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By BRIAN LANDMAN
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 22, 2001
WHEN/WHERE: 8 tonight, Dean Smith Center, Chapel Hill, N.C.
TV/RADIO: Ch. 32; WWBA-AM 1040; WZHR-AM 1400; WAMR-AM 1320.
RECORDS: FSU 7-18, 2-10. North Carolina 21-3, 11-1.
COACHES: FSU -- Steve Robinson (50-66, fourth season; 96-84 overall). North Carolina -- Matt Doherty (21-3, first season; 43-18 overall).
KEY PLAYERS: FSU -- Delvon Arrington, PG, 5-11 Sr. (11.7 ppg, 4.9 apg, 2 spg); Monte Cummings, G, 6-4 Jr. (11.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg); Michael Joiner, F, 6-7 Fr. (9.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg); Adrian Crawford, G, 6-5 Sr. (10.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg). North Carolina -- Joseph Forte, G, 6-4 So. (21 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.1 spg); Brendan Haywood, C, 7-0 Sr. (12 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.7 bpg); Kris Lang, F, 6-11 Jr. (12.2 ppg, 6 rpg); Jason Capel, F, 6-8 Jr. (11.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg).
NOTES: The Tar Heels' nation-leading 18-game winning streak was snapped Sunday at ACC cellar-dweller Clemson, 75-65, so the timing of FSU's trip to Chapel Hill isn't the best. The fiery Doherty decided to practice on Monday, a scheduled off-day, not as punishment but to get the bad "taste out of our mouths." Said Doherty: "We might have had our best practice all year in terms of energy and enthusiasm. Ronald Curry leaned over to me at the end of practice and he said, "Coach. This was your best coaching move this year.' " The Seminoles continue to improve. With the exception of a blowout loss at Duke, the Seminoles have been on the brink of numerous upsets, including a 69-66 last-second loss to Virginia on Saturday. Said Robinson: "They usually play pretty well at home and adding fuel to the fire, they just lost at Clemson." ... A key will be the play of Arrington, offensively and defensively on Curry, not a big scoring threat but a savvy floor leader who is 16-1 as a starter this season. ... FSU also needs big performances from sophomore Cs Nigel Dixon and Mike Mathews against UNC's imposing post players Haywood, Lang and Julius Peppers. ... UNC leads the series 26-6 and has won seven of the past eight. The Seminoles won the last game in Chapel Hill, however, the nadir of UNC's season. -- Compiled by Brian Landman