Basketball 1988-89Friday, November 18, 198823
ClhoDctLDtt reac3y
His role will expand
in SO
ore year
IS- I X
phom
By NEIL AMATO
Staff Writer
If Pete Chilcutt thought the pres
sure to perform early last season was
tough, he ain't seen nothhV yet.
Whereas last year he was pressed
into service in the opening game
against national power Syracuse
because Dean Smith suspended J.R.
Reid and Steve Bucknall for disci
plinary reasons, this year Chilcutt will
assume a larger role in light of Reid's
left-foot stress fracture.
Chilcutt, a product of Eutaw, Ala.,
is an academic junior with three years
of eligibility remaining. After being
redshirted, Chilcutt averaged five
points and three rebounds while
playing only 17 minutes per game.
If his performance in .North
Carolina's 109-100 exhibition victory
over Marathon Oil is any indication,
it looks as if the 6-foot-9, 225-pound
sophomore can handle the responsi- '
bility of starting.
Chilcutt believes the key to his
preseason success is offseason work.
"In the offseason, I've really
improved my strength while keeping
my weight down," Chilcutt said. "I'm
down from last year's playing weight,
but I think I'm stronger and have less
body fat. IVe worked on my rebound
ing and defense, especially. Defense
is something coach Smith really
stresses."
As evidence of these improve
ments, Chilcutt recorded three steals
and grabbed 12 boards against the
Oilers.
But dont get the impression he
played poorly on offense. Chilcutt
scored 23 points in a variety of ways.
Chilcutt admits he was slightly gun
shy last season when he had the open
shot, even though it was his 17-foot
jumper at the buzzer that tied Syr
acuse and sent the game into
overtime.
"This year, 111 feel more comfor
table on the court," Chilcutt said. Tm
going to look to shoot the ball more
when I'm open."
Being open includes outside the
three-point arc, where Chilcutt went
2-for-2 last Saturday against the
Soviet Union. When asked if he
would have the green light to shoot
the trey this season, Chilcutt was a
bit hesitant.
44 1 wouldn't say the green light," he
cautioned. "In certain situations, like
the secondary break, I guess you
could say I have the yellow light. I
think I can make that shot. I always
like to work on my three-point shot
because this year coach Smith told
me I could shoot it from the top of
the key on the secondary break."
Last season Chilcutt saw more
"This year I'll
feel more
comfortable on
the court"
Pete Chilcutt
action than expected in the Tipoff
Classic versus Syracuse. Of his game
tying shot, Chilcutt said, "It definitely
gave me confidence for last season.
It changed my whole outlook."
Chilcutt says his confidence level
is up even more this year.
44 As far as helping this year, my
confidence level is up enough to
where I know I can respond to
situations where coach Smith needs
me, whether it's a big game or a little
game," he said.
Chilcutt's teammates and coach
believe hell be able to handle the
pressure situatiaons due to his
improvement.
"He lost a lot of body fat," an
injured Reid said. "He looks slimmer
and stronger. We used to call him
"Meaty Petey when he got back this
fall because he likes to eat so much.
Everyone was surprised he ran his
mile fast enough to get out of the
first week's sprints in practice. It
shows the type of attitude we have
on this year's team."
Added senior Steve Bucknall:
-Pete has improved on all aspects of
his game 100 percent. He's come into
his own and he's going to have a great
year."
Smith thought Chilcutt's offseason
work had really made a difference in
his preseason performance.
"Pete did everything we asked,"
Smith said. "IVe seen improvement
in practices. His body looks a lot
better, a lot quicker."
To become a more versatile part
of the Tar Heel attack, Chilcutt is
currently trying to learn the 3-spot
(small forward). He's already been
playing big forward and center.
"I feel if I can learn the 3-spot, I
can help out the team a lot more,"
Chilcutt said of his expanding role.
"I'm looking to be sixth man most
games, but it depends on the
situation."
That was before Reid's injury.
Now, over the next six weeks,
Chilcutt has a chance to step into the
limelight.
See CHILCUTT page 29
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Sophomore forward Pete Chilcutt will be counted on to provide some help in the paint for UNC
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