Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 26, 1992 TAG: 9201260170
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C13 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Bill Brill
DATELINE: CHAPEL HILL, N. C. LENGTH: Medium
DIAPER DANDIES STILL NEED SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS
The top recruiting class of 1990 met one of the best of '91 Saturday.Guess who won?
North Carolina's second-half blitz against Virginia resulted in a 77-56 victory by the Tar Heels, and contributors included sophomores Brian Reese, Pat Sullivan, Derrick Phelps and Eric Montross.
The four second-year men combined for 36 points, 19 rebounds, 11 assists and a lot of solid defense. That doesn't include the production of Kevin Salvadori, a redshirt sophomore.
Struggling Virginia started just one freshman, Cory Alexander, but Junior Burrough got sufficient playing time. They combined for 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and six turnovers. Yuri Barnes, another freshman, played three blank minutes.
What happened to the Cavs, and what happened to many of the UNC players last year, is that a large recruiting class can't meet all the expectations.
That includes the latest Fabulous Five at Michigan, which has tailed off somewhat since giving Duke a scare.
By bringing in five recruits, including two or three top prospects, a school is assured of getting more publicity than it needs.
Last year's Carolina crop was considered the best ever. Dick Vitale, king of the recruiting overstatement, went wild. But even though the Heels went to the Final Four, none of the freshmen made major contributions and only Montross started.
When it was over, perhaps the most talented of the bunch, Clifford Rozier, departed for Louisville. Anybody want to bet that all of the Cavs are back in a couple of years? Or all of those Wolverines, for that matter?
Better to do it Duke's way, a top player in every class, with little pressure being placed on the rookies. (See: Cherokee Parks).
Of course, UVa had little choice. With the change in coaches, and inadequate recruiting earlier, Jeff Jones was left with Bryant Stith, a senior. He needed some warm bodies in a hurry.
"When you have a freshman class like we did, there are unbelievable expectations," said man-mountain Montross. "You can't get away from them.
"People think that a class like that can just take over, and it's just not going to happen. Look at Michigan; there's an awful lot of learning going on."
Phelps said it would be easier on one person, rather than an entire class. "There's a lot of pressure. People expect a lot out of you. Guys begin doing their little individual thing, and you can't do that. It's a team concept out there."
For UVa, Alexander and Burrough will be fine players in time, and Barnes has a chance. We don't know yet about Jason Williford or Chris Alexander, who is being redshirted.
Unfortunately for Jones, his first legitimate recruiting crop was rated second or third nationally.
Recruiting is the lifeblood in big-time college basketball. It's also worth noting that Virginia is the lone ACC school without a recruit for next year. That's another of the potential problems with a large class.
It's wrong, not to mention unfair, to make too much of a particular group just because it's large in number.
UVa is finding out what the Tar Heels learned a year ago. Diaper Dandies still have to go through the School of Hard Knocks.