Surprise, Surprise

By DIANE PUCIN

March 12, 1999 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

SEATTLE —

He is called Harold “The Show” Arceneaux, this expressionless, monstrously strong forward from Weber State. He is a 6-foot-6 junior from New Orleans who ended up in Ogden, Utah, playing basketball for Weber State and even Arceneaux says he’s not sure exactly how it is his college career has taken him to College of Eastern Utah and Midland (Texas) Junior College and now to Weber State.

But however crazy his career has been, Arceneaux became a star. For a day anyway, in Weber State’s 76-74 upset of North Carolina in the NCAA West Regional on Thursday. Arceneaux scored 36 points on all manner of leaning, lunging jump shots and driving layups, three-point baskets and dunks. And because of Arceneaux, the Tar Heels lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1980.

Last time the Tar Heels went home this early it was to Texas A&M; and at least that game went to double overtime. And even now, this morning, it is unlikely the Tar Heels, the No. 3 seed in the West Regional, actually believe they lost this game. Because, honestly, not one of them could probably tell you the name of Weber State’s coach.

That would be Ron Abegglen, 62, finishing his 36th season as a head coach, finishing his eighth season at Weber State, and finishing his career as soon as the Wildcats finish their season since Abegglen, under some pressure because of an NCAA investigation, announced he would be retiring after this season.

Not yet, though. If his players, who casually built an 11-point lead in the second half and then withstood the pressure of a pair of Tar Heel three-pointers and an inbounds steal and layup that put North Carolina within a point, 75-74, with 4.5 seconds left, never showed a hint of emotion all game, Abegglen couldn’t stop running like a madman after Noel Jackson made a free throw with 1.2 seconds left and then North Carolina couldn’t get off a final shot.

“This, for me, is ironic,” Weber State guard Eddie Gill said, “because from grades K through 12, I’ve always rooted for North Carolina so I had mixed feelings when I saw the draw. Now? This is the greatest feeling I’ve had.”

Arceneaux said that while growing up, “I always watched Carolina. Me and my coaches, we’d always argue about who was better, Carolina and Duke.”

Backup center Eric Ketcham, who made two critical three-pointers, kept shaking his head and saying that “I’m still trying to get over just getting into the NCAAs.”

If Weber State (25-7) seemed not to belong in the tournament, if the Wildcats had been underdogs even in their own conference, the Big Sky, North Carolina ended up leading in this game less than three minutes. The Tar Heels (24-10) were stymied by Weber State’s quickness and defensive aggressiveness and seemed baffled by the Wildcats’ constant offensive confidence.

Stanford 69, Alcorn State 57--With four minutes left, the No. 15-seeded Braves, playing with frantic abandon, were tied 55-55 with the No. 2 seeds and 1998 Final Four participants, the Cardinal.

Only three No. 2 seeds in NCAA history have lost in the first round, but the Braves, who had been behind by as many as 15 points, were gaining confidence with every steal, bravado with every basket and also were being loudly supported by the majority of the crowd, which was hoping the local favorite Gonzaga, already an upset winner over Minnesota, would get to play the Braves on Saturday instead of the Cardinal.

Never mind.

If not impressively, Stanford prevailed. The Cardinal (26-6), will play No. 10 seed Gonzaga Saturday in the second round. And the Braves (23-7) were inconsolable afterward, unwilling to accept the narrow loss as a victory.

Stanford seemed to finally get serious in the last four minutes, scoring 14 of the final 16 points and playing ferocious defense.

Mark Madsen led Stanford with a career-high tying 23 points and 13 rebounds.

Florida 75, Pennsylvania 61--The 11th-seeded Quakers (21-6) made 11 of 17 three-point shots in the first half and took an 11-point halftime lead, but went cold in the second half as the No. 6-seeded Gators (21-8) rebounded for a victory.

Penn was only three for 15 from three-point range and shot only 27.3% in the second half.

Florida took the lead, 49-48, with 10:56 left in the game on a driving layup from guard Teddy Dupay and never trailed again.

Scores

SOUTH

AT INDIANAPOLIS

Oklahoma State 69, Syracuse 61

Auburn 80, Winthrop 41

Ohio State 72, Murray State 58

Detroit Mercy 56, UCLA 53

AT ORLANDO, Fla.

Maryland 82, Valparaiso 60

Creighton 62, Louisville 58