Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 5, 1990 TAG: 9003051987
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL BRILL EXECUTIVE SPORTS EDITOR
DATELINE: DURHAM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
Clemson.
The Tigers were presented with their first title when North Carolina played one of its two best games of the season, taking apart Duke 87-75 Sunday.
It really doesn't matter which performance was UNC's best, because the other one also was against the Blue Devils. That time, Carolina won by 19.
Duke, which finished second in the ACC at 9-5 (23-7 overall), had a chance to win every game it played this season except the two against the Tar Heels.
Once again, King Rice was the catalyst, scoring an uncharacteristic 20 points and passing for eight assists.
But unlike the first game, when Rice embarrassed Duke freshman Bobby Hurley, this time Hurley was the only daring Devil.
"I thought Hurley was terrific," said Mike Krzyzewski, a subdued Duke coach who was most displeased with the way his fifth-ranked - and dropping - team played. "We didn't get him the ball often enough."
Hurley worked hard against Rice, but the Tar Heels' point guard benefited from a play that Dean Smith put into the game plan Saturday.
"The coaches said if I could beat Hurley [out front], he wouldn't get much [defensive help]," Rice said. "But I was fortunate that some of those layups were falling."
For the Tar Heels (8-6, 19-11), the shots fell for all hands. UNC shot a season-high 64.8 percent (35-of-54), including 68 percent in the second half.
"We played well together," Rice said. "Nobody gave us much chance of winning. One of their players said if they played well, they'd win by 20. I didn't think that was necessary."
In the first half, official Dick Paparo had to calm Rice and Hurley, who were constantly woofing at each other. Rice, in particular, was vocal.
"Bobby's a competitor," Rice said. "We were going at it, but that's all part of the game."
It was Rice who gave Carolina the lead for good with a fast-break layup that made it 57-56.
At the time, UNC stars Rick Fox and Scott Williams each had four fouls, but neither fouled out and Smith left them both in the game.
For Duke, which lost its third consecutive ACC game, it was senior day, and the school retired 1963 All-American Art Heyman's uniform.
But all the pregame emotion worked against the Devils. "I don't know if they expected the emotion to carry them," said Coach K, who was most unhappy with the second-half showing. "I thought they were tougher inside than we were."
The worst showing came from Duke's experienced players.
Leading scorer Phil Henderson was nonexistent and finished with six points.
Robert Brickey fouled out with eight points, after taking a shot that left Krzyzewski screaming. With seven minutes left and Carolina on top 68-65, Brickey missed a jumper outside his range, got the rebound, then threw away the ball.
Duke collapsed after that, as Carolina scored the next 10 points, with the coup de grace a three-point play on a drive by Rice. That made it 76-65 with 3:36 to play.
Fox, who committed his fourth foul with 19:20 left, finished with 16 points, most of them after he drew No. 4.
"We've showed we can beat the best teams," Fox said. "A lot of it is emotion. That's something we can control.
"Maybe this is the turnaround. Maybe it's about time."
While much has been written of Carolina's 11 losses, the Tar Heels still have the physical ability to play against most teams.
"We're a very good team that's playing at its best right now," Smith said.
The way the college game is right now, however, that's a factor that comes and goes as fast as a Nolan Ryan fastball.
Unpredictability is the key word. After all, how many people expected Clemson to win the regular-season title? N. CAROLINA MPFGFTRAFPT Rodl 101- 10- 01102Fox 246- 93- 432416Williams 254- 71- 17149Rice 347- 96- 738020Madden 326- 82- 352314Chilcutt 297- 80- 143114Lynch 204- 74- 540312Davis 180- 40- 00120Harris 60- 10- 01220Wenstrom 20- 00- 00000Totals 20035-5416-2128201987 DUKE MPFGFTRAFPT Brickey 343-102- 44458Laettner 356-122- 2111315Abdelnaby 247- 92- 370316Henderson 263-100- 00136Hurley 354-114- 416416Davis 70- 40- 03010Hill 182- 71- 22216McCaffrey 50- 20- 00000Koubek 142- 52- 23036Buckley 11- 10- 00002Cook 10- 00- 00100Totals 20028-7113-1731152375N. Carolina 4443-87 Duke 4332-75
Three-point goals-North Carolina 1-3 (Fox 1-2, Madden 0-1), Duke 6-15 (Laettner 1-1 , Henderson 0-4, Hurley 4-7, Hill 1-1, McCaffrey 0-1, Koubek 0-1). Team rebounds-North Carolina 3, Duke 5. Turnovers-North Carolina 24, Duke 21. Technical fouls-None. Officials-Paparo, Donaghy, Scagliotta. A-9,314 (at Duke).
by CNB