University of South Carolina Libraries
Sports Mayotte co By MIKE HUNT Asst. Sports Editor The USC tennis.team has Duke and Virginia to thank for a good deal of its success over the past three seasons. "I applied to only three schools," said Carolina's number one singles t^l o \;or Plivio *** ? fyiuj VI VIII lO lYlUJ'UllC, 1 WciS looking for an education more than tennis at the time, but I didn't get into Duke or Virginia." And he has not done badly at his third choice school. Named NCAA All-American and the Gamecocks most valuable player last season, Mayotte was also ranked as number one singles player in the nation in the 21 and under division while compiling an amazing 22-3 record. And this past weekend, Mayotte finished first in the Princeton Indoor Championships. He won the quarter finals 6-3, 6-2 over Princeton's John Gross, the semi-finals over Yale's Matt Doyle 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, anu me unais over highly ranked 1 freshman Jay Lapidus. "It took me a couple of matches to realize how I was doing. I didn't think I would win because I wasn't ready for the tournament mentally," he said, referring to the few cold weather preparation matches Carolina participated in before Princeton. AC!C tmirri ?im ? v-fl VW %>UAXM,JLXJ There are few sports events in the United States which compare with the total excitement of the Atlantic Coast Conference basketball tournament. This year is no exception as five of the seven teams which comprise the conference (North Carolina, N.C. State, Virginia, Wake Forest and Duke) are among the nation's top 20 teams. Yet, the thing which distresses me about the ACC is the failure of the conference in the NCAA tournament. It seems the teams in the ACC value the conference tournament more than they value the only meaningful collegiate tournament, the NCAA. Only two teams, North Carolina in 1957, and N.C. State in 1974, have gone ail the way to ?-?o innoi title v ait icasuiia vvny me has suffered in the NCAA tournament. First and foremost, the rivalries are intense during the regular season and the teams then meet each other for one last time in the ACC tournament. No wonder the teams are worn out by the time they get to the NCAA tournament. SECONDLY, even the teams which do well during the regular season are not guaranteed of an invitation to the NCAA because of ACC policy of letting all of the 1 * (tamo LUiiiiTcic in me nan-Kciri tournament. Two years ago Virginia won the ACC tournament even after finishing the regular season near the bottom of the standings. Since the Cavaliers won the ACC tournament they automatically received a bid to the NCAA tournament. The net result was Virginia's defeat in the first round of the NCAA tournament. ntrihiites tr YET COLI) WEATHER doesn't seem to bother Mayotte, at least the northern version. "Down here, the winters are dry and stinging," said the Springfield, Mass. junior. "I really like the snow up north. Other than missing the snow, he has had little trouble adjusting to the South. "I don't like to make 'California is the best place But the South is getting stroi generalizations. People are people. You have your basic jerks i_. ana your Dasic good people, no matter where you go," he said. Mayotte has had even greater ease at fitting in with the Carolina tennis program. "When I came down here, I didn't think I would improve as much as I did," he said reflecting on his career of starting out number five as a freshman to moving up as number one on a I earn that plays seven teams in the (op 20. MAYOTTE SAID he believes the south is a good place for one to improve his tennis game. "The college competition is stronger down here than in the north," he ient needs imp Virginia went to the NCAA tournament on the basis of their play in three games in the ACC tournament regardless of their play during the 12 game regular season. Though the Cavaliers were rewarded for winning the ACC tournament with an NCAA bid, other teams which did well in the regular season were penalized. A POSSIBLE solution to this problem would be to have only four spots in the ACC tournament. Teams which played well enough in the regular season would be given an invitation to the ACC tournament. As it stands now, the d-r\ o 11. upui Lai iv gjyk by Matt Ward ACC allows all of its teams to play in the tournament without regard to their record during the regular season. This would be similar to the National Basketball Association allowing all of its teams to compete in the playoffs. It would take away all of the importance of the regular season. The ACC should rectify this situation by inviting only the top four teams intrt the tournament. ) USC tenn said comparing North Carolina, NC State, Miami and Georgia (o Yale and Princeton. "California is the best place to play for a collegiate. But the south is getting stronger." With the pressure to repeat a sensational sophomore year and to play for a collegiate, iger.' ?Chris Mayotte the strains of being a business administration major, Mayotte seems to view his situation rather calmly. "I just do what I've got to do. "I have to be disciplined to be a student-athlete, but I don't consider myself as a deadbeat. I enjoy going out on weekends," he said. ANI) THAT, perhaps, is the aspect of normal campus life he misses most during tennis season. "I'd like to spend a few more weekends on campus. When we get done with the fall season, it's nice to have 2-6 in the afternoon fo yourself. Now, I can't come