The Tarheels beat Duke today 37-21 to finish 7-5 on the season in what was probably Everett Withers last regular season game as UNC's coach. It was too much Bryn Renner, Dwight Jones, and Gio Bernard for Duke.
The game wasn't as close as the final score as the 'Heels pretty much dominated the game from the start. Duke only had one sustained drive the entire game with the other two scores coming on long touchdowns. The 'Heels were methodical on offense with a combination of Renners passing, Bernard's running, and Dwight Jones receiving. The 'Heels were opportunistic on defense causing four turnovers and they were led by Zach Brown's 10 tackles and Quinton Coples 2 sacks.
There was a little bit of gamesmanship at the end of the game which I was glad to see. Duke called an unnecessary timeout with 1:22 to go in the game so on the first play after the timeout, backup QB Braden Hanson completed a 47 yard bomb to TE Eric Ebron. It was a beautiful pass by Hanson and he has a big league arm.
There were only two bowl games that the 'Heels seemed to be headed for and that was the Independence Bowl and the Military Bowl but I am sure at this point, UNC will take whatever is offered to them.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Versus South Carolina
The UNC Tarheels ran their record to 5-0 with a victory over the University of South Carolina Gamecocks last night, 87-62. The Tarheels seem to still be feeling their way around and all of their games thus far have the appearance of glorified practices. Harrison Barnes led the way with 21 points, P.J. Hairston had a career high 19 points on the strength of 5-8 shooting on three-pointers, and John Henson had 18. Kendall Marshall had 14 assists and only one turnover to go along with 6 steals.
Roy Williams seems to have settled on an eight man rotation with Reggie Bullock, James Michael McAdoo and P.J. Hairston being the major contributors coming off the bench. Reggie Bullock finally found his outside shot against Tennessee State earlier in the week scoring a career high 23 points on 6-7 three-point shooting and that was one thing the 'Heels needed to work on with the games getting a little bit tougher.
One area that is still a concern is the rebounding. South Carolina outrebounded them last night 43-35 and they are giving up way too many offensive rebounds and second chance points. UNLV will not be a pushover and a solid Wisconsin team is coming up next week.
Roy Williams seems to have settled on an eight man rotation with Reggie Bullock, James Michael McAdoo and P.J. Hairston being the major contributors coming off the bench. Reggie Bullock finally found his outside shot against Tennessee State earlier in the week scoring a career high 23 points on 6-7 three-point shooting and that was one thing the 'Heels needed to work on with the games getting a little bit tougher.
One area that is still a concern is the rebounding. South Carolina outrebounded them last night 43-35 and they are giving up way too many offensive rebounds and second chance points. UNLV will not be a pushover and a solid Wisconsin team is coming up next week.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Versus UNC-Asheville
The UNC Tarheels helped UNC-A open up their new arena, Kimmel Arena, last night and it was an electric small college atmosphere. An announced sellout of 3200 people and they were rockin' the place.
The 'Heels had too much size for UNC-A and they just kept pounding it on the inside. Tyler Zeller had a game high 27 points, John Henson had 20 points and 12 rebounds, and Harrison Barnes had 17 points in the 91-75 win. Point Guard Kendall Marshall only had 6 points but 15 assists and only one turnover.
After the first two games, the Tarheels most glaring weaknesses are turnovers and outside shooting. 31 turnovers in the first two games is alot but with the Tarheels fast break offense, you have to expect a little higher than average turnover count. The problem in the first two games is that they have really not had the opportunity to run their break.
In the first couple of games, they really haven't needed points from the outside but it would be nice if they could develop someone to come in and fill it up from the outside. Freshman P.J. Hairston looks like he has a nice outside stroke and Reggie Bullock has the potential to be our "Microwave" coming off the bench. Harrison Barnes is the only starter that can hit threes.
The 'Heels had too much size for UNC-A and they just kept pounding it on the inside. Tyler Zeller had a game high 27 points, John Henson had 20 points and 12 rebounds, and Harrison Barnes had 17 points in the 91-75 win. Point Guard Kendall Marshall only had 6 points but 15 assists and only one turnover.
After the first two games, the Tarheels most glaring weaknesses are turnovers and outside shooting. 31 turnovers in the first two games is alot but with the Tarheels fast break offense, you have to expect a little higher than average turnover count. The problem in the first two games is that they have really not had the opportunity to run their break.
In the first couple of games, they really haven't needed points from the outside but it would be nice if they could develop someone to come in and fill it up from the outside. Freshman P.J. Hairston looks like he has a nice outside stroke and Reggie Bullock has the potential to be our "Microwave" coming off the bench. Harrison Barnes is the only starter that can hit threes.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Versus North Carolina State
It took me the entire bye week to be able to blog about the NC State game. The Tarheels were unmotivated, lacked any kind of focus, and the offensive gameplan put together by Offensive Coordinator John Shoop was the worst of the year and he has had some real lemons.
The numbers don't lie. 165 yards of total offense and that includes a whopping 3 yards rushing. QB Bryn Renner had -47 himself based on 4 Wolfpack sacks including a whirling dervish of a pass attempt/fumble that lost about 30 yards. That had to make ESPN's Not Top Ten. The only good thing that came out of this game was the fact that RB Gio Bernard went over 1000 yards on the season. Career backup Braden Hanson got his first significant playing time of his career and actually didn't look bad.
