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.