Moving to the future

–Make the Web site every student’s home page. One big step toward this is putting the weather forecast and current conditions more prominent above the headlines. This also includes more cross-promotion between the print and online product.
–Make the blogs a must-read. This most importantly involves a redesign to improve readability. Give them greater play on the Web site. Give them themes: “In the Pit,” or an updated “Editor’s Blog” with reader feedback. Experiment with simply a roving blogger.
–Put more video on the Web site. This can mean independent stories, but should also be taken advantage of whenever a print story has a powerful visual angle. We have hundreds of electronic communication students at UNC; it should be easy to find interested workers. We could finance new equipment through 15 second ads before videos.
–Introduce more photo galleries, linked to online stories and promoted in the paper. If photogs are going, use their photos. If not, encourage the reporter to snap some pictures with his or her digital camera. For popular events, solicit and post reader photos.
–In folo stories, link to the past stories on the Web site. Link multimedia and photos to the online story, and make these links noticeable.
–Revise and promote the e-mail edition.

In the paper

–Put more emphasis in getting feature stories on the front page. The features section should have a good feel for the pulse of the student body – what they want to read.
–Create a monthly feature containing take-out stories and longer profile pieces. A society of future magazine editors just opened on campus; the interest is there. Print these as a package on one page of the print product and/or create a readable online magazine.
–Expand the weather section. By the time people pick up the paper, they’re dressed for the day. We need to have tomorrow’s weather in there.
–Experiment with using the ears of the newspaper for inside or online promos.
–Evaluate City coverage to make sure we’re filling a need. What do local students and professors want out of this desk? This would take a readership survey or a public forum.
–Have the Public Editor be more involved. He or she should write a bi-weekly column and be more of an advocate for readers or an ombudsman.
–Create a weekly Q and A “People in the news” piece by the features desk.
–For yearly stories, put a fresh spin on them by choosing a more personal angle. For example, for the Dook game city story, follow a police man through the night. On the first snow, city could talk to the guy in charge of making the call on public schools
–Eliminate the split-verb rule, except with infinitives.

In the newsroom

–Streamline the editing process. Happy writers are more likely to be productive. Desk editors should make sign up sheets for reading time appointments. Try to stay on schedule as much as possible.
–Experiment with eliminating pre-budget. Reports would instead be filed through InCopy. Editor would review the reports and make calls as necessary. Each desk would identify page one and page three package material. A final, comprehensive pre-budget report would be sent out on the Editor’s Inbox listserv.
–With every story written, reporter should be expected and highly encouraged to come up with two new story ideas.
–Make enrichments featuring student government and faculty leaders to give new writers a better sense of how the University operates.
–Send out the prebudget report to all writers on the desk. That way every staffer will know what is going on with the desk and be generally knowledgeable when taking phone calls.

Other

–Develop a state-of-the-art online store. Sell photo reprints, glossy copies of front pages and merchandise. Promote on Web site and in print product.
–Put together a bound collection of news clippings from basketball championship seasons. Find a way to subsidize prices to students through unassuming advertisements. Sell in the online store.
–Continue to look into acquiring more office space for the DTH.
–Continue the editor’s radio show with WCHL.

The Daily Tar Heel has a proud 114-year tradition of serving the University community. But to do this well, the DTH must constantly examine its practices and strive to be better. This platform is the culmination of almost three years of observation and active participation in the direction of the newspaper. As a result, all of these planks can be put into practice.
Under my leadership, the DTH will continue to push the envelope by revamping its Web site and reinvigorating its enterprising coverage. The newspaper also will shore up its teaching mission and ensure the DTH is accurate and accountable.

