Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Nov. 7, 2003, edition 1 / Page 17
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SotUj (lor Meri BMP jHBBBHE. DTH/GREG LOGAN Point guard Ivory Latta holds numerous South Carolina high school records and was voted ACC Preseason Rookie of the Year by the media. Latta s speed, skill a boost for offense Bell one of ACC's best defensive players BY BRANDON COWARD STAFF WRITER With the dawn of anew season, the North Carolina women’s bas ketball team is stuck on one gear lull throttle. This theme is characterized by the team’s new point guard, light ning-quick freshman Ivory Latta. Latta, who averaged 44.5 points a game for York Comprehensive High School in South Carolina, was voted as the hands-down favorite for ACC Preseason Rookie of the Year. “They’re gonna have their hands full trying to guard Ivory,” said jun ior Nikita Bell. That’s high praise coming from Bell, who made the ACC All- Defensive team last year and says she sometimes has to grab Latta hy her jersey to stop her from getting to the basket in practice. As the season approaches, Latta seems to be the only fixture in the backcourt. Bell, sophomore La’Tangela Atkinson, junior Leah Metcalf and sophomore Jessica Sell could all see time at the shooting guard position. Sell sees the lack of a set lineup as an advantage. “Our team is extremely versa tile,” Sell said. “If you put anybody at any position on the floor, they could run that spot. “That’s good because it makes us seem very unpredictable to opponents.” Sell looks to reprise her role as three-point specialist this year. Last season she shot a team-best 40.6 percent from behind the arc. Atkinson is coming off of a stel lar freshman year in which she was named ACC Rookie of the Year. She dominated the boards for the Tar Heels, ranking second in the ACC in rebounding, averaging 8.3 per game. Coach Sylvia Hatchell expects big things out of Atkinson. “Tangie is better than ever,” Hatchell said. “Even though she was ACC Freshman of the Year, I don't think she’s really showed you what she can do.” Metcalf could also see some time in the backcourt and at point guard. She ran the point at times last year, averaging 9.4 points and 4.3 assists. Metcalf could step in as a two-guard and combine with Latta for a backcourt that’s hard to catch up with. “With Ivory at point and Leah at two-guard, that’s a pretty quick backcourt," Hatchell said. “I don’t know if anybody’s quicker.” Bell will probably split time as a forward and guard this year. She was an All-ACC Second Team selection last year and looks to take more of a leadership role in the backcourt. Bell will be expected to pick up much of the void left by the depar ture of the Tar Heels’ leading scor er, Coretta Brown, who now plays with the WNBAs Indiana Fever. Brown was a key part of North Carolina’s attack last season, aver aging 14.5 points a game. Bell, though, was UNC’s sec ond-leading scorer last year, aver aging 11.4 points as well as 5.6 rebounds per game. She has also proven that she can put up big numbers, dropping 30 points against Maryland, the high est total by any player last year. “With Coretta gone, I’ve tried to set up and lead by example,” Bell said. “I try to lead by example and go hard in practice to motivate younger players to match my intensity.” Intensity will be key for the Tar Heels, who have only 11 players this year and have grown closer together as a result of their reduced numbers. “We had a tough preseason and lost a few players along the way,” Sell said. “We needed each other throughout the preseason. The smaller numbers helped us realize that.” Heading into the season with a smaller, quicker crew, Hatchell and her Tar Heels have one thing in mind full speed ahead. ...you could have a a tam* j ", „ £ space of your own “ / and live minutes k __ from campus? ~ ' wKm ' Granville TTand-ne* s' n9 ' e 919 370 4500 info@granvilletowers.com wwwgranvilletowers.com Vr ti/e/conte T&s/f KcrN©s , gs 125 E. Franklin Street ~ 929.3639 i Katies ..igfp i s ,“v \ t*e Unmet , . (SO rfiefrperpfaffer) Exp i 1/21/03 | Good Only at Franklin Street Location t Basketball 2003-04 Forwards a model of versatility Atkinson, Mcßee to see variety of roles BY CHRIS GILFILLAN ASSISTANT SPORTSATURDAY EDITOR Where have all the forwards gone? This is the main question facing the North Carolina women’s bas