THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, March 19, 1996 TAG: 9603190406
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
While the University of North Carolina basketball season was shorter than normal - ending in the second round of the NCAA East Region tournament - there was some consolation for Tar Heel fans.
They get to spend this spring and summer talking about who's coming back instead of moaning about who's leaving.
Such was the bitter-sweet aftermath of North Carolina's 1995 Final Four season when super sophomores Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace decided to forego their final two years of eligibility and skip to the NBA.
Coach Dean Smith was left with his most inexperienced team in the last three decades at Chapel Hill and a rare restructuring task.
Even so, it was considerably less painful than at other places where the bottom of the program fell out.
When other teams experience an off season, they hit bottom - Hello, Duke '95! - or sit home during the postseason - Hello, Virginia '96!
When North Carolina has an off season, it finishes third in the ACC, wins 21 or more games for an NCAA record 26th straight year, and goes to the Big Dance for a record 22nd straight year.
Still, the best part of this season for North Carolina fans may be knowing that even brighter days are in their immediate future.
The only senior on this year's 21-11 team was guard Dante Calabria, and there were promises in the locker room after Sunday's 92-73 loss to Texas Tech that there would be no unscheduled departures.
Junior guard Jeff McInnis, who once considered leaving early for the NBA, said he would be back to help the Tar Heels win a national championship.
Freshman Vince Carter, the subject of transfer rumors most of the season, declared firmly that ``I am not going anywhere.''
Other returnees include freshmen starters Antawn Jamison, a first-team All-ACC selectee, and Ademola Okulaja, who was playing club ball in Germany only a year ago.
While Jamison and Okulaja plugged some inside holes, Carter was the one Tar Heel fans hoped would help close the gap left behind by Stackhouse and Wallace.
It turned out, though, he was the least productive of the three recruits.
The highly publicized 6-foot-6 swingman began the season in a starting role, but finished it coming off the bench.
He became a big favorite in the Dean Dome with his exciting dunks, but he had problems adjusting offensively to the wing position and to North Carolina's defensive scheme.
Dean Dome fans occasionally booed Smith for removing him from games, and transfer rumors grew stronger as his playing time diminished.
``I am a Tar Heel, and I am going to spend the summer working as hard as I can. Hopefully we'll be the top team next year,'' Carter said after scoring 12 points in 17 minutes against Texas Tech.
For the season, Carter averaged 7.3 points and 3.9 rebounds. He admits he had higher expectations, especially in getting more playing time..
``I had my moments, but my season was kinda up an down in playing time,'' he said.
``But as long as I contribute to my team, win or lose, I am happy. I wanted to end this season saying I helped this team as much as I could, and I think I did. I gave it some good quality minutes off the bench, and I did as best I could.''
Smith agrees that Carter had his moments and ``could be a great one before he is out of here.''
``He can be spectacular, there's no doubt about it,'' Smith said recently when asked about Carter's status.
``But consistency is extremely important, too.''
While Smith won't have to depend so heavily on newcomers next season, he will have ample fresh talent to work with.
He already has signed two of the nation's top prospects, 6-foot-1 point guard Ed Cota of Brooklyn, N.Y., and 6-foot-6 forward Mike Booker of Sandersville, Ga. by CNB