THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 21, 1996 TAG: 9602210555
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 107 lines
The madness in college basketball isn't supposed to arrive until March.
But, clearly it already has hit the ACC.
In recent days:
Florida State coach Pat Kennedy was suspended for charging onto the court after a referee.
North Carolina's Dean Smith yelled at another Clemson player, and Clemson coach Rick Barnes yelled at Smith.
Duke's Mike Krzyzewski was whistled for technical fouls in three consecutive games, including last week against Virginia. A total of 54 fouls were called on both teams in that game, with technicals also called on Cavaliers coach Jeff Jones and player Harold Deane.
What gives?
Most coaches believe pressures generated by the most competitive season in league history are responsible.
``We are all in the mix for some sort of postseason play,'' Wake Forest Dave Odom said. ``There are internal and external pressures that go along with that.''
Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins said he has never seen the league so competitive.
His Yellow Jackets are tied for first place with Wake Forest, but they have gone into overtime to win two of their last three games, and won the third on the last shot of the game.
``I have never seen the league like this,'' Cremins said, ``when any team can beat another at any time.''
Six teams are contending for bids to the NCAA tournament and the other three - Florida State, N.C. State, and Virginia - are playing for NIT invitations.
Virginia (11-12) is the only league team with a losing record.
``Every team is playing for something, and it seems most of the games are going down to the last possession,'' Barnes said.
``We are all caught up in it. Coaches, players, officials, and the crowd. February is the month that makes a good season great or a good season mediocre.''
Barnes and Smith got caught up in it again last Wednesday when Smith yelled at Clemson guard Bill Harder during a bitterly-contested 53-48 UNC win.
A similar incident in last year's ACC tournament, when Smith shouted and pointed at Clemson's Iker Iturbe, almost brought the coaches to blows and commissioner Gene Corrigan fined each $2,500.
Corrigan investigated the most recent flap that began when Smith accused Harder of grabbing his players' jerseys. Both coaches met with Corrigan at his home in Greensboro on Tuesday, but neither coach was disciplined.
Smith said he shouted to Harder to ``move your feet'' and told him he was a ``better player than to do that.''
Harder said Smith accused him of being a dirty player.
Barnes asked game officials to instruct Smith not to talk to his players, and the coaches had to separate them as they rushed off the court at the end of the game.
Barnes told Smith he wanted to settle the issue immediately but Smith replied, ``Call me.''
``I just don't know what the problem is,'' Barnes said after the game. ``If he has a problem with my players, we ought to talk about it.
``He and I are going to get it worked out. Some place, some time, some how.''
Smith said he understands Barnes' frustrations and that talking to an opposing player is not in the best interests of the game.
``It won't happen again,'' Smith said after the meeting with Corrigan.
Florida State's Kennedy will miss Thursday night's home game against Duke after being escorted off the court by a security guard during last Saturday's game at Clemson.
Kennedy was suspended by FSU athletic director Dave Hart, not by the ACC.
Hart indicated the suspension was based on Kennedy going after and verbally attacking referee Donnee Gray after being called for two technical fouls.
Kennedy claimed after the game he was the target of a ``personal vendetta'' and called for a league investigation.
``What I saw out there was the lowest point of my coaching career and for college basketball,'' Kennedy said.
``I've been coaching for 24 years and when it comes to a personal vendetta, something is deeply, deeply wrong.''
Kennedy would not elaborate Tuesday. He said he had filed a report with the league.
The Seminoles, expected to be a first-division team, are fighting to avoid the cellar and some fans are calling for Kennedy's job.
``All of us go through the pressures in coaching and they are here to stay,'' Kennedy said.
``The NCAA tournament is not going away, and the drive to get there is not going away.''
Krzyzewski is trying to get Duke back in the NCAA tournament after last year's absence.
``I think our team has to fight for everything, and I am excited about our team,'' Krzyzewski said when asked about his streak of technicals.
``If (my actions) are perceived to be over the bounds, then the officials have to call a technical and I'm a big boy, so I will accept that and go on to the next thing.''
He agreed with Cremins that the league is more competitive than ever, and has more close games than ever before.
``There are no easy games, no easy outs,'' Krzyzewski said. ``That is why our conference is rated the toughest.''
With two weeks of regular-season games and the tournament still remaining, it could get even madder, too.
Consider, too, if the teams finish the way they currently stand, Clemson and North Carolina would meet again in the first round of the tournament. MEMO: The Associated Press contributed to this story. by CNB