Tine irtraglfo evotatiom. off' a: player
The Daily Tar HeelFriday, February 13, 19879
Bucknall working hard to
earn playing time, respect
Dy JAMES SUROWIECKI
Assistant Sports Editor
It isn't always easy being a fresh
man basketball player at a big-name
school. To be sure, there are the J.R.
Reids and Derrick Colemans, roo
kies who make immediate and
substantial contributions.
But for many freshmen, that first
year is a humbling period of adjust
ment and education, on and off the
court. The transition from high
school superstar to someone who
intimately knows every grain of
wood on the bench can be a des
tructive process, and how one
handles that process thus defines the
kind of player one becomes.
These are not abstract sentiments
to UNCs Steve Bucknall, a 6-6
defensive demon who learned last
year that a light-blue uniform isn't
always easy to wear. The sophomore
arrived in Chapel Hill from London,
via Governor Dummer Academy
a Massachusetts boarding school.
His path since then has not been
easy, and he may be excused for
wondering if the road less-traveled
would have made all the difference.
Bucknall, of course, was one of
three highly-touted freshmen, along
with Kevin Madden and Jeff Lebo,
whom Dean Smith corralled for the
1985-1986 season. Although Buck
nall had averaged 30 points and 14
rebounds a game as a senior, he was
in many circles regarded as the lesser
light of the three.
Madden's travails have been well
documented, and the same is true
of Lebo's success. Bucknall to some
extent remains the unknown quan
tity. Dow n the stretch last year, there
was talk that he was performing well
in practice on the defensive end, but
that he wasn't getting playing time
because he was careless with the ball.
No one was sure.
This year, there has been a gradual
change. Bucknall has played in tough
games in clutch times. And if he still
looks a bit uncertain when UNC has
the ball, almost self-consciously
unselfish, his impact defensively and
on the boards cannot be overlooked.
The biggest difference between
this year and last is that I have more
confidence in my play," Bucknall
said. "IVe got a lot more minutes
being played, and that's made me
more enthusiastic. 1 feel like my work
in practice is paying off."
That work is what Bucknall's
teammates mention first when they
talk about him. In some sense, until
Bucknall begins playing regularly,
practice will be the forum where he
can best parade his talents. And so
he approaches it with a passion.
"Steve's a great defensive player
and he's a great offensive and
defensive rebounder," J.R. Reid
said. "It's scary the way he grabs
rebounds in practice. You know you
have to really box him out."
Reid's freshman frontcourt com
patriot, Scott Williams, echoed those
sentiments. "Steve's incredible in
practice," he said. "He's always
diving after loose balls, grabbing
rebounds, doing whatever it takes."
The increase in time spent away
from the bench has dimmed the sense
of frustration Bucknall felt last vear.
And talking about it now, he dis
misses the notion that he resented
his lack of a role. But the tone in
his voice when he speaks of riding
the pine suggests otherwise.
"It wasn't resentment, it was
reality," he said. "You have to realize
it's going to be tough to hit 30 just
coming in, or at any time, for that
matter. But 1 know 1 can do a good
job, can hit the open shot and go
to the boards hard."
No player's place on the Tar Heels
is more uncertain than Bucknall's.
His natural position is small for
ward, and UNC has no one who
plays there either consistently or
capably. But the lineup of three big
men has restricted Bucknall to duty
as a scrappy defensive sparkplug.
The future may change that. For
now, though, he waits for the call
and uses practice to make sure the
phone isn't off the hook.
"You go out every day and play
hard," Bucknall said, "and Coach is
going to see that you can play. Then
you hope hell give you a couple of
minutes here and there."
From center stage to a couple of
minutes in the wings. For Bucknall,
that's where the road to Chapel Hill
has taken him. So far.
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Steve Bucknall drives the lane against UVa.
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IM hoops
distinct personality. -
The predominant colors of blue
and white are apparent as most
competitors wear-the traditional
reversible' jerseys, .but a smattering
of all colors dot , the gym as some
dorm and fraternity teams create
their own colorful versions.
Jerseys, however, are not the most
creative aspect of IM basketball.
Where else will you find team names
like "We Lose," "Foreplay,"and
"The Home Boys," as well as a
stunning array of others?
Most participants in intramural
basketball agree that it is enjoyable
because it allows for semi
competitive play without the intense
pressure that takes the fun away.
Karlah Burton, a junior from
High Point, plays in both the Q,o
Rec and the Women's competitive
league. "1 played in high school and,
considered playing in " college, but .
intramurals is a fun basketball outlet'
without being really time consum
ing," she said.
Mike Berard and Clay Hodges
both play for "The Good, the Bad,
and the Ugly"f Old East Dorm.
"Intramurals -give you a chance to
meet other ball players and to show
your stuff," Berard said.
Hodges also enjoys most aspects
of IM ball, but relates a problem that
he has experienced before. "Whe
never a time-out is called late in a
game, everybody on the team decides
he wants to be the coach and calls
their own little play. It usually ends
up that whoever gets the ball first
is going to shoot anyway."
; Carol vGeer plays on a women's
recreational team, Pi Beta Phi. "I like
playing because it's good organized
exercise and it's a fun activity for
our sorority," she said.
Sam Gore misses the excitement
of the , high school ,sports he was
from page 1
involved with, and is glad for the
opportunity to get to play with some
of his high school buddies. Gore says
playing for the "Home Boys," is very
competitive, "but not to the point
where the fun is taken away."
Perhaps the biggest difference
between IM ball and regular pick
up ball in Woollen is the addition
of student referees. Roughly 60 fefs
take turns working three or four
nights a week in three-game shifts.
' Of the lack of respect accorded the
officials, Hardin Watkins, a junior
from Hendersonville, said, "The
players are generally well behaved.
Most of them know that we are
students and that the idea behind the
league is to have fun." When asked
Why he decided to take on the job,
Watkins said, "I like basketball and
I needed money."
Intramural basketball is a tradi
tion at a school that loves the sport,
'where even the tragic hero of the
opening scene can find redemption.
Time is running out. The game is
tied. The mad bomber gets the long
rebound from a missed shot and
heads upcourt. Mr. Hog chips in his
advice, " You missed earlier, make up
for it by shooting now!" 0
As he crouches for the jumper, his
teammates' eyes look murderous.
"We'll simply kill him after the
game," they think bitterly. As he
reaches the peak of his jump, his
defender retreats. "Good. Overtime, "
he thinks.
But to the surprise of everyone,
the mad bomber has whipped ah
overhead pass to a cutting teammate
for a layup. Buzzer. Basket's goodZ
A lesson has been learned, a game
has been won.- Not a national
championship, but a win nonethel
ess, and another exciting contest h
history in intramural basketball. I
$1,000 Grand Prize, over $5,000 total prize value.
141 winners. No entry fee. All types, topics, styles
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