Jan. 1, 2001
By DOUG FEINBERG
AP MegaSports Writer
North Carolina looks for its seventh consecutive victory as it visits
Georgia Tech on Tuesday in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both
schools.
The No. 13 Tar Heels (9-2) are coming off their eighth title in the
Tournament of Champions, beating the College of Charleston 64-60 on
Saturday.
Sophomore guard Joseph Forte had 29 points, none bigger than his layup
off a
steal with 11 seconds to play.
"I told Joe before the season started that it was not going to hurt his
reputation if he makes the All-ACC Defensive team," Tar Heels coach Matt
Doherty said. "Some people think it's not cool to play defense and you have
to
convince them otherwise."
Forte admitted he rarely played defense until Doherty persuaded him to.
"I was nonchalant about it, it was never important to me," Forte said.
"But once coach got on me about it, I tried to improve. I want to be a
complete player and I need defense to do that.'
Tuesday's game will mark the first ACC contest for both Doherty and
Georgia
Tech coach Paul Hewitt.
The Yellow Jackets (8-3) are coming off a 90-59 rout of Harvard on
Thursday.
Georgia Tech had four players in double figures, led by Tony Akins, who had
19
points and was 5-for-6 on 3-pointers. Marvin Lewis had 17 points and Alvin
Jones scored 13 with a season-high 15 rebounds and eight blocked shots.
Georgia Tech will face five top 25 opponents in its next six games.
After
North Carolina, the Yellow Jackets visit No. 17 Maryland and No. 8 Virginia
in
the next two games, then play host to No. 4 Wake Forest on Jan. 13. After a
visit to NC State, Georgia Tech plays host to No. 3 Duke.
North Carolina holds a 49-14 lead in the all-time series and has won
eight
of the last nine meetings, including a 74-72 victory on March 1.
