4B Friday, March 29, 1991 / University Daily Kansan Carolina's style familiar in Kansas The Associated Press CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — There are 30 years of tradition behind Dean Smith's career at North Carolina, but a piece of his heart is with Kansas, the team his Tar Heels will have to beat at the Final Four. "I like the place," Smith said Tuesday at a news conference. "He isn't, it's not like The Wizard of Oz." When North Carolina and Kansas meet in the national semifinals in Indianapolis on Saturday, the Jayhawks and the Tar Heels might be engaged in a little onepmanship Temple coach John Chaney has said that Kansas runs better than the Tar Heels do. Given that the offenses and defenses are basically the same, there's the notion of stealing signals. There's more to it, Smith says, than the tred signal indicated by one of his players holding up a fist. "In our league, they should know if we're going to scrumble out of our man-to-man defense. One time, I remember Wake Forest's Skip Brown turned around to try to read the signal and they threw the ball in to him." Smith says. "It bounced off his lee and went out of bounds." So, with North Carolina knowing the Kansas scheme and Smith knowing what Williams might do, are we or a boring, low-scoring semifinal* "I hope not," Smith says. "We try to make the other team look bad. This late in the season, we know how to win. Both teams know how to execute." "We might not be getting our simple back-door layups against one another. I know if somebody gets one, watch the other coach laugh because we're the only ones who know the keys." Only UCLA has made more trips to the championship round. North Carolina has built its reputation under Smith, wrapping up his 30th year in Chapel Hill with his 10th appearance in the Final Four. The Tar Heels are also in their 21st NCAA tournament in making their 17th successive trip. Smith said the school's image was not the product of a grand scheme, but of the suggestions of the people who helped build the success. "It wasn't named," said Smith, who has developed rituals and traditions that have been copied. "The reason we started our huddles is because we didn't want the second team to know which defense we were in. There are huddles all over basketball now." Duke guard nets fourth Final Four The Associated Press DURHAM, N.C. — Even if Duke doesn't get past UNLV for the second straight year in the NCAA Final game in and Greg Koeblek will have no regrets. "To me, I feel very fortunate,very "To me, I feel lucky to have played on four great teams," said Koubek, who has accompanied Due to the Final Four for four sons consecutive sea- Last year's tournament carried mixed emotions, he said. The Blue Devils knocked off Arkansas to reach the championship game, in which UNLV ran away to a 103-73 victory. Yet the prospect of playing the Runnin' Rebels again doesn't bother Koubek. "We're stronger and we can compete at a higher level than we did last year," he says. "I know it going to be better than a 30-point game." Koubek was overwhelmed as a freshman on Duke's 1988 Final Four team. "The atmosphere in Kansas City will be one thing I'll never forget, going there for a shoot-around and being booed," Koubek said of the session before the Blue Devils met Kansas in a national semifinal. "It was packed all the way, the price was packed for a shoot-around. It was filled up, and we got boomed. Being a freshman, I was definitely intimidated." Experience has calmed Koubek's nerves. He and teammate Clay Buckley are the only players to make trips to the Final Four during their entire college careers. They had the advantage of freshman eligibility, and Duke would seek its first national title after eight games to round the national championship round. But simply having a chance to win it all has been great to Koubek. "One of the reasons you go to school is that you want to compete for the national championship." Koubek says, "This is unbelievable. I still don't think it's really sunk in. I'm not really excited about the four-for-four. I'm excited at competing for the national championship." There have been the ups and the downs of going for the national championship. Koubek remembers a few and blushes. "There are a lot of funny moments after we lost, but I don't want to talk Then there was Koubek's sophmore year when Duke went to Seattle to try again for the national title. Duke faced Seton Hall in the semifinals and run up a big lead in the first half before disaster struck. "That was really a bad situation. We thought we could beat Seton Hall before Robert Brickey went down," he said. Brickey crushed to the floor while going to the basket on a fast break, suffering a leg injury that not only took him out of the game, but also destroyed the Duke substitution rotation. The reserves didn't produce, and Seton Hall won 95-78. NCAA Tournament Winning Percentage Since 64 Team Bracket was Institutionalized in 1985
