Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Nov. 20, 1987, edition 1 / Page 14
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Basketball -'SBFriday, November 20, 19873 YoMMg Heels imnuist mature fast 34 42 3 11 H 21 33 By JAMES SUROWIECKI Spoils EtirfOr The old guard changeth. These days, the story in Chapel Hill is youth. UNC has but one senior on the team, and the centerpiece of its offense is a 6-foot-v 250-pound sophomore named J.R. Reid, who is among the 44 best big men Dean Smith has ever coached. The squad's spiritual leader is junior guard Jeff Lebo, who in his first two years played a rather unassuming role. Two freshmen will be battling for playing time, and two other players who were redshirted last season will be back this year. Wel come to the occupation of the young. Smith, of course, is aware of his team's youth, and seems anxious to stress that the Tar Heels should not be burdened with unrealistic expec tations. He knows that his team will be highly ranked. It would be strange if he didn't complain. "We're a young team," he said. "In Reid and Lebo, we have two return ing starters. Any team that young and inexperienced, you worry about defense especially. I'm sure well be picked higher than we should be." . Smith also has voiced his tradi tional worries about overconfidence, although with Smith's players public demonstrations of cockiness are as unusual as gardening at night would be for anyone else. "I'm concerned that our team, the guys are going around very confi dent," he said on Picture Day. "I hate to tell them, but I'm starting practice tomorrow. Not a lot of them have done a lot at this level of play. They do think theyll be good, and maybe that's healthy. I'd like them to be a little more realistic." Much of the attention focused on UNC and much of the rationale behind the Tar Heels' high preseason ranking depends upon Reid's allure. The flat-topped, husky forward, who is a dominant force in the paint, has adorned a remarkable number of preseason magazine covers, and was an automatic selection for All-ACC, as well as foT most Ail-American; teams. Smith is as yet unconcerned about tne puDiicity cnanging Keia s attitude or work ethic. "J.R.'s no problem," he said. "I don't think it'll go to his head and it shouldn't. He is rather charismatic. Maybe it's the name or the person ality, but not to make the Pan Am team and then get on those covers ahead of some of those guys. He's realistic. He knows he has a lot to work on." Reid echoed his coach's sentiments, while emphasizing the team concept. "I don't think I'm a veteran. I'm still doing a lot of learning," said Reid, who averaged 14.7 points and 7.4 rebounds a game last year. "Individual honors are nice, but I'd give them all up for an NCAA championship." Reid's teammates seem enor mously respectful of his talent, and clearly the success of the UNC offense will depend in large part on whether he continues to progress instead of just sitting still. But there is also a recognition that the powerful sopho more cannot do it alone. "J.R.'s a great player, a really unselfish player," sophomore Kevin Madden said. "But we can't get the attitude that we're always going to go to him, because he's going to have his off nights and someone else is going to have to pick up the load." That someone may very well be North Carolina Roster "" . ; ' ' Forwards ' No. Name; ' , V. Hgt. Wgt. Age Class Hometown 20 STEVE BUCKNALL ;, . . .6-6 210 . 20 -- Jr. " - London. England 32 PETE CHILCUTT ... 6-8 225 - 19 ' Fr Eutaw, Ala. 44 Rick Fox . 6-7. 220 18 Fr. Nassau, Bahamas 22 KEVIN MADDEN . 6-5 215 20 So. Staunton. Va Centers J R. REID 6-9 SCOTT WILLIAMS . . . 6-9 JEFF DENNY 6-4 RODNEY HYATT . -. .5-8 JEFF LEBO .Y. . : . . 6-2 King Rice . . . . . . 6-0 RANZINO SMITH . . 6-1 250 225 !9 19 Guards 185 138 180 185 189 19 20 18 21 So. So. So So Jr. Fr. Sr Virginia Beach, Va. Hacienda Heights, Calif. Rural Hall, N C. Wadesboro,,N.C Carlisle, Pa. r Binghamton, N Y. Chapel Hill. N C CAPS Denote Lettermen Madden, who sat out last season because of academic problems from which he seems . top have made a remarkable recovery. As a freshman, Madden saw his share of playing time, but his role shrunk as the team progressed in the NCAAs. When confronted with the prospect of sitting out a-year, he considered transferring. But he decided to stay, and the transfer application became a letter never sent. Judging from his performance in the intrasquad scrim mages and from the comments of his teammates, Madden's choice may reap great rewards for the Tar Heels. "Kevin can play a variety of, positions because; he's so strong," Lebo said. "He can overpower people or jump over people. No hotdogging goes on in pur practices, by anyone. But Kevin Is so talented that some times it seems like he's hotdogging when he's really not."" ' According to Smith, Madden and Lebo are the two players who will move with most ease between posi tions, Madden between big guard and small forward, Lebo "between the point and off guard. Lebo, though, will start at the point, while freshman King Rice learns the ropes. Lebo s role this season will oe a curious one, a difficult one after two years of playing next to a brilliant point guard. But Lebo, who averaged 13.5 points a game last year while shooting 45 percent from 3-point range, will be the team's floor general. In some respects, this is a rebuild ing year for UNC. Not in the sense that the Tar Heels are lacking in talent, but simply in the sense that much of that talent is untried, or is wearing a new hat this season. The loss of Kenny Smith, Joe Wolf and Dave Popson obviously has to hurt, and the impact of graduation will be .-,Q-jn,.-.-J..w-,n tir-'liimiMiiri ii iiiiii'iiiii'iiiiiiiiriiiHiiiiiiiiiiiifi mm ii Dean Smith felt most strongly in the frontcourt, where UNC is shallow where once it was deep. Rick. Fox, the other freshman, may have an impact, but his role remains uncertain. There will probably be less second guessing of Smith this year. Five seasons have passed since UNC went to the Final Four, and time after time in recent years the Tar Heels have come up short despite being blessed with enormous talent. This year's squad is young, and may stumble early. But -in the youth there is potential, and there also may be a hunger which seemed absent from recent Tar Heel teams. The freshmen must contribute, and Reid and Lebo must establish themselves as guaran teed offensive stars for UNC to have a shot at the inner circle. If they dont, well, you can't get there from here. But if they do, it may be time for a pilgrimage from Chapel Hill to Kemper Arena and the Final Four. 'The Finest Billiards In Town!" in rZrofCf Pizza FJnK.Zztl mm DSEE1 t'Ji Come Watch the Fall Football Games! LAMPS LAMPS CONTEMPORARY AFFORDABLE WIDE SELECTION OF STYLES & COLORS STARTING AT $1 9.88 IIVIN' E-Z tllHNlTllRF ND ACCFSSOBifS Ram's Plaza 15-501 ByPass Chapel Hill Credit Terms Available 967-7060 wsr M-F 10 am-6 pm Sat. 10 am-6 pm Sun. 1 pm-5 pm , The Perfect ; Gift. . . It doesn't cost a fortune. It doesn't crack, split, flatten, chip, crumble or smash in the mail. You don't have to hunt for a special color or style. It never goes out of style, goes on giving forever, and, what's more, it never needs batteries. This year, select your perfect Christmas gifts from the sparkling selection of books from 1 THk fl8 Open seven days a week; Open evenings Downtown and University Mall Chapel Hill and in Sutton Square, Raleigh i
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Nov. 20, 1987, edition 1
14
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