The game between North Carolina is important on the national scene and could possibly go a long way as to who gets a #1 seed come NCAA Tournament time. This game however does not feel like a "rivalry" game. This game does not feel like The North Carolina-Virginia games in the early 1980's when it was James Worthy-Sam Perkins-Michael Jordan versus Ralph Sampson. Not too many people could name anyone else on Virginia's team. I remember Othell Wilson and Ricky Stokes and I think Jeff Lamp was a senior when Ralph Sampson was a freshman and that is really stretching my memory. Outside of Brogdon who is getting mentioned for ACC player of the year, I cannot name anyone on this Virginia team.
Virginia brings an undefeated home record into this game and a #5 national ranking. North Carolina brings the #1 conference record into the game. Virginia brings the defense and North Carolina brings the offense. Rivalry game or not, this should be a great game. Marcus Paige will be a big player in this game.
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Home Opener
The North Carolina Tarheels beat Oklahoma State in their home opener 2-1 as freshman second baseman Kyle Datres drove in first baseman Brian Miller in walk off style with a double into the right centerfield gap. The Tarheels bench ran out to congratulate him as Datres rounded second base and he tossed his batting helmet towards third base. The Tarheels scored in the bottom of the first when Tyler Ramirez doubled in Miller with a double but did not score again until the bottom of the ninth. The Tarheels left 12 men on base in the game. Oklahoma State tied the game in the top of the second inning on a solo homerun.
Tarheels starter Zac Gallen, reigning ACC pitcher of the week, only gave up the one run in seven innings, struck out nine, and walked three while only giving up three hits. He was not around long enough to get the win. A.J. Bogucki came on to retire two batters before turning the ball over to Hunter Williams who got the final four outs and the win. Williams gave up a single in the top of the ninth but the runner was erased when catcher Cody Roberts threw him out trying to steal. Roberts one hopped his throw to second baseman Datres stayed with it and applied the tag.
North Carolina has opened the season with some tough competition. They opened with #9 UCLA and Oklahoma State comes to Chapel Hill ranked #11. Tarheel pitching has been stellar in the first four games, only giving up 18 hits and holding their opponents to a .144 batting average.
Tarheels starter Zac Gallen, reigning ACC pitcher of the week, only gave up the one run in seven innings, struck out nine, and walked three while only giving up three hits. He was not around long enough to get the win. A.J. Bogucki came on to retire two batters before turning the ball over to Hunter Williams who got the final four outs and the win. Williams gave up a single in the top of the ninth but the runner was erased when catcher Cody Roberts threw him out trying to steal. Roberts one hopped his throw to second baseman Datres stayed with it and applied the tag.
North Carolina has opened the season with some tough competition. They opened with #9 UCLA and Oklahoma State comes to Chapel Hill ranked #11. Tarheel pitching has been stellar in the first four games, only giving up 18 hits and holding their opponents to a .144 batting average.
Friday, February 26, 2016
The Dean Smith Rules
I remember when Coach K first started coaching in the ACC, he always made a derisive reference to the "Dean Smith Rules." He thought that the ACC deferred to Dean Smith and he got his way all of the time, every call went his way, and he was allowed to make the rules up a he went along. Now I have to invoke the Coach K rules. His latest star, Grayson Allen, was caught on video tripping a Florida State player near the end of a 80-65 Duke win and evidently Allen thought he was not getting any calls to go his way so he took matters into his own hands...or feet. This was the second time in a month a little over two weeks that he has done this. The first time occurred against Louisville and he was assessed a flagrant foul. No foul of any kind was not called on Allen against Florida State.
I watched the replay many times. Allen intentionally tripped the Florida State player. The game was decided and he had nothing to lose. It did not matter if he got kicked out of the game at that point or not. If the referees would have called another flagrant foul, Allen would have automatically been suspended the next game. That wasn't about to happen.
It will be interesting to see what the ACC's response is. They are supposedly "investigating" the incident and will watch video of the game. The ACC will not take any action. Duke could take action of their own but Allen is Duke's Most Valuable Player. With a game at Pittsburgh coming up, Coach K is not about to suspend Allen on his own. There are rules for Coach K.
I watched the replay many times. Allen intentionally tripped the Florida State player. The game was decided and he had nothing to lose. It did not matter if he got kicked out of the game at that point or not. If the referees would have called another flagrant foul, Allen would have automatically been suspended the next game. That wasn't about to happen.
