Tulsa Will Try to Show Carolina Its Heels - Los Angeles Times
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Tulsa Will Try to Show Carolina Its Heels

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

Does speed really beat size any day of the week?

That’s what Tulsa Coach Bill Self likes to say.

All that matters in the NCAA South Regional final is which one wins today.

Either North Carolina--with its huge, plodding lineup--will be on its way to an improbable Final Four after losing more games than any Tar Heel team since 1952, or Tulsa--with its quick, four-guard team--is going for the first time in school history.

It’s size versus speed, and history versus hustle.

“We’ve never been here before,†Self said. “It’s one thing to get a chance to do it, and it’s another to do it against a team that’s already been there 13 times.â€

Actually, Coach, that’s 14.

A 15th would break the record the Tar Heels share with UCLA, although the Bruins are well ahead in championships, 11-3.

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Tradition and the tale of the tape say North Carolina is the favorite. The seedings say otherwise: Tulsa (32-4) is No. 7; the Tar Heels (21-13) are No. 8.

Tulsa’s unconventional starting five gives up almost 14 inches to the Tar Heels.

Eric Coley, the marvelous 6-foot-5 “forward†who was leading the NCAA tournament in rebounding after three games, is six inches shorter than the Tar Heels’ Kris Lang.

Asked to compare North Carolina to another team he has seen, Self drew laughter.

“The Lakers,†he said. “We have played some ‘long’ teams like Cincinnati, but we haven’t played anybody with size like Carolina. Not even close.â€

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But not so fast. Tulsa is not a team to dismiss.

The Golden Hurricane keeps doing what conventional wisdom says can’t be done--outrebounding taller teams, darting to loose balls and scoring in the lane, shutting down bigger teams with ball-hassling defense.

Against North Carolina, Tulsa will put pressure on the perimeter, trying to force turnovers and keep the ball away from Lang and 7-foot center Brendan Haywood, who will go against Tulsa’s big man, rugged 6-10 Brandon Kurtz.

“We’ve got to be able to adjust,†North Carolina point guard Ed Cota said. “We’ve had some games this year against teams with a lot of quickness. Virginia beat us twice. Duke beat us twice.â€

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Who’s the underdog? Who knows?

“I think when we play big-name schools, people label us as the underdog automatically,†Tulsa guard Greg Harrington said. “We don’t care what other people think. We feel we can play with any team in America.â€

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Regional Final

Today

8 North Carolina (21-13)

7 Tulsa (31-4)

11:30 a.m.

at Austin, Texas

Regional Semifinals

8 North Carolina, 74

4 Tennessee, 69

*

6 Miami (Fla.), 71

7 Tulsa, 80

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