Notes on a Scorecard - March 9, 1995

George Raveling, the CBS basketball commentator, is picking Arkansas to repeat as NCAA champion. . . .

“They’ve been there before and they’re playing well,” Raveling said. “They’re deep, they’re strong defensively, and they have two players who are hard to guard, Corliss Williamson and Scotty Thurman.” . . .

However, UCLA fans shouldn’t get on Raveling’s case merely because the former USC coach isn’t picking the top-ranked team to go all the way. . . .

“The Bruins will reach the Final Four,” Raveling predicts. “They’re for real. I like them, Wake Forest and Kansas to make it to Seattle along with Arkansas.” . . .

Wake Forest would be the surprise. . . .

“They’ve got the biggest sleeper player in the country in Tim Duncan,” Raveling said. “He might be the best center in the tournament.” . . .

Raveling will do commentary on six tournament games and be a part of the CBS studio shows this Saturday and Sunday. . . .

He has done five games on cable after resigning as USC coach following an automobile accident. . . .

“I’m enjoying it,” he said. “It’s affording me the opportunity to remain close to the sport and to do a lot of things I had been--preparing for the game, analyzing the game, and enjoying the game. . . .

“The thing I try to keep in mind is that my No. 1 job is to constantly answer the question, ‘Why.’ Why was that shot taken, why was that defense used. I’m there to give the viewers a broader perspective and appreciation of the game without insulting their intelligence.” . . .

This is the first time since 1972 that Raveling hasn’t been a head coach during the final week of the regular season. . . .

“I haven’t missed coaching for one second,” he said. “So often, athletes and coaches tend to overstay their visits. Ninety percent of the people in my profession never get to conclude their career the way they want to. I was able to exit on my own terms. The auto accident was the final stimulus that forced me to do what I had to do.” . . .

It has been a difficult season for the Trojans, who are last in the Pacific 10 Conference. . . .

“I have an immense amount of empathy for the coaching staff and the players,” Raveling said. “I think we all had envisioned that the season would turn out differently than it did.”. . .

*

Seven former stars from six sports will be inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame during ceremonies in the Hall of Fame room at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and then will be introduced at halftime of the Oregon basketball game at Pauley Pavilion. . . .

The inductees: Debbie Doom, softball; Mitch Gaylord, gymnastics; Ricci Luyties, volleyball; Steve Pate, golf; John Peterson, football; Jerry Shipkey, football; Mike Tully, track and field. . . .

UCLA Coach Jim Harrick has a tradition of starting every one of his seniors in their final home game so, surprise, look for Ed O’Bannon, Tyus Edney and George Zidek in the opening lineup Saturday. . . .

Riddick Bowe, who weighed 236 when he won the heavyweight title from Evander Holyfield in 1992, expects to be 240 for his bout against Herbie Hide Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. . . .

Name change: Israel T. Berbick, who lost to Jimmy Thunder, can’t even fight as well as Trevor Berbick. . . .

Eddie Delahoussaye has won seven Breeders’ Cup races and back-to-back Kentucky Derbys, but will be seeking his first Santa Anita Handicap victory in 14 attempts Saturday aboard longshot Johann Quatz. . . .

Dare And Go will be trying to join an elite group of 4-year-olds who have won the Strub Stakes and the Big Cap. The last four were Affirmed in 1979, Spectacular Bid in 1980, Alysheba in 1988 and Best Pal in 1992. . . .

An off-track Saturday would promote the chances of former claimer Nancys French Fry, whose biggest victory was by 14-lengths over a sloppy track in the William Kyne Handicap at Bay Meadows. . . .

Here’s one vote for the return of instant replay to the NFL with a time limit on the decision-making process. . . .

News item: Pending approval from the owners, major league baseball expansion franchises in Phoenix and Tampa Bay will begin play in 1998. Reaction: I’m more interested in what year the regulars for the other 28 teams will begin play.