North Carolina dispatches the Maryland Terrapins to capture the 1972 ACC Tournament crown a year after losing a heart-breaker in the conference final against South Carolina. Despite going on to win the 1971 National Invitational Tournament, redemption for that loss is not complete. The Tar Heels are set to face the Gamecocks five days later in an NCAA Tournament first round match-up.
UNC Captures ACC Championship
Tar Heels Rip Maryland, 73-64
By AL THOMAS
GREENSBORO --- North Carolina spent a long time thinking about this year's Atlantic Coast Conference basketball tournament.
Ever since last year, when Carolina dropped a one point, last second decision to South Carolina, the Tar Heels have talked about little other than coming back and redeeming themselves.
The single-mindedness of their thoughts payed off.
With Robert McAdoo, Dennis Wuycik, and George Karl combining to help form a sometime awesome attack, second ranked Carolina whipped the Maryland Terrapins, 73-64, here Saturday night in the finals of the ACC tournament.
They had spent 365 gruelling days preparing for it, and Saturday night they were finally the champs.
The victory sends Carolina into the Eastern Regional at Morgantown, West Virginia, beginning next Thursday. South Carolina, last year's nemesis, will be the opening round opponent.
The win over Maryland was not easy, however, despite Carolina's streaking to a formidable 41-24 lead late in the first half. Maryland never quit, never gave up hope, and with five minutes to go and the score standing at 64-58, was very much in the ball game.
Carolina quickly went into its four-corner offense at that point, but with three minutes left could claim only a very tenuous five point spread at 65-60.
The Terps started fouling then, though, and the Tar Heels were not about to let the victory slip through their grasp.
A free throw by Karl and two others by McAdoo, voted the tournament's most valuable player, put Carolina ahead by eight at 68-6- with two minutes to to.
Time was running out on the Terps, but their shooting went cold and their defense was not enough to break the Carolina stall without fouling.
After McMillen hit a 15-foot jumper to move Maryland back within six at 68-62 with one minute remaining, Wuycik and Stever Previs followed with layups during the next 30 seconds to assure the Tar Heels of the championship.
Maryland played a good second half of basketball, committing only two turnovers compared to 12 in the first, however, against a team that was fired up, inspired, and hungry.
Carolina's defense, particularly during the first part of the initial half, reflected just how eager the Tar Heels were.
During the first two minutes and 50 seconds, that tough pressure defense accounted for five Maryland turnovers, two of which resulted in Carolina snowbirds, two blocked shots, and two Maryland charging fouls in the backcourt.
The Tar Heels were not particularly sharp from the floor during that span, however, and could only manage a 6-0 lead despite Maryland's mistakes. Tom McMillen finally broke the ice for the Terps by hitting a 10-foot jumper with 17:10 showing on the clock.
Behind a field goal by Karl and a 15 foot jump shot by Wuycik, the Tar Heels strengthened their lead to 10-2 before Maryland scored again.
A free throw by McMillen and another one by Darrell Brown, coupled with a field goad by Howard White, pushed the Terps to within four at 10-6 with 14 minutes left in the half. Little did the Terps know that they would never get any closer.
Carolina's pressing defense and fast breaking offense continued to slowly push the Tar Heels further ahead, with the score reaching 41-24 before Maryland began a brief rally that cut the lead to 41-29 by halftime.
Although Maryland surged at the start of the second half by outscoring Carolina 8-2, the Terps could not stop Carolina's drive for the championship.
[From The Sunday Star-News, Wilmington, N.C.]
Dean Smith: 'I was pleased with the way we stopped them'
GREENSBORO --- The Atlantic Coast Conference Champion will face South Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Eastern Regional on Thursday night.
North Carolina Coach Dean Smith said he and the Tar Heels feel like thy have another game to go in the ACC.
Obviously elated after his team defeated Maryland 73-64, Smith was reminding writers Saturday night of the fact that the Gamecocks defeated UNC in the tournament last year and that the Tar Heels had played only 2 games in the 1973 tournament.
South Carolina withdrew after the conclusion of the tournament last season and the Tar Heels enjoyed a coveted bye in the opening round.
"Obviously we are pleased," Smith said. "We played extremely well in the first half and Maryland had a big rally in the second half. You have to credit Maryland with a comeback, but I for one was proud of the way we stopped them."
Smith said the championship was a tribute to six North Carolina seniors, junior Robert McAdoo and sophomore Bobby Jones. McAdoo was voted the Everett Case award as the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
Smith singled out Steve Previs, the Tar Heels' defensive ace for special praise. Maryland obviously took a gamble giving Previs the opening shot. The senior guard connected for 11 points...a key factor in the victory.
Smith noted the the Tar Heels helped the Maryland comeback early in the second half with several turnovers.
"I sincerely hoped that Virginia or Maryland win the National Invitational Tournament," he said. "You'll notice that I did not single out which one I wanted to win." he laughed.
Smith said the Tar Heels did not let down in the second half when Maryland trimmed a halftime deficit of 12 points to just four.
"I didn't think Jim O'Brien would miss," Smith said. O'Brien, who in a reserve role sparked the Maryland comeback with a number of long shots from the corner. "I saw him (O'Brien) hit ten straight in the Pan Am tryouts," Smith continued. "Tom McMillen is a big problem inside, but don't forget Len Elmore. He is a great rebounder."
Smith noted that this was the first time the regular season champions have won the tournament since 1969.
"I was wondering if anybody would ever do it. This league has become so balanced it is difficult to do."
Smith said the first round bye was an asset.
"Usually a close game early in the tournament helps a team. In 1968 we had to go into overtime in the first round and won on to have a great regional."
Smith said the Tar Heels, who will be facing the Gamecocks Thursday night naturally had rather play Temple.
"They might say they want to play South Carolina, but they don't mean it. If they have any sense they would rather play Temple--and I think they have sense."
South Carolina's two point victory over Temple was announced at halftime.
Smith compares the Gamecocks to Maryland. "We'll be playing much the same team. Kevin Joyce and Bob Carver give them a better backcourt combination than last year. I have heard that some of the coaches in South Carolina have said that this team is better than last year. I believe it," he said.
"We're a little bit better than last year, too."
It was a subdued Lefty Dreisell in the post game conference. "I don't know what to say. We were beaten by a good ball club. They came to play, they intimidated us at the beginning and we were a little scared and got too far behind, but it takes a lot of guts to come from behind like we did. With a few breaks at the end we could have won the game. North Carolina didn't run us off the court."
Dreisell said he was real proud of his team and admitted that Maryland would probably go to the NIT.
"Our players ought to get down on their knees and thank the good Lord for all the good things that have happened to us."
Dreisell said he made a few adjustments at the half and he thought his team could still win.
[From The Sunday Star-News, Wilmington, N.C.]
Just a little fun note: There are several changes that I took the liberty to make in these particular articles. In addition to improving much bad grammar and correcting poorly punctuated sentences, the headlines for these particular articles were obviously switched on the front page of the sports section. I hope you have enjoyed this edited presentation of this classic game.
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