THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 31, 1995 TAG: 9503310689
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SEATTLE LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
Most coaches facing Dean Smith in the NCAA tournament routinely compliment him for his long list of achievements at North Carolina.
Arkansas' Nolan Richardson is different.
He makes it clear he comes to conquer Smith, not praise him.
Two years ago when North Carolina step-stoned over Arkansas en route to the national championship, Richardson said he disdained the establishment and considered Smith part of that group.
Richardson said he did not move any closer to the establishment by winning his own championship last year.
He still doesn't like those guys.
``But remember it is not Dean Smith vs. Nolan Richardson,'' he said about Saturday's Final Four semifinal game in the Kingdome.
``It is UNC vs. Arkansas, and that is how we've got to keep it.''
But if anyone wants to call it establishment vs. anti-establisment, that might be all right, too.
BIG LOAD: North Carolina's stunning victory over Kentucky last week convinced a lot of people the Tar Heels are on their way to a second title in three years.
North Carolina State coach Les Robinson was among those jumping on the bandwageon.
``A week ago I would have given an edge to Arkansas (against North Carolina) because of its depth,'' Robinson said.
``But Carolina handled Kentucky, which had great depth, without a problem and that changed my whole view.''
Robinson says neither of the other Final Four teams can handle the Tar Heels' balanced attack.
``No one can match the outside shooting of Donald Williams and Dante Calabria or the shot-blocking and inside scoring of Rasheed Wallace,'' Robinson said.
ANOTHER VIEW: Virginia coach Jeff Jones would like to favor the Tar Heels, too, but he says that may depend on how the game is officiated.
``Arkansas is a heavier, bigger, stronger team with more depth,'' Jones said.
``But if the game is called close, North Carolina could end up shooting 40 free throws.''
Virginia split with North Carolina during the ACC season and lost to Arkansas in the Midwest championship game.
BALD LOOK: Donald Williams didn't know he was starting a fad when he shaved his head to commemorate his last home game in the Dean Dome.
Soon afterward, several teammates were wearing the Mr. Clean look, too.
Refusing to go along was center Rasheed Wallace, who says he wants ``no part of that bald thing.''
Williams also shaved his head two years ago before the Tar Heels beat Michigan for the NCAA title.
LUCKY SITE: North Carolina fans may approach this weekend a little easier knowing New Orleans isn't the only city in which Dean Smith has won a national championship.
Smith has celebrated a title in Seattle, too.
Seattle was the site of the 1952 Final Four, which Kansas won by beating Santa Clara in the semifinals and St. John's in the championship game.
Smith was a guard on that Kansas team.
THE CHEATERS: Coaches who participated in a survey taken by a Seattle newspaper believe more cheating goes on in the Southeastern Conference than any other league.
Sixty-two coaches named the SEC while the Southwest Conference got eight votes, and the Big East and Great Midwest two each.
Most coaches said, too, they believed there is less cheating than five years ago.
WHAT-A-BALL: That might be the world's largest basketball wedged atop the Space Needle, one of Seattle's most famous landmarks, in observance of the Final Four tournament.
The ball, with the letters NCAA, measures 25 feet in diameter and weighs about 200 pounds. It consists of 200 yards of fabric.
NO-SHOW: President Bill Clinton, who attended last year's Final Four in Charlotte, is not expected to be in the Kingdome this weekend to root for his favorite Hogs.
The president has told NCAA officials he plans to watch the games on television.
BIG MONEY: The Final Four tournament is expected to stuff a record $154.9 million into the NCAA's pockets.
That is more than twice the amount generated by the 1989 tournament, which was the last time it was held in Seattle. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson has made it clear he intends to
conquer Dean Smith, not praise him.
by CNB