The Cavalier daily :: Friday, March 1, 1968 :: University of Virginia Library

Not until Sunday will the final
seedings be made for the ACC
Basketball Tournament beginning
next Thursday in Charlotte.
will not be until after Saturday
night's ACC contests between
North Carolina and Duke, and
N.C. State and South Carolina
that the final seedings will be
determined.

But following last Wednesday
evening's victory over Maryland,
Virginia has secured fifth place.
Although not official, it is likely
that the Cavaliers will open against
N. C. State on Thursday
at 9 p.m. N. C. State twice
beat Virginia during the regular
season, but as Coach Bill Gibson
commented, "It is very difficult
for any team to defeat any other
team three times in a row."

Gibson: Well-Prepared

Coach Gibson said of his team's
chances, "We are well prepared
for the tournament, both mentally
and physically. We believe we have
a very good chance against N.C.
State. Overall this has been a
pretty good season considering all
the developments. Many boys on
other teams would have quit or
complained if their season had
developed as ours did, but our
boys stayed behind each other
all year. They are a fine group of
men."

Despite Wednesday night's loss
to South Carolina, North Carolina
will retain its number one
position. The Tar Heels currently
nurse a 22-2 record with their
final game this Saturday night.

Under Heels

Following Carolina in the line up
is Duke, South Carolina, N.C.
State, Virginia, Maryland, Clemson
and Wake Forest. Fifth place
has been the highest finish in the
ACC race for Virginia since 1959,
when they also ended in fifth
place.

North Carolina is definitely the
favorite to win the tournament.
It is felt in many quarters that
South Carolina's upset of the Tar
Heels will merely strengthen
Coach Dean Smith's five. The
Carolinians are in perfect physical
shape and a Charlotte crowd
will be of some advantage for the
team.

Individually, Mike Lewis of
Duke leads the conference in scoring
with an average of 23.6 points
per game. Virginia captain Mike
Katos holds the fifth position in
the scoring race with an average
of 18.7 and Tony Kinn is seventh
with 18.1.

Best Shot

Center Norm Carmichael leads
the league in field goal percentage,
hitting with a .583 consistency. The
6′ 9″ Cavalier is also third in
rebounding, averaging 12 grabs
per game.