Information Central

The DTH’s physical product might have its limits, but the newspaper can serve readers by revamping its Web site, making the site a cutting-edge source of information.
– Individualized Web pages for news desks will be created. These pages will serve as information and resource centers and will include “know your University” and “know your community” sections.
*Information will be posted about University and community leaders and organizations through the compilation of online desk handbooks. Links also will be provided to helpful Web sites, so readers will know where to turn.
*News articles will be placed on these pages. Links to archived related articles will be provided when applicable.
*Special features such as podcasts and video segments will be increased and included on the appropriate Web pages.
– Online special sections will be increased. These sections should be put together for events such as municipal elections, tuition decisions and the NCAA Tournament.
-– The organization’s transparency will be improved. I will update the editor’s blog on a weekly basis, as well as when needed. This will give our readers insight into the newspaper’s daily operations.
*The use of other blogs more consistently will be encouraged to engage more readers.
*Corrections that appear in the paper edition of the DTH will make their way online. Corrections will appear online in their own section, as well as with articles. An accuracy report will be made available online each semester.
– An avenue will be created on the DTH’s Web site to give the University community and the extended community a place to share their own news. This site will be updated weekly, and users can submit announcements and news, such as impending retirements and marriages or the results of their club soccer team.

The product

-– The DTH will refocus to use more alternative story formats. Graphics and informational pullouts still will be used, but I will emphasize how bodies of text can be broken up to be made more accessible.
– I will re-examine where anchored stories run in the newspaper. In certain situations, news dictates that anchored stories run in a lower spot.
– The investigative team re-emerged this year and began to reinvigorate the DTH’s enterprising coverage, but more must be done.
*The investigative team editor will lead enterprising projects for all desks. Desk editors will have the option to send writers who are working on long-term stories to meet with the investigative team editor.
*The investigative team will follow through with its plan to conduct polls to assess community opinions.
*The team will bump up coverage of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Stories that dig deeper regarding the economies and education system of the community must increase.
*Business news and coverage of UNC Hospitals will be led by the investigative team.
– Feature stories about Chapel Hill and Carrboro will increase. We need to delve beyond Franklin Street and capture the spirit and achievements of the community.
– The State & National Desk will be smaller than the City Desk, and analysis will be the primary focus.
– Monthly multimedia profiles of community newsmakers will be introduced.
– More photo stories will be included, and the newspaper will work to be more innovative with inside pages and their design.
– More graphic illustrations and experimental design for the newspaper’s front page will be encouraged.
– The opinion page will continue to employ better reporting techniques. The editorial board is most effective when it does its own legwork, and this will be encouraged, especially for issues such as tuition, town planning and elections.
– I will review the DTH stylebook with copy editors.

Newsroom management

– The DTH demands that its sources and the community be accountable for their actions, and the newspaper must offer the same in return. To do so I will ensure a member of management meets with each desk on a monthly basis. That way, desk editors will keep their promises. The member of management who meets with each desk will rotate.
– Management will hold weekly meetings to ensure the newspaper is headed in the right direction. Meetings for editors of all desks will be held twice a semester.
– The managing editor and the editor will hold office hours, ensuring someone has time devoted to readers each day.
– The deputy managing editor will continue as the morning editor and will be responsible for tabs and Diversions. The DME, along with writing coaches, will lead newsroom recruitment efforts and assemble an internship notebook.
– As editor, I will review the pay levels of all employees to ensure that compensation equates with responsibility and effort.
– I will be unbiased and waive my right to vote on the editorial board.

Teaching focus

– As editor, I will ensure teaching and learning is emphasized in all corners of the newsroom. I will create a monthly photo training session during which writers will be trained to use photography equipment.
– Required enrichments will be reinstated. Staff writers will attend two enrichments, one of which must focus on writing and the other on visual elements of the newspaper.
– Staffers will be trained for the 21st century with the increased use of podcasts and blogs to engage readers.
– Members of the editorial board will undergo a training session similar to the orientation staff writers complete.
– I will establish monthly training sessions for editors. Learning doesn’t stop when staffers rise in the ranks. I will draw on journalism professors and other professionals to lead enrichments that focus on the editing process and leadership skills.
– Varied sources will be asked to critique the newspaper on a weekly basis.

Community connections

– As editor, I will serve as the public face of the DTH, but I will emphasize that I am not the only face, and that the newsroom is accountable from the top down.
– The public editor and I will assemble focus groups throughout the year to examine the DTH’s coverage in a number of areas, including minority affairs, higher education and the arts. I will be proactive in seeking opinions and suggestions from readers.
– The public editor’s role will be more transparent to the newsroom. Weekly e-mails will be sent out to staff reporting community opinions.
– Desks will emphasize beats and a certain degree of specialization when needed to ensure good source relations and consistent coverage.
– I will continue to partner with local radio stations to promote the DTH.
– The DTH will sponsor election forums and partner with Vote Carolina to create comprehensive voter guides.
– I will seek to invigorate a mentorship program with Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools to provide feedback to these students.
– Relations with other campus media will be improved.

