DATE: Thursday, March 13, 1997              TAG: 9703130600

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.               LENGTH:   54 lines

TO DEAN, IT'S A DISTRACTION

Call it a milestone, a testament to both excellence and endurance, a truly epic achievement in the annals of coaching.

Or, if you're North Carolina coach Dean Smith, call it a distraction.

As Smith charges toward Adolph Rupp's career record for coaching wins - he should tie the record tonight with win No. 876, over Fairfield - he's steadfastly refusing to discuss it with the inquiring minds of the media. Smith has not mentioned the `R' words - record or Rupp - all week.

``My job is to try to avoid any kind of distractions from this year's team,'' Smith said Wednesday. ``I am very pleased with our past teams and with what each of those teams accomplished.

``It's not any false modesty. All those other years belong to those players. This year belongs to (these players).''

Said center Serge Zwikker: ``It's the last thing on our minds. The record, if we keep winning games, it'll come.'' WILLIAMS HOBBLED

ACC tournament MVP Shammond Williams missed practice Wednesday with a sprained left ankle. Williams turned the ankle in practice Tuesday, and was wearing an air cast Wednesday. He's expected to play tonight.

``I was able to run up and down the court but cutting was a problem,'' he said.

Williams, a 6-foot-1 guard, scored 60 points in three ACC tournament games, including 23 in the championship win over N.C. State Sunday. SECOND CHANCE FOR FRIER

Suffolk native Howard Frier, sixth man for Colorado, will get a second chance to play in front of friends and family when the Buffaloes meet Indiana tonight.

Frier, a graduate of Nansemond River High, was to have a homecoming game Dec. 7 at George Mason, but he missed the game after being suspended for illegal use of a telephone calling card.

``It's like a gift from God,'' Frier said. ``I thought I'd missed my chance to play in front of my friends and family.''

A 6-3 junior, Frier is Colorado's defensive stopper. He averages 4.4 points and two assists in 21 minutes per game. STAGGERING STAGS

The 11-18 Fairfield Stags might be surprised to learn it, but they are one of the top teams in the nation. So said UNC guard Williams when asked what he knew about the Metro Atlantic conference champions, 29-point underdogs.

``I see one of the great teams in the nation,'' Williams said. ``They may not have the record, but they have the talent.''

Fairfield was expected to win the Metro Atlantic regular-season title, but suffered a rash of injuries. The Stags, who have no starter over 6-6, rallied to win their conference tournament.

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