ACC TOURNAMENT
Tar Heels Roll To ACC Title
Published: Mar 12, 2007
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TAMPA - In an ending that seemed most appropriate, North Carolina seniors Reyshawn Terry and Wes Miller - the only two members remaining from the Carolina team that won the 2005 national championship - were the first Tar Heels to climb the ladder and cut down a string of net.
They had done the same two years ago in St. Louis, but at the St. Pete Times Forum on Sunday, Terry and Miller finally could say they were ACC Tournament champions in their final shot.
Better yet, both Terry and Miller played key roles in helping the Tar Heels defeat Tobacco Road rival N.C. State, 89-80, and claim their first ACC Tournament championship in nine years. Miller provided No. 1 seed North Carolina (28-6) some cushion at halftime by hitting two 3-pointers in a 34-second span, helping turn a 34-32 lead into a 42-34 difference at the break.
Then, with N.C. State trimming what had been a 16-point deficit to 70-69 on Courtney Fells' jumper with 5:02 remaining, Terry took over, scoring North Carolina's next eight points.
Terry was benched earlier in the game because Tar Heels coach Roy Williams said he didn't think Terry was focused.
"He has such ability," Williams said. "With that ability, you've got to give him a chance. I have pushed him as hard as probably any player I have coached."
The No. 10 seed Wolfpack, trying to win their fourth game in four days, never got closer than three after Terry's 3-pointer with 3:31 left capped his eight-point outburst to put Carolina ahead, 78-72.
"We played great defense on that possession, but he hit a key shot for them," Fells said. "It was a dagger for us."
For Miller, moments after standing atop the ladder with a huge smile as he showed the large group of Carolina faithful his strand of net, scoring six points in only four minutes of playing time is something the walk-on guard will never forget.
"I grew up in the state of North Carolina, lived there my whole life," Miller said. "[Winning the ACC Tournament] means the world to me. It's something that I always dreamed of as a kid.
"The other side of that is we're not done. We're going to enjoy this until midnight - I think that is coach's rule - and then we'll start preparing for the NCAA Tournament."
While North Carolina is considered one of the favorites to win the NCAA title and earned the top seed in the East Regional, N.C. State is headed for an NIT berth after entering the tournament considered an afterthought. The Wolfpack nearly stunned the field, conjuring up memories of the 1983 national championship Wolfpack team that was coached by Jim Valvano and featured point guard Sidney Lowe - N.C. State's current red sport coat-clad coach - by posting wins against Duke, Virginia and Virginia Tech the first three days of the tournament.
"This is going to help us tremendously," Lowe said. "Just the fact we were playing in this game and against this team, and to go down to the wire with them, this is a great experience.
"These guys were amazing. What they did this weekend, I don't think too many thought they could do it, I really don't."
Behind freshman Brandon Costner's game-high 28 points, N.C. State (18-15) quieted the mostly Carolina-rooting announced crowd of 22,269 for much of the second half.
But with all five starters scoring in double figures, including tournament MVP Brandan Wright's 16 points, the Tar Heels won their 16th ACC Tournament title, matching Duke for the most in ACC history.
"This feels pretty good," Williams said. "There is no question about that. I loved what our team did. I hope they enjoy cutting down those nets and getting those trophies. Winning championships is not easy."
Keyword: ACC for Bill Ward's video feature on which title game participant has the more energetic fans.
