THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 17, 1995 TAG: 9502170685
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHAPEL HILL, N.C. LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
The actual game being a farcical mismatch, North Carolina spent Thursday night toying with Clemson and reincorporating senior forward Pat Sullivan into its rotation after he spent nearly two seasons on the sidelines.
The Tar Heels, ranked second in the country, were more than six minutes into what became a 66-39 rout of the tiny Tigers when Sullivan rose from the bench to a warm greeting from 21,572 fans at the Smith Center.
The applause increased to a standing ovation as Sullivan entered for his first action since April 5, 1993, the night North Carolina beat Michigan to win the NCAA championship.
Sullivan, who averaged 6.4 points a game that season, redshirted last year to help ease North Carolina's talent glut. Poised to play an important role this season, Sullivan instead had surgery Dec. 8 to remove two herniated disks in his lower back.
He scored four points with three rebounds in 16 minutes in his return, which gives the depth-shy Tar Heels an experienced extra body for the stretch run. Not that he was needed Thursday, as North Carolina coasted behind 24 points from senior guard Donald Williams, who made 6 of 9 3-point shots.
``When they told me I had to have surgery, those thoughts definitely crossed my mind, that I'd never be able to put on this uniform again or shoot a basketball again,'' said Sullivan, who mostly pitched in by setting screens. He made the only shot he took from the floor, a layup off a loose ball in the second half.
``I was just concerned about one day having a family and shooting baskets with my kids. So it's pretty much a blessing to have this uniform on tonight and actually be out there playing and contributing a little bit to the team.''
The victory extended a couple notable streaks. North Carolina, which leads the ACC with a 10-2 record, moved to 20-2 overall. That gives the Tar Heels their 25th consecutive season with at least 20 victories. Also, it continued Clemson's all-time futility in Chapel Hill to 0-41.
The Tigers, whose tallest starter is 6-7, offensively rely exclusively on outside opportunities. They shot miserably, though - 24 percent (5 for 21) in the first half - and trailed, 23-5, with 6 1/2 minutes left. To pull away, the Tar Heels reeled off a 15-0 run, highlighted by a reverse dunk by Jerry Stackhouse off an alley-oop pass from Jeff McInnis.
``I had a request for a 360 (dunk) tonight,'' Stackhouse, who had a season-low seven points, said with a smile, ``but I couldn't get out on the break.''
Clemson (13-8, 3-8) improved to 36 percent shooting in the second half but was never closer than 16 points. It was the fewest points on North Carolina since The Citadel lost to the Tar Heels, 81-36, Feb. 4, 1983. Of ACC teams, it was the lowest output against North Carolina since Georgia Tech's 39 on March, 5, 1982.
Understandably, the Tar Heels took the victory with a yawn - ``I'm disappointed that our team didn't appear to be as happy as they should be,'' Dean Smith said. With one conspicuous exception.
``I had chills up and down,'' Sullivan said. ``It felt really good to be out there again with those guys.'' ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Clemson's Greg Buckner, right, knocks the ball away from North
Carolina's Rasheed Wallace.
by CNB