THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 1, 1995 TAG: 9504020397
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SEATTLE LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
Whether sinking a 3-point goal or stroking a game-winning free throw, North Carolina guard Donald Williams is not one to display much emotion.
But if the quietest member of the Tar Heels' starting cast lets loose a few whoops and storms onto the floor of the Kingdome for today's NCAA semifinals game against Arkansas, don't be too surprised.
This is the way he wanted to close out his career at North Carolina - by playing in another Final Four.
When Williams slammed in the final points in North Carolina's victory over Kentucky to assure the Tar Heels a berth in the Final Four, no one celebrated any more wildly.
Williams sprinted down court, hugging teammates along the way, and wearing an ear-to-ear smile.
It was an emotional moment for Williams, who made a personal commitment to helping the Tar Heels return to the Final Four this year.
In the last two years no one had experienced the height of success and depths of disappointment any more than Williams, a senior from Garner, N.C.
Williams was on top of the world in 1993 when the Tar Heels won the national championship. He scored 25 points against Kansas in the semifinals and came back with 25 more in the championship win over Michigan.
His four free throws in the final 11 seconds cemented the outcome and he walked off the court with the tournament's most outstanding player trophy.
``The greatest thrill of my life,'' Williams recalls.
A year later, though, he met the biggest disappointment of his career.
Favored to win tournament again, the Tar Heels were ousted in the second round by unranked Boston College. Williams scored only five points.
No one attempted to pin Carolina's early departure on Williams, but he took it personally when Sports Illustrated appeared on the newsstands the next week with a cover that read: ``Take That Tar Heels.''
Williams ripped the cover off the magazine and posted it on the inside door of his locker.
``I knew I didn't have a good game, and it upset me that they (SI) seemed so happy we got knocked off,'' Williams said.
``I used that for motivation all season.''
Now, the motivation is the same as it was in 1993,'' Williams said Friday.
``Two years ago we came into the Final Four and everyone was thinking we were not going to beat Michigan, and we proved them wrong,'' he said.
``We are the underdogs again, so it is the same situation.''
Ironically, North Carolina had to beat Arkansas to get to the championship 1993, too, but in an earlier round.
``This Arkansas team is better than in '93,'' Williams said. ``They still like to press for 40 minutes, but they have added more size.''
Williams has improved, too, since '93 when his game was not much more than a nice jump shot.
``Donald was our outside shooter two years ago,'' North Carolina coach Dean Smith said.
``He has gotten better as a player in penetration, with that little runner he shoots. He is also much better defensively and at putting the ball on the floor.''
After being bothered all of last season by injuries, Williams is averaging a career-high 15.4 points per game this season.
Still, with high-profile teammates such as Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace, he had not received much national media attention until the postseason.
Williams says he does not begrudge being eased out of the spotlight by the two sophomores.
``They are great players and the media is going to follow them,'' he said.
``But if we win the championship, everybody is going to get attention. I just want to do what I can to help us do that.''
Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson said he knows Williams is capable of making the difference again for the Tar Heels.
``I have been watching a lot of film on Carolina lately, and Donald Williams can still stick it in the hole,'' Richardson said.
``He is as good as he was when we played them two years ago, and he seems to step up when they need him the most.''
As excited as Williams is to be back in the Final Four, he might just jump up this time. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
1995 NCAA Final Four
Guard Donald Williams scored 25 points against Kansas in the 1993
semifinals and came back with 25 more in the championship win over
Michigan.
by CNB