Memorial will be held to honor life of fallen mascot

TO THE EDITOR:
Jason Ray led an amazing life, and for those of us that were influenced by his drive, energy, and love for others, his memory will always be a part of us.
As part of the process of remembering, honoring, and celebrating the life that he led, the Athletics Department, the Dean of Students, and representatives of the Senior Class and other organizations are joining together to plan a memorial and celebration of Jason Ray on campus. At this event, we, as a community, can join together to mourn this tragedy but also claim the legacy that J-Ray will have in our lives.
During this time of stress and many difficult discussions, the family will not be able to be in Chapel Hill for the service tentatively planned for Wednesday night. Therefore, we will postpone the service so that the campus can show our love for Jason and our support directly to his family.
My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone as we deal with the loss of Jason and the reality of death, but I look forward to the time where we can celebrate life and hope and peace.

James Jolley
Senior
History and Political Science

____________________

Security contractor is not in an objective position

TO THE EDITOR:
The situation faced by the Florida professor whose prosecutors reportedly spent $80 million to bring terrorism charges against him only to have a jury reject them is no laughing matter. But I had to laugh when I read the comments of a security company president who stated, “(Al-Arian) is playing a game … As far as I’m concerned, you can put him away forever.”
Asking a “security” contractor what to think about this case is like the New Yorker cartoon we have on our refrigerator: A man is in the examining room with the doctor, a rabbit in a white coat. “Eat lots of carrots!” says the doctor. The security contractor prescribes a similar logic. “What’s good for me is good for you.” Use the iron fist.
Such cynicism is a luxury we cannot afford. Security consultants and “experts” helped Washington deceive us into a disastrous $2 trillion Iraq war.
Professor Sami Al-Arian has suffered harsh imprisonment for four years, his family has been put through hell, he has lost everything, and he finally followed his exhausted attorneys’ advice to plead guilty to something to can get this ordeal over with. He agreed to deportation even though as a Palestinian he is stateless, and still he’s sentenced to 18 more months.
Check out this radical common sense from the Veterans for Peace Web site: “The army that can defeat terrorism doesn’t wear uniforms, or drive Humvees, or call in air strikes. It doesn’t have a high command, or high security, or a high budget. (It) does battle quietly, clearing minefields and vaccinating children. It undermines military dictatorships (read: occupations) and military lobbyists. It subverts sweatshops and special interests. Where people feel powerless, it helps them organize for change, and where people are powerful it reminds them of their responsibility.”

Jerry Markatos
Witness for Peace, SE

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University should not pay for students’ birth control

TO THE EDITOR:
Your March 27 article and opinion piece on the rising cost of birth control fail to place responsibility where it truly lies — with the students. Why should students get reduced-price birth control when other people have to pay full price or co-pays? Being a student does not entitle us to having cheaper medical care than the general public.
If students don’t want to have children, they should either refrain from having sex or pay the full price for birth control. People need to take responsibility for their own actions. The decision to have sex is not made by the government, the drug companies, or your mom and dad so why should we expect them to be the ones paying to prevent the consequences of that decision?

Katie Chalmers
Graduate Student
City and Regional Planning

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Abortion law is merely a cry for consistency in law

TO THE EDITOR:
Far from “running around Roe” and attempting to undermine federal law, the proposed South Carolina legislation requiring women to view an ultrasound of their unborn child before they abort it is simply a justified cry for consistency in our nation’s legal recognition of human life.
The Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004 requires two distinct charges to be filed against an individual who attacks or kills a pregnant woman (United States Code Title 18, Section 1841). If a person murders a pregnant woman, he can be charged with two counts of homicide: one against the woman and one against her fetus. In other words, the law recognizes both the woman and her unborn child as living human beings with legal standing.
Why, then, does this recognition not extend to the abortion clinic? Are the legal rights of the fetus somehow voided if it is killed with the consent of its mother?
In his opposition to the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, Senator John Kerry stated that, “I have serious concerns about this legislation because the law cannot simultaneously provide that a fetus is a human being and protect the right of the mother to choose to terminate her pregnancy.” He’s absolutely right. Either a fetus is a legally-entitled human being or it’s not.
Even some of the most ardent supporters and providers of abortion recognize the former to be true. Ron Fitzsimmons, executive director of the National Coalition of Abortion Providers, admitted in a 1997 interview with the New York Times that women enter abortion clinics to kill their fetuses. “It is a form of killing. You’re ending a life.”
The proposed South Carolina legislation simply asks us to face this fact and to think long and hard about the consequences of abortion. Women, in particular, deserve to have the most accurate information possible before making such a choice. Abortion may be legal, but the decision to end a human life should never be an easy nor an ill-informed one.

