FINAL FOUR SPECIAL EDITION Confused? This is a special edition of The Chronicle devoted to thia weekend's Final Four. But THE CHRONICLE there's more than just that in today's issue. FRIDAY. APRIL 1.1994 DUKE UNIVERSITY DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA manummmamaaim Public Safety plans to reissue citations By MICHAEL SAUL justice standpoint," Wardell said. Four state citations filed "But we will [issue state cita­ against University students fol­ tions] if we can identify the people lowing lastweekend's post-game that are starting these fires." celebration will be reissued, Public Safety officials decided Duke Public Safety officials an­ this year for the first time to cite nounced Thursday. students if they start or tend one "We are going to assume that ofthe bonfires that traditionally the citations have to be cor­ follow Blue Devil basketball vic­ rected," said ChiefLewis Wardell tories in the NCAA tournament. of Public Safety. The original The undergraduate student citations will be dismissed." government president is plan­ FourUniversitystudentswere ning to lobby a top Allen Build­ charged with igniting an unau­ ing official today in an effort ei­ thorized fire following Duke's ther to convince the University MIN CE LI/THE CHRONICLE triumph over Purdue in the to sponsor a bonfire or to agree Southeast Regional finals Sat­ not to arrest students. The Duke Coach K addresses supporters prior to the team's departure for Charlotte Thursday. urday. The citations were Student Government passed leg­ deemed invalid because they islation Wednesday demanding were signed by a Public Safety that the University follow prece­ Men's basketball seeks 3rd title officer rather than a city fire dent and sponsor an official bon­ inspector. fire. By CHRIS HURTGEN But for Duke and head coach vantage,"Krzyzewskisaid."We Public Safety officials haveyet Dr. Charles Putman, execu­ On paper, it looks like the Mike Krzyzewski, Charlotte is lost there the last time [in the to determine the charges on the tive vice president for adminis­ men's basketball team might anything but iriendly turf. ACC Tournament] and there are new citations. tration, said Wednesday that he have a home-court advantage The Blue Devils will head to more Carolina fans in Charlotte But Wardell said fire inspec­ supported Public Safety's deci­ at the Final Four in Charlotte. the Queen City in search of then- than there are in Chapel Hill." tors will join a security force of sion to issue citations as well as The Queen City is just 150 third national championship in If the Blue Devils carry any more than 200 officers for the the decision not to sponsor a bon­ miles from Durham, it's located the last four years. Duke de­ advantage into Saturday's Final Four games this weekend. fire. Hudson was scheduled to in Duke's home state, and the feated Kansas for the 1991 na­ NCAA Tournament semifinal And students who ignite a bon­ speak with Putman today at 8 Blue Devils played in the Char­ tional title, then the Blue Dev­ against Florida, they have an fire or otherwise break the law a.m. lotte Coliseum three weeks ago ils came back to beat Michigan edge in experience. Five of will be sanctioned, he said. "Public Safety's efforts to in the Atlantic Coast Confer­ for the 1992 crown. Duke's 12 roster players own a "It is not our intention to body overcontrol the situation may ence tournament. "I don't feel there's any ad- Sea DUKE on page 4 • slam a student from a criminal See FIRE on page 3 •• 4 teams journey to Charlotte with championship hopes By JIM O'CONNELL meet in the first semifinal with Florida the year last season — is the Associated Press going against Duke in the other. The focal point. He did a remark­ CHARLOTTE — It was a slow day winners meet Monday night for the na­ able job on Purdue's Glenn leading to the Final Four. tional championship, a first for any but Robinson in the regional The fans began arriving Thursday, not Duke, which won it all in 1991 and 1992. championship game, but it yet the painted faces certain to populate This is the Blue Devils' seventh Final came with a lot of help from the Charlotte Coliseum this weekend. Four appearance in nine years, a figure Lang and center Cherokee The teams arrive, but there's business made even more impressive when you Parks. to attend to, so all anyone sees are play­ realize no conference had that many The latter has 13 blocked ers and coaches waving from baggage representatives in the same period. shots in the