THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 18, 1995 TAG: 9503180357
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: UNCNOTES TALLAHASSEE, FLA. LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Wim and Mar Zwikker are back in The Netherlands, and to their rotten luck just missed their little boy's best performance as a college basketball player.
Serge Zwikker's father and mother had visited Chapel Hill, N.C. for the past couple weeks but had to get back to work - Wim is a police officer, Mar works at a flower store. They returned home as North Carolina traveled to Tallahassee for the Southeast Regional, and thus failed to witness 7-foot-2 Serge's day in the spotlight - a career-high 19 points and six rebounds in an 80-70 victory over Murray State.
``It's a shame,'' Tar Heels coach Dean Smith said. ``I'm sure they'll find the tape somewhere.''
If so, they'll see the sweet fruit of the labor their son has put in since he broached the idea, at 14, of coming to the United States to play ball.
``I'd see the NBA games on TV and say, `Well, I want to go to America and play basketball,' '' Zwikker said. But when Zwikker went to a basketball camp in Holland, he caught the eye of some American coaches. His idea was encouraged, and Zwikker wound up playing a year in New York, one at Flint Hill Prep and two at Harker Prep in Potomac, Md.
During his search for a college, though, Zwikker said he had only one choice.
``I thought Carolina was one of the best schools academically and basketball-wise,'' Zwikker said. ``And you can't find any other Coach Smiths in the NCAA. He works with you and helps you out with everything, and he's also like a great friend. Carolina was my No. 1 spot.''
UMMM, NEVER MIND: To Smith's horror, referee Jim Stupin emphatically signaled before halftime that a basket scored by Murray State's William Moore apparently after the horn was in fact good. But when the teams returned from their locker rooms, Stupin informed Smith and Edgar that the call had been reversed and the Racers only led by one, 42-41, instead of three.
``They probably discussed the call and decided the right call was no basket,'' said Hank Nichols, the national coordinator of NCAA officials, who was courtside.
Smith said he was confident the ``correctable error'' would be changed. But, he said, ``I didn't see them at halftime, if that's what you thought.''
Edgar, though, hinted that Smith's legendary presence was a factor. He said he went into the locker room knowing the points would be taken away. Pressed to be more specific, Edgar said, ``I've been around this game a while, that's my answer to that question.''
BAD DAY ALL AROUND: Not a banner day for official Bob Barnett, either. When announcing a foul in the first half, Barnett addressed a press table across the court from the official scorer.
Then in the second half, Barnett accidently bowled over Edgar as the coach kneeled in front of his bench. Barnett went sprawling and Edgar, after righting himself, shot Barnett a nasty look.
``You're on my sideline!,'' Edgar screamed. by CNB