University of North Carolina Athletics
Bubble Didn't Burst For Tar Heels
March 27, 2000 | Men's Basketball
March 27, 2000
Send A Postcard
Complete NCAA Tournament Coverage
By HAL BOCK
AP Sports Writer
Maybe now, bubble teams will get more respect.
Usually a precarious place occupied by pretenders instead of contenders, this year's NCAA tournament bubble delivered two teams to the Final Four.
North Carolina and Wisconsin, who were both holding their breath on Selection Sunday, are on their way to the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, a couple of No. 8 seeds who turned out to be much better than that.
Both teams lost 13 games this season, but they've won four straight in the last two weekends, which means a ticket to the wrapup of March Madness.
Once again, they will be underdogs for the national semifinals, Wisconsin going against Michigan State, the last remaining No. 1 seed in the field, and North Carolina facing No. 5 Florida.
At No. 8, Wisconsin and North Carolina are the lowest seeds to reach the Final Four since No. 11 LSU made it in 1986. The last No. 8 to get this far was Villanova, which won the national championship from that spot in 1985. Wisconsin (22-13) vs. Michigan State (30-7)
This is a Big Ten rematch, the fourth time this season the Badgers and Spartans have played. Michigan State won the first three, and Spartans coach Tom Izzo thinks that could be a problem.
"I don't think it's ever easy to beat a team twice or beat a team three times," Izzo said. "We know it's going to be tough to beat a team four times. They are on a roll and making shots now."
Wisconsin plays hard-nosed, grind-it-out basketball, but that doesn't include a lot of points, especially against the Spartans.
"We haven't figured out a way to score against them yet," coach Dick ennett said. "Michigan State is one of the premier defensive teams in the country. They're hard to score against."
This is Wisconsin's first Final Four date since 1941. Bennett thinks it won't shake his team. "This is a very level-headed group."
Wisconsin finished sixth in the Big Ten, but has lost just three games since Feb. 2, all of them to conference champion Michigan State, winners of nine straight.
Michigan State depends on the senior leadership of Mateen Cleaves, Charlie ell and Morris Peterson, and Wisconsin is riding the 3-point shooting of Division II transfer Jon Bryant. North Carolina (22-13) vs. Florida (28-7)
Florida's young Gators followed their KO of No. 1 Duke to join the Final Four. They are matched up with a North Carolina team back for the 15th time and third in the last four years.
The Tar Heels were on the ropes before the tournament began, struggling with a 7-8 record down the stretch that left them on the edge.
"I think this team is in a class by itself," senior point guard Ed Cota. "It took a while to get used to each other and find a way to win. The teams that I was on in the past, guys knew what it took to win. This team got it done late in the season, but there couldn't be a better time for it."
Seven-foot Brendan Haywood gives North Carolina a presence inside, and Joseph Forte is the first freshman in school history to lead the Tar Heels in scoring. And, yes, that includes a fellow named Michael Jordan.
Under fourth-year coach Billy Donovan, Florida turns games into track meets with a go-go style and a freshman-sophomore dominated roster that can sustain it.
The Gators are led by sophomore Mike Miller, who saved their tournament with a game-winning shot with a fraction of a second left in the opener against utler. After that, Florida took down No. 1 seed Duke and No. 3 Oklahoma State to win the East bracket.
Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton admired Florida's speed. "I think their overall quickness will give North Carolina trouble," he said.
Coach Bill Guthridge thinks Carolina can handle the up-and-down style the Gators play.
"I think the experience in playing against some athletic teams in our league and in non-conference has helped us," he said. "We are not bad athletes. The coach is a bad athlete, but we've got some pretty good athletes on our team."
