THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, March 11, 1996 TAG: 9603110138
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Molinaro
DATELINE: GREENSBORO LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
Even with Tim Duncan rewriting ACC records, and Drew Barry throwing up bricks for Georgia Tech, was anyone really surprised when Sunday's tournament championship game almost turned on a few missed free throws and a prayerful parabola?
``It's the way ACC tournament games should be decided,'' said Wake Forest coach Dave Odom, ``by one point.''
It's the way, it seems, so many tournament games must end, with one team unable to close the deal and the other unwilling to call it a day.
Wake Forest's 75-74 victory over Georgia Tech is another reminder of what we can expect in the next three weeks.
There was Wake, up by 18 early in the second half, still ahead by 10 with six minutes to play, Duncan on his way to a title-game record 22 rebounds to go along with 27 points.
Time to cut down the nets, right?
``I was afraid for awhile there that they were going to embarrass us,'' said Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins.
Or so it appeared, as Wake Forest lit up the Greensboro Coliseum from outside the arc.
``They were killing us,'' Cremins said in his Sidewalks of New York accent, ``with trees.''
Georgia Tech had no answer for Duncan, the tallest tree in Wake's forest. Cremins could, however, turn to Stephon Marbury, whose 26 points almost offset Barry's 1-for-11 shooting.
Marbury ``is a man masquerading as a freshman,'' said Odom, who pointed out that the Georgia Tech guard is only 10 months younger than Duncan, a junior.
Both players are linked by their pro potential, though Marbury is considered more likely to jump to the NBA next season than Duncan, who doesn't turn 20 until spring.
Marbury may have the raw talent to play with the pros next season. But his forced shot from the corner in the dying seconds is evidence that he could benefit from the judgment that comes with more seasoning.
If Marbury is in a hurry to move on, Duncan seems to take a measured, almost leisurely, approach to his future. Not that there was anything laid back about his performance Sunday.
Georgia Tech had no one big and bulky enough to uproot Duncan from his comfort zone, and Cremins did not elect to double-team him.
``I was afraid with the way Wake Forest shoots trees that we couldn't take the risk of putting two guys on Duncan,'' he said.
Someone pointed out that Wake still shot 64 percent from long distance.
``Good point,'' said Cremins, rubbing a hand through his silver Beatle haircut.
Georgia Tech made its frantic final bid with Wake point guard Tony Rutland on the bench nursing a minor sprain of his right knee.
Asked how much Rutland's absence contributed to Tech's comeback, Cremins appeared at a loss.
``Tell you the truth,'' he said. ``I didn't even know he was out of the game. That's how into our team I was.''
In any case, Cremins was impressed by what he saw of Rutland.
``He reminds me so much of ... what's the name of the guy from last year?''
Randolph Childress, he was told. Cremins laughed and ducked his head.
``I'm like Yogi Berra, huh?''
Not a bad analogy, what with the NCAA tournament looming.
``It isn't over 'til it's over,'' Yogi once said.
He could have been talking about college basketball games in March. by CNB