University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina Takes On Florida
March 30, 2000 | Men's Basketball
March 30, 2000
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GAME: No. 8 North Carolina (23-13) vs. No. 5 Florida (28-7), national
semifinal.
TIME: Saturday, 8:10 p.m. EST.
SITE: The RCA Dome, Indianapolis.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - In the unfamiliar role of underdog, North Carolina will make its record-tying 15th appearance in the Final Four when it faces Florida on Saturday night in the second semifinal.
The eighth-seeded Tar Heels are in the Final Four for the third time in four seasons, but their appearance this year is a surprise. North Carolina had not won four consecutive games all season before doing so to advance out of the South Regional.
"I think this team is in a class by itself," senior point guard Ed Cota said. "It took awhile 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."
If North Carolina is to reach the national championship game, the pressure literally will be on Cota. As the Tar Heels' top ballhandler, he will be expected to deal with the full-court pressure that Florida has ridden into the Final Four.
"I definitely need help," Cota said. "I can't do it myself. Me being a point guard, I need to try and control this game. But in a game against a team like Florida, where they've got 10 guys and they can keep throwing them in and out at you, it's going to take a toll on me."
That help could come from star freshman Joseph Forte, who continued his brilliant rookie season by scoring a season-high 28 points in the Tar Heels' 59-55 victory over Tulsa in the South Regional final. Forte averages 16.4 points and became the first freshman to lead North Carolina in scoring.
Underclassmen have also contributed heavily in Florida's second trip to the Final Four. The Gators feature a deep bench that is heavy with freshmen and sophomores, highlighted by second-year star Mike Miller, who leads the team with 14.3 points per game.
The young Florida team had trouble dealing with high expectations during the regular season, but has seen things come together in the NCAA tournament. After needing a last-second basket by Miller to beat Butler in the first round, the Gators used their pressure and balance to run past Illinois, top-ranked Duke and Oklahoma State to win the East Regional.
"I knew this was going to happen," freshman Brett Nelson said. "I knew something special was going to happen because of how hard we all work. I'm really excited. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We've got to seize the moment."
The winner advances to play Michigan State or Wisconsin in Monday's championship game.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: North Carolina - At-large bid, Atlantic Coast Conference, defeated No. 9 Missouri 84-70 in first round, defeated No. 1 Stanford 60-53 in second round, defeated No. 4 Tennessee 74-69 in regional semifinals, defeated Tulsa 59-55 in regional final. Florida - At-large bid, Southeastern Conference, defeated No. 12 Butler 59-58, OT, in first round, defeated No. 4 Illinois 93-76 in second round, defeated No. 1 Duke 87-78 in regional semifinals, defeated Oklahoma State 77-65 in regional final.
ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD: North Carolina - 80-33, 34 years. Florida - 10-4, 5 years.
