THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, April 3, 1995 TAG: 9504030142
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SEATTLE LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
North Carolina fans drifted into the restaurants and bars on this city's waterfront searching for answers to questions that all had a simple answer Saturday night.
They wondered aloud about the second-half collapse responsible for the Tar Heels' loss to Arkansas in the NCAA tournament semifinals.
They questioned all those 3-point shots the Tar Heels threw up in the second half, most of them coming during a 12-minute, 47-second stretch without a field goal.
They wondered about the disappearance of center Rasheed Wallace, who was 0 for 1 in the second half after going 4 for 5 in the first half.
They shook their heads at the statistics - Carolina shooting 25 percent from the floor the second half and giving up 19 points on turnovers and allowing Arkansas 13 second-chance points.
Questions, questions everywhere.
And one simple answer - too many Razorbacks, too few Tar Heels.
North Carolina, which some say over-achieved by reaching the Final Four with such a thin cast, finally ran up against an opponent capable of taking advantage of its weakness.
It did not help that Jerry Stackhouse bruised his leg and his back and was unable to make his normal offensive assault, or that point guard Jeff McInnis had to play the entire second half without rest.
Against a team that bills itself as ``40 minutes of hell,'' only the strong or the lucky survive.
Carolina was neither.
The Heels, after leading most of the first half and 38-34 at intermission, seemed not to have the energy to play their normal game in the second half.
Their inside defense was soft and they settled for a perimeter offense, rushing up 3-pointers, the same fatal mistake Georgetown and Kentucky made against them in regional games.
Wallace and Stackhouse, super sophs who carried the Heels most of the season, were chilled out of the offense, with a total of four shots between them the entire second half.
``We were trying to pound the ball into Rasheed, but they were playing him and leaving other guys open,'' Stackhouse said.
``Neither of us really got many shots, and we don't win like that.''
Wallace, who left the court with his jersey pulled high around his face, felt he should have done more.
``I am really upset with myself,'' Wallace said softly. ``I feel I let my teammates down.''
Donald Williams, who took 19 shots and was 5 for 12 on 3-pointers, said it was not Wallace's fault.
``Rasheed should have gotten more touches in the second half,'' Williams said. ``He did everything he could. He played hard.''
All the Tar Heels played as hard as they could, as hard as their fatigued bodies would permit.
They came from 11 points down with 3:34 left to have chances to tie twice in the final minute.
Stackhouse missed a free throw with 47 seconds to go and Williams missed a 3-pointer with eight seconds left that would have pulled the Tar Heels even.
Two years ago, Williams hit all his critical 3-pointers to lead the Tar Heels to the national championship.
This time, the shots didn't drop.
``Donald has been very good for us many years,'' coach Dean Smith said, ``and it is a sad time knowing I won't be his coach any more.''
Although Williams was the only senior in the starting lineup, Smith still had to be wondering who else he might not be coaching next year.
Both Wallace and Stackhouse could be among the top five picks in the NBA draft if they decide to forego their final two years of college eligibility.
Smith has said he will meet with both sophomores and their families to discuss their situations.
If both players elect to remain in school, the Tar Heels could begin next season at the top of the national rankings.
Smith already has commitments from two outstanding prospects, 6-foot-8 strong forward Antawan Jamison of Charlotte and 6-foot-6 swingman Vince Carter of Daytona Beach, Fla.
If Stackhouse and Wallace should leave, as some expect, Smith may be left to face the most challenging season of his career. The only seasoned returnees would be Dante Calabria and McInnis. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS photo
Dejected North Carolina coach Dean Smith turns away from his bench,
which didn't have enough firepower to handle Arkansas.
by CNB