
DATE: Saturday, November 15, 1997           TAG: 9711150421

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CHAPEL HILL, N.C.                 LENGTH:   68 lines

NEW VOICE ON HEELS' BENCH, SAME OLD RESULT

Two minutes and seven seconds into a new basketball season and a new era, North Carolina guard Shammond Williams realized there was a new voice of authority on the Tar Heels bench.

Williams, a senior, rushed a 3-point shot that found its way through the bottom of the net.

Unlike past seasons, though, Bill Guthridge didn't offer congratulations.

Guthridge, who took over as head coach when Dean Smith retired shortly before preseason practice began, pulled Williams aside and said, ``That's not the shot we want.''

``I knew then things were different,'' Williams smiled. ``Last year, coach Guthridge would have told me it was a good shot.''

Other than the historic absence of Smith on the bench, not much else was different, as the No. 4 Tar Heels cruised to an 84-56 victory over Middle Tennessee State.

The last time North Carolina played a game without Smith on the bench as head or assistant coach was on March 8, 1958.

Smith became head coach in 1961 and won an NCAA-record 879 games in 36 years, 30 with Guthridge as an assistant.

Smith, busily scribbling notes, watched the opener from a VIP box.

He had to like what he saw.

Despite All-American Antwan Jamison missing the game with an elbow injury, the Tar Heels took control quickly and never relaxed the pressure on the Blue Raiders.

Guthridge, who was given a five-year, $775,000 contract by North Carolina before the game, played everyone who dressed, including freshman Brian Bersticker, formerly of Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach.

Guthridge said he was more nervous for the Tar Heels' exhibition games than he was the regular-season opener.

``Those (exhibition) games were dress rehearsal,'' he said. ``I didn't feel anything special tonight. I am just so pleased with our team, the way it gave the ball up and played unselfishly.''

Guthridge said he knew Smith was at the game. ``There's no bigger fan of this team than Dean Smith,'' Guthridge said.

Carter said playing for Guthridge instead of Smith no longer is a big deal for him.

``We are over that (Smith's retirement),'' Carter said. ``We don't even talk about it any more. Everything else is the same. It didn't seem different at all.''

Tar Heels fans seem to be over it, too.

There were no signs or banners in the Dean Dome to recognize the change in command.

``I am disappointed coach Smith isn't on the bench anymore, but we are very happy playing for coach Guthridge,'' said Williams, one of six Tar Heels in double figures.

Guthridge said Smith told him earlier in the day that the last time he was just a spectator for a UNC game was when he cheered for Kansas, his alma mater, against UNC in the 1957 national championship game.

He split his allegiances Friday night, too.

Middle Tennessee is coached by Randy Wiel, a former UNC player and Smith assistant.

``Coach Smith told me before the game he would be pulling for both teams,'' Wiel said.

UNC plays at Richmond on Wednesday night. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Coach Bill Guthridge said he was more nervous for exhibition games

than UNC's season opener, adding, ``I didn't feel anything special

tonight.''