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Sporting News, The, March 24, 1997 by Alan Schmadtke

"Two months ago, I was learning, and I wasn't trying to look for my shot" Cota says. "I was just trying to get everybody else involved. I was too one-dimensional. Things have changed. I still wasn't looking for my shot but coach Smith said to shoot more."

The man behind all of this, of course, is Smith.

Opposing coaches say Smith, a tireless worker despite his age (66), made subtle changes in Carolina's offensive cuts to free up his two inside players for open looks. Instead of slashing the two post players through the lane, the Tar Heels have sent Cota and Williams cutting through the paint ahead of the posts. New sets of backscreens accompany the cuts, hence the new shots.

"We're all getting better shots," Jamison says. "Early in the year, we were rushing up a lot of our shots, and some of the shots were very good. We're still improving, but now we're making extra passes, looking extra hard for the open man. And if something isn't open, Ed creates something for us."

Trace the Tar Heels' turnaround -- and current chunk of momentum -- and you come up with several reasons, each as important as the next. Start with the emergence of Cota as a controlling threat, but his thread winds through those of Carter, Jamison, Williams and Zwikker,

Like many of Carolina's teams, this is a collection of parts that when taken individually are mostly very good. Together, they're often better than that. But because of their Musketeers approach, the Tar Heels are vulnerable if more than one player struggles. During the streak, they've warded off several close calls, including Virginia and North Carolina State in the ACC Tournament and Fairfield in the first round of the NCAAs. Forward Ademola Okulaja likens this tournament stuff to a card game.

"It's like a poker game," he says. "You throw one card out after another. You try the ace, a king, a club."

Whatever wins.

Sound reasoning

Why Carolina will win the title ...

Chemistry. The Tar Heels have an enviable blend of quickness, athleticism, shooting skills and height.

Defense. The drawstring that pulls the team together. Dean Smith's point-zone plays to his team's strengths.

Shammond Williams and Ed Cota. Otherwise known as the necessary 3-point shooting threat and breakdown point guard, respectively. Both are improving.

Coaching. Smith still studies tape into the wee hours, and when it comes to psychology, he has no master.

... and why it won't

Vince Carter's groin. Carter fills many roles (rebounder, scorer and gamebreaker) but not if he's sidelined.

Depth. The Tar Heels have virtually no bench, save for Cota. Foul trouble could be devastating.

3-point shooting. If Williams' outside game cools off, Carolina loses a significant weapon.

A streak-shooting opponent. The way to break Carolina point-zone defense is from the outside. Serge Zwikker can be exploited in man-to-man defense.