The Tarheels played Ohio State last Saturday in Chicago and came away with a big victory over #12 Ohio State, 82-74. Ohio State employed a zone almost the entire game and North Carolina took it to Ohio State. With Kennedy Meeks on the high post and Brice Johnson manning the baseline, the Tarheels dismantled the zone without having to resort to firing up three pointer after three pointer.
Brice Johnson led the way with 18 points and Marcus Paige added 16. Freshman Justin Jackson was the only other double figure scorer with 11.
The Tarheels played a solid overall game. They outrebounded Ohio State 53-40 and held them to 35% shooting. Ohio State was 3rd in the nation in Field Goal Percentage coming into the game.
The Tarheels did, however, struggle down the stretch at the free throw line as the Tarheels only went 5 for 12 in the last three minutes of the game. Watching them at the free throw line made me pace the floor and my dog Molly hide under the bed but the Tarheel defense did not allow Ohio State to capitalize.
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Offseason Work Pays Off
My take so far from the Tarheels basketball season is that Kennedy Meeks and J.P. Tokoto put in some serious work on their games this past offseason. I am sure the rest of their teammates put in the work as well but Tokoto and Meeks' has been the most apparent on the court.
Meeks worked on his physique and fitness and his weight loss of over 50 pounds has been well documented. He looks almost emaciated compared to what he did last year. His quickness and agility has greatly improved. That weight loss has translated to his play on the court as Meeks is a double-double waiting to happen. He has already had six double digit rebound games this season. He easily leads the team in Field Goal Percentage at 63.8%, Rebounding at 10.1 per game, and Blocked Shots with 15. He is second on the team in scoring at 13.8 per game.
J.P. Tokoto has always had the reputation of being more of an athlete than a basketball player. His high flying dunks (and his misses) were ESPN worthy but he has really developed his overall game this season. He has transformed himself into a basketball player. He is averaging 10 points, and almost 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game. He easily leads the Tarheels in Assists and I don't know if a non-Point Guard has ever led the Tarheels basketball team in Assists since the Dean Smith era began in the early 1960's.
Meeks worked on his physique and fitness and his weight loss of over 50 pounds has been well documented. He looks almost emaciated compared to what he did last year. His quickness and agility has greatly improved. That weight loss has translated to his play on the court as Meeks is a double-double waiting to happen. He has already had six double digit rebound games this season. He easily leads the team in Field Goal Percentage at 63.8%, Rebounding at 10.1 per game, and Blocked Shots with 15. He is second on the team in scoring at 13.8 per game.
J.P. Tokoto has always had the reputation of being more of an athlete than a basketball player. His high flying dunks (and his misses) were ESPN worthy but he has really developed his overall game this season. He has transformed himself into a basketball player. He is averaging 10 points, and almost 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game. He easily leads the Tarheels in Assists and I don't know if a non-Point Guard has ever led the Tarheels basketball team in Assists since the Dean Smith era began in the early 1960's.
East Carolina
As a true Tarheel blue fan, I am glad the Tarheels play East Carolina in basketball as well. After some let down losses to Butler and Iowa, the Tarheels bounced back with a 108-64 win over East Carolina. They raced out to a 48-29 halftime lead and improved to 6-2. Brice Johnson had a double-double in the first half and finished with 19 points and 17 rebounds, J.P. Tokoto had 19 points and 8 assists, and Kennedy Meeks also had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Nate Britt was the only other double figure scorer with 10 points.
The Tarheels need to quit playing during Carolina Panthers games on Sundays. I was busy watching the Panthers destroy the Saints 41-10 in the Superdome to put themselves back in the NFC playoff picture so I only caught the highlights of the East Carolina game. I also religiously poured over the stats like I normally do and 60% shooting and 17-22 at the free throw line was Light Years ahead of what they shot against Iowa. The focus in the East Carolina game was on getting the ball inside as they only shot 7 three-pointers (only hitting 1) after only going 4-23 against Iowa. According to Roy Williams, the overall play was going to be better and it was. Sometimes a team just needs the proper motivation.
The Tarheels need to quit playing during Carolina Panthers games on Sundays. I was busy watching the Panthers destroy the Saints 41-10 in the Superdome to put themselves back in the NFC playoff picture so I only caught the highlights of the East Carolina game. I also religiously poured over the stats like I normally do and 60% shooting and 17-22 at the free throw line was Light Years ahead of what they shot against Iowa. The focus in the East Carolina game was on getting the ball inside as they only shot 7 three-pointers (only hitting 1) after only going 4-23 against Iowa. According to Roy Williams, the overall play was going to be better and it was. Sometimes a team just needs the proper motivation.
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