Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Nov. 9, 2001, edition 1 / Page 21
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Gtyr iatly (Ear MM Thomas Looks to Boost UNC's Low Post Offense By Gavin Off Staff Writer Jennifer Thomas is as comfortable on the basketball court as she is in front of the camera. North Carolina’s 6-foot-2 forward might one day be broadcasting the very game she now plays. “I could definitely be on ESPN or NBC, one of those,” said Thomas, a junior journalism and mass communica tion and African-American studies dou ble major. “I like to talk and I like peo ple. I think I’m pretty easy to talk to.” But for now, Thomas is concerned with helping the Tar Heels capture the ACC crown and an NCAA Tournament bid. Thomas averaged 4.8 points and 2.4 rebounds per game off die bench last season. But with the departure of LaQuanda Barksdale, Thomas will be competing with several teammates for extended Metcalf Stands Out Early By Kelly Lusk Assistant Sports Editor When Nikki Teasley announced she was returning to the North Carolina women’s basketball team, she was expected to revamp a team that didn’t attend the NCAA Tournament last sea son for the first time since 1996. Teasley was back, and things were sure to be different. Meanwhile, nobody knew freshman Leah Metcalf even existed. But after her standout performances in UNC’s first two exhibition games, Metcalf is the player people are talking about “Leah Metcalf is doing a great job,” UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell said. “I don’t know how anyone in the league is going to guard her.” IdCI" diner ThrHffl Every Thursday 20%ff with UNC ID Employees, staff & students Spm-dpm Tues-Thurs 7am-9pm Fri-Sat 7am-10pm jjfijjjjj jhf Voted Best Diner in the Triangle, 2 years in a row! playing time. “They have me and Chrystal (Baptist) playing the four now, and I’m pretty confi dent in both of our abilities to play that position,” Thomas said. “I think I’m going to be called upon to be a leader this year, more so than I’ve been in the past few years. We Junior forward Jennifer Thomas averaged 4.8 points and 2.4 rebounds off the bench for UNC last season. have a lot of freshmen, so I have to be a role model for them.” Because of her new leadership role, Thomas spent the summer on campus, working on her stamina and perimeter shooting. She lifted weights four times a week, shot baskets and sweated through drills on the court Hatchell isn’t the only one who noticed Metcalfs breakout perfor mance. She was voted as the media’s preseason ACC Rookie of the Year. “My shot and ball-handling skills have definitely improved since practice started,” said Metcalf, who scored 39 points combined in last weekend’s two games. “I’ve got to just keep playing through my mistakes.” Even if she commits a few errors, Metcalf s addition to UNC’s three-guard combination of her, Teasley and Coretta Brown will make the Tar Heels unpre dictable and difficult to defend. The freshmen will alleviate pressure on other areas of the court as well. Six-foot-5 Tiffany Tucker, better known as “Baby Shaq," will add another inside presence to complement center BUB OfcALLXft MONDAY sl*DomesticLongnecks TUESDAY $2 Pints, 80's Night - Live DJ WEDNESDAY $2.50 Micro & Import Bottles THURSDAY Karaoke Might FRI DAY s2* 220 z Bowes SATURDAY $2. 50 220 z. BoWes 30 Taps! 100 Different Bottled Beers? JOIN BUB S BEER CLUB! Basketball 2001-02 The result? Thomas is quicker and 15 pounds lighter than last season. “I’ve gotten a lot faster, and I’ve worked on my perimeter game, so that will help the team,” she said. “As far as endurance and being in shape, I’m a lot better.” But Thomas said that she doesn’t feel that she has to be the go-to player on a guard-oriented UNC team. UNC plays a 4-1 offense, with four perimeter players and one post player. Thomas will be able to either dish it to the middle or drive past her opponent to the basket. But Thomas will have to contribute more than she did last year. There were 12 games last season in which she played but scored two points or less and three games in which she didn’t make it off the bench. “It’s really not any pressure,” she said. “This year we have so many peo ple that are capable of scoring that I think scoring is not really a big priority.” Candace Sutton down low this season. Another freshman expected to make early contributions is 20-year-old fresh man forward Jenni Laaksonen from Finland. If traveling across the ocean to play basketball seemed like a challenging task, it was compounded by the death of her father last March. But Laaksonen found fast friends in her UNC teammates. “It’s kind of like I want to (play) not only for myself but also for my dad because he used to be with us a lot for the basketball stuff,” Laaksonen said. Freshmen Kenya Mcßee and Nikita Bell will both see time at the three and four positions. “This group of freshmen is incredi ble,” Teasley said. “Watching them has kept me on my toes.” UNC Student's Pizza Headquarters Lunch, Dinner, Late Night M * Large