Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / March 6, 1997, edition 1 / Page 17
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Timmy, give us just one more thing before you go! ?By COURTNEY DANIEL Chronicle Staff Writer ! \ ; Tim Duncan's name was galled for the last time as part of the Wake Forest starting five on Tuesday, Feb. 25, in a game against Georgia Tech. The Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum was packed to send Duncan off in grand style. It was a moment that no Demon Deacon fan wanted to see come or go, and in an effort to preserve it as long as possible, the Wake faithful cheered thun derously for several moments. Pinned on the chests of many were buttons that said sim ply, "Thanks, Timmy!", a senti ment that is still pinned to the hearts of all that have watched Duncan play. The fans seemed to ignore the game in general and focus on Duncan specifically, as if cata loging his last 40 minutes on that floor. Information to be stored and savored and passed on to children and grandchildren. The 71-55 win over the Yel low Jackets seemed somehow less important than Duncan's quest for a triple-double. He fell -one assist short, but his 10 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists were a sparkling reminder of Duncan's proficiency at every aspect of the game. He made his presence felt on the defensive end as well, no one would expect less from the con ference's all-time leader in blocked shots. The Deacons, anchored by Duncan's 6-10 frame in the paint, held Georgia Tech to 39% shooting from the field for the game, making the Yellow Jackets the 23rd team Tim Duncan that Wake has held under 40% this season. "It was a special night," said Duncan "I guess it was because my family was here, and because I got to pay with my bets friends out there. Marc Scott, Ricky [Peral], and Sean [Allen]." With 36 seconds left in the game Rodney West replaced Duncan and all knew that they had heard the last squeak of Duncan's sneakers, and the last booming announcement of, "Tii iimmm Dunnncaaann... for two!" ring through the Coliseum rafters. An ovation rolled down from the stands that seemed to rock the foundation of the Coliseum, as the crowd thanked Duncan for four years worth basketball magic, including two tournament titles and two regular season crowns, but more than anything for being that uncanny and uncommon mix of verbose talent and humble persona. "My slogan to him was, 'Do your, best and let it rest'," said William Duncan, Tim's father. It is lesson that Tim learned well. His status as the nation's premier college player never tainted the golden righteousness of his father's words; he has always let his game do all his talking. Dun can, the younger, has consistent ly played hard without thought of personal glory or statistics. Duncan's priority has always been his team and his teammates know it. "He's always very unselfish with the ball, and that reflects in more things than just assists - the way teams have to play defense on us," said Ricky Peral. He postponed his date with the NBA's draft first pick to return for his senior year, and the chance to lead his team to a National Championship, whether he does or not is not really at issue. His decision to return is just another testament to his character and why he will be missed. When the final horn sounded in Duncan's final game at the LJVM Coliseum there was a hushed moan, and bittersweet cheers. None of the assembled were ready to let Duncan slip away into the night. Each wanted him to stay a little longer, do a little bit more of the spectacular, because there is the knowledge that there will never be another who will do what he did, in the unassuming way in which he has done it. So everyone stayed for another hour and watched, with a contingent from the Virgin Islands, including Governor Roy Schneider, as Duncan's number 2I iwas retired to a place among the'banners he helped bring to Winston-Salem. * And it was just enough to get the people to budge from their seats and file to the exits. Tim Duncan will never play on the Coliseum floor in the black and gold, but there is a piece of him there now, a reminder of the exceptional talent and character of a departed superstar. Duncan said it was the only time he had ever been uncomfortable on a basketball court, but 14,407 fans that packed the LJVM weren't about to let Tim get out the building with the shirt on his back. First Team Playsr, Team Pts. Tim Duncan, Wake Forest (121) 363 Antwawn Jamison, UNC (119) 361 Trajan Langdon, Duke (96) 338 Matt Harpring, Georgia Tech (97) 337 Second Team Greg Buckner, Clemson (50) 290 Terrell Mclntyre, Clemson (3) 202 James Collins, Florida State 173 Steve Wojciechowski, Duke (2) 145 C.C. Harrison, N.C. State (1) 122 Third Team Vince Carter, UNC 112 Harold Deane, Virginia 109 Laron Profit, Maryland 88 Shammond Williams, UNC 76 (tie) Serge Zwikker, UNC 71 (tie) Tony Rutland, Wake Forest 71 1997 ACC Tournament ) , First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final _ _ Thursday, March 6 Friday, March 7 Saturday, March 8 Sunday, March 9 #S Maryland I ^ VcAX^BBI^/ -?LBykfi '=?!???"? . 1 ri> ' 'V ^ " 1 " ?' 7:30p.m. _ 1p.m. fOQtflf^akeh" ^Wf^Forast ' ' | ' * ^ " ACC Champion #3 North Carolina *'Jn~ 1 s 9:30 p.m. ????-?I j #6 Virginia * ' ... u. - ?? ? *" * _____ ??????*?? 111 I II ?>.1 ? Fading Wake Forest comes into March like a lamb, tournament could be first step to exiting with a roar B)( COURTNEY DANIEL Chronicle Staff Reporter ' Wake Forest is not storming itito the tournament like many had predicted them to do in the early part of January when they Were cruising along with an undefeated record overall and in the ACC. Instead the Demon Deacons -have limped to a second seed in the ACC tournament, a testa ment to both how good the team played early in their ACC sea son and how the finished the season - with 3 losses in their last five conference games. < The slump is clearly a result of the Deacons inability to start well. "In December and January, ,we were so far ahead in the first .half, then it changed," said .Wake Forest head coach Dave ,Odom. "Then we would get behind and spend the whole first .half catching up and then in the beginning of the second half we jtpok over. And now we're in jtfiis stretch where we stay ,behind half the game, three ?quarters of the game and try to r\yin it at the end." r, The last of Wake's losses came against Florida State, a game that cost the Deacons a share of the ACC regular season title and forced the Deacons to be pitted against Florida State in a tournament first round rematch. That second place seeding has also put the Deacons in a bracket with the red hot North Carolina Tarheels. That possible match-up looms large for the Deacons, but Wake Forest can not afford to be caught looking ? : "And now we're in this stretch where we stay behind half the game, three quarters of the game and try to win it at the end." - Dave Odom forwad to that game. Florida States's 59-55 win over the Deacons have given them confidence that they can play with and beat Wake, mak ing them a dangerous first round opponent. Randell Jackson is also a defensive match-up that Coach Dave Odom must address The 6-11 power forward burned Sean Allen and Loren Woods for 16 points and 12 rebounds, much of that against a zone that was designed to take way the inside scoring of the Seminoles. If Wake Forest can remedy whatever ails them, they have the talent to add a third ACC title to the rafters in LJVM Coli seum. If they play like they have played of late the conference has the talent to send the Deacs home early. Wake is playing for more than pride, or an ACC tourney title, there is a No. 1 seed in the East region up for grabs, and the Duke Blue Devils are looking to steal that prize. Wake needs to win the Tournament crown to lock that position up and cer tainly that is added pressure on the Deacons. With the top six teams in the conferecne looking to jock ey for position in the big dance, and Virginia looking to ensure a berth, the tournament will be a fierce combat zone. Wake needs to use the competition to hone some forgotten fighting skills, or watch all their promise and potential go for nought. Tim Duncan, the ACC's career leader in blocked shots, will need a big-time performance in this weekends ACC Tournament to get the Deacons into the championship game for the third straight year. V
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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March 6, 1997, edition 1
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