Jamison poses many questions for UA

A. Jamison

The sophomore forward (6-foot-9, 222 pounds) not only has the size to battle with Arizona's Bennett Davison (6-8, 208), but he also possesses the quickness that is rare in a power forward.

"The Bennett Davison-Antawn Jamison matchup will be a key one in the outcome of the game," UA head coach Lute Olson said.

"Unlike many of the great players like Raef LaFrentz (of Kansas) and (Providence forward) Austin Croshere that Bennett has faced, Jamison is equally as quick. His teammates also do a fabulous job of getting him open for his shots."

Jamison, a second-team All-America forward, leads the Tar Heels in both scoring (19.1 points per game) and reboundiper game).

His biggest game of this year's tourn-ament came against Colorado in the second round when he scored 19 points and added 16 rebounds. In the regional final against California's tough frontcourt he contributed 21 points.

"Antawn has done a great job for us this year," UNC head coach Dean Smith said.

"He might not have as much size as some other players, but he makes it up with heart."

When Jamison arrived at North Carolina in 1995 he did not have much time to settle in. With the early departure of current NBA players Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace, Jamison was immediately thrust into the starting lineup.

"Coach Smith really taught me a lot about the game in that first year," Jamison said.

"In high school all you had to do was jump for the ball, but here you have to worry about boxing-out the other guy because everybody has the ability."

The loss of Stackhouse and Wallace wasn't a positive move in Jamison's eyes, however.

"It was very hard because I was expecting those guys to be here, and once I got here they weren't," he said.

Jamison was dealt another blow last season when point guard Jeff McInnis bolted for the NBA as well.

"What I experienced last year was very hard, losing in the second round of the (NCAA) tournament and the way we started off this season," Jamison said.

Those memories are easier to take now that the team is in the Final Four, riding a 16-game winning streak.

"It is definitely a much better situation now," Jamison said. "But you have to give all the credit in the world to Coach Smith for sticking with us."

In the first meeting with Arizona on Nov. 22, the Wildcats held him to just 4 of 12 shooting and 11 points. He didn't make his first basket until the second half.

"(Arizona's) frontcourt has rapidly improved in the tournament, so we have even more work to do if we hope to just stay in the game," Smith said.

"But I also think that Jamison has improved and will pose some problems for them."