ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, December 16, 1996 TAG: 9612160145
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LEXINGTON
It was the best basketball day in Cameron Hall history.
It also was the worst.
VMI came up just short Sunday against 11th-ranked North Carolina. That's just short of a sellout. Otherwise, it was pretty much a blue afternoon in more ways than one.
The Tar Heels stomped VMI 105-61, the worst defeat for the Keydets in the building's 15-year history.
``It wasn't all bad,'' said Bart Bellairs, VMI's coach.
A record crowd of 4,950, about 75 short of capacity, included more than a few Carolina followers. The noticeably baby blue-clad fans weren't the ones who gave Dean Smith's team a 68-32 advantage on the boards.
It was the best atmosphere for VMI hoops since the Keydets were playing their way to Southern Conference titles two decades ago down Main Street at ``The Pit.''
The difference is that although VMI's personnel situation will improve later this week when some players return from injuries, the Keydets still don't have a Ron Carter or Dave Montgomery. And it would have taken such hoop heroes of the past to match up against a UNC team that, while young, still is plenty good.
``We played well,'' Smith said after the 857th victory of his career. ``We challlenged them, and that doesn't happen every time when you're up 30.''
With a seven-man rotation, Smith likes the improvement the Heels (6-1) have made since the start of the season. They extended their defense and foiled VMI's only chance - from beyond the 3-point arc.
The Keydets were 4-of-27 from long distance, forced into an attack that was little more than penetrate and pitch - and misfire.
The Tar Heels, however, weren't any better from outside, and unless their perimeter touch improves, Carolina will have to win what figure to be wars in a very competitive ACC with inside play.
The Heels were consistently unselfish, and Ed Cota showed the pomise of a special point guard. Although it was UNC's size that bothered VMI, it was after Cota's entrance as the setup man that the Heels ran away.
If a 13-0 run from a 14-12 lead wasn't enough to discourage the Keydets, Carolina scored on eight consecutive possessions later in the half.
Although the Keydets were routed, Bellairs said he'd ``do it again tomorrow,'' of the two-for-one scheduling deal that brought UNC to Lexington for the first time in 44 seasons.
``It was a big-time atmosphere,'' he said. ``Hopefully, some of those fans will come back when we can put our full team out there.''
Whether or not that happens, it's obvious Bellairs has stoked some fire into a program that has had only a smattering of solid seasons. Including Sunday's gate, four of the five largest crowds in school history have come in the past 17 home dates.
Smith's agreeing to come to VMI has brought more than increased scheduling opportunities for Bellairs. At $15 a seat, Sunday's game, even with about 1,100 cadets and VMI staffers in the house, created about a $57,000 gate.
VMI's season-ticket sales are up more than 25 percent from last season. The school also sold 300 of a first-time, four-game package for $30, including the UNC date - probably the only game some blue bloods really wanted.
Bellairs only wishes some of VMI's other numbers were as promising. In losing all four of their games against Division I foes this season, the Keydets have a .342 field-goal percentage.
``We're going to get better,'' Bellairs said.
So will the Tar Heels.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: JACK BOGACZYKby CNBERIC BRADY/Staff. The Keydets were a big part of the Cameron
Hall-record crowd of 4,950 on hand Sunday for North Carolina's
visit. color.