THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 8, 1995 TAG: 9512080654
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHAPEL HILL, N.C. LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
In a stunning upset, a callow and undermanned North Carolina team knocked off previously unbeaten Georgia 85-74 Thursday night at the Smith Center.
Or so Dean Smith would have you believe.
We exaggerate a bit. But Smith, a notorious poor-mouther, has been in rare form this year. Last week, after North Carolina rolled over 25th-ranked Tulane, Smith told reporters: ``We're just happy to win any game this season.''
The thing is, it looked like this was the year Smith's poor-mouthing might be justified. With five of the top seven players from last year's team gone - including NBA lottery picks Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace - North Carolina had not looked this thin since Billy Packer had a full head of hair.
But despite all the new faces, it's been business as usual for the Tar Heels. With the win over Georgia, Carolina ran its record to 6-1. The Heels dropped Tulane by 18. Stanford, ranked 15th at the time, fell by 24. Vanderbilt, Michigan State, and Richmond were also victims. North Carolina's only loss is to second-ranked Villanova, 77-75.
It's still early, but with a nine-day exam break coming up, the Tar Heels close out the first segment of their season looking very much like a team that has been underestimated.
``I don't know why,'' freshman forward Antawn Jamison said. ``Any team Dean Smith has will be a good team.''
The ``why'' had a lot to do with Jamison and his fellow freshmen, Vince Carter and Ademola Okulaja. At least two of the three have started every game, only the second time in Smith's 35-year tenure that Smith has had two freshman in the lineup.
Not a problem, says point guard Jeff McInnis.
``(Smith) has just slowed down practice a little bit this year,'' McInnis said. ``He has to stop and explain a lot more, because he's playing so many freshman.''
Helping matters is the fact that the three are not ordinary freshmen. Carter and Jamison were on everybody's high school All-American list. Jamison, a 6-7 forward, has played like a young James Worthy, averaging 14 points and nearly nine rebounds. Carter, slowed by an ankle injury, has had flashes of above-the-rim brilliance. Okulaja, a supposed project from Germany, has been the biggest surprise, averaging almost seven points.
The freshmen, however, were not the only source of concern, nor the are they the only players to surprise. Dutch center Serge Zwikker has been serviceable, and has turned in a pair of double-double points and rebound efforts. Reserve Shammond Williams is much improved. McInnis and Dante Calabria, the lone veterans, are playing the best basketball of their careers.
``I think maybe people overlooked Jeff's ability to control the team,'' Calabria said. ``And my ability to do different things on offense.''
McInnis showed what he's capable of Thursday night, scoring 21 points and handing out six assists. Time and time again he penetrated and found an open Calabria on the wing. Or dished inside to Jamison or Carter. North Carolina put on a ball movement clinic in the first half in running to a 43-26 lead.
``We move the ball. We get good shots,'' Calabria said. ``No one really goes out to get `theirs' and that helps.
``At times we go to the boards, and because we can score I think that if we can stop people we'll be all right.''
It's no accident that Georgia shot 38 percent, or Stanford 32 percent. The Tar Heels were aggressive in both their zone and man-to-man defenses, and forced Georgia into many bad shots.
Still, the Tar Heels were outrebounded 43-32, much of the damage coming after Zwikker left with a mild concussion midway through the second half.
Zwikker's departure left the Tar Heels with no player taller than 6-7 and underscored the team's lack of depth. Carter and Calabria are also nursing injuries.
``We're certainly a very fragile basketball team,'' Smith said. ``Fortunately, we have a few days off before we have to play again.''
Obviously, though the Tar Heels are also a better team than many thought. After their quick start, they can toss any chance of being taken lightly out the window.
Which is fine with them.
``I guess Jeff and myself are the leaders now, and we don't look on any of this as a big surprise,'' Calabria said. ``I just look at it as being our turn to take over, and continue doing what others have done for years.
``We've got a lot of talent on this team. We don't have a lot of numbers, but we've got a lot of talent.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color AP photo
UNC center Serge Zwikker
by CNB