The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, January 21, 1987, Page 9, Image 9
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.
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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.