Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 11, 1990 TAG: 9003112747
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL BRILL EXECUTIVE SPORTS EDITOR
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N. C. LENGTH: Long
And because Georgia Tech's Malcolm Mackey and Johnny McNeil came up big against Duke, helping the Yellow Jackets to an 83-72 victory Saturday, today's 1 p.m. title game will represent a changing of the guard.
For the first time in the 37 years of the ACC Tournament, there won't be a Big Four team in the championship game. In one way, that isn't so shocking, because none of the North Carolina schools has an all-league player - also a first.
However, when 14th-ranked Georgia Tech (23-6) and Virginia play, it doesn't mean North Carolina schools have fallen from power.
"I think it's just parity," said Bobby Cremins, Tech's coach. "Every school in this league thinks in terms of winning a national championship. It's just a great league."
Tech had lost twice to Duke (24-8) this season and had not advanced past the first round in the tournament in three years. Both factors weighed heavily on Tech's stretch run, in which they pulled away from a 60-60 tie in the last 7:38.
Normally, Cremins splits playing time between senior McNeil and freshman Mackey. But their offensive rebounding early in the second half - they had five stickback buckets - kept Tech close.
Then, with Duke unraveling offensively - "We didn't make good decisions," said coach Mike Krzyzewski - Tech turned it over to Oliver and Scott.
Each finished with 31 points, with Oliver getting 15 after Duke created that final tie on a Christian Laettner jumper.
After the game, Cremins looked at Scott and Oliver and said, "They're why we're here. We've lost in the first round the last three years. They wanted a chance at the championship."
Now Tech will get that opportunity against a Virginia team that beat it twice at the buzzer during the regular season.
Oliver was a dominant factor down the stretch.
He made 3-pointers, slashed to the basket and made free throws. He also was appreciative of the play of McNeil and Mackey, who were criticized earlier in the year by their coach.
"The inside guys got the rebounds," Oliver said. "They played great defense."
Duke stayed in the game as long as Phil Henderson was hitting. Henderson had six 3-pointers and 24 points, but he didn't score in the final eight minutes.
He wasn't alone. Seniors Alaa Abdelnaby and Robert Brickey disappeared when it mattered, and Duke didn't get a single point from its heralded bench.
Laettner, whose play had slipped, was the only dashing Blue Devil down the stretch. He had 15 of Duke's last 16 points and finished with 29.
Krzyzewski called Tech's maturity the key to the win. Specifically, he mentioned Oliver and Scott as "players who have been through the wars."
He was implying that his own team, which has gone to the Final Four three of the past four years, lacks senior leadership.
Oddly, Duke starts three seniors, more than any other team in the ACC. Tech starts two freshmen, Kenny Anderson and Mackey.
Krzyzewski insisted that, with the 6-foot-4 Oliver, a dynamo inside, "Stats don't tell the whole story. He's never out of the game mentally."
Oliver's statistics were sufficiently glossy. He was 10-of-18 from the field and collected five rebounds and two assists.
Krzyzewski sounded like a boxing analyst in discussing Tech. "They are just more resilient than we are. They know how to go 15 rounds," he said.
Oliver broke the final tie with his third 3-pointer to make it 63-60, then Scott added one of his bombs.
After that, it was Oliver's show. He made a jumper, a leaner in the lane, then four straight free throws. Meanwhile, Duke was misfiring or committing some of its 17 turnovers.
After Oliver finished his barrage, Tech was up 74-63 and headed to its first title game since 1986, when it lost to Duke.
Scott, a cinch to be voted the ACC player of the year, said he admired Oliver's play. "I sat back and watched him," he said, an interesting statement for a man who played 39 minutes.
"I told Brian he was the player of the game. I mean that and he knows I mean it."
In the other locker room, Henderson ripped his teammates in an emotional speech, blaming them for not getting ready for the challenge. "I'm sick and tired of it," he said.
GA. TECH MPFGFTRAFPT Scott 3910-246- 742431Mackey 252- 61- 29055McNeil 363- 32- 28038Anderson 403-122- 351008Oliver 4010-188-1052331Brown 160- 20- 01100Munlyn 30- 00- 00000Barnes 10- 00- 00000Totals 20028-6519-2434151583\ DUKE MPFGFTRAFPT Brickey 303- 90- 06456Laettner 3311-156- 792429Abdelnaby 285-111- 150111Henderson 388-202- 253124Hurley 340- 52- 41852Koubek 70- 10- 00020Davis 150- 20- 00010McCaffrey 50- 10- 02010Hill 100- 00- 01020Totals 20027-6411-1432172272Georgia Tech 32-51-83 Duke 36-36-72
Three-point goals-Georgia Tech 8-22 (Scott 5-13, Anderson 0-2, Oliver 3-6, Brown 0-1); Duke 7-15 (Laettner 1-1, Henderson 6-11, Hurley 0-2, Koubek 0-1).
Turnovers-Georgia Tech 13, Duke 19.
Technical fouls-None.
Officials-Donaghy, Edsall, Rose.
A-23,530.
by CNB