Tar Heels are uttering ‘N.C.’ phrase

BY MIKE LONDON
SALISBURY POST

Lang, a 6-10 soph who had just fought off chest cramps to help cramp Stanford’s style, dared to utter the words: “national championship.”

“It’s the only thing,” said Lang, “that would make all we’ve been though this year worth it.”

Lang may have just gone off the deep end, then again maybe not.

“Carolina could keep right on winning,” said Stanford coach Mike Montgomery, when asked to evaluate the Heels’ chances. “If no one gets sick, if no on turns an ankle and if no one gets in foul trouble.”

Big ifs to be sure, but in this wacky year, the Tar Heels (20-13) could win it. Then again, so could their opponent tonight (at 10:20) — the Tennessee Vols. So too, could any of the other 10 teams, who haven’t turned in their uniforms. It’s literally up for grabs. Only one other No. 8 seed, Villanova in 1985, has ever gone the distance. The Tar Heels, though, are a program that’s at least been there and done it. Most of the other survivors in this demolition derby can’t say that.

One thing’s certain. The Heels find themselves in a decimated South bracket as play resumes tonight at the University of Texas’ Frank Erwin Center. The Heel clearly dominant team among UNC (No. 8), Tennessee (No. 4), Tulsa ( No. 7) and Miami (No. 6).

If history had a vote it would pick the Heels. UNC has ventured to the Final Four 14 times, exactly 14 more times than the combined number of visits by the Vols, Hurricane and Hurricanes.

“Our confidence is better now,” said Tar Heel coach Bill Guthridge on Thursday. “It’s at a high for the season.”

It should be. Carolina played outstanding defense against Missouri in its first-round game and against Stanford. Missouri shot 41 percent, Stanford fired away at 34.5. Tennessee will be much quicker than Carolina, but it’s also a team which might shoot 30 percent if the taller Heels don’t give up easy shots by turning the ball over in the midcourt area and can force the Vols to shoot outside with their point zone.

Tennessee has a fine record (26-6), but it scared no one in Birmingham in its five-point, first-round win over Louisiana-Lafayette and its second-round triumph over crippled UConn, which was essentially playing without star guard Khalid El-Amin. The Vols actually trailed Louisiana-Lafayette by eight points in the second half, and needed — in the estimation of many — several friendly whistles in order to escape first-round disaster.

While UNC is in its 16th Sweet Sixteen in the last 17 years, Tennessee doesn’t have much NCAA tourney history. Under current coach Jerry Green, who once coached high school ball at Gastonia Hunter Huss, the Vols lost in the first round to Southern Illinois in ‘98 and in the second round to Southwest Missouri by 30 points in Charlotte last season.

Tennessee has some impressive wins this season (most notably over Duke’s foe tonight — Florida), but also lost twice to NIT first-round loser Vanderbilt and so-so SEC rivals Alabama and South Carolina.

The key to the Vols is point guard Tony Harris, a first-team All-SEC player. When Harris scores, the Vols win. When he doesn’t, they lose. Five of their six losses came in games in which the super-quick Harris, who averages 15 ppg, was held to seven points or fewer. Harris made 72 3-pointers this season, but is not on a roll. He’s 3-for-12 on 3s in the NCAAs. .The Vols’ other big scorer is 6-7 sophomore leaper and second-team All-SEC player Vincent Yarbrough. Veterans Isiah Victor (6-9) and C.J. Black (6-8) are steady rebounders, who average nearly double figures. Freshman Jon Higgins rounds out the starting lineup. Former McDowell County star Jenis Grindstaff, once a teammate of Tar Heel Orlando Melendez, figured to start this season, but went down early with an injury. Higgins took his place.

The most highlight-friendly and quotable Vol doesn’t start. That would be sixth-man Ron Slay, who comes from Oak Hill Academy, wears a white headband and does a pretty good impression of a Las Vegas card shark every time he dishes off for an assist. Tar Heel fans will enjoy his antics, if not his athleticism.

Guthridge likes the underdog, “us against the world” mentality that has helped the Heels in their previous two games, and has tried his best to maintain that sort of mindset this week.

But maybe Tulsa’s Bill Self, who got wiped out by Duke in Charlotte last year, put it best.

“I don’t think North Carolina beating anybody can ever be considered an upset,” he said on Thursday. “I can see them coming out of here”

For the Heels to beat Tennessee, they must exploit Haywood and Lang’s size advantage inside. Lang’s often a pretty good indicator of Tar Heel success. When he scores in double figures, they’re 11-3.

Cota, who will play 40 minutes, can’t turn it over. Joseph Forte, who heated up late against Stanford, has to shoot with confidence.

The latest odds show Tennessee as a one-point favorite, but if they win, the experts here would consider it an upset.

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Mike London is covering North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament.