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(04/11/07 4:00am)
Loren Hibbs must have known it was coming. With one out and two on in the bottom of the ninth and the score knotted at 3-3, Charlotte's head coach must have had that feeling in his gut - somehow the No. 2 Tar Heels would pull out the win.
A quick glance at the history books reveals the root of his uneasiness. UNC coach Mike Fox was 8-0 against the 49ers. Charlotte last defeated the Tar Heels in 1992, and they haven't won in Chapel Hill since April 20, 1988.
So when UNC centerfielder Seth Williams smashed the first pitch he saw over the left field fence - a walk-off three-run bomb - Hibbs and his 49ers could only watch as the ecstatic Tar Heels mobbed their hero of the night and celebrated a 6-3 victory.
"He threw me a fastball," Williams said. "It came in, right in the zone and I picked it up and gave a good hack at it. But it felt good off the bat - I'm not gonna lie."
Heading into the contest, this one looked like a better interstate match-up than last year's 3-1 UNC win in Chapel Hill and 14-6 beat down in Charlotte. The 49ers (26-6) were riding a seven-game win streak while the Tar Heels (30-5) were poised to match the 1983 team as the fastest to 30 wins in school history.
The game didn't disappoint.
Both teams got on the board early, with the Tar Heels taking a 1-0 lead when Dustin Ackley knocked home his league-leading 47th RBI. The Tar Heel freshman extended his hitting streak to 27 games with a three-hit performance.
Charlotte answered with two runs off UNC starter Luke Putkonen in the second before the Tar Heels tied it back up at two in the bottom half of the inning. The 49ers took the lead back on leftfielder Brad McElroy's RBI groundout, but McElroy's bobble in left field in the fourth allowed Kyle Shelton to score and set up the dramatic conclusion.
"They're a good team," Fox said. "They gave us all we could handle, and I thought we were fortunate to win because we didn't play as well as we wanted to."
Williams got his chance in the ninth inning thanks to six strong innings from the Tar Heel bullpen.
After pitching four innings on Sunday, closer Andrew Carignan threw two and a third strong frames, allowing just one hit en route to his first win of the season.
"I felt really good, and coach told me that I needed to be ready for tonight," Carignan said. "I didn't know it was going to be two and a third, but I was ready."
Carignan came in for the final out of a marathon seventh inning in which four UNC pitchers surrendered no runs and only one hit.
"(Carignan's) normally our closer, but if we get in a jam in the seventh, we'll go to him," Fox said. "He's our best guy."
The Tar Heels will look to ride the momentum of Williams' walk-off into their weekend home series against Duke.
"Seth was just sitting on it and that ball went a long way," Carignan said. "It's great to get a win that way."
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu
(02/26/07 5:00am)
DURHAM - Duke rolled out the red carpet on Sunday in Durham, but it wasn't for the visiting North Carolina Tar Heels. It was senior night at Cameron Indoor Stadium, and the top-ranked Blue Devils were looking to send fourth-year standouts Lindsey Harding and Alison Bales out with a win, and complete the first undefeated regular season in school history.
The No. 4 Tar Heels (27-3,
11-3 in the ACC) battled back and forth with Duke all night, exchanging the lead eight times in a very physical contest. Junior forward Erlana Larkins grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds to go along with 18 points, but it wasn't enough to knock off the top-ranked Blue Devils (29-0, 14-0), who used a 12-6 run in the final six minutes to dig out a 67-62 victory.
"This wasn't one of our best games," Duke coach Gail Goestenkors said. "I think we struggled a little bit offensively. I give Carolina credit for that. I thought their defense was really good.
"But once again, we did what was necessary to win."
With just less than seven minutes left in the game, the Tar Heels took a 56-55 lead on a Camille Little 3-pointer and appeared poised to rebound from a Feb. 8 loss to Duke in Chapel Hill.
But after Duke shifted to a zone defense, the Tar Heels fell apart and couldn't find the basket or keep Duke off the free-throw line.
"When I saw them go to zone, I actually was very happy because we have been great against zone all year," UNC coach Sylvia
Hatchell said.
Not this time. During a seven-minute scoreless stretch, the Tar Heels coughed the ball up five times, Larkins missed three layups and Duke attempted ten free throws.
"I thought we were in position to win the game, and they took it from us a few times in some crucial situations," Hatchell said. "The foul line was major, too."
While the free throw discrepancy was notable - Duke out-shot the Tar Heels 33 to 12 from the line - the Blue Devils struggled to finish the game. In the final 10 minutes they connected on only 10 of 24 from the stripe, leaving a narrow window open for UNC in the final minute.
Duke's seniors took charge in their final home game. Bales led the Blue Devils with 16 points - 11 in the first half - to go along with 12 boards, and Harding, Hatchell's pick for ACC Player of the Year, tallied 15 points and eight rebounds. She played all but one minute, while Bales sat for only two.
The Blue Devils, who went into halftime with a 35-30 advantage, beat UNC on the boards, 45-39, with a big boost from freshman Joy Cheek off the bench, who pitched in 14 of her own. Cheek also helped Duke's bench outscore UNC's 15-4.
Latta, who played every minute of the game, led the Tar Heels with 19 points but again struggled to find her outside shot, going just 1 for 6 from downtown.
The game was a far cry from the matchup in Chapel Hill in which the then-No. 2 Tar Heels put up a dismal offensive performance en route to a 64-53 loss to No. 1 Duke.
The Tar Heels were far more effective in the paint, repeatedly pounding the ball inside to Larkins and outscoring the Blue Devils
36-22. In their first meeting Larkins could only muster 4 points, going 1 for 8 from the field. This time she pulled the 6-foot-7-inch Bales out from the basket and used quickness to beat her to the rim.
"I think I did a better job today than I did a couple weeks ago at Carolina," Larkins said. "I just tried to focus on going around her as opposed to over the top."
Still, the Tar Heels failed to capitalize on their scoring opportunities, missing several open layups and hitting just 3 of 14 from long range. In its two games against Duke, UNC is
5 of 33 from deep.
Duke became the 14th team in NCAA history to go undefeated in the overall regular season. And while the Cameron Crazies celebrated their perfect season with a bonfire previously reserved for men's basketball victories, the Tar Heels must regroup before the ACC tournament, which begins on Thursday in Greensboro.
"We haven't played our best basketball," Hatchell said. "That's what we're going to try to do is play our best basketball in March and hopefully move to a higher level."
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(02/19/07 5:00am)
Charmaine Clark didn't have a chance. Miami's 5-foot-11-inch forward barely got her sneakers off the floor before 6-foot-3-inch North Carolina forward LaToya Pringle had tapped the ball to a Tar Heel teammate, and the rout was on.
The Hurricanes (11-17, 2-11 in the ACC) were overmatched from the opening tip Sunday in Chapel Hill, lacking the size or speed to make their matinee with the No. 2 Tar Heels anything short of a blowout. The Tar Heels never trailed on their way to a 93-70 victory.
Coming off a loss at N.C. State on Friday, in which UNC (26-2,
10-2) shot a lowly 38.5 percent from the field, the Tar Heels raced out to a
13-0 lead in the first three minutes.
"They did what they needed to do in that 13-0 run," Miami coach Katie Meier said. "That was all Carolina. That was not unexpected and that's a real compliment to them."
UNC's relentless pressure frustrated Miami, pushing the tempo and forcing 22 turnovers. The Tar Heels limited guard Renee Taylor, the ACC's leading scorer at
18.9 points per game, to 15 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the field.
"The intensity was great today," senior Camille Little said. "I think we just were more focused, and it helped us out tremendously."
Junior forward Erlana Larkins - who has suffered from leg cramps and required intravenous fluids immediately following Friday's loss - returned to form against Miami. The preseason All-ACC selection owned the boards, collecting 13 rebounds and 13 points to tally her 10th double-double of the season.
Senior guard Ivory Latta, who has struggled to find her outside shot in recent games - shooting a combined 0-19 from long-range in UNC's losses to the Wolfpack and Duke - looked much more confident against Miami, connecting on five 3-pointers on the way to a team-high 21 points and six assists.
"I felt more calm and confident about my shot when I went out there, and I just knew I was going to have a good game," Latta said.
After the break the Tar Heels appeared to tire out. Hurricane guard Maurita Reid nailed four of her five 3-pointers in the frame and led all scorers with 28 points after a five-point first half.
Some of that energy deficiency can be attributed to a brutal practice following Friday's loss.
"We knew what was coming," Larkins said. "We knew we didn't do a good job of rebounding. So like (UNC) coach (Sylvia) Hatchell said a couple weeks ago, we just had to 'put on our big-girl panties.'"
The Tar Heels lost the board battle Friday to a spirited Wolfpack team celebrating both senior night and the dedication of their court to Coach Kay Yow.
UNC clawed back from a
26-point first-half deficit to get within three with 21 seconds remaining before eventually losing 72-65. The loss was UNC's second of the season, both coming in the last three games.
Latta and Little will get their time in the limelight as the Tar Heels celebrate their seniors in Thursday night's final home game, which is against Wake Forest.
Hatchell expects it to be a memorable night.
"I'll be disappointed if it's not sold-out for senior night," she said. "For what these two young ladies have done for this program, they deserve that."
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(01/22/07 5:00am)
CORRECTION: Due to an editing error, the score box and cutline accompanying this story incorrectly states the score of the UNC-N.C. State game. The score was 86-65. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error.
It would have been easy for the North Carolina women's basketball team to look past Sunday's matchup with rival N.C. State.
With a trip to College Park, Md., looming and revenge on their minds, the No. 2 Tar Heels (22-0, 6-0 in the ACC) easily could have overlooked a visit from a struggling Wolfpack squad that had dropped four of its last seven.
(01/18/07 5:00am)
CLEMSON, S.C. - Fresh off a humbling loss at Virginia Tech on Saturday, No. 4 North Carolina looked to rebound against a Clemson team coming off its first loss of the season.
But Littlejohn Coliseum is not a rehabilitation clinic, and even when the Tigers were perennial ACC cellar dwellers, UNC struggled to find success there.
But Coach Roy Williams' young team showed that it had learned a thing or two about dealing with a hostile crowd, handing the Tigers their second straight loss - 77-55.
"That's what we like to do," senior guard Wes Miller said. "We like to take a crowd out of the game because you know if you're doing that then you're doing some good things on the floor."
From the tipoff it appeared that the Tar Heels had run into another orange buzz saw as Clemson (17-2, 3-2 in the ACC) used its full-court press to create early turnovers and race to a 4-0 lead. But UNC (16-2, 3-1) quickly regained its composure and took control. After taking a 15-14 lead just after the 11 minute mark, the Tar Heels never looked back.
"I think it'd be an understatement to say it was a much better effort, much better intensity and much better execution than it was on Saturday," Williams said.
North Carolina struggled at times against Clemson's pressure, which forced turnovers, most out in the open court. UNC committed 22 turnovers, 20 caused by Tiger steals - the most ever for Clemson in an ACC game.
Tar Heel freshman point guard Ty Lawson continued to struggle handling the ball. He had seven turnovers to only three assists.
But many of UNC's giveaways were a result of an aggressive offensive attack, and Williams used his deep rotation to keep fresh bodies on floor and keep the pressure on Clemson's defense.
"A lot of times you can turn over the ball because you're back on your heels, and they're really pressuring you and taking you out of what you want to do," Miller said.
Clemson scored just 18 points off turnovers, a testament to better defending from a UNC squad that allowed Virginia Tech to shoot 52.6 percent from the field on Saturday.
The Tar Heels held the Tigers to just 33.8 percent from the field and 21.1 percent from beyond the arc.
"We did a much better job guarding people," Williams said.
The Tar Heels shot 51.7 percent from the field, compared to just 43.8 percent against Virginia Tech, and Brandan Wright led all scorers with 17 points.
Playing through the pain of a fall in a grueling Monday practice, sophomore Tyler Hansbrough added 16 points and grabbed seven boards.
"It hurt, but you know, I'm not going to let it hold me back when I'm playing," Hansbrough said.
Clemson was led by junior forward James Mays and junior forward Cliff Hammonds, who each had 15 points. Freshman forward Trevor Booker also tallied eight blocks - the most rejections by a Clemson freshman since Sharone Wright in 1992.
Still, UNC limited sharpshooter K.C. Rivers to just four points, and held him without a 3-pointer.
"I am very proud of the way our kids played tonight," Williams said. "It has been a tough three of four days since the loss on Saturday. The kids thought that I was half crazy the past couple of days. I told them they didn't want to see the other half."
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(11/15/06 5:00am)
This summer, North Carolina men's soccer player Ted Odgers found himself in Bizarro world.
On a field in Cordoba, Argentina, UNC's vocal leader had the tables turned on him. Instead of issuing commands to his teammates, Odgers was receiving orders and struggling to decipher them.
"It's different," the senior defender said. "It's really rattling as well. You're playing on the field with guys from Argentina. I mean, these kids are 18, 19 years old, and they are barking at you in Spanish.
"And you've got to at the same time process what's going on on the field, play in the game, try to learn the new system that they're playing, and you've got some guy yelling at you in Spanish, so you've got to figure out translations in your head.
"That's a lot of stuff going on at the same time."
Difficult as it might have been, the sensory overload was something Odgers wanted to experience.
While the demands of Division I athletics often keep players from having the opportunity to spend a semester away from the pine trees and powder blue, the Raleigh native wasn't about to miss out on his chance to venture abroad.
"I want to travel while I'm young; I want to see the world," he said. "I just want to see other people and what other cultures are like."
With the help of assistant coach Carlos Somoano, Odgers was able to do just that this summer when he traveled to Argentina to train with Racing de Cordoba, which plays in the third tier of the Argentine Football Association.
It was an eye-opening experience, and it gave him a new understanding of the world's game.
"You only get so much from TV here," Odgers said. "To actually get down there and live and see some of these kids that are so poor. They come from the slums, and they get scholarships to come play on these teams.
"Just to see how driven these kids are and the passion they play the game with - you don't find it here."
For two and a half months, Odgers trained with the club, living the life of a professional athlete in a grueling, high-pressure soccer environment.
"It was different," he said. "It was hard at first to get adjusted to, but I really loved it, and I think it did help me out.
"I think I came back not so much night and day transformation, but I think I came back with a better understanding of the game, and maybe more appreciation for it."
Coach Elmar Bolowich believes this appreciation is something players can only fully realize in a soccer-crazed environment in Europe or South America.
"They live it," Bolowich said. "They absolutely live through the club; they live through the players; they breathe soccer; they watch it all day. So it's part of the culture, and there's nothing second, really."
Odgers was fortunate enough to be in Cordoba for the duration of the FIFA World Cup - easily the world's biggest, most closely followed sporting event.
"During the World Cup, it's insane," Odgers said. "You can't compare it to March Madness here. March Madness is just an inkling of what it's like."
Odgers watched the Argentina-Mexico elimination round match from a central plaza, alongside about 50,000 rabid Argentina fans.
"You've got people out there with flags, you've got fireworks going off, and this is at 12 o'clock in the afternoon," he said. "You've got people that have been partying since eight in the morning, ready to go. And cars are driving around with drum sets on top of them. . People playing drums on top of cars. It's pretty wild."
Watching his favorite players, John Terry of England, Roberto Ayala of Argentina and Mexico's Rafael Marquez - all center backs - in that environment only furthered Odgers' love for the game he's played since early childhood.
"There's soccer on TV all the time down there," he said. "It's just in their blood. When you're in an environment where it's just 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year soccer, soccer, soccer. . I mean, they know the game better than I do.
"Their minds think faster on the field, and they play the game faster. It's just a lot of fun to watch as well, not only play."
Odgers has tried to bring some of that passion back to UNC.
"It's a very high-strung environment where guys are coming and going on a weekly basis," he said. "When your job is up for grabs like that, people fight from the first ball that's played in practice to the last touch.
"That level of intensity, and that whole environment in general, I've tried to bring that over here."
While UNC doesn't have a designated captain this season, Odgers is clearly the vocal leader on the pitch and in the locker room.
"He's not shy about taking on responsibility," Bolowich said. "That's not by design. This is not because I want him to do that, this is because he seems to be suited to do that. And he wants it, so it's not a forced thing, which is a good quality."
Fellow senior Blake Beach trained alongside Odgers in Brazil in 2005 and has watched his teammate emerge as the Tar Heels' on-field leader.
"As a leader and a veteran on the team, he's more equipped to handle certain situations," Beach said.
"He's a little bit more vocal than the other guys, because he's our center back. It's kind of where you'd like to have your senior and your leader."
In four years at UNC, Bolowich has watched his back-line anchor become a defensive stalwart and reliable leader.
"That is the wonderful thing of being with the program," Bolowich said. "You see the growth in a person. When you compare him from his freshman year to where he is now, it is an unbelievable level of maturity that has developed."
Odgers, who will graduate in December, is hoping Major League Soccer scouts have taken similar notice. He'd like to get an invitation to the MLS Player Combine this winter where he would compete with other top college prospects.
"Optimistically, I really hope I get a chance to go and have the opportunity to compete with the top players out of the college game," he said. "Personally, I think I can. But it just depends whether I can show that on the field."
The 21-year-old is also considering following the path of former Tar Heel Tim Merritt, a 2004 graduate who plays in Germany.
"I would definitely pursue playing other places," he said. "I'd be on a plane as soon as I can get to the airport."
After using his time in Argentina to improve his Spanish, Odgers - who is also proficient in Portuguese and is learning Italian - isn't ruling out other career or service possibilities abroad if he can't find a roster spot somewhere.
"I'm trying to put the real world on hold for as long as I can and just see things while I'm young," he said. "I don't think you can get the full understanding of what it's like for people in foreign countries until you go there and you experience it yourself.
"I want to get out. I want to see the world. I don't know if I'm going to make a difference - I'd like to make a positive change."
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(10/13/06 4:00am)
When you're the No. 3 team in the nation, you expect to get every team's best shot.
When you travel to Buies Creek to play Campbell in their biggest game of the season, you've got to be prepared for a dog . err, Camel fight.
Tuesday night, the Tar Heels got a fight, and courtesy of an own goal, the Camels (7-5-1) slew Goliath in their biggest win since another victory over then-No.3 North Carolina in 1988.
Tonight UNC will face a more expected challenge when it hosts No. 5 Wake Forest (11-2-1, 2-2-1 in the ACC) at Fetzer Field.
At practice Wednesday, one might have expected to find a frustrated, angry team trying to figure out how to rebound.
The vibe was anything but. The Tar Heels (10-3-2, 2-2-1) looked loose and joked with one another as they blasted penalties at freshman defender David Rodriguez.
"We don't want to overreact," senior forward Ben Hunter said. "Credit to Campbell, they're a good team. They played well, and that's their biggest game of the year. And it's probably a good wake-up call for us heading into the ACC tournament and the NCAAs."
The message from UNC head coach Elmar Bolowich on Wednesday was simple: Relax.
"Our personnel is right, the chances are there and we dominate most of the games, even against the tougher opponents," he said. "We just don't get the desired results.
"Maybe we're trying a little too hard, and we're getting a little too uptight. I think in front of the goal we just need to find the right balance to concentrate, relax and really have a killer mentality and attitude."
With ACC and NCAA tournament seedings on the line, Bolowich and his team fully understand the importance of tonight's match.
"It's the ACC, it's getting tight now," Bolowich said. "It's a matter of who's going to finish at the top and who's going to finish at the bottom."
Tonight is also senior night, and it marks the final regular season home match for seven seniors.
"It's our senior night, and they're going to come in and try to ruin that for us," Hunter said. "That's enough motivation for any of our seven senior starters."
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(09/27/06 4:00am)
Following a big win against then-No. 1 Virginia on Friday in Chapel Hill, the North Carolina men's soccer team appeared poised to re-establish itself as one of the nation's top championship contenders.
Losses to N.C. State at home and at Clemson to open the conference schedule left UNC dead last in the ACC standings. With Friday's win, the nation's preseason No. 1 team appeared to have righted the ship.
A mid-week visit from Southern Conference neighbor Elon appeared to be another boost of confidence for the No. 5 Tar Heels (9-2-0) before a weekend trip to Blacksburg to take on Virginia Tech. The last thing the team expected was a scoreless deadlock through the end of regulation.
"We were pumped up about (the Elon game)," sophomore midfielder Scott Campbell said. "I don't know what happened in the first half."
Freshman forward Bill Dworsky's golden goal in the 95th minute replaced what would have been a disappointing tie with a 1-0 victory.
"It was definitely a challenge trying to keep ourselves going for tonight after such an emotional high on Friday," Dworsky said.
The Phoenix (8-3-1) were by no means a cupcake on the schedule. In a visit to Fetzer Field last October, they pushed the Tar Heels to the limit, eventually losing in overtime, 2-1. This season, Elon defeated then-No. 17 University of Alabama-Birmingham and hung around before dropping a 2-0 decision to then-No. 5 Wake Forest.
"I knew what was coming," Coach Elmar Bolowich said. "I knew it would be a tough game, and the reason why is they are totally different than Virginia."