Chris Thigpen
Senior
Religious Studies

Editorial was based on a misunderstanding of law

TO THE EDITOR:
I write in response to the March 26 editorial “Running around Roe.” While the Editorial Board is correct that the South Carolina law at issue represents a thinly-veiled attempt to discourage women from obtaining abortions, its conclusions are founded on a fundamental misunderstanding of abortion law.
Their assertion that Roe “made abortion legal” grossly oversimplifies that case’s holding (not to mention the fact that much of the Roe opinion was later supplanted by Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. v. Casey).
Roe acknowledged that “the State [has] an important and legitimate interest in preserving and protecting the health of the pregnant woman [and] that it has still another important and legitimate interest in protecting the potentiality of human life.”
Casey also recognizes that states have “a profound interest in potential life.” Only those “regulations [created for] the purpose of placing a substantial obstacle in the path of a woman seeking an abortion of a nonviable fetus” are unconstitutional.
The instant law may be constitutionally dubious in that it places an undue burden on women seeking an abortion. But to suggest that this law is, on its face, an “attempt to legislate around the Supreme Court decision [in Roe]” is irresponsible and uninformed.
Public discourse is essential to our democratic process, especially within the context of higher education. As a forum for this discourse, however, the Board has a responsibility to offer substantive criticism rather than knee-jerk reaction.

Joel Starling
Graduate Student
Law

____________________

Women must understand the effects of abortions

TO THE EDITOR:
It is true that studies have shown that abortion can have a negative psychological impact on women. However, a required viewing of an ultrasound is not the way to eliminate this suffering.
Before modern technology gave us a more detailed look into the womb, it was easy to write off the unborn as a “cluster of cells,” a “tumor,” or a “growth.” However, the majority of abortions take place between eight and 12 weeks, well beyond what any objective viewer would call a “cluster of cells.”
The bill in question would require women in South Carolina to view their ultrasound before having an abortion, not to make these women miserable, but to make them understand what they are about to do. In the interest of informed consent, women must know of all of the physical and psychological risks of any procedure, and abortion is no different.
These women in SC are not being forced to view a montage of smiling infants designed to pull at their heartstrings. They are viewing a real image of their own living human fetus. (Argue about personhood all you want, but it is human, and it is alive.) These women are about to make a choice that will affect the rest of their lives and have the right to be shown what this choice entails.
Instead of blaming an ultrasound viewing for women’s psychological trauma after abortion, perhaps we should be examining the procedure itself. Because if abortion is such an acceptable practice, why are we afraid to shed light into the womb?

Ashley Tyndall
President
Carolina Students for Life

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Poverty Awareness Week was an enormous success

TO THE EDITOR:
The organizers of Poverty Awareness Week would like to thank all of you who came out to participate in last week’s events. You all have acknowledged that poverty is a real problem and one that lies right here in our own backyard.
Hundreds of you came out to the “boxout” and listened to great music, learned from our panel on homelessness and over 70 people slept in cardboard boxes to raise homelessness awareness. NC Senator Ellie Kinnaird found the “boxout” significant enough that she is sharing it with her colleagues in the Senate this week.
Our efforts to combat poverty are only beginning. Therefore, we challenge each of you to do your part by volunteering with the IFC or even by helping to plan next year’s Poverty Awareness Week. If you would like to get involved please visit campus-y.unc.edu.

