March 16, 1997

North Carolina defeats Colorado, 73-56, in NCAA basketball tournament; win gives head coach Dean Smith his 877th career victory, record for college basketball coach; table (M)

Vicki Goldberg discusses photography that explores region between illusion and reality; cites exhibitions of works by Jeff Wall at Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, and of 30 photographers who concoct edgy alliances between fact and fiction at Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefield, Conn; many of photos are of actors in apparently real scenes; photos (L)

F.Y.I. 2 MAKING IT WORK 3 As the demand for day care increases, so does the pressure on small day care centers. NEW YORKERS & CO. 4 Bed-and-breakfasts in Brooklyn: a booming -- and clandestine -- industry. MOVIE CLOCK 14 What's showing at the local movie houses, today through Thursday. PLAYING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD 16 Keeping the Lacandon heritage alive; a ''Golem'' comes to the East Village; a hands-on orchestral performance. GOOD EATING 16 The East Side's variety; pizza at Candido; enticing dining at the Lobster Club; the congenial Sharz Cafe and Wine Bar. SOAPBOX 17 Black and Jewish moms team up. And letters.

Ragtag Police Recruits Roam Capital of Albania Convulsed by violence, Albania's capital now finds its police force a desperate group of rabble recruits, armed with automatic rifles to restore order. Page 12.

Democrats in Congress are not defending Pres Clinton against accusations of improper campaign fund-raising; only handful of Democrats have been openly critical, but for most Democrats, party loyalty demands no more than not joining Republicans in the attack; Democrats are being silent because they think Clinton never stuck up for them, financially or ideologically, or because they disapprove of his fund-raising tactics, or because they do not want to take chances; photos (M)