Bolowich noted Elon's strong defensive strategy, which kept nine players behind the Tar Heel strikers to limit scoring chances.
"It's hard to break a team down when they're patient, defending just with bodies alone," he said. "It's hard to find the holes and the open shots. It becomes a matter of patience and a matter of timing."
With a 15-6 edge in shots through regulation, UNC had more than enough chances but simply could not put the ball in the back of the net.
It wasn't until the 17th shot, halfway through the first overtime period - Dworsky's rebound off a David Boole blast from outside the 18 - that the Tar Heels could rest easy.
Dworksy's tally was the ninth game-winning goal for the Tar Heels, each coming from a different scorer.
"Whatever it takes to get the win," Dworsky said. "If we have the goalie score the winning goal, that's fine with me. It's definitely a testament to our balance."
If the Tar Heels overlooked the Phoenix heading into Tuesday night, they fully understand the importance of getting the win.
"It's huge," Campbell said. "We needed that to keep it going and keep it rolling.
"We've gotta win all our conference games from here on out, because we didn't start off too hot in that arena. But it's definitely a big win."
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(09/19/06 4:00am)
Quarterback controversy?
Not anymore.
Saturday night against Furman University, redshirt freshman Cam Sexton solidified himself as UNC's starting signal caller . for now.
In his first collegiate start, Sexton showed few signs of nerves. His first pass was a screen to tailback Ronnie McGill, who took off down the left sideline for a 58-yard touchdown.
"I love screen passes," Sexton said following the Tar Heels' first win of the season. "The screen pass I guess is the quarterback's best friend. You don't do a lot of work, let them do it, and it looks good on my stats."
Sexton completed 14 of 20 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns.
And, after throwing two interceptions against Virginia Tech in his first college game, Sexton limited his mistakes against the Paladins and enabled UNC to dig out a win.
"We play well when we eliminate mistakes," he said. "I threw one interception that I want back. It was a bad throw, but it was only one. We had no fumbles, no bad exchanges under center, and when you do that you give yourselves a chance to win."
Sexton's teammates and coaching staff took notice of his composure in a must-win game for UNC.
"He played with a lot of poise," Coach John Bunting said. "He certainly exhibited, off the field, out there, that he was enjoying it."
The young quarterback was quick to credit his offensive line for giving him time in the pocket to make big plays when UNC needed them.
"I think we threw the ball downfield well," he said. "I think the guys ran great routes. But the key emphasis today is I got hit one time in a college football game - one time. You get hit one time, and it's easy."
At times it did look easy for Sexton as he spread the ball around to six different receivers, including UNC's lone returning starting wide receiver, Jesse Holley.
With the Tar Heels trailing 35-31 six minutes into the fourth quarter, Sexton's offense faced a third-and-14 at midfield. Sexton found Holley down the middle of the field for a pivotal 50-yard score that put UNC back on top, 38-35.
After the game, Sexton admitted there was a bit of luck involved in that game-changing hookup.
"I called the wrong play on the touchdown to Jesse," he said. "I guess I misread the signal or something happened . sometimes it happens like that.
"I have no idea what the play was supposed to be; I'm going to find out tomorrow."
With the Tar Heels at the Paladins' five-yard line facing a fourth-and-one that would ice the game, Bunting called Sexton to the sideline to give him his the play.
"I wanted to run (the clock) down to one (second and call a timeout), and he responded, 'Did you say three?' And I said, 'One!' He said, 'Did you say two?'
"He was goofing on me big time and enjoying the hell out of it," Bunting said. "So I'm a little worried about him."
Sexton's poise under pressure should be enough to lock down the starting job for next week's matchup with Clemson University in Death Valley, but junior transfer Joe Dailey is waiting in the wings should the freshman falter.
For now, it appears the job is Sexton's to lose.
"He had a big game," McGill said. "He came in, he kept his composure, and he kept up the leadership on the sideline.
"He made some big plays at some big times."
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(09/15/06 4:00am)
After the second interception, it was time to make a change. Fresh legs, a different style, better pocket vision - anything to jump-start a stagnant offense that had just as many turnovers as first downs.
On his first play under center, the quarterback was flushed out of the pocket, rolled right and threw a tight spiral to an open receiver for a first down. Two plays later he completed another pass, a perfect strike right in the numbers - of the other team's middle linebacker.
No, I'm not talking about Cam Sexton. This was me on Sunday in my team's first flag football game of the intramural season.
The similarities between the performances of our three QBs and Sexton and former Tar Heel starter Joe Dailey are eerily similar.
Like UNC's Saturday signal callers, we managed to throw our dying quails at just the right times - when we were on the precipice of a first down or just starting to get some rhythm on offense.
Our final QB stat lines were as follows:
The starter: 2 for a few, 1 INT
The No. 2: 4 for a bunch, 1 INT
Me: 8 for infinity, 1 TD, 3 INTs
Now compare those to the Tar Heel duo's numbers:
Dailey: 10-17, 55 yards, 2 INTs
Sexton: 9-21, 124, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Maybe Dailey and Sexton can take some solace in my similar struggles at the helm.
I think I managed to throw the ball in every possible direction other than to a receiver. I threw it behind guys, too far out in front, six feet over their heads and straight into the turf at their feet - I'd rather not watch any of the game tape.
With that nightmarish disaster (we lost by the mercy rule with one minute left in the game) behind me, it's time to reflect on how my team and yours, Bunting's boys, can right the ship today against Furman.
1. At the end of World Cup soccer matches, players often exchange jerseys as a sign of respect and camaraderie. I propose we do this before kickoff. This way, when the QBs feel inclined to toss the ball up to the nearest white jersey with purple Paladins trim, they'll actually be hitting Tar Heel receivers.
2. Trade the UNC offensive line to the Hokies for their marching band's tuba chorus line. When they put their right feet in and shook them all about, they looked bigger, more agile and more confident than anyone who got bulldozed trying to create holes for Ronnie McGill or Barrington Edwards.
3. Do as the defense does in preparation for each game (except the Rutgers no-show of course). Whatever Larry Edwards and company ate last week, feed it to the offense. The defense created early turnovers against a young Hokie offense, forced punts and did everything it couldn't against the Scarlet Knights a week before.
4. Eat a few extra carrots, I hear they're good for your vision.
And most importantly .
5. If you're sticking with this two-headed (not the least bit intimidating thus far) monster at QB, play to each individual's strengths.
The 2001 Tar Heels (8-5), the last Bunting team with a QB rotation, won the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl because the play calling reflected attributes of each QB.
The mobile Ronald Curry rolled out of the pocket and beat the defense with his feet as much as his arm. The pocket-passing Darian Durant beat opposing cornerbacks with precision passing down the field and over the middle.
Dailey and Sexton are not Curry and Durant. They're younger, more inexperienced and don't have Julius Peppers and Ryan Sims to hold down the fort on defense.
But they still can get the job done - and don't forget the 2001 Tar Heels began the season 0-3.
Let Dailey run and keep the pocket from collapsing on Sexton. If offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti uses either of these guys the way he should today, the Tar Heels will beat Division 1-AA's fourth-ranked Paladins.