Mike Tarrant
Co-Coordinator
Poverty Awareness Week

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Columnist is right, alcohol abuse is a problem at UNC

TO THE EDITOR:
I would like to thank columnist James Dillard for his piece on Monday about why alcohol abuse is a real problem at UNC. I personally know many people who “play hard” on the weekends with drinking games. This past weekend, I could not study or sleep because of the drunken yelling going on outside my room.
The biggest problem is that students like me seem to be the only ones who care. My RA strongly follows a “just don’t let me catch you” policy, and my community director isn’t responding to my e-mails. I think there needs to be an immediate change in policy before a lawsuit forces awareness.
Underage drinking isn’t a problem that should be overlooked. It harms both the students who choose to drink and those who don’t. If I can’t sleep for a few hours on the night before a test, my grade plummets.
Officials at UNC need to take action. Yes, replace ineffective RA’s with effective ones. Yes, discipline students who abuse alcohol. And yes, somebody return the emails of a distressed student. As a first-year student, I have quickly grown to love this university, but the effect of alcohol on this campus has influenced me to consider other options.
Campus officials, don’t let this problem ruin the Carolina experience.

David Williams
Freshman
Physics

It was a tremendous honor to be tapped for the Order of the Golden Fleece on Sunday. Allie Rosenbaum wrote a solid story on it (one that I did not read prior to publication given my involvement in the group).

To be Argonaut #1799 means that since 1903 the group, considered the highest honor for a member of the UNC community, and to share affiliation with John Sanders, Chuck Stone and Michael Jordan is tremendous. What makes it even better is that my induction class (sounds like I’m going to Canton) is filled with people whom I respect incredibly. Among them are Chancellor James Moeser (my number is before his!), Provost Bernadette Gray-Little (she actually left South Building for the tapping), Ivory Latta in abstentia (I couldn’t believe the Sweet 16 was more important than the ceremony) and our fearless leader Student Body President James Allred, among many other students.

So when Timothy Reese, our photographer who covered the story who also is doing a photo story on my life for his journalism class, came back to the newsroom with his photos I was eager to see what he captured. The above photo, which was taken as they announced Allred’s accomplishments, is classic in showing that a DTH editor should always lurk in the shadows of the SBP and always question their achievements, even in their proudest moments. I didn’t mean to look like an undercover operative, and I’m not sure why I look so skeptical, but Reese got a great take here, and I hope it embodies what I’m about.

-Joe

Second Life is a waste of money for the University

TO THE EDITOR:
Regarding the March 23 editorial “Don’t forget your first life,” we think the editorial board needs some clarification on what Second Life really is.
This game is much more sinister and unsettling than having an 18-year-old female avatar being, in real life, an ex-con.
In the few hours spent wandering around the Second Life universe, we’ve seen furry sex dungeons, giant phallic towers, Soviet concentration camps complete with S and M prison guards, and Tatooine. These are some of the tamer encounters you may experience.
This is not a learning environment. For all intents and purposes, Second Life is the local watering hole for everything that is wrong with the Internet.
The University should be spending the money they are using for their server lease on more practical investments — like a remapped, user-friendly Web site that doesn’t look like it was made in 1994.

Kevin Wohlgenant
Junior
Economics

Raphael Ruiz
Junior
Anthropology

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Letter criticizing protest as ineffective was wrong

TO THE EDITOR:
I am writing in response to Wednesday’s letter, “Protest was an ineffective way to make a difference.” Some protests do lack forethought and organization, and all protests should only complement other forms of effecting change (i.e. researching, lobbying, etc.) which students at UNC are pursuing. Protest, though, is an integral part of democracy, and I’m confused that some of my peers may not recognize this.
I am not lauding Tuesday’s particular protest, but only bringing attention to the necessary act of people expressing their opinions. I wonder what India would be like without Ghandi’s civil disobedience or Chapel Hill’s classrooms without the March on Washington. What about the 13 colonies without the Boston Tea Party or the size of Arlington Cemetery without Vietnam protests?
In contrary to the letter, I argue that young, impassioned, and informed students peacefully protesting are exactly what our founding fathers envisioned when writing the Bill of Rights. “What have we become?” We are trying to become engaged citizens taking responsibility for ourselves.
If productivity is the problem, please explain how finishing the last 15 minutes of a forgettable lecture is more critical to one’s intellectual and personal growth than forming one’s opinion, finding one’s voice, and gathering with likeminded people to create a stronger impact than alone.
I don’t understand how it could make one “sad” to see “so many people, all united for a cause.” Yes, educate, inform, write letters, develop policy, vote, and bang your drums.

