In the beginning there was only the Steadysaurus and the Sassysaurus. In the fall, these two gathered all of the other Friendceratops atop the Great Hill. Among the elders of the group were the Tigersaurus, Cortasaurus, Oxteradon, andGensonceratops. Making there third trip to the Hill were the wily Davodon and the Chuckasaurus. Second timers Gillasaurus, Chadceratops, DACodon and the Insaneasaurus returned in search of increased PT. A slew of youngsters joined the herd such as the Bakerdactyl, BlackRobasaurus, Josistasaurus, and from the North, the Lopeteradon. Transfers Andysaurus, Bruteceratops and the Samasaurus came from strange foreign places along with the ancient Setzersaurus. As winter approached, the wise old JBasaurus returned from his hiatus on Bruteceratops' couch. As winter turned to spring, Rayceratops journeyed back from the west and Rhettceratops left his surrogate home with the so-called "ring" to rejoin his compatriots on the Hill. Now the group was complete and they could begin their journey northward. Their crusade was both arduous and filled with peril. Along the way, JBasaurus and Rhettceratops became little Hurtasauruses. Scores of Turnasauruses, Brickhandasauruses and one Drunkasaurus tried to keep them from their goal. Despite the mountains of adversity, the Friendceratops pressed forward. Just when it seemed they could go no further and that Frostilicus would finally defeat them, the great and menacing Augie Mammoth appeared and pushed them through the last leg of their epic journey. At long last, they had arrived in the Windy City. Now, all they had left to do was blow up shows, slang harder than Nell Carter, and leave the City of Brotherly Love as NationalChampionasauruses.

Scouting Report

How they got here: 3rd in Atlantic Coast Region

Chapel Hill, virtually unchanged from the team that lost to UCSB by a single point in last year’s quarter-finals, is coming off a miserable regular season that was plagued by injuries. The preseason favorite to walk away with the tough Atlantic Coast Region, Darkside instead squeaked into the Championship tournament by defeating NC State 16-14 for the Region’s second (and unexpected) wild card spot.

Chapel Hill enters the tournament as the 12th seed, but this is a 12th seed absolutely no one wants to see in their pool. Combining a deep roster (they plan to bring 21+ players to the tournament) and two of the country’s absolute best players, Rhett Nichols (#20, senior, 5’11) and Ray Parrish (#3, grad student, 6’4), a healthy UNC team could handily beat anyone.

This is UNC’s third consecutive trip to the Championship tournament and they can field a starting seven who all have championship experience. Rhett Nichols (who played on NC State’s ’99 championship squad before transferring to UNC) is the team’s emotional leader and a key to Darkside’s offense-- if he’s on the field, the team plays at another level. Unfortunately, for most of the 2001 season, Rhett hasn’t been healthy and the team’s record suffered. But if he’s at full strength and the team can psychologically jettison the baggage of its regular season-- watch out!

In Ray Parrish, UNC has a big man who is second to none as a deep threat and defender. Parrish is one of the few players who can defend players such as Callahan favorite Alex Nord of Carleton, giving UNC tremendous defensive flexibility. "Tiger" Pearson (#4, 6’3) is also a solid player and if it’s windy, UNC can field a zone anchored by Pearson and Parrish that just about seals the fate of any long passes.

Jonathan "JB" Brodhag (#10, senior, 6’2), UNC’s level-headed captain from last year, returns to this year’s squad and he’ll help keep the team focused.

UNC’s deep roster, talent, and most importantly, experience at the championship level make them an extremely dangerous team. Of the three men’s teams that qualified from the Atlantic Coast Region, UNC may have the best chance of making this year’s final four.