If UNC uses its QBs the right way, loses and throws four more interceptions, I'll choke myself with that New Blue rally towel and await my next flag football beat down.
Contact Matt Brooks at matteopb@email.unc.edu.
(09/13/06 4:00am)
It had been five games since the No. 5 North Carolina men's soccer team last scored more than one goal.
That streak of finishing futility ended Tuesday with an emphatic 4-0 win against Quinnipiac.
"After five or six games into the season, it was starting to play on our minds a little bit," senior defensive midfielder Michael Harrington said. "To put four goals in was just huge for our confidence going into ACC games against bigger, tougher opponents."
For most of the game it looked as though the Tar Heels (6-1-0, 0-1-0 in the ACC) would be stuck on a single goal yet again. After Harrington tallied his first goal of the season, the Tar Heels could not convert on the rest of their ten first-half shots.
Senior forward Corey Ashe twice struck the woodwork and senior defender Ted Odgers could not capitalize on two chances inside the box.
Midway into the second half, UNC Coach Elmar Bolowich brought on starting midfielder Michael Callahan and freshman Zach Loyd- who were rested for the first 60 minutes - and the flow of the game changed entirely.
"Callahan and Zach Loyd needed rest at the beginning," Bolowich said. "We have players, we are deep, we can trust them, and you know . the beat goes on."
In the 69th minute, Loyd's pinpoint through-ball beat the offsides trap and landed in front of a sprinting Brian Shriver. The sophomore midfielder beat his Bobcat defender and sent a perfect ball across the box to a streaking Callahan, who easily slid the ball into a wide-open net for his first goal of the season.
"Zach and I came in fresh off the bench with a lot of energy," Callahan said. "We got a couple good passes for a wide-open goal."
With a bad taste lingering in their mouths from a 3-1 home loss against N.C. State last week, the Tar Heels were relieved to finally get that second goal.
"One thing we've struggled with is putting teams away, so it felt good, and hopefully we can do it for the rest of the year," Callahan said.
Callahan's goal was the ninth of the Tar Heels' young season - each scored by a different player.
It didn't take long for Callahan to end that trend too.
Just six minutes after his first strike, senior forward Ben Hunter fed Callahan with a cross in front of another open net, and he buried the shot to record his first career multi-goal game.
"(Callahan) was definitely a spark for us," said Harrington, who stepped up from his usual defensive role to fill Callahan's starting midfielder spot.
"Also for his confidence, to come in off the bench and get two goals right away, it's great for him."
Hunter added the final goal of the game in the 86th minute on a strike from 22 yards out.
The Tar Heels will need to continue their offensive explosion when they travel to No. 3 Clemson (6-0-0, 1-0-0) on Friday.
"We're 0-1 in the ACC so we know we need to come out and get a win to get back on track," Harrington said.
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(08/19/06 4:00am)
JUNE 22 - Who said Americans don't care about soccer?
Try telling that to the crowd at Italian Pizzeria III on June 17, when West Franklin Street's top pizza-and-pitcher spot was packed for the pivotal World Cup match between the United States and Italy.
It was standing room only before the 3 p.m. kickoff, but supporters of both the Stars and Stripes and the Azzuri kept pouring in.
"All the guys here are very passionate about soccer and Italy - for me there's just no other place to watch it," said Judson Smith, a 24-year-old law student.
"I guess you could call it enemy territory, but they're such nice people that it just creates a real friendly atmosphere for the match."
Smith and many of the others sweating it out in front of two new big-screen televisions are regulars at the pizzeria.
"If there was ever a place I would come to watch any sporting event, especially the World Cup, it would be to IP3," said Ford Williams, 24.
Angelo and Vincenzo Marrone are the co-owners of the chain and huge fans of their Italian national soccer team. Angelo led Italian chants and songs as he stood atop the counter in his bright blue jersey.
IP3 has earned its reputation as the area's home for international soccer, and business has been very good for the two brothers since the start of the 2006 World Cup.
"Everybody knows this is the place to be for the World Cup," Vincenzo said.
"We've been pretty busy. We're getting just about double our normal business. This is much bigger than in 2002."
A bipartisan but friendly crowd cheered on both sides in the match's 1-1 draw.
The game was marred by red cards and hard fouls, each sending waves of shouting through the crowd.
Joseph Polcaro, 71, who was born in Italy and moved to Chapel Hill 44 years ago, is a veteran of four World Cups at IP3.
Each year, he finds himself torn between teams.
"I pull for both teams, I just want to see a good game," he said.
"I was pulling for USA because I want to see the game grow here. If Italy wins, that's all right. But if they lose, I'm not going to cry like a lot of these guys."
"I told a lot of people to come; the students are out here, and Angelo and Vinny are wonderful hosts," he said.
Polcaro, a part-time soccer referee, has watched "the beautiful game" grow in popularity in the United States.
He and many other Italian-born U.S. citizens were happy to support to both teams.
"We're immigrants, and we love this country," he said.
"My heart is halfway between here and Italy, but at the end of the day, this is our country."
The Marrones also see signs of soccer's rising popularity in the United States.
"One of the best crowds we've ever had was for the USA-Czech Republic match," Angelo said.
"Americans are definitely getting more excited about soccer."
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(08/19/06 4:00am)
JUNE 22 - In the cutthroat world of Division I collegiate athletics, success is measured by results.
On June 14, UNC administrators rewarded Director of Athletics Dick Baddour for producing results with a two-year contract extension.
Baddour's new contract will run through the 2008-09 season.
In nine years with Baddour, UNC has a league-leading 49 Atlantic Coast Conference championships - eight more than second- place Duke.
The last two seasons have been especially fruitful for Tar Heel athletics.
In that period, UNC is the only school to have sent teams to a bowl game, the Final Four in both men's and women's basketball and the College World Series.
This year, the Tar Heels tied Duke and Virginia for the most ACC team championships with five titles.
"Throughout his tenure, our teams have been at or near the top in the ACC, both competitively and academically," Chancellor James Moeser said in a press release. "We are fortunate to have a leader who understands how athletics complement, yet not consume, our students' academic experience."
Moeser and the Board of Trustees made the decision to extend Baddour's contract through 2009. It includes a base salary of $270,000 in 2006-07, $285,000 in 2007-08 and $295,000 in 2008-09.
Not everyone has been happy with Baddour's tenure. Several major decisions about coaches and players have drawn scorn from alumni and donors.
In 2003, UNC basketball coach Matt Doherty resigned under heavy pressure from the administration and amid rumors of discontent among players. When Doherty resigned following several trying seasons, fans speculated that he was forced out.
As director of athletics, Baddour conducted meetings with players and personnel during an evaluative process on the Tar Heel basketball program, prompting criticism that he let players run the program.
Doherty, now the head coach at Southern Methodist University, wasn't available for comment.
During the 2004 football season, three sophomores - Adarius Bowman, Fred Sparkman and Isaiah Thomas - were suspended indefinitely from the team after they were cited with simple possession of marijuana by University public safety officers.
This decision also drew scrutiny from alumni. Some questioned the severity of the punishment, while others were ashamed to see UNC varsity athletes involved with drugs.