Ella Wise
Freshman
Environmental Studies

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DTH conflict-of-interest policy was not applicable

TO THE EDITOR:
On Mar. 23, Joseph Schwartz, editor-in-chief of The Daily Tar Heel, explained his rationale for firing me from my position as senior writer.
I disagree with Schwartz’s claim that I violated four points of the newspaper’s Conflict of Interest policy and acted unethically.
Point one forbids staff members from ongoing participation in student government, not potential future participation.
Point two forbids staff members from making the news, but my resignation should be considered implicit because of point one.
Point three forbids staff members from fraternizing with their sources outside a source/reporter relationship, but my application doesn’t constitute fraternizing with student government members.
Point twelve requires staff members to notify editors of affiliations and involvements outside the paper and to raise questions about their propriety, but my application didn’t constitute an “affiliation” or “involvement,” and Schwartz’s objections to my handling of the matter came as a surprise to me.
Schwartz implies that my coverage of Student Congress days before my first confirmation hearing was unethical, but my relationship with Congress should be viewed in its full scope — spanning two years — and not in light of a single meeting.
Most importantly, the Conflict of Interest Policy does not forbid making a move from the DTH to student government.
I kept the fact that I applied to serve in student government private for a simple reason — I did not want to unnecessarily compromise my role within the DTH as a government watchdog journalist in case the student government position were not offered to me.
Schwartz did have a duty to explain the move to readers, but not in a way that unfairly scapegoats a former writer for a situation that few, outside the newsroom, felt was embarrassing.

Mac Mollison
Student Body Secretary-select

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Columnist is right to stress complexity of immigration

TO THE EDITOR:
Thanks for the piece on Celaya, the city in Mexcio where many of the immigrants in Chapel Hill and Carrboro come from. Linda Quiquivix is right to stress the complexity of the migration issue on both sides of the border.
I look forward to seeing her documentary in light of the book “Going to Carolina del Norte” that our center recently published on the connection between Celaya and us.

Niklaus Steiner
Director
Center for Global Initiatives

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J – Those were Ty Lawson’s words after UNC’s loss to Georgetown here Sunday evening, as the Tar Heels mourned the end of their season and talked about the future. Keep in mind, of course, that Sean May said the same thing after the 2005 national championship, but strong words from Lawson on a night when everyone else was pretty non-committal. Check out Tuesday’s DTH for a brilliant story about the NBA prospects on the team, but for now you just need to know that most of the talk was about people making decisions in the next couple of weeks.

…

Some other odds and ends from the solemn UNC locker room:

Deon Thompson, on the mood on the bench during the epic collapse: “It was just quiet. It was like it was unreal, like the ball couldn’t go to the basket. I couldn’t believe it was happening.” Thompson’s game, especially in the first half, also was unreal. It will be overlooked with all the other drama of the game, but he came off the bench to post 14 points and six rebounds, as well as solid defense on superstar Jeff Green.

…

Think it was odd for Roy Williams to call a timeout with four minutes to go? Me too. The guy usually hoards them until the final seconds (if at all). But Williams revealed the reason was not to stop the bleeding on the Hoyas’ game-closing run, but to spell Ty Lawson, who was pretty gassed. “Bobby (Frasor) couldn’t play in the second half today. Hurt his foot in the first half and he couldn’t play. So I called a timeout once just to let Ty rest.” This is kind of interesting, considering that during the USC game with about four minutes left, Lawson put up the tired signal and Williams told him to “suck it up.”

…

The crowd was very pro-Georgetown as the “Hoya Saxa” chants filled the air for most of the game. They explained what the chant means in the media guide, but I’m still kind of confused. Here’s the official explanation: “Many years ago, when all Georgetown students were required to study Greek and Latin, the University’s teams were nicknamed ‘The Stonewalls.’ It is suggested that a student, using Greek and Latin terms, started the cheer ‘Hoya Saxa!’ which translates into ‘What Rocks!’ The name proved popular and the term ‘Hoyas’ was eventually adopted for all Georgetown teams.”

