Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 22, 1993 TAG: 9302220077
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
LEAVE IT TO CAVS TO FALL SHORT
Watching Sunday's ACC basketball game at University Hall was much like seeing some of those "Leave It to Beaver" episodes.You know, the ones where Eddie Haskell laughingly teases the Beav, calling him "Squirt" and holding him at arm's length while the little kid flails and screams in frustration.
Virginia had no big brother to tell North Carolina to cut it out, so the third-ranked Tar Heels cleavered UVa 78-58, the Cavaliers' worst home loss in 19 winters. Last month at the Dean Dome, the Cavaliers lost by 22. If anything, those scoreboard differences don't accurately reflect how tarred and feathered UVa has been by the Heels in their 22-3 season.
Among the six ACC teams that will reach the NCAA Tournament field next month, UNC-UVa is the one matchup that's a mismatch. Referee Dick Paparo was caught in the middle of this sizable struggle Sunday, when he was tossing up the ball at the start of the game.
"It's pretty obvious when we go out for the center jump and our guys stand next to theirs," Virginia coach Jeff Jones said. "Sizewise they're at a distinct advantage."
The Cavaliers' height and weight deficiency against Carolina is compounded by an anemic offense and their weak team ball-handling skills against the Heels' pressure defense. When UNC's Derrick Phelps stifled the penetration and shooting comfort zone of Virginia point guard and points leader Cory Alexander, Jones was looking at a larger obstacle than 7-foot, 270-pound Carolina center Eric - rhymes with "Hoss" - Montross.
Virginia can beat Duke by shooting 36 percent, as happened Thursday night, because the Cavaliers could defend their way to success. UVa can't handle UNC's size, and when the perimeter shooting clangs, the Cavaliers have no hope when push comes to shove.
At one point in a first half that produced a 42-22 difference, UNC coach Dean Smith had a pair of 7-footers, two 6-8 wingmen and 6-3 Phelps on the court. In the second half, down by 22, Jones had a quintet on the floor that had produced three points in 30 minutes.
It was during that span that Carolina went seven minutes without a field goal but lost only two points of its lead. What Virginia should be doing today, besides trying to recruit a quality big man, is trying to figure out how it can get into the opposite ACC Tournament bracket from the Tar Heels.
Not that Virginia should feel alone in its ineptitude against UNC. In their 11 ACC victories, the Tar Heels have won by an average of almost 19 points. That includes a five-point victory over fellow front-runner Florida State, after UNC erased a 21-point deficit.
Getting a Carolina player to go head over heels in assessing his team's prospects is tougher than keeping up with Smith's incessant substituting. However, the Tar Heels' only senior starter sees something special in Smith's 23rd straight team with at least 21 wins.
"This could be the best team we've had in my four years," said Roanoke's George Lynch, who had his 10th double-double of the season. "We went to the Final Four my sophomore year, but I don't think that team was as strong. That team had more depth and was a great scoring team, but this team is much, much stronger inside."
That's because Montross is feared - for good reason - at center, where undersized Pete Chilcutt was inside two years ago, and Lynch, in his third year as a starter, has become one of the most productive players ever in the ACC. In league history, only Lynch and former Duke All-American Christian Laettner have compiled at least 1,500 points, 900 rebounds, 200 steals and 200 assists.
The recent play of Phelps at point guard has pushed the Tar Heels into a comfort zone, too. Now, UNC has an outside game to go with its power play.
"We've come around offensively in the last few games," said the junior playmaker. "The defense always has been there, and we were getting points off that. Now, we're much more comfortable with what we're doing on offense. As a team, this game might be the best we've played this year."
Virginia could only watch.