The hire of UNC alumnus John Bunting as head football coach in 2000 and his ensuing contract extensions might be Baddour's largest ongoing source of criticism.
In his five seasons at UNC, Bunting has compiled a 24-36 record and has made just two bowl appearances. The Tar Heels have had just one winning record in those years - when a team led by current NFL stars Ronald Curry, Julius Peppers and Ryan Sims won the Peach Bowl in 2001.
Each season, alumni and fans expecting more from the Tar Heels have called for Bunting's job, but Baddour continues to back him.
And through Baddour's tenure, Moeser has shown steadfast support for UNC's athletics director.
Whether Moeser's support has enabled Baddour to make decisions without consideration of his job security is unclear. However, the athletics director addressed that concern at the press conference following Doherty's resignation.
"If anyone thinks that I make decisions as director of athletics thinking about my job security, you don't know me very well," Baddour said. "Because I may or may not have a job has nothing to do with how I evaluate and how I hire and how I run this program."
Regardless, UNC has been very successful under Baddour.
This year, the Tar Heels clinched a top-10 spot nationally in the 2005-06 NACDA Cup, which measures a school's participation and success in NCAA postseason play.
"We've done well, but there is plenty of room for us to improve," Baddour said. "I look forward to continuing to work with the outstanding people in this department to meet those challenges."
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(06/29/06 4:00am)
What a difference a year makes.
This time last year, North Carolina men's basketball coach Roy Williams was celebrating his first national championship. At the same time, he was desperately trying to fill the holes left after he lost his top seven scorers to graduation and the NBA Draft.
This off-season, Ol' Roy faces a different quandary: How the heck is everyone going to get playing time?
For the first time since he took over the head coaching position at his alma mater, Williams has a bench loaded with talent at every position. UNC's skilled, six-man freshman class, combined with the return of seven players who averaged at least 12 minutes per game, means that many Tar Heels will be scrapping for limited playing time.
"We've got such good-character kids that I'm not worried about it," Williams said June 21 at his annual summer press conference.
"Players determine who plays what minutes, and players determine who starts."
On this year's squad, a trio of McDonald's All-Americans and three other high-profile recruits join returning upperclassmen Wes Miller, Reyshawn Terry and Quentin Thomas, as well as four sophomores - Bobby Frasor, Marcus Ginyard, Danny Green and Tyler Hansbrough - who played significant minutes last year. (UNC also returns sophomore Michael Copeland.)
Williams said he expects several players to compete for starting positions, particularly at the one- and two-guard spots.
Freshman Tywon Lawson, whose lightning-quick speed makes him a good fit for Williams' up-and-down offense, will battle Frasor and Thomas for the starting point guard role.
At shooting guard, the diminutive but scrappy Miller will look to retain his starting spot against Ginyard and sharp-shooting freshman Wayne Ellington.
Terry and Green will be joined by William Graves, North Carolina's high school player of the year, on the wing.
Where the Tar Heels are most excited to gain some depth, though, is in the post.
Hansbrough, UNC's All-American center and reigning national freshman of the year, didn't have much help last year; only senior Byron Sanders, whose offensive game was limited, and the sparingly used Copeland could spell him.
So you can't fault Williams for sounding pleased about the additions of power forward Brandan Wright, who could well have been a lottery pick in this year's NBA draft, and California centers Alex Stepheson and Deon Thompson.
"If Tyler struggled last year, our team struggled," Williams said. "He had to get a certain number of rebounds and a certain number of points for us to have a chance. So I think having some depth can allow him to be even fresher, and I'm hoping he can put up the same kind of numbers with perhaps a couple minutes less playing time."
The 2006 Tar Heel draft class arrived on campus this week and will take summer classes to get acclimated to college life before the fall. In accordance with NCAA rules, Williams and his coaching staff have not yet seen their new recruits play on campus, but Williams said he looks forward to getting out on the court and implementing this season's plan of attack: "Try to play faster."
"I think we finally have the kind of depth that I think we can do that if we just get them to do it the way I want them to do it," he said.
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(06/22/06 4:00am)
In the cutthroat world of Division I collegiate athletics, success is measured by results.
On June 14, UNC administrators rewarded Director of Athletics Dick Baddour for producing results with a two-year contract extension.
Baddour's new contract will run through the 2008-09 season.
In nine years with Baddour, UNC has a league-leading 49 Atlantic Coast Conference championships - eight more than second-place Duke.
The last two seasons have been especially fruitful for Tar Heel athletics.
In that period, UNC is the only school to have sent teams to a football bowl game, the Final Four in both men's and women's basketball and the College World Series.
This year, the Tar Heels tied Duke and Virginia for the most ACC team championships with five titles.
"Throughout his tenure, our teams have been at or near the top in the ACC, both competitively and academically," Chancellor James Moeser said in a press release. "We are fortunate to have a leader who understands how athletics complement, yet not consume, our students' academic experience."
Moeser and the Board of Trustees made the decision to extend Baddour's contract through 2009. It includes a base salary of $270,000 in 2006-07, $285,000 in 2007-08 and $295,000 in 2008-09.
Not everyone has been happy with Baddour's tenure. Several major decisions about coaches and players have drawn scorn from alumni and donors.
In 2003, UNC basketball coach Matt Doherty resigned under heavy pressure from the administration and amid rumors of discontent among players. When Doherty resigned following several trying seasons, fans speculated that he was forced out.
As director of athletics, Baddour conducted meetings with players and personnel during an evaluative process on the Tar Heel basketball program, prompting criticism that he let players run the program.
Doherty, now the head coach at Southern Methodist University, wasn't available for comment.
During the 2004 football season, three sophomores - Adarius Bowman, Fred Sparkman and Isaiah Thomas - were suspended indefinitely from the team after they were cited with simple possession of marijuana by University public safety officers.
This decision also drew scrutiny from alumni. Some questioned the severity of the punishment, while others were ashamed to see UNC varsity athletes involved with drugs.
The hire of UNC alumnus John Bunting as head football coach in 2000 and his ensuing contract extensions might be Baddour's largest ongoing source of criticism.
In his five seasons at UNC, Bunting has compiled a 24-36 record and has made just two bowl appearances. The Tar Heels have had just one winning record in those years - when a team led by current NFL stars Ronald Curry, Julius Peppers and Ryan Sims won the Peach Bowl in 2001.
Each season, alumni and fans expecting more from the Tar Heels have called for Bunting's job, but Baddour continues to back him.
And through Baddour's tenure, Moeser has shown steadfast support for UNC's athletics director.
Whether Moeser's support has enabled Baddour to make decisions without consideration of his job security is unclear. However, the athletics director addressed that concern at the press conference following Doherty's resignation.
"If anyone thinks that I make decisions as director of athletics thinking about my job security, you don't know me very well," Baddour said. "Because I may or may not have a job has nothing to do with how I evaluate and how I hire and how I run this program."
Regardless, UNC has been very successful under Baddour.
This year, the Tar Heels clinched a top-10 spot nationally in the 2005-06 NACDA Cup, which measures a school's participation and success in NCAA postseason play.