So a Hoya isn’t a bulldog, it’s a rock? Too weird.

Well that’s all from the gang here in scenic North Jersey. Thanks for reading (or at least skimming until you found the picture of the USC Song Girl). Take it easy.

-Daniel Malloy

No. 1 seed North Carolina vs. No. 2 seed Georgetown

Tipoff: 5:05 p.m.

Guards: Jonathan Wallace vs. Ty Lawson

Lawson has really stepped up in the postseason. Even though he only had four points against Southern California, Lawson did not come out the entire second half. Wallace is the third leading scorer for the Hoyas with 10.9 points a game, but like most guards this season, won’t be able to compete with Lawson’s speed.

EDGE: Lawson

Guards: Jessie Sapp vs. Wayne Ellington

Sapp averages the lowest points among the starters with 8.9 but leads the team in assists with 116. Ellington, on the other hand, can get hot quickly and is UNC’s third-leading scorer with 11.9 point per game. The freshman has one of the smoothest shots in the country and if he’s making baskets it only means good things for the Tar Heels.

EDGE: Ellington

Forwards: DaJuan Summers vs. Marcus Ginyard

Ginyard will probably getting the starting nod again over Reyshawn Terry, who is still not 100 percent after getting strep throat this week. Ginyard had one of the best performances of his career in the win against USC and his leadership (and defense) is key for the Tar Heels. Summers averages nine points and 3.7 boards a game.

EDGE: Ginyard

Forwards: Jeff Green vs. Brandan Wright

This will be a tough matchup for the UNC freshman. Green is the Big East player of the year who averages a team-high 14.2 points as well as 6.1 rebounds a game. He didn’t come out against Vanderbilt and hit the game winning shot with 2.5 seconds left. Wright had an almost flawless performance against USC and it will be interesting to see if that momentum carries over into this game.

EDGE: Green

Center: Roy Hibbert vs. Tyler Hansbrough

This matchup could end up being a classic between two of the best big men in the country. Hibbert is 7-foot-2 and his 12 point, 10 rebound performance was a large reason for Georgetown’s comeback win against Vanderbilt. Hansbrough had one of the worst games of his career against USC and will be looking to rebound Sunday. Hibbert has the size advantage but it will be hard to outwork Hansbrough inside.

EDGE: Hibbert

Botttom Line: UNC 78 Georgetown 75

-Compiled by Briana Gorman

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – It’s warm and sunny (seriously) here in scenic North Jersey, as we enter the exciting between-games press conference day. As has been the case for much of the week, Reyshawn Terry’s health remains a big topic of discussion. He likely won’t start again Sunday against Georgetown (5:05 p.m., CBS), but he’s working his way back into playing shape after battling strep throat. Terry wasn’t able to eat for six days, getting his first real meal Thursday. As a result, the senior forward lost about 10 pounds. “I’ve never been this sick before ever, to the point where I lost so much weight,” Terry said. But he claims he hasn’t lost any strength. “Naw, I did some pushups yesterday and I still had it,” he said.

Terry clearly was winded last night against USC, but still put up an incredibly efficient nine points in five minutes. Yet, of course, Roy Williams still had to chide the senior for a poor defensive play. “It affected his brain, too, because one time he’s complaining at the official about getting fouled when he missed the jump shot from the far corner in front of our bench while his guy was scoring at the other end,” Williams said. “His tank was out and I emptied it when he did that because I brought his tail over to sit with me the rest of the night.”

…

In other news, if you too the over in the “How many times will the 1982 national championship game be mentioned” pool, you would be in the money. The actual total was nine bazillion times that game was brought up – even though not a single player on either team was alive when it happened. Ol’ Roy was happy to oblige with stories about Michael and James and Coach Smith, but even he was getting kind of irritated with the fixation on a game that had no bearing on tomorrow’s contest. “You guys are really playing this rematch up really big,” Williams said after the fifth 1982 question. “I thought it was this year’s teams, North Carolina against Georgetown.” Alas, for the history buffs that read the blog, you should know that Williams kept a Snickers bar in his pocket for good luck during the Tournament, that Smith stayed remarkably calm in the closing minutes, and none of the Carolina players know anything about the game or that season other than Michael Jordan hitting a fairly significant 17-footer.

