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 CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - One of the lasting images of Dean Smith's Hall of Fame career at North Carolina is point guard Phil Ford standing near midcourt, the ball held against his hip while he ran the famed Four Corners offense.
The stalling strategy certainly worked over the years. When Smith retired in 1997, he held the NCAA record with 879 victories, a total that included two national championships. Teams around the country developed their own version of keep-away until the implementation of the shot clock — a move likely hastened by the success of Smith and the Tar Heels.
But they did much more than simply hold the ball. Twice during Smith's career, North Carolina averaged at least 90 points for an entire season, and it reached 89 on three more occasions. That mentality is part of what coach Roy Williams brought back to the program, lessons he learned during 10 years as an assistant under Smith.
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