"We've done well, but there is plenty of room for us to improve," Baddour said. "I look forward to continuing to work with the outstanding people in this department to meet those challenges."
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(06/22/06 4:00am)
Who said Americans don't care about soccer?
Try telling that to the crowd at Italian Pizzeria III on Saturday, when West Franklin Street's top pizza-and-pitcher spot was packed for the pivotal World Cup match between the United States and Italy.
It was standing room only before the 3 p.m. kickoff, but supporters of both the Stars and Stripes and the Azzuri kept pouring in.
"All the guys here are very passionate about soccer and Italy - for me there's just no other place to watch it," said Judson Smith, a 24-year-old law student. "I guess you could call it enemy territory, but they're such nice people that it just creates a real friendly atmosphere for the match."
Smith and many of the others sweating it out in front of two new big-screen televisions are regulars at the pizzeria.
"If there was ever a place I would come to watch any sporting event, especially the World Cup, it would be to IP3," said Ford Williams, 24.
Angelo and Vincenzo Marrone are the co-owners of the chain and huge fans of their Italian national soccer team. Angelo led Italian chants and songs as he stood atop the counter in his bright blue jersey.
IP3 has earned its reputation as the area home for international soccer, and business has been good for the two brothers since the start of the 2006 World Cup.
"Everybody knows this is the place to be for the World Cup," Vincenzo said. "We've been pretty busy. We're getting just about double our normal business. This is much bigger than in 2002."
A bipartisan but friendly crowd cheered on both sides in Saturday's 1-1 draw, a match marred by red cards and hard fouls, each sending waves of shouting through the crowd.
Joseph Polcaro, 71, who was born in Italy and moved to Chapel Hill 44 years ago, is a veteran of four World Cups at IP3 but was torn between teams.
"I pull for both teams, I just want to see a good game," he said. "I was pulling for USA because I want to see the game grow here. If Italy wins, that's all right. But if they lose, I'm not going to cry like a lot of these guys."
"I told a lot of people to come; the students are out here, and Angelo and Vinny are wonderful hosts," he said.
Polcaro, a part-time soccer referee, has watched "the beautiful game" grow in popularity in the United States. He and many other Italian-born U.S. citizens were happy to support to both teams.
"We're immigrants, and we love this country," he said. "My heart is halfway between here and Italy, but at the end of the day, this is our country."
The Marrones also see signs of soccer's rise in the United States.
"One of the best crowds we've ever had was for the USA-Czech Republic match," Angelo said. "Americans are definitely getting more excited about soccer."
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(05/25/06 4:00am)
On Saturday, the No. 11 North Carolina men's tennis team's best season in 14 years ended with a shutout loss to No. 6 Ohio State in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
The loss brought a disappointing close to an otherwise outstanding season marked by numerous team accomplishments and individual accolades.
On Monday, two Tar Heels were honored by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association for their contributions to the success of the 2006 team. Raian Luchici, UNC's top singles player and half of its No. 1 doubles tandem, was named National Senior Player of the Year. The native of Timisoara, Romania, is a 2006 All-America and three-time All-ACC selection.
"Raian will go down as one of the greats in Carolina tennis history," coach Sam Paul said. "He's just had an incredible year, and we're really going to miss him."
Assistant coach, UNC alumnus and 2001 Wimbledon doubles champion Don Johnson was honored as the national assistant coach of the year.
"Don is one of the best coaches in the world," Paul said. "We wouldn't have gotten this far without him, and I owe him a tremendous amount of credit for the job he's done with these guys."
On Saturday, the Tar Heels (25-5) never got on track against the Buckeyes (28-2) and appeared stymied by the faster courts in Stanford, Calif., and their opponents' attacking style.
UNC was swept in doubles to start the match. The No. 1 tandem of Luchici and fellow senior Brad Pomeroy, ranked No. 5 nationally, were dominated by the nation's top doubles team, as Ohio State's Scott Green and Ross Wilson won 8-3. At No. 2, UNC's Lenny Gullan and David Stone lost 8-2 to concede the doubles point.
Singles losses by Luchici and seniors Derek Porter and Aly Mandour finished off the Tar Heels and ensured the Buckeyes a berth in the quarterfinals, where they fell to No. 3 Texas.
"Our whole team didn't play well," Paul said. "I've got to give Ohio State a ton of credit - they played great tennis, the kind of tennis they've played all year. They were just the better team out there."
UNC's 25-5 record tied that of the 1992 Tar Heels, who also reached the NCAA quarterfinals. The team also won its first-ever regional final against No. 22 Clemson to advance to its first Sweet 16 since 1993.
"I got pretty emotional with my team when I told them how proud I was of them for all they've accomplished this season," said Paul. "This team performed so well all year on and off the court."
Next year, the Tar Heels lose four seniors, all of whom played key roles in the team's successful season. Luchici, Pomeroy, Porter and Mandour each played top-six singles, and all but Mandour started for the Tar Heels in doubles.
"I'm so proud of my seniors," Paul said. "Derek has been a four-year starter, Aly stepped up huge for us at the end of the season, Brad is an All-America in doubles and he's been one of our leaders out there, and Raian's awards speak for his play. All of these guys also have a 3.0 GPA. We will really miss them."
According to tennisrecruiting.net, UNC has the best incoming freshman class in the country.
"The program is in great shape," Paul said. "We're obviously going to miss this great senior class, but we've got one of the best recruiting classes in the country coming in next year."
Luchici and Pomeroy will continue play in the NCAA Individuals Tournament. Luchici is seeded in the top 16 in the singles tournament, which begins Wednesday, and he and Pomeroy are in the top eight of the 32-team doubles competition.
