European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 21, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday March 21, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 23  pickings for Mcaa tourney before the Mcaa men s basketball tournament moves into the heart wrenching second guessing cold sweating phase it s time to give credit to Dick Shultz. Dick who he chaired the committee that dished out the 64 bids for the tourney. To say the Virginia athletic director and his committee members did a Fine Job is putting it mildly. The first two rounds of the single elimination classic have provided everything a basketball fan could ask. If you prefer the Longshot you had Cleveland state and Auburn knocking off a pair of higher ranked opponents each. If you re one of those who plays the favourites you can take Comfort in the fact that three regional top seeds Duke Kentucky Kansas were left unscathed after two rounds and two no. 2 seeds Georgia tech Louisville were alive and kicking. Every year prior to the tournament cries of anguish emerge from some Mcaa division i schools complaining about the Field the Sites and seedlings. Anyone who thought that Depaul 16-12 going in should t have drawn a bid should ask Virginia and Oklahoma what they think. Syracuse fans remain in Shock after watching their heroes succumb to David Robinson led Navy in front of a packed House in the Carrier dome. When the Mcaa moved first to a 48, and later to 64-team Field critics Felt the size cheapened the action. But the single elimination format slashes the Field to 16 after one week. What s More it allows the underdogs a Chance without penalizing the stronger teams. With so much of the news about College athletics entering on recruiting violations academic standards and Point shaving the Mcaa basketball tournament provides a refreshing change. From the where s the beef department comes a no news item. Last year about this time the Mcaa introduced a 45-second clock. You should read the cries of outrage by sports writers about that move a year ago. Haven t heard a Peep one year later. Fact is if a team opts for a slowdown game 45 seconds per Possession can t preempt that strategy. Maryland s lefty Driesell suggested before the tournament that All schools should be allowed in the postseason tourney. Can t figure the Point of that move. But then again consider the source. The More games you watch on an to apol Ogies to those who Don t receive it the better Safe looks in its Choice of coaches for the annual clinics. Syracuse s Jim Boeheim was seen this week and if Louisville and Kentucky keep winning there s a Good Chance an to viewers will see the strategies employed by Denny Crum and Eddie Sutton. All have taken part in Safe s annual base Tours. Speaking of Sutton maybe the pressure of coach ing Kentucky under the Shadow of the legendary Adolph Rupp has gotten the Best of the former Arkan Sas Mentor. Sutton s verbal blast of the press was out of line. He said the Media puts to much pressure on coaches to win. The press made Sutton s career put Ting the former Idaho Community College coach into the limelight. The sweetheart relationship Between the press and athletics is often misunderstood. Atlantic coast conference fans can take Pride in the final 16. Four acc teams remained in Contention and an All acc final four was not out of the question. Duke Georgia tech North Carolina and North Caro Lina state were still in the Hunt As of thursday night. The Southeastern conference matched the acc in advancing four teams to the Sweet 16. Kentucky played Alabama in an All Sec showdown thursday in a rematch of the conference s tournament finale. Loui Siana state and Auburn also represent the Sec. Georgia tech coach Bobby Cremins took some verbal blasts from a to commentator saturday after the yellow jackets built an 18-Point Lead before switching to a slower paced attack. Villanova closed within 59-57 before Georgia tech posted a 66-61 ver dict. Had Georgia tech kept up the Pace and lost. Imagine what the critics would have said then. The stars and stripes the tide has turned for 2 Alabama teams by Hoyt Harwell associated press writer what s this coach Ray Perkins talking about cutting an Alabama football practice Short to watch a basketball game what s this coach Pat Dye of Auburn which produced the 1985 Heisman trophy Winner in football say ing basketball is just As important Are things that Topsy Turvy in Alabama where for years there were three main College sports seasons football in the fall football recruiting in the Winter and football prac Tice in the Spring they seem to be that Way right now with both Auburn and Alabama among the 16 teams left in the Mcaa basketball tournament. In fact the Southeastern conference known primarily As a football league also has Louisiana state and Ken Tucky among the Sweet 16. I be watched More basketball in the last three months than i had in the last 10 years said