l-Topping Pizza gjp 1 -Topping Pizza & 1 Coke 2-Topping Pizza <Lr l Coke j££jj io Wings, Breadstix Cr l Coke jL Cheesybread & Cinnastix’s & l Coke Cheesybread io Wings tfjfnfmall Cheese Pizza & Cheesybread Roommate's Special 3 Medium i Topping Pizzas $33-99 W Sun-Thurm nam-iam • JFVi <t? Sat llam-2am We accept Master Card, Visa, American Express and UNC One Card Duke Still on Top at Season's Start Despite the loss of 2000-01 National Player of the Year Shane Battier, the Blue Devils return a plethora of talent. By Aaron Fi rr Staff Writer For a team that lost the 2000-01 national player of the year, Duke sure is confident. Winning five consecutive ACC championships and the national title tends to breed optimism. Although Naismith Award winner Shane Battier and defensive stalwart Natejames have graduated, Duke (35-4, 13-3 in the ACC last season) returns four starters. Everything starts with junior point guard Jason Williams. One of the most explosive players in the nation, Williams led the ACC in scoring and 3-pointers per game last season. Duke will go as far this year as Williams takes it. Williams’ supporting cast may not be deep, but it is experienced and athletic. Versatile forward Mike Dunleavy and center Carlos Boozer will be counted on to take some pressure off Williams. Boozer is the only significant inside presence that the undersized Blue Devils have, so his role is critical. Duke will shoot a lot of 3-pointers and will make more of them if the 6-foot-9 Boozer can draw an occasional double ■Hr Wms A concept store for v ■ me'n & wpnien l f / ■ ■ —X * ' * '"Hsl CAUA Donald J.Pliner BCBG Camper Coach SHOES Charles David bebe j Northgate Mall Kenneth C ° le Via S P iga Durham 416-3963 Nine West Diesel www.sohoshoes.com DKNY and more... Hy / team in the post, leaving a shooter open on the perimeter. “We have a lot of shooters, so we definitely take a lot of 3s, and we’re definitely quick,” Boozer said. “I think teams are relying more on the perimeter. It’s exciting basket ball.” Dunleavy, a 6-9 junior, is a good Duke guard Jason Williams was the nation's only player to rank among the top 20 in scoring and assists. shooter with solid ball handling skills and a quick first step. His versatility on the offensive end creates matchup prob lems for opponents. But Dunleavy is too light to be a power forward and has difficulty •nding larger, more physical players. He gained 20 pounds since the end of last season, but he still weighs just 220. Sophomore guard Chris Duhon is the fourth returning starter from last year’s squad. Like Williams and Dunleavy, Duhon doesn’t shy away from launch ing 3-pointers during any stage of the game. Last season, Duhon was named the ACC Rookie of the Year, averaging 7.2 points and 4.5 assists per game. But Duhon will also have to fill the defensive void left by the departure of James. The Blue Devils will rely on their Jxfitrkna Chapel hill Where We Take Pride In Serving You!” Free Shuttle to UNC Hospitals & downtown 135 Comfortable Guest rooms Great In Room Amenities Teddy's Restaurant - Open for Breakfast & Dinner Teddy's Lounge - Experience Fun, Food & Spirits Meeting & Banquet Facilities Fitness Center / Outdoor Pool Great Location! Close to UNC & Area Attractions! Only h/z miles from campus! 9/9-929-21 71 or 1-888-452-5765 Located on 15/501 Bypass across from Eastgate Shopping Center ww'w.holidayinnchapelhill.com I 1 I Special University Rate I | Only $69/night j Standard Rooms (Rate normally $89.95) Not valid on football weekends or with other discounts. Offer expires 12/30/01. Present coupon at time of check in. , I . IT _ —3 DTHj Friday, November 9, 2001 speed and outside shooting, so junior transfer Dahntay Jones should fit in nicely. The 6-6 Jones led Rutgers in scoring his sophomore year and should become a solid fifth scoring option for Duke. “Dahntay’s easily one of the premier athletes in the country this year,” Dunleavy said. “He’s going to add a lot of excitement to our game. He’s going to add a lot of depth. He can play defense. He’s athletic. He can jump, he can score. He can do what you need to do.” Those five starters figure to get the vast bulk of playing time for Duke, but freshman guard Daniel Ewing and for wards Nick Horvath and Matt Christensen will spell them from time to time. The biggest question about this year’s Duke team is who who will replace Battier as the team’s leader. “The leadership on our team will be more like it usually is, and that’s plural, not singular,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “It was a little bit more singular last year with Shane. Dunleavy has tried to step up real big, and 1 can see (Williams) doing more. Boozer’s trying to do it. I think it can help all of them.” Power Crunches 1* ylyY Power Snook “thi TIS UOCURJ ) 1 pump c/ Downtown Chapel Hill 106 W. Franklin St. (next to He's Not Here) North Durham Northgate mall (next to Carousel) 11
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Nov. 9, 2001, edition 1
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