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(05/18/06 4:00am)
North Carolina men's tennis coach Sam Paul was soaked. But it wasn't the three-hour rain delay that had him dripping wet at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center. Paul had just received a celebratory ice-water bath after his No. 11 Tar Heels advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1993. The Tar Heels (25-4) defeated No. 24 Clemson (23-10) by a 4-1 score in a water-logged regional final Sunday in Chapel Hill. By the time the clouds cleared after several sporadic showers, the Tar Heels clinched their first regional championship since the current tournament structure was instituted in 1994. On March 25, then-No. 12 UNC had to rally to pull out a dramatic come-from-behind win against then-No. 10 Clemson after losing the doubles point. On Sunday, the team was determined to get off to a better start. At No. 1, the senior tandem of Raian Luchici and Brad Pomeroy, ranked No. 5 nationally, avenged its earlier loss to Clemson's Clement Reix and Jarmaine Jenkins with an 8-3 win. Following a loss at No. 2, senior Derek Porter and junior Sebastian Guejman rallied to win the deciding match in a tiebreaker, 9-8 (7-5). "When we were out there, I saw our No. 1 team won and our No. 2 team was down," Porter said. "I looked at Sebastian and told him, 'I don't want this to be my last match and have us lose.'" After eight service breaks and a relinquished 5-1 lead in the tiebreaker, Guejman's perfectly placed backhand volley winner sealed the victory. "It gave us a really good boost," Paul said. "They fight so hard and they're so well-coached that we knew they'd give us a lot of problems." The three-hour rain delay that followed the doubles matches threatened to crush the team's momentum heading into singles play. However, for Porter, who has fought through injuries all season, and teammate Luchici, the break provided a chance to treat sore serving arms. "During the delay, Raian and I were getting a stem on our arms, and it took about 45 minutes for us to be ready to play again," Porter said. "I've got to thank our training staff and our coaches for keeping us focused." When play resumed, the Tar Heels took control in singles. Guejman was first off the courts at No. 4, giving the Tar Heels a 2-0 lead with a straight-set victory. At No. 1, Luchici lost to No. 30 Reix - just his second loss in 11 matches. Minutes later, Porter defeated Jenkins, 7-5, 7-5, at No. 3. "Winning my last match at home is the most meaningful thing for me," Porter said. "You never want to go out ending your career losing at home." With the Tar Heels up 3-1, all eyes turned to court four, where Parisian sophomore Benjamin Carlotti punched the team's ticket to the Sweet 16 with a 6-4, 6-2 win against Clemson's Ryan Young. As Carlotti pumped his fists in the air, the entire team mobbed him at center court. "I'm just really proud of my team," Paul said. "Again, the seniors set the tone, and we played really good tennis all the way up and down the lineup." The Tar Heels will travel to Stanford to face No. 6 Ohio State (27-1) at the NCAA Championships on Saturday. North Carolina will have revenge on its mind when it takes on the team that ended its 2004 NCAA tournament run in a regional final match in Chapel Hill. "For me and the rest of the seniors, it'd be very meaningful to get a little payback," Porter said. "I lost that match in 2004 in a 4-3 decider. We'll be ready for them this time." Sunday's performance followed a 4-0 first-round shutout of South Carolina State on Saturday. North Carolina's 25-win season ties the most wins in school history. The only other Tar Heel team to win 25 matches was the 1992 team, which reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament and finished 25-5. Luchici also received an individual honor last Saturday in the midst of his team's success. He was honored as the Mideast Regional Player of the Year thanks to a 25-7 singles record and a 16-6 mark against nationally ranked opponents. Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(04/21/06 4:00am)
The North Carolina men's tennis team is peaking at just the right time.
Following a tough 4-3 loss at then-No. 6 Duke on April 12, the No. 11 Tar Heels rallied over the weekend to defeat then-No. 11 Virginia and then-No. 57 Virginia Tech. The team heads into this weekend's ACC tournament as the fourth seed having won five of its last six matches and playing some of its best tennis.
"Our seniors have been playing great tennis, and these guys are continuing to work hard out there on the court," Coach Sam Paul said. "We've put ourselves in a good position to make a run, and we know that we can play with everybody."
UNC's four seniors have carried the team during the run, compiling a 16-4 record in singles play in the last six matches.
Raian Luchici, ranked No. 7 in the nation, defeated three nationally ranked opponents in straight sets in his final three matches of the regular season. Impressive victories against then-No. 4 Ludovic Walter of Duke, then-No. 9 Somdev Devvarman of Virginia and then-No. 52 Arvid Puranen of Virginia Tech propelled the UNC senior to his third consecutive All-ACC selection and third conference player of the week award this season.
Fellow seniors Brad Pomeroy, Derek Porter and Aly Mandour - a recent addition to the lineup at No. 6 singles - celebrated Senior Day on Sunday with a victory against the Hokies. The team's 8-3 ACC regular season record ties its 1996 win total when the Tar Heels finished 8-0.
Today at noon, the Tar Heels (23-3) will face the fifth seeded Florida State team (16-10) - ranked No. 19 - that defeated No. 12 seeded Boston College, 4-0, Thursday.
"We're looking forward to playing a great Florida State team," Paul said. "They . beat a Wake (Forest) team that beat us, so they have a very good group of guys, and they've been playing some pretty good ball lately."
UNC defeated the then-No. 27 Seminoles 5-2 in Tallahassee on March 31. A Tar Heel victory today would set up a potential semifinal rematch with No. 1 seed Duke. Nevertheless, Paul remains focused on the task at hand.
"This conference is just so tough that we'll be really happy to get a win Friday, and we'll be happier to get a win Saturday," he said.
This weekend's tournament at the Cary Tennis Center will showcase several NCAA tournament teams. Ten of the 12 ACC teams are ranked in the top 56 - with nine in the top 38 and four in the top 11.
"I can't ever remember the league being as competitive as it is this year," Paul said. "If you look from top to bottom, every team is very good.
It's just as intense and competitive as the NCAA tournament."
The Tar Heels will try to continue their hot streak en route to a likely seventh consecutive NCAA tournament berth.
As for today's noon matchup, Paul promises all the intensity and intrigue of UNC's recent contests.
"It'll be a barn-burner."
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
(04/13/06 4:00am)
Three and a half hours into Wednesday's match against No. 6 Duke, Brad Pomeroy was the only North Carolina men's tennis player still on the court.
His teammates continued to cheer for the No. 2 singles player, but with somber faces.
The match was already decided.
An experienced Blue Devil team proved too much for No. 12 UNC (21-3, 6-3 in the ACC) at Duke's Ambler Tennis Center, winning the match 4-3.
A spirited Tar Heel rally, fueled by Pomeroy, Benjamin Carlotti and Raian Luchici was not enough to overcome an early 0-3 deficit. Duke's Joey Atas ended any hope of a comeback with his win at No. 4 singles against Sebastian Guejman, 6-7, 6-1, 6-1.
Duke (16-5, 8-1) set the tone early with impressive doubles victories at No. 1 and No. 2. By the time UNC's Guejman and partner Derek Porter prevailed at No. 3, the Blue Devils already had captured the doubles point.
"I've got to give Duke credit in doubles," said Coach Sam Paul. "At No. 1 and No. 2 they just outplayed us. That's the worst we've been beaten at those spots all year."
The Tar Heels almost made up for their poor doubles play in the singles portion of the match. Down one set and losing 5-6 in the second to Duke's Jonathan Stokke - ranked No. 37 in the nation - Pomeroy ripped three forehand returns for winners to knot the set at 6-6. He won the ensuing tiebreaker to take the set and eventually won the match, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3.
At No. 1 singles, Luchici, ranked No. 18 in the country, was equally impressive. He rallied from two games behind in the first set against Duke's Ludovic Walter, ranked No. 4 nationally, to win the match in straight sets, 7-6, 7-5.
"That's a great win for Raian," Paul said. "He beat a guy that's ranked No. 4 in the country and has won the most singles matches in the history of their program. So that's a tremendous win."
The only other UNC victory belonged to Carlotti at No. 5 singles. He defeated Duke's Kiril Dimitrov in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3.
"We didn't play really well at other spots," Paul said. "We've got to give Duke credit. They just beat us."
The Tar Heels have two remaining regular season matches. Friday they take on No. 11 Virginia (18-6, 8-1) and Sunday the team closes out its schedule against Virginia Tech (12-12, 3-6).
Both matches will be played at Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center. The ACC Tournament begins April 20 in Cary.
"This was a tough loss today, but we've got to get over it," Paul said. "We've got to go back to work this weekend. These kids will bounce back, just like they did out here today."
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.