Perkins Alabama s athletic director As Well As football coach. I love to watch  he attended the Sec tournament in Lexington ky., watched Alabama defeat Xavier of Ohio and Illinois in the Mcaa s opening rounds at Charlotte n.c., and planned to be in Atlanta thursday when Alabama met Kentucky in the Southeast regional semifinals. With an Alabama Victory would he return to Atlanta for its game saturday with the leu Georgia tech Winner when Alabama wins i m going even if i have to Cut football practice Short Perkins said. Dye also Auburn s athletic director is in Florida on speaking engagements and is sending his assistant Oval Jaynes to watch Auburn play Nevada Las vegas at Houston thursday in the West regional semifinals. Auburn s basketball team is in the final 16 for the second straight year. Its women s basketball squad is just As successful. We re ecstatic about it Dye said. For an athletic department that s what you strive to be. We want to be successful in every sport. Of course we want to be Success Ful on the football Field but basketball and our other sports Are just As  this is Alabama s fifth straight Mcaa tournament with the Crimson tide making the final 16 last year. I m not big on speculation predictions polls Perkins said. You prove How Good you Are on the court just As in football. The Sec has proven that we do deserve a Little bit More recognition for being a basketball  at the Sec office in Birmingham ala., commissioner Boyd Mcwhorter said we be done pretty Well in Basket Ball but i m not surprised. I be always had great Confidence in our coaches and  he said he has fielded inquiries from All Over the coun try about How the Sec still has four teams in the Mcaa Field when Only one Kentucky was highly ranked during the season. What happens he said is that starting in january our teams play each other beat each other and people Don t see us in opposition to other  file photo Auburn defense smothers St. John s Walter Berry. Chuck person 45frank Ford 15gerald White 12 Gibbs suggests retirement Riggins put on waivers by redskins Washington a Washington redskins coach Joe Gibbs says that after reviewing game films from last season he has put running Back John Riggins on waivers and suggested that he retire. Gibbs said on wednesday that he gave Riggins two options announce his retire ment or Check around the league for a team that might be interested in him. Whether i m right or wrong i m can Vinced that it is time for him to retire said Gibbs. However he said that if the 36-year-old Riggins found a team to play for next sea son the redskins would not ask for compensation from that team. John s meant an awful lot to the redskins. He s been a tremendous part of our Success and i think the world or him said Gibbs. We never wanted any compensation for John. I just wanted to do this the right Way. I figured he could look around the league and then if he did t find a team that he liked or that liked him he could then announce his retirement. My biggest concern was to make sure we handled this the right  when Riggins said tuesday that the redskins intended to release him Gibbs and redskins general manager Bobby Beathard denied that he had been Cut. It was my feeling that we take our time and talk through this without making an announcement just yet Gibbs told report ers wednesday. But you know John he does what he  Riggins holds numerous club records and a National football league record of 24 touchdowns in one season. He s the All time team Leader in Rushing attempts Yards gained career touchdowns and most 100 Yard games. I really Hope he can find someone else who wants him to play and i Hope he does great said Gibbs. He certainly has been great for  Riggins last year completed a one year contract estimated at More than $800,000. He was not guaranteed a contract to play next season. After a 14-year career Riggins is the fourth leading rusher in nil history and is second in Rushing touchdowns with 104 Only two fewer than the All time record by former Cleveland Browns running Back Jim Brown. Riggins hit his Peak with the redskins when he rushed for a then record 166 Yards during Washington s super bowl Victory Over the Miami dolphins m 1983. Riggins broke that game open with a 43-Yard touchdown run which led the redskins to the 27-17 win. But after Rushing for More than 1,200 Yards in both 1983 and 1984, Riggins began to be plagued by chronic Back and hip prob lems that landed him in traction in the hos Pital on a number of occasions. The redskins acquired running Back George Rogers and the team s need for an aging running Back who rushed for Only 667 Yards last season diminished. Riggins announced tuesday that Gibbs told him during a meeting earlier in the Day that he d reviewed the films and i d lost  he said he told Gibbs i think that s absurd. I want to play and play for the redskins this year. But i understand what you be got to do and if you be got to fire me you be got to fire