February 22, 1977 BLACK INK 7
yORTS
‘I miss a shot, they
say I can’t play’
By GREGORY CLAY
Sports Writer
Hidden talent sometimes characterizes
a great ballplayer. But for Dudley Bradley
it has brought some ridicule.
A product of Edgewood, Md., Bradley
averaged 24 points and 16 rebounds a game
in high school. He turned down about 500
schools, including Marquette, Michigan,
Indiana and, of course, Maryland, to come
down south and be a Tar Heel.
“As far as the team is concerned, my
role is to go in the game and play good
defense, make a good pass and maybe take
a shot if I’m open,” Bradley commented.
“Phil (Ford) sometimes tells me I am the
first Black player to play defense better
than offense. I don’t have any pressure on
myself to do anything great.”
Dudley doesn’t think the team has had
an easy game thus far this season. He says
it’s hard to get up for every game because
every team is shooting at Carolina.
Bradley has drawn much criticism from
observers in the way he complements
Dean Smith’s bench strength. “Many
people say I’m not a good offensive player.
They see me come in and miss a shot, so
they say I can’t play.
“I’m not used to coming off the bench. I
think I will reach my peak, but I’m really
not in the game long enough to get ‘loose’
and hit the jumper.”
Commenting on his social life, Dudley
said that, being a student, he doesn’t try to
appear above anyone else around campus.
He tries to speak to people, especially
Black women. If a girl is going to be nice to
him, he said, then he’ll be nice to her.
“I’ll always remember when my mother
told me that if I saw someone walk over
water and then followed him. I’d know I
was in the wrong footsteps unless that
someone is God. And so far I’ve never seen
anyone walk on water. Everyone I’ve seen
has two feet on the ground and isn’t above
anyone else.”
Since Walter Davis is a senior, someone
will have to replace him next year. Head
Coach Dean Smith employs a system
which gives seniors first priority for
positions, then juniors, sophomores and
finally freshmen.
If Dudley can improve the weakness that
he knows exists in his shot selection, he
could be the man next year in Walter’s
place.
He will just have to wait his turn of the
cycle like anyone else since no one’s ex
pecting him to “walk over water.”
THE WAVERLY CONSORT
MICHAEL lAFFEB, Director
¥i
MUSIC AND VERSB
DIBVAL COURT OF KINO ALFONSO “THE WISE"
By tmnifemtnt with HAROLD SHAW
A Carolina Union Presentation
Memorial Hall
February 27, 1977
8:00 p.m.
Bradley: no pressure to do anything great.
Small aggressive on J. V.
By SKIP FOREMAN
Assistant Sports Editor
Sorry, ladies, but Rochelle Small’s play against East Carolina was more reminiscent
of a man’s type of game than any girls that have handled themselves on the court.
Not to subtract from Ms. Small’s femininity, for that in itself is quite obvious. But,
after all, how many girls are there that have scored 23 points and snatched 19 rebounds
lately?
That’s what “Roche,” as she’s referred to by teammates and friends, did to her recent
opponents from Greenville. Despite being shackled by three fouls, and hemmed in by a
zone defense, she played extremely aggressive basketball. She had very little trouble
asserting herself against the Pirates, grabbing rebounds with the intensity few females
have shown in the game.
For example, during one flurry beneath the boards, Small and the opposing center
came down battling for the same rebound. Both players went down in a heap, and a jump
ball was whistled. Somehow, a bell for the start of a round would have been more
appropriate. Small got up, frowning, upset, like her territory had been invaded. The way
she’d been controlling the boards, for anyone else not clad in blue and wearing number 45
to get a rebound was almost a crime.
To look at her play, you’d just know she has been playing basketball since time. But
this is Rochelle’s first year of competition.
“This is a new experience for me,” she said. “My high school didn’t have a basketball
team (for girls). Girls’ basketball just didn’t exist in 4-A schools.” The most experience
she’d gained prior to this season was in intramurals. Then, she said, she just made up her
mind to play.
“I enjoy every minute of it, but it’s a lot of hard work, though. We practice a good two
hours.”
Small said she is content with junior varsity basketball, and is not looking forward to
varsity competition. If her performances equal or exceed what she personally did to
ECU, varsity Coach Angela Lumpkin will be asking for a room next to Rochelle’s in
Morrison.
“This is my first experience, my new experience. Everything I know about basketball
is what my coach and teammates taught me. I’ve had to catch up six years to most of
these girls out here.”
Small calls basketball “an outlet from books.” As far as ECU, and future opponents
may be concerned, they all wish “Roche” would take up reading again.
The Upward Bound Program
is now recruiting UNC students to tutor
in fields of english, biology, chemistry, math,
french, spanish, history & health occupations.
Sessions 2/26, 3/5, 3/19, 4/2, 4/23
Sat. 10-12:00
If interested: Call 933-1281 (82)
or come by 201 Vance Hall
8-5:00
no experience needed
LEND A HELPING HAND