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One more humorous note, Wes Miller – at the ripe old age of 24 – gets a lot of ribbing for being the old man on the team. And there are times when he really feels that way. Take it away, Wes:

“In the summer, the freshman just arrived, and I walked into the locker room and I see Alex Stepheson sitting there with a Batman backpack on. And I asked him if that was a joke and he said, ‘No, I’m dead serious. I love Batman.’ I had to pause for a second, and I still thought he was joking. And after I saw him wear it for the next like three or four days in a row I think I realized he was dead serious, that he idolized Batman. And I realized that maybe I’m a little too old for this.”

So there you have it, Alex Stepheson references in consecutive blog posts, even though he has played a grand total of one minute in the Dirty Jerz so far. That’s all for now, stay tuned for Briana’s breakdown of the Georgetown game and I’ll check in tomorrow.

-Daniel Malloy

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – It’s now the wee hours of Saturday morning here in scenic North Jersey, and the North Carolina basketball team is still alive in this NCAA Tournament, thanks to a stirring comeback and a 74-64 victory against Southern Cal. Officials are still checking USC’s basket for a lid, as the Trojans scored five points in the final 11:16 of the game. No, that’s not a misprint. USC went cold and the Tar Heels started running. And, at this point in the season, everybody knows what happens when the UNC fast break gets going.

See Briana’s brilliant game story on the front page of the Web site for all the details. My job is color, so we start with Overheard in Continental Airlines Arena:

1. Vanderbilt fan: “What’s a Tar Heel?”

UNC Cheerleader: “It’s a long story.”

2. (On their way to the postgame interview podium) Marcus Ginyard: “I’m just going to say, ‘Yeah, what Brandan (Wright) said.’”

3. (In the cheery UNC locker room) Dewey Burke: “Don’t get too close to Alex (Stepheson). He might get angry.”

Stepheson (with a wide smile): “I might snap.”

Here’s a fun stat I found while flipping through the NCAA media guide. North Carolina is third all time in tournament win percentage. Through Friday, they are 92-37 in NCAA play, a .713 clip. The second-ranked team is UCLA with a .739 tourney batting average, and No. 1 is Duke. Despite the Devils’ first round loss this year to VCU, they still top the charts with .752 (85 wins and 28 losses).

One other sidenote: Besides Nick Young, Southern Cal’s most dynamic contribution to the East Regionals was definitely the USC Song Girls. I mean, wow. Combine them with the Laguna Beach girls and there really is no reason not to move to SoCal.

Oh right, basketball. Briana took care of the nightcap, so I’ll do some thoughts on game one. Georgetown scored a memorable 66-65 victory against Vanderbilt, thanks to Big East Player of the Year Jeff Green’s turnaround bank shot with 2.5 seconds to go. From my seat in the opposite corner, it looked like a pretty legit play but upon viewing the magic of replay, I’m siding with the vociferous Vandy fans that it was a travel. Green clearly switched pivot feet before hoisting the game-winning bucket. Of course, that is a nearly impossible call to make, especially at the end of a game when the refs are supposed to swallow their whistles.

Lost in the whining were the true keys to the Georgetown game – as the Hoyas came back from a 13-point first half deficit. No. 1 was Sylvia Hatchell’s favorite stat: rebounding. Georgetown outrebounded Vandy 40-26, which included 16 offensive boards. The Hoyas weren’t shooting well, but when they were getting two or three chances a possession, they were able to put the ball in the hole just enough to win. The Commodores also lost their shooting touch late in the game. After scorching the Hoyas to the tune of six 3-pointers in the first half, they cooled in the second. The most damning stat: the Commodores failed to make a field goal after Hoya center Roy Hibbert fouled out with four minutes to play. (That last stat was courtesy of DTH class of ’05 Dan Blank, a Jersey native who is here freelancing for the High Point Enterprise. Thanks, Dan.) Ergo, jump shooting and rebounding were more important than Green’s happy feet.

That’s all for now, check back tomorrow for scintillating details from the between games media hypefest. Over-under on how many times the 1982 Georgetown-Carolina NCAA title game is mentioned: eight bazillion.

-Daniel Malloy