ketball team as it lays out its game plan for the rest of the season. Adding to the ambiguity is the status of the ACC’s second-leading rebounder, La’Tangela Atkinson, who, oddly enough, will probably play primarily shooting guard. Atkinson, a sophomore, actual ly had the most overall rebounds in the conference, but her average was just below Georgia Tech’s sen ior Sonja Mallory. “You’ve got to have an attitude when you rebound," Atkinson said. “You can’t go out there and be non chalant you’ve got to want the ball. When I’m in the game and the ball is shot, I'm always wanting the ball, so I go up and get that rebound.” That attitude, along with 9.7 points per game, helped her get voted ACC Rookie of the Year last season. So with Atkinson as a guard, where are the other rebounds going to come from? The Tar Heels also return junior forward Kenya Mcßee and defen sive specialist Nikita Bell, w'ho is likely to play at the small forward position. Although she was third in the ACC in steals last year with 2.5 per game, Bell still lacks some of the height to play down low. But despite only standing six feet tall, Bell used her strength to compete with opponents on the boards. She finished averaging 5.6 a game last year. Mcßee, on the other hand, will be busy helping to back up center Candace Sutton. Mcßee has the height, but still has yet to prove herself as a power forward. Last year she came off the bench to play in all 34 games, but aver aged only 4.2 rebounds per game. basketball,” Hatchell said. “We just have a lot of kids that can play a gfigpSs lot of positions.” Already a small and quick line- A up, the Tar Heels have added fresh m an Camille little, who could fill the missing true forward position for the Tar Heels. 'IK. j* “UNC is usually an athletic and a quick team," said Duke coach Gail Goestenkors. “This year though, they are more athletic and quicker as a team.” 83r" ’ "■ Jw /*“*' - * S M &\ , ' , JH|:c . Si The concerns with Little are her experience and strength, though she has been lauded as one of the best rebounders on the team in practice. “She needs to get stronger if she’s going to play in A the post," J 1 Mcßee said. “She has to be mentally M tough V because 3 usually fresh- men don’t come out there mentally tough.” Although not as strong as the rest of the league’s forwards, Little began the practices with consecutive impres sive performances. “Camille stands out in rebound ing, she’s just ferocious going for those rebounds,” said UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell. “She’s aggressive going to the boards, and she can get rebounds anywhere on the rim.” Still, the Tar Heels will run a very up-tempo offense to compensate for their lack of inside height, especial ly with Little and Bell at forwards. “To me, forwards are old-time FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2003 This year, the Tar Heels return one of the most pro ductive rebounding teams in the conference. Last year, they fin | ished third in the con- I ference with a I rebounding advantage of 3.9 per game. Unfortunately a for them, they will have to 'HWEMTi Duke I Wit (IT www.wipeoutyoursportsrival.com Lacock’s Shoe Store and Repair Shop * Established in 1916 Mon-Fri Bam-s:3opm • Sat 9:3oam-4pm • 919-942-4896 Located in Plaza Hall in the Village Shopping Center. Chapel Hill STuttati'g Purveyors to Tar Heel Royalty Since 1942 Downtown Chapel HHI 140 East Franklin Street Monday-Saturday 10-6 improve on that to compete with ACC powerhouse and preseason national No. 2 Duke, which returns a team that will be led by senior for ward Iciss Tillis and senior wing Alana Beard. The Blue Devils topped the ACC in rebounding last year Tillis was second in the ACC in rebounds per game with 8.6. But the Tar Heels’ versatility lends itself to unity as a team, which will give them a boost against preseason favorite Duke. “I think (the team) molds togeth er on and off the court,” Little said. “We laugh and joke, but we defi nitely know how to be serious and work together on the floor. I think we will be something to watch and surprise people this year.” Junior forward Kenya Mcßee averaged 4.2 rebounds per game off the bench last year and will be counted upon to fill the void in the low post. DTH/ BRIAN ... CASSELLA v kV 9
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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