC head basketball coach George "elton put it best when describing Martin, 'He's made sacrifices. . . he's done the litle things in life, that really are important, ie made the sacrifices and through his acrifices he's gained disipline, he's gained naturity." With disipline, maturity, and a loving vife behind him, it's difficult to believe inything could stand in Darryl Martin's vay, if a career in the NBA is what he vants.