I had a diehard Wolfpack fan tell me that he didn't think State's defense played that great, it was just that North Carolina's offense was that bad.
With all of the talking that Everett Withers did in the week leading up to the game, the team should have been fired up and ready to play. They were not in any way, shape, or form and I believe that cost Coach Withers a chance to remove the "Interim" from his job title. I was really pulling for him as a fellow Appalachian State graduate to get the job but I believe that the NC State game took him out of the running.
The numbers don't lie. 165 yards of total offense and that includes a whopping 3 yards rushing. QB Bryn Renner had -47 himself based on 4 Wolfpack sacks including a whirling dervish of a pass attempt/fumble that lost about 30 yards. That had to make ESPN's Not Top Ten. The only good thing that came out of this game was the fact that RB Gio Bernard went over 1000 yards on the season. Career backup Braden Hanson got his first significant playing time of his career and actually didn't look bad.
I had a diehard Wolfpack fan tell me that he didn't think State's defense played that great, it was just that North Carolina's offense was that bad.
With all of the talking that Everett Withers did in the week leading up to the game, the team should have been fired up and ready to play. They were not in any way, shape, or form and I believe that cost Coach Withers a chance to remove the "Interim" from his job title. I was really pulling for him as a fellow Appalachian State graduate to get the job but I believe that the NC State game took him out of the running.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
My Favorite Time Of Year
My favorite time of the year as far as Tarheel sports are concerned has to be the first game of the college basketball season. They are almost always going be in contention for the national title, they run a clean program, and college basketball is king in North Carolina.
Last nights game against Michigan State was exceptional in all of the ways already mentioned by most media outlets in the world- the USS Vinson, the troops, President Obama in attendance, and other basketball stars and celebrity types. The game itself was almost anti-climactic.
The North Carolina Tarheels beat the Michigan State Spartans 67-55 after a sluggish middle of the first half that saw them go down by 7 points. You could definitely tell it was the first game. Harrison Barnes led the way with 17 points, John Henson had 12 points and an impressive 9 blocked shots, and Dexter Strickland chipped in with 10 points. Freshmen P.J. Hairston and James Michael McAdoo got in some positive minutes off the bench and Freshman Point Guard Stillman White got in at the end of the game and hit 3 out of 4 free throws. His development as a backup Point Guard to Kendall Marshall will be a key as the season goes on.
Michigan State did expose some weaknesses in the 'Heels overall game. The most glaring of those weaknesses is rebounding. John Henson is probably the best shot blocker in college basketball but strength has always been an issue for him. I thought he and Tyler Zeller both got pushed around under the basket. Michigan State had 24 offensive rebounds and outrebounded the Tarheels 49-34 overall. This is an issue that has to be corrected.
Overall, the 'Heels played a good game. Defensively they were solid and held the Spartans to 30% shooting for the game and 2 for 20 from the three point line. They did a great job of identifying the shooters and getting in their face. Offensively, the 'Heels did not run as much as they would like to but were still efficient in their half court sets. John Henson showed a nice mid-range jumper that he has been working on all summer and his length gives him the ability to get to the basket in a hurry.
Michigan State is not ranked in the top 25 and have alot of young players but did have some good athletes and it was a good opening game for the 'Heels. Its good to be 1-0.
Last nights game against Michigan State was exceptional in all of the ways already mentioned by most media outlets in the world- the USS Vinson, the troops, President Obama in attendance, and other basketball stars and celebrity types. The game itself was almost anti-climactic.
The North Carolina Tarheels beat the Michigan State Spartans 67-55 after a sluggish middle of the first half that saw them go down by 7 points. You could definitely tell it was the first game. Harrison Barnes led the way with 17 points, John Henson had 12 points and an impressive 9 blocked shots, and Dexter Strickland chipped in with 10 points. Freshmen P.J. Hairston and James Michael McAdoo got in some positive minutes off the bench and Freshman Point Guard Stillman White got in at the end of the game and hit 3 out of 4 free throws. His development as a backup Point Guard to Kendall Marshall will be a key as the season goes on.
Michigan State did expose some weaknesses in the 'Heels overall game. The most glaring of those weaknesses is rebounding. John Henson is probably the best shot blocker in college basketball but strength has always been an issue for him. I thought he and Tyler Zeller both got pushed around under the basket. Michigan State had 24 offensive rebounds and outrebounded the Tarheels 49-34 overall. This is an issue that has to be corrected.
Overall, the 'Heels played a good game. Defensively they were solid and held the Spartans to 30% shooting for the game and 2 for 20 from the three point line. They did a great job of identifying the shooters and getting in their face. Offensively, the 'Heels did not run as much as they would like to but were still efficient in their half court sets. John Henson showed a nice mid-range jumper that he has been working on all summer and his length gives him the ability to get to the basket in a hurry.
Michigan State is not ranked in the top 25 and have alot of young players but did have some good athletes and it was a good opening game for the 'Heels. Its good to be 1-0.
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