four NCAA Tour­ carousels or on their way to buses. "I think we get a lot of respect from a nament games. Speaking of buses, that's the mode of lot of people based on what we did in the "Duke recognizes that they transportation for one team this year. past," Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski have the opportunity to do Duke made the 150-mile trek to Char­ said. "This is this year and we have to something with this team and lotte in a mini-caravan of chartered buses focus on this year and what these kids they are also proud of their accompanied by an escort from the North are doing." tradition," Florida head coach Carolina Highway Patrol. Duke (27-5) left the NCAA Tourna­ Lon Kruger said. "But this Because there was so little going on ment in uncharacteristic fashion lastyear, Duke team has to perform. Thursday, it was a good day to look for knocked out in the second round by Cali­ Either Duke's team or our omens. You can start with the buses. fornia. The three seniors — Grant Hill, team will be better on Satur­ The last team to make its way to the Antonio Lang and Marty Clark — have day, and nothing else mat­ Final Four in a bus was Kansas in 1988. two championship rings, but this is all ters." The Jayhawks made the one-hour drive new to the sophomores and freshmen. Florida (29-7) is lucky past to Kansas City, Mo., then won it all. This team has developed their own performance doesn't count The only Final Four held in the state personality," Krzyzewski said. "We re­ because this is the school's JEN POTTHEISER/THE CHANTICLEER ofNorth Carolina wasin 1974at Greens­ ally had to change in personality and first Final Four appearance. The Blue Devils hope to celebrate in Charlotte. boro. The team that took it all that year changed our points of emphasis. The Kruger has turned a program was an in-state group from North Caro­ way they've picked that up has been as close to bottom as it could get into one "People are enjoying the success of lina State. very pleasing." that actually has some football fans look­ Florida basketball and our fans are com­ The omens will long be forgotten by The point of emphasis has become the ing away from spring practice this week­ fortable, the team's doing well, compet- Saturday when Arkansas and Arizona defense, and Hill — defensive player of end. See FINAL FOUR on page 6 •- THE CHRONICLE FRIDAY, APRIL 1. 1994 $5,000 for a ticket? This Final Four just might be worth it When Dr. James Naismith first took to the court meaning to the term "widebody." with a peach basket and a stitched leather ball, it's This year's Final Four truly has it all. There's hidden doubtful he ever thought someone would pay $5,000 to From the cheap seats drama. There's on-the-court excitement. There's some­ watch two teams play the game he was about to invent. Abe Wehmiller thing for everyone, regardless of school allegiance, Now, he must be rolling over in his grave. hometown or political preference. For as the Final Four comes to Charlotte, scalpers are And for those outside North Carolina, or those in Sit still, Dr. Naismith — $5,000 may not be such a bringing in between two and five grand for lower level Chapel Hill, or anyone else who has a reason to deeply 1 after all. tickets to the two semifinals and the championship despise the Blue Devils, here's a chance to see them game. $5,000. That's almost a third of a high-school falter in their own backyard. But don't hold your teacher's starting salary. That's two year's worth of breath — it doesn't happen too often. summer jobs. That's over $40 per minute of basketball. •The nation's best backcourt. No, I'm not talking But before you turn up your nose and go watch it all about Duke's Chris Collins and Jeff Capel, though on CBS, consider the many reasons one would shell out Collins is certainly the most enthusiastic of all the so much dough to see these games. players who have made it this far, and Capel has •The perennial underdog. This year, it's Florida. proven himself to be the most improved. This title goes Before this year, the Gators had not been ranked inthe to Arizona's Khalid Reeves and Damon Stoudamire. nation's top-25 since 1989, and started this season Reeves and Stoudamire average 24.2 and 18.3 points again out ofthe polls. They rose no higher than 14th per game, respectively. They run the Wildcats' offense. the entire year. Inthe 75-year history oftheir program, They represent both coasts of the United States — they have never been to a Final Four.