Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 7, 1993 TAG: 9304070082
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press reports
DATELINE: CHAPEL HILL, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
TAR HEELS BASK IN THE GLORY
North Carolina's national champion basketball team returned to Chapel Hill on Tuesday to 15,000 Tar Heels fans, promising to try to bring home another NCAA title next year.Donald Williams, voted the most valuable player of the Final Four, said what was in the minds of most of the fans when he proclaimed, "We're No. 1!" to loud cheers. Often-injured Derrick Phelps thanked the fans for their get-well cards. And 7-foot center Eric Montross recorded the crowd on his video camera before taking care of what he called a couple of misconceptions.
Montross said the rocking fans belied claims by Florida State's Sam Cassell that Tar Heels fans are "a wine-and-cheese crowd." And he said the NCAA title finally should put to rest criticism that coach Dean Smith can't win the big ones.
Smith already was working on his next championship, missing the welcoming celebration so he could make a recruiting trip.
George Lynch, the only senior starter, predicted another good season ahead of the Tar Heels.
"A lot of people said I led this team," said Lynch, who scored 12 points. "But these guys behind me pretty much led themselves."
Montross said he realized it would be difficult to repeat.
"It's very hard to win a national championship," he said. "And I know the expectations are going to be very high. . . . I think we're going to do our very best, and you may see us here again next year."
North Carolina's Pat Sullivan had some consoling words for Michigan's Chris Webber, who called for a timeout after the Wolverines had used all of theirs.
"I hope he doesn't feel he is to blame for the loss as you can't blame one guy for the game," Sullivan said. "He played a great game and really was unfortunate down the end."
The timeout that wasn't there meant a technical foul, and Williams, who was 10-for-14 from 3-point range in the two games, made the two free throws and added two more with eight seconds left to make Smith the coach of the NCAA champion for the second time in his 32-year career.
As happy as Smith and his players were, Webber and the Wolverines were disconsolate in their locker room. Webber, who led Michigan with 23 points, took the blame for the mental lapse that meant the Wolverines were the last team to lose a game for the second straight year. Michigan lost to Duke 71-51 with five freshman starters in last season's final.
"At that point of the game we can't point any fingers," Michigan forward Juwan Howard said. "We're not frustrated for one thing. We should be proud and happy. I know we are."
Michigan coach Steve Fisher, who was in his third NCAA final in five years, said: "Both teams were terrific. This team would not have been here without Chris Webber. People that care about him, their hearts go out to him."