March 8, 2001

Chris Boyer
TheACC.com

ATLANTA -In Virginia's two previous showdowns with Georgia Tech this season, Cavalier point guard Donald Hand has had his hands full with the Jackets' Tony Akins. Going into his third match up with Tech, the Cavaliers' senior leader once again has an "achin'" to deal with this, but this time it's his own stomach.

"It was the Gus Burger, a cheeseburger topped with egg," says Hand. "I got a little hungry on Tuesday night, and went over to The White Spot at about 10:30."

The White Spot is a popular Charlottesville eatery, just across the street from the UVA campus. Hand claims he has eaten there frequently and has even downed a Gus Burger a couple times a month with no previous problems. But this time the Gus got the best of him.

"It was much worse yesterday," said Hand after taking part in Thursday's team shoot around." I didn't even think I would be able to travel with the team. I couldn't keep anything (food) down, but today I am feeling much better and just trying to stay hydrated. If Travis (teammate Watson) can step up and play through some of the pain and things he's been through this season, I got to find a way to get out there and play. I will be 100% the moment I step on the floor."

That's good news for the Cavaliers who dropped both of their contests with the Yellow Jackets during the regular season. Hand knows the point guard match up with Akins will once again be a key to the game.

"He (Akins) has been coming out on top in our match-ups because his team has been winning the games. The way I look at it he and I are the keys to the game - the way we take care of the ball. Both teams pressure a lot, so we need to handle the ball well. Whoever turns it over less and controls the flow of the game will probably win."

"If I had even made one or more two shots in our game down here, we probably would have won that one. That serves as motivation, but I just know it's the time of the year when I need to bring my "A" game. For the next couple weeks we get one shot to be ready to come out and play well. I know I am going to be ready."

Hand feels the whole team is much more prepared coming into this year's ACC Tournament.

"I think this year coming in we are much more focused than we were last year and in previous years. Last year we came in thinking we could win the whole thing and we lost the first game. This year I think we have a lot more maturity and character on this team. We have a bunch of guys who are ready to step up and play hard for 40 minutes, and that's what it's going to take to beat Tech tomorrow."

Akins' reports of Hand's on court talking are overblown says the Cavalier senior. "I definitely don't do any talking out there. I just go out there and play and let my game do the talking. Maybe one in awhile I will rub something in, but other than that it's just a friendly game of basketball. He's a talented player, so we go at it."

Akins and Hand will be going at it again tomorrow in the first round of the ACC Tournament in Atlanta. Despite his current bout with stomachaches, Virginia's point guard, who was once recruited heavily by current Georgia Tech Head Coach Paul Hewitt, will be ready to go.

"Doc's been taking care of me. I just need to rest up tonight because I think this game is going to be up and down. It will take a miracle to keep me OFF the court tomorrow. I am here to play and our team is here to play."