in and take a nap like the normal student because of tennis practice," he said. movement This would make the regular season extremely meaningful as every game would have importance as to who would make the four positions in the tournament. It would also help the ACC in sending the best representatives to the NCAA tournament. There would be no more Virginia episodes. The only reason why the ACC does not have just four teams compete in the tournament is because all of the teams might like t n talfO 'IfKfint o r\ ft '? vu iuiiv uuiuniagc Ul IIIC lllUIiey offered at the ACC tournament. ANOTHER possible solution the ACC should possibly consider is that the team which wins the regular season title should be granted an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. If a team can win the regular season title after piaying 1 z times against ACC competition it should be rewarded for its fine play. Though the NCAA usually grants an invitation to the team which wins the regular season title it is not bound to do so. For example, when Carolina was a member of the ACC the Gamecocks finished the 1969-70 season with a 25-3 overall record and were undefeated in ACC play during the regular season Th#> however, lost in the finals of the ACC tournament to N.C. State and were not invited to the NCAA or NIT tournaments because of their one loss in the1 conference tournament. The ACC tournament is a great event and the basketball played is top notch. Yet, changes should be implemented so the ACC can get its best teams to the NCAA tournament and begin to claim its fair share of national championships. is leam Yet, being an All-American, Mayotte doesn't believe hds treated any different from the normal student. "I'm not a famous person. Only the people who follow tennis and my friends keep up with my records," he said. Mayotte said he has enjoyed his stay at USC. "Of course, tennis has been the highlight. I would really like to see us do well in the NCAA's. "But it was also great beating Notre Dame (in basketball 65-60). It was unbelievable." As for the future, Mayotte said he would like to play the pro circuit for the first couple of years out of college. "I know what it takes to make it. It's just a matter of doing it," he said. Intramural game of we Third ranked no.4 Columb: By BRETT FRIEDLANDER Gamecock Staff Writer Third-ranked Maxcy survived a number four Columbia Hall to clai basketball action Monday night at < "It was a good game," said Mi derwood. "They're ranked number wouldn't be up there." The first half was highlighted by tl Underwood and Anthony Counts. Co with hot freethrow shooting pnH final Parham layup at the buzzer. MAXCV JUMPED OUT to a 10 \ remaining to play. During that str< Hall 13 to 3, and at one point scored se Columbia Hall came back after a points on a basket and a three point i another time out, Maxcy stretched itf points at 39-28 with 4:15 left in the gar Refusing to fold, Columbia Hall pul remaining. After a foul on Columb coach Jim Pitts was called for a tec two free points and the ball. Maxcy's Jeff Archie missed the fro Brown hit a ten foot lump shot to points. Another technical foul on Ma with 25 seconds to go. ARCHIE was again fouled with 17! first shot of a one-and-one. Columbia the rebound and gave his team a < seconds remaining. But with only five seconds remaini Paul Brown, who had a game high 1 ana tne nail went back to Maxcy. When Cohen Greer was fouled I Columbia Hall's hopes were still aliv until then, calmly sank both free thr< "There was some pressure on me,' and there's nobody in my face, so I s The win gives Maxcy a 6-0 recon dormitory division. Columbia Hall i "I think we're even with that team, Hand. "I thought we did well coming play with them." A.D. Underwood led Maxcy with tributori nino HirtK e? ?Aigii ovuicid iui v^oiun with nine points and Terry Parham According to Maxcy's coach Pitt team's rebounding strength. "A! .D., Williams) controlled the boards we them in the game along with poor fou a real good team; they're well coa< them before it's all decided," said irianriiTiiT'iiTi 11 ninnn? l<l nil H I1TE |i|j^^K|7/T| i'11 unris Mayotte ek Maxy tops ia Hall 45-41 furious last minute rally from m a 45-41 victory in intramural the P.E. Center. ixcy's leading scorer A.D. Unfour. If they weren't good, they le rebounding of Maxcy forwards lumbia Hall kept the game close tly tied the game at 20 on a Terry joint 33-23 advantage with 10:13 etch Maxcy outscored Columbia ;ven straight points. time out to close the gap to five )lay by Bob Henderson. But after > lead back to a seemingly safe 11 ne. lied within seven with one minute ia Hall's Scott Farnum, Maxcy rhnical foul giving the opposition nt half of a one-and-one, and Paul pull Columbia Hall within three xcy closed the gap to two points seconds left and again missed the Hall's Chuck Gurkin pulled down chance to tie the game with 10 ing on the clock, Columbia Hall's 9 points, was called for traveling before the ball was inbounded, e. But Greer, who had not scored >ws to put the game out of reach. " said Greer. "But it's a free shot said to myself why not make it." i and the sole leadership of the now stands 4-1. " said Columbia Hall coach Steve back like we did. It shows we can 18 points and Jeff Archie conibia Hall were Brown, Henderson i with eight. s, the key to the game was his Anthony Counts, and Kico (Eric 11 tonight. Their foul shots kept 1 shooting on our part. But they're :hed. You will see a lot more of Pitts