It will be interesting to see what the ACC's response is. They are supposedly "investigating" the incident and will watch video of the game. The ACC will not take any action. Duke could take action of their own but Allen is Duke's Most Valuable Player. With a game at Pittsburgh coming up, Coach K is not about to suspend Allen on his own. There are rules for Coach K.
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Nervous
As a North Carolina Tarheels fan, playing the North Carolina State Wolpack last night made me nervous. Cat Barber is the best pure scorer in the ACC and State has some serious size in the middle with BeeJay Anya and Abdul-Malik Abu and a three point threat in Maverick Rowan. It is usually combinations like this that give the North Carolina Tarheels fits. Cat Barber did his part by scoring a game high 32 points and he scored 16 of their first 27 and NC State raced out to a 23-10 lead.
Luckily for North Carolina, Justin Jackson has rediscovered his game and his scoring touch that has been missing for the better part of the season. He scored 17 points on a variety of jump shots and drives to the basket. Brice Johnson had his standard double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds and North Carolina pulled away at the end to win 80-68. State's inside duo of Anya and Abu only combined for 17 points and Maverick Rowan went 2 for 12 from the field and was held to eight points. State has had a tough season but they are very capable of putting it all together for an ACC tournament run.
Luckily for North Carolina, Justin Jackson has rediscovered his game and his scoring touch that has been missing for the better part of the season. He scored 17 points on a variety of jump shots and drives to the basket. Brice Johnson had his standard double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds and North Carolina pulled away at the end to win 80-68. State's inside duo of Anya and Abu only combined for 17 points and Maverick Rowan went 2 for 12 from the field and was held to eight points. State has had a tough season but they are very capable of putting it all together for an ACC tournament run.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Gottlieb Goofs
There was a line in a Three Stooges skit that went something like "every time you think, you weaken the nation." The nation is much weaker thanks to Doug Gottlieb, CBS basketball "personality." At the beginning of the season, I was watching a North Carolina Tarheels game against UCLA and before the game began, Gottlieb was giving his "expert" analysis and he had to mention the UNC academic scandal one more time.
Before the UNC-Miami game, Gottlieb stated that he had been talking to "people" and said that Roy Williams was going to retire at the end of the season due to Coach Williams well documented health issues. Coach Williams addressed the issue after the game as only Coach Williams could. Williams denied that he is retiring for any reason whatsoever and the line about Gottlieb wearing his shorts backwards during the first part of a game he played in was funny.
Doug Gottlieb has his own sports talk radio show for CBS and they tried to schedule an interview with Roy Williams and UNC politely declined. Anyone that does sports talk of any kind knows that the dissenting opinion sells, controversy sells, and trying to be the first one out there with any information sells. Gottlieb has tried putting out there that Williams retirement was his "opinion" but he made it sound like his "opinion" was very informed and he had talked to those that were more knowledgeable about the situation and had behind the scenes information. I am happy to see that UNC turned down Gottlieb's request. By agreeing to his request for an interview, it would have given credence to Gottlieb's "opinion". He will not e able to sell that bit of controversy. Now if he could only put his shorts own right.
Before the UNC-Miami game, Gottlieb stated that he had been talking to "people" and said that Roy Williams was going to retire at the end of the season due to Coach Williams well documented health issues. Coach Williams addressed the issue after the game as only Coach Williams could. Williams denied that he is retiring for any reason whatsoever and the line about Gottlieb wearing his shorts backwards during the first part of a game he played in was funny.
Doug Gottlieb has his own sports talk radio show for CBS and they tried to schedule an interview with Roy Williams and UNC politely declined. Anyone that does sports talk of any kind knows that the dissenting opinion sells, controversy sells, and trying to be the first one out there with any information sells. Gottlieb has tried putting out there that Williams retirement was his "opinion" but he made it sound like his "opinion" was very informed and he had talked to those that were more knowledgeable about the situation and had behind the scenes information. I am happy to see that UNC turned down Gottlieb's request. By agreeing to his request for an interview, it would have given credence to Gottlieb's "opinion". He will not e able to sell that bit of controversy. Now if he could only put his shorts own right.
