by University Journal Staff Writers

Jamie Weiss and Justin Brookman

Granted, the Virginia Cavaliers lost to North Carolina tonight 79-76, but we really have no reason to be upset. We had a chance to tie the game in the waning seconds, which was unfortunately not converted. The bottom line is that Virginia's 4-0 start in the ACC was no fluke, and that they are still tied for first in the conference with three home games in a row next on tap.

Virginia came out strong in the first half, scoring the first bucket of the game. The game was close throughout the half, as Harold Deane scored 8 consecutive points to end a Tar Heel run with about five minutes left in the half. The team showed that although they have Cory Alexander to go to in a tight situation, many of their other contributors can step up in key situations.

In the first half, Junior Burrough was held to 4 points by a tenacious Tar Heel defense. However, the fourth year forward broke out of this slump, throwing down three vicious dunks in traffic in the second half. Burrough's inside scoring is key to the success of this Cavalier's team and tonight was no exception.

Fourth year swingman Jason Williford broke out of his recent slump, finishing off a fast break with a one-handed jam, restoring faith in one of our veteran leaders. Jason's urging on of the crowd last Wednesday against Clemson helped the entire team get a spark. His cheerleading against Duke on the road Saturday helped the team come back from the 23-point deficit to win in double overtime against a team only three years removed from back-to-back NCAA championships. Williford made it obvious tonight that a big game only makes him want to perform better. Emotional leaders such as Williford will be well needed if we hope to match Duke's achievements in the years ahead.

A future leader diehard Virginia fans can look forward to is first year Curtis Staples. In the first half, Staples hit three well-defended trifectas with impunity. It was clear that pressure did not get to him at all. Staples is for real, and those of you who did not know it before, certainly learned it tonight. It was an early season concern for Cavalier fans, that faced with defense, Staples could not knock down the J. He proved tonight that this was a fallacy that will become more apparent as Virginia advances further into the season.

Many a lesser team would have folded down by 12 early in the second half. Carolina went on a series of runs threatening to put Virginia out of the game, but the Hoos always responded with an answer. This mental toughness will serve the Cavs down the stretch as they approach the heart of the ACC season.

In most preseason publications UNC's forward Jerry Stackhouse was not listed as a first team All-American, and in one he was left off the first five national teams. He showed however, that he was too quick to be successfully guarded by 6-10 center Chris Alexander, and the height advantage Alexander enjoyed was not enough to neutralize Stackhouse's driving ability.

Donald Williams was the MVP of the Final Four two years ago and although last season he was more of a role player in an offense featuring now Boston Celtic Eric Montross and freshmen Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace, he continued his excellent play against Virginia tonight. His sixteen points in the first half came on 4-4 shooting from behind the arc, all well defended by the Cavs. His runners in the lane looked like prayers as they went up, but his presence somehow forced them through the net.

Wallace was contained in the first half, but no amount of Virginia pressure could stop him in the second. Wallace is clearly a PTPer and as Carolina's bench is thin, it was up to him to keep the inside game alive for Dean Smith. Hitting Olajuawonesque hooks and fallaways in the second half kept the Tar Heels ahead. The shots he took were, at times, impossible to defend and he took advantage of this, scoring the majority of his points against Burrough and Alexander both in foul trouble.

I look back to after an early season exhibition when second year swingman Jamal Robinson told me that this team had four goals this year. The team was striving for a Preseason NIT championship, a regular season and tournament ACC championship and an NCAA championship. Although the team fell short in the Preseason NIT, the team I saw tonight showed the toughness, talent and tenacity to reach three of Robinson's four goals come April.