Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 14, 1994 TAG: 9403140048
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
North Carolina went to its strength Sunday afternoon at the Charlotte Coliseum and emerged with its 13th ACC men's basketball tournament championship, 73-66.
It was a case of redemption for the Tar Heels, the 1993 NCAA champions, who had failed to finish first during the regular season. But there also was a sense of accomplishment in the Virginia locker room.
The Cavaliers, who came into the tournament just hoping to win their opening game and secure an NCAA Tournament bid, got as close as 66-64 in the final minute.
"I've got mixed emotions, but they're more good than bad," said Jeff Jones, UVa's coach. "Without question, the last three days were the best basketball we've played consecutively all year."
It marked the fifth time the Cavaliers (17-12) have played in the championship game and lost since their only title in 1976, but few UVa teams have come into the tournament with more modest goals.
"We are obviously delighted to be the ACC tournament champions," said North Carolina coach Dean Smith, who generally has stressed the regular season. "It really means something because it came against a Virginia team that is very resilient."
The Cavaliers have been without star guard Cory Alexander since the opening game of the season, but it is hard to imagine anybody making a bigger contribution than his stand-in, Harold Deane.
The freshman led all scorers with 59 points in the tournament, including a game-high 19 in the final. He was named first-team all-tournament with fellow UVa freshman Jamal Robinson, Jerry Stackhouse and Derrick Phelps of North Carolina and Randolph Childress from semifinalist Wake Forest.
Stackhouse contributed 14 points and seven rebounds in the championship game and became the first freshman since Carolina's Sam Perkins in 1981 to receive the Everett Case Award as most valuable player.
Carolina (27-6) received timely contributions from a number of players, including Donald Williams, whose pull-up jumper with 45 seconds remaining put the Tar Heels on top 68-64.
Williams, who had not scored since the 9-minute, 6-second mark of the second half, added three free throws in the final 21 seconds as a heavily partisan crowd of 23,532 roared in appreciation.
"That's the first time I can remember having a home-court crowd like this [at the tournament]," said Smith, who has won 12 ACC tournament championships in his 33 seasons as head coach.
Virginia started in a 2-3 zone for the second consecutive game, this time looking to counteract Carolina's twin 7-footers, Eric Montross and Kevin Salvadori, but the Tar Heels responded by hitting nine of their first 11 field-goal attempts.
To make matters worse, the Cavaliers were in foul trouble from the middle of the first half, despite Smith's insinuation that UVa was manhandling Montross and not being called for it.
"That's probably [an issue] that I should avoid because of what I might say," Smith said, "but [golfer] Jack Nicklaus would have trouble putting from four feet with people hanging all over him."
Tom Perrin, a Virginia assistant coach, was reprimanded by the ACC office for his comments following a 30-10 free-throw disparity March 5 at Maryland, but Jones would not let Smith's comments pass.
"I don't think it's true," Jones said. "We don't foul any more than any team in the league that competes at the defensive end. People should just watch the tape and see who's hanging on whom."
Junior Burrough, the Cavaliers' leading scorer for the season, sat out the last 8:48 of the first half with two fouls and picked up his fourth foul with 14:06 left in the game, which was when the Tar Heels began shooting one-and-ones.
"I can't even say I was in and out today," said Burrough, who had three points in 17 minutes. "It was more out-and-out. I don't even know why they're going to bother to wash my uniform."
Burrough's only points came on a 3-pointer, one of seven by the Cavaliers in the first half, when all five starters hit at least one. UVa attempted a season-high 22 3-pointers for the game.
"Let's face it: They've got two 7-footers in there almost all of the time," Jones said. "There's not much room inside. If the best thing we can get is a 3-pointer, then we damn well better take it."
by CNB