%RecordYearsFinal FoursTitles
1. Kansas.81818-4631
2. UNLV.80821-5731
3. Duke.80625-6750
4. Louisville.78611-3411
5. North Carolina.76019-6710
6. Seton Hall.7509-3310
7. Villanova.73311-4511
8. Michigan.70612-5611
9. Oklahoma.70014-6610
10. Georgetown.68215-7710
11. Indiana.66710-5611
12. Syracuse.65013-7710
13. Arkansas.6439-5510
14. St. John's.62510-6610
15. Temple.6009-6711
Compiled by Blake Spurney, Belleville junior majoring in journalism Doubt nibbles at Tarkanian's toes The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — 'The only one questioning UNLV's capability is Runnin' Rebels coach Jerry Tarkanian. "What if Larry (Johnson) gets three fouls in the first five minutes?" Tarkanian asked. "Then we're in big trouble and anything could happen." Tuesday, Tarkanian kept bringing up what-ifs as if to convince people that the defending national champions are not invincible. UNLV practiced Wednesday before leaving on a charter flight scheduled to arrive in Indianapolis that evening. The national semifinal matchup with Duke takes place tomorrow. "The ball's got to go through a hole this big," he said. "What if we keep hitting the ball?" We ask, we have a fine club, but anybody who thinks it's going to be easy is crazy." Tarkanian had a final luncheon with boosters Tuesday, which was highlighted by a ceremony in which the team received its award. The Award as college player of the year. Still, he cautioned that the Rebels were no cich to become the first team since Indiana in 1976 to finish a season undefeated, and the first since UCLA in 1973 to win consecutive national championships. "Duke is a good team, a well-coached team." Tarkamian said. "They're going to have a chance to be at the top, and that's going to be any easy games. There aren't any cinches in a one-loss tournament." UNLV, unbeaten in 34 games this year and winner of 45 straight during two seasons, meets Duke in a rematch of last year's national championship, which UNLV won in a 103-73 blowout. That game weighs heavily on the mind of Tarkanian, who fears Duke will be more than primed for a second chance at the Rebels. "When they got humiliated in that game last year, they had to live with that for a year." he said. "They're really good at this game as they possibly could be." Tarkanian said last year's title game had shaped up as a competitive matchup of two teams that played out with little interest in the game that promised to be a close one. Have an opinion? Write a "letter to the editor!" 111 Stauffer-Fint Hall, Lawrence, Kansas 60454 Watch the Game Here Big Screen $2.50 pitchers .75¢ kamikazees Holiday Dnn 200 McDonald Dr. Lawrence, KS (913)841-7077 YOU DONT HAVE TO BE NUTS TO LIKE NUTS 10% Off Everything Thru March Fine Candy & Nuts Orchards Corners 749-4548 15th & Kasold All you need to do is just mention you're a Jayhawk Fan! For example if the 'Hawks win by 20 points, You'll receive 20% discount! Offer good through Sunday, March 31 CASHEWS PISTACHIOS MACADAMIAS BAR & GRILL HOT SHOTS BAR & GRILL Join Us For The Post-Game Celebration!! When The Jayhawks Beat North Carolina, The Point Spread Is Your Discount At -Open 24 Hours Congratulations & Good Luck To The Jayhawk Basketball Team Village Inn 821 Iowa 842-3251 Breakfast like you like it. Anytime you want it! - GRILL OPEN TILL 1:30 AM EVERY NITE • FRIDAY FISHBOWLS $2.00 ALL YOU CAN EATTACOS-$3.00 SATURDAY 623 VERMONT "Everyone is a star night" Karokee Night SUNDAY PITCHERS Catch Our ROSES $9.95 dozen Catch Our Spring Truckload Sale. selected colors - 6" Easter Lilies - 6" Easter 27 05 85. 49 - 6" Tulips $7.95 - Mums - Daffodils - Hyacinths $2.50 Full Line Florist - Delivery - Worldwide Wire Service - Wedding Arrangements - Funeral Arrangements FLOWERS 4 LESS Lawrence 1901A Mass 832-0700 All Major Credit Cards Accepted M-F 9 to 7 Sat. 9 to 5 Sun. 1 to 5 Slam Dunk Special Thursday-Monday 20% off All Shorts Congrats! Kansas is in THE FINAL FOUR! Ruff-Hewn • Gant • Trader® British Knack • River City Go Hawks! EastonSLTD. 839 Massachusetts Street Lawrence, Kansas 66044 (913) 834-5755 Levi's Go Kansas! Beat North Carolina! King of Jeans 740 Mass 843-3933