Arizona To Battle New-Look Unc

Arizona might not recognize North Carolina when the teams play in the Final Four on Saturday.

The Wildcats defeated the Tar Heels 83-72 on Nov. 22 at the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic in Springfield, Mass.

North Carolina has undergone a defensive overhaul since.

Coach Dean Smith started the season trying to return to the trapping, pressing defense that had been a trademark of his program until 1995 when he changed to a half-court style for lack of depth.

In November, the Wildcats shredded his traps in the second half.

And the Wildcats didn’t even have 6-5 junior guard Miles Simon, who missed the first 11 games because of academics. One of his better games since his return was Sunday’s 30-point performance against Providence in the Southeast Regional final.

North Carolina followers had been expecting the team to get to the Final Four in 1997. Only the Tar Heels were supposed to do it with guys named Jerry Stackhouse, Rasheed Wallace and Jeff McInnis, not a trio of sophomore starters and a freshman point guard.

Stackhouse, Wallace and McInnis would have all been seniors on this 1997 team had they stayed in school four years. However, Stackhouse and Wallace left for the pros after just two seasons and McInnis bolted last year, forcing underclassmen such as Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter and Ed Cota into prominent roles.

Harris key to Minnesota’s hopes

The Minnesota Golden Gophers originally feared Eric Harris separated his shoulder when he was hurt with about 7 minutes left in regulation of a double-overtime win over Clemson. But there was no ligament damage, only a bruise.

The starting point guard, Harris got intensive ice and electrical stimulation treatments for a day and a half before the final and a shot to deaden the pain before the game.

He hopes to be near full strength in time for Saturday’s semifinal against Kentucky.

The Gophers flew to Indianapolis on Tuesday, the first team to arrive for the Final Four.

Coaching carousel

Mike Montgomery and Ricardo Patton are staying, Tom Penders is still looking and Mack McCarthy is still considering.

And that is only the beginning of the coaching news.

Also, Iowa State’s Tim Floyd has emerged as the latest reported target of Tennessee’s affections to take over the Volunteers basketball program.

Kevin Stallings of Illinois State and Southwest Missouri State’s Steve Alford were reportedly still in the running.

Tennessee newspapers reported that Floyd might not come cheap and that his sights might be focused on taking over for Phil Jackson with the NBA’s Chicago Bulls.

Patton agreed to a new contract with Colorado that is worth at least $325,000, and Steve Robinson signed a new contract that will keep him with Tulsa through the 2003-2004 season.

Montgomery, 204-128 in 11 seasons at Stanford, has agreed to a six-year contract extension through the 2002-03 season.

Southern Nazarene wins NAIA

Astou Ndiaye scored 28 points and grabbed 18 rebounds as Southern Nazarene stopped Union 78-73 at Jackson, Miss., to capture its fourth consecutive NAIA Division I national women’s basketball championship.

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