March 27, 2000 9:17 AM AP

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) With North Carolina having advanced to the NCAA Final Four, the Tar Heels are hoping to delay a court appearance for two players.

Ed Cota and Terrence Newby, charged in a Halloween night brawl, are scheduled to appear in District Court April 3, the same day as the national championship game at Indianapolis. North Carolina first must beat Florida in Saturday's semifinals.

"I know it's been continued a couple of times," North Carolina athletic director Dick Baddour said after the Tar Heels' 59-55 victory over Tulsa on Sunday in the South Regional championship game at Austin, Texas. "I hope they'll be able to work it out. I hope that the system will allow for it to be continued."

Cota and Newby face three charges of assault inflicting serious injury and two charges of simple assault. Their trial has been delayed three times.

"Hopefully they will excuse them," coach Bill Guthridge said.

The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast or redistributed without prior written authority of The Associated Press.