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Show Yow no Final Four stranger anymore KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - After 23 seasons and 552 victories at North Carolina State, and after coaching the 1988 Olympic team to a gold medal, Kay Yow will coach in her first Final Four tonight when the Wolfpack meet LoUisiana Tech in the NCAA semifinals. Her emotions on this long-awaited trip were among the primary topics during North Carolina State's news conference Thursday. She steeled herself to the direct inquiries, then, as she answered an unrelated question, suddenly found herself reeling. "If I hadn't gotten to a Pinal Fom ever, l will have had a very Eull career," Yow said, trying to hold back tears. "Because it's watching (senior forward) Chasity Melvin mature, other people develop. lt's seeing them get direction and making a contribution to society that enriches me. "To be here at a Final Four is icing on the cake." She paused a moment to collect herself, dabbing at the comers of her eyes with her fingers. "And it does thrill me to be here, and 1 worked every year to get here." Most people at this Final Four seem thrilled for her, too. "I' m very happy for Kay Yow," said Arkansas coach Gary Blair, whose team also is making its first Final Four appearance and will meet Tennessee in Friday's night's . second game. "She's meant a lot to the game of basketball. And it's time to see new faces here." Louisiana Tech coach Leon Barmore does not qualify in that category. Barmore is in his ninth Final Four since the women's NCAA tournament began in 1982. Only Tennessee's Pat SUIDmitt bas been to more, with 11. Asked if his tournament experience and his program's tradition give the Lady Techsters (30-3) an edge over the Wolfpack !25-6), Barmore quickly alluded to Yow's international coaching experience. Including the '88 Olympic triumph, Yow is 21-1 as a coach in international competition. "I never won a gold medal," Barmore said. And in spite of the Lady Techsters' history, their players have combined for exactly the same number of Final Four appearances as N orth Carolina State's players: Zero. That helped m otivate the Lady Techsters, whose three ~eniors were in danger of becoming the first in school Coaches tnaking Final Four debut about just hot to maintain your sense of focus," SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Kentucky and North Smith said. Carolina regularly reach the Final Four. "We need to be hitting on all cylinders in Stanford and Utah haven't been here for order to compete with what I consider a very decades. outstanding and very deep Stanford team," he All four teams, however, have something in said. common: They have a head coach leading a Stanford (30-4) erased a 6-point deficit in the team into the Final Four for the first time. final minute to beat Rhode Island 79-77 as "For me, it's probably a once-in-a-lifetime Arthur Lee scored 13 of his 26 points in the opportunity," Utah coach Rick Majerus said. final 2:04. The victory sent Stanford to its first "I'm so thrilled for our players and our university, the ciry of Salt Lake and the state of Final Four since 1942. Cardinal coach Mike Montgomery said other Utah." college coaches have given him advice this The Utes (29-3) defeated defending champion week on coping with distractions. Arizona 76-51 to reach the Final Four for . "They just mentioned that it's the first time since 1966. Utahiaces almost as if you don't have North Carolina tomorrow time to prepare your team in the Alamodome. like you normally do and Kentucky meets Stanford that you have to be selfish, in the other semifinal. The you have to say 'No,"' winners play Monday night Montgomery said. for the championship. ThoughNonh Tubby Smith, who Carolina coacb Bill took over as Wildcats * Guth.ridge experienced coach this season after the Final Four as an Rick Pitino Left for the assistant to longtime Boston Celtics, reached coach Dean Smitb, the Final Four when entering the event as a Kentucky overcame a -® head coach has 17-point second-half opened his eyes. deficit Sunday to beat 'O "Everybody's coming Duke 86-84. ~ out of the woodwork wanting It's the third straight year . . tickets and needing this and Kentucky (33-4) has made the ~ N 1" 0 needing that. It happens so fast, it's Final Four. Seven Wildcats were not anything that you can plan in advance members of the team that lost to Arizona for," Guthridge said. in the final last year. Five were on the 1996 North Carolina, propelled by All-American championship team. Despite following in Pitioo's footsteps, Smith Antawn Jamison and guard Sham.mood Williams, beat Connecticut 75-64 to win the said he didn't feel pressure to reach the Final East Regional and reach the Final Pour for the Four. If anything, be said, the pressure was off 14th time. It's the second consecutive Final because he was a new coach. Four appearance for North Carolina and the "The expectations of fans aµd people, I think, team's third trip in four years. around the country were, 'They've got a good Guthridge said he doubts nervousness will be team, but there's no Rick Pitino there to lead a factor come game time Saturday. them,"' said Smith, who took Tulsa (1994-95) " I was scared at our first practice and then I and Georgia (1996-971 to the NCAA was scared our first exhibition game, our first tournament. regular game, our first road trip," he said. "But I Smith has sought advice from Pitino. think I have that all out of the way now." " I'm very close to Rick, and we've talked ;_:y ~1\ CEDA R CITY 127 5. MAIN · 865-1200 REWARD YOURSELF! CHEVROLET y GMC:: PONTIAC • First cimc buyer program • College grads gee $400 off from GM :;;c;;~:1 deals on new & used vehicles •With student ID get $500-$1,000 off all used vehicle,s_or, ~ o-50/o off all new cars |