Monday, February 22, 2016
The Roller Coaster Ride
The North Carolina Tarheels basketball teams roller coaster ride of a season continued with a 96-71 victory over second place Miami. It was a game that really wasn't as close as the final score indicated. The Tarheels end of the first half run was punctuated by an 85 foot two handed heave by Brice Johnson that went through the basket softer than a lay up but didn't count as the ball left his hands after the buzzer sounded. The Tarheels were up by as many as 38 points late in the second half.
The loss against Duke was deflating but the Tarheels bounced back with authority. After the Duke loss, many had written the Tarheels off for the rest of the season. The North Carolina Tarheels are probably the most overanalyzed team in college basketball. One night they look unbeatable. The next night, they look like they can barely beat the local community college team. The Tarheels biggest critic, Jay Williams, questions the Tarheels toughness and he does have a valid point.
As soon as he makes these comments, the Tarheels came out to play. Brice Johnson had 16 points and 15 rebounds and he paced six Tarheels in double figures. They also outrebounded Miami 46-29. The Tarheels have four more tough games ahead. They need to show up to play every night.
The loss against Duke was deflating but the Tarheels bounced back with authority. After the Duke loss, many had written the Tarheels off for the rest of the season. The North Carolina Tarheels are probably the most overanalyzed team in college basketball. One night they look unbeatable. The next night, they look like they can barely beat the local community college team. The Tarheels biggest critic, Jay Williams, questions the Tarheels toughness and he does have a valid point.
As soon as he makes these comments, the Tarheels came out to play. Brice Johnson had 16 points and 15 rebounds and he paced six Tarheels in double figures. They also outrebounded Miami 46-29. The Tarheels have four more tough games ahead. They need to show up to play every night.
A Series Win Over UCLA
The North Carolina Tarheels hit their first two homeruns of the season in the series ending 14-5 win over UCLA. Tyler Ramirez hit a three run homer in the first inning and local product North Henderson's Zack Gahagan hit a go ahead two run homer in a five run seventh inning to lead the Tarheels.
Tarheel pitchers were once again dominant but wild as the only allowed Bruins hitters five hits but they walked eight and committed three errors. Three of the five UCLA runs were unearned. Tarheels starter Jason Morgan pitched a career high five and two-thirds innings, striking out five and walking four and only gave up two earned runs. He did not factor in the decision. Cole Aker got his first career win with two and one-thirds innings of scoreless relief.
Tarheel pitchers were once again dominant but wild as the only allowed Bruins hitters five hits but they walked eight and committed three errors. Three of the five UCLA runs were unearned. Tarheels starter Jason Morgan pitched a career high five and two-thirds innings, striking out five and walking four and only gave up two earned runs. He did not factor in the decision. Cole Aker got his first career win with two and one-thirds innings of scoreless relief.
Sunday, February 21, 2016
The Basics
North Carolina Tarheels pitchers only gave up four hits last night to UCLA but seven walks, an error, and a hit batter, gave #9 UCLA all the baserunners they needed to take a walk off 6-5 win over the #16 Tarheels. The Tarheels took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning on RBI's by Logan Warmoth, Cody Roberts, and Adam Pate. UCLA scored two runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 4-3 lead. The Tarheels came back to take a 5-4 lead when Warmoth led off the sixth inning with a triple, Pate followed with an RBI single and was later driven in by a Roberts RBI single. UCLA tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning on a wild pitch by reliever Hansen Butler and won it in the bottom of the ninth inning on a single up the middle by Bruin right fielder Eric Filia off of Tarheel reliever Cole Aker.
Tarheel starter J.B. Bukauskas struck out a career high nine batters in four and two-thirds innings, but walked three, hit a batter, gave up one hit, and gave up four runs, only two of them earned. Zach Rice came on in relief, gave up a hit and walked a batter before he was lifted for Spencer Trayner. Trayner went one and one-third innings, struck out three, walked two, and gave up a run on Butler's wild pitch. Butler struck out four and only gave up one hit. Tarheel pitchers have held UCLA batters to nine hits and a .148 batting average in the two games thus far. They have also struck out 30 UCLA batters.
Tarheel starter J.B. Bukauskas struck out a career high nine batters in four and two-thirds innings, but walked three, hit a batter, gave up one hit, and gave up four runs, only two of them earned. Zach Rice came on in relief, gave up a hit and walked a batter before he was lifted for Spencer Trayner. Trayner went one and one-third innings, struck out three, walked two, and gave up a run on Butler's wild pitch. Butler struck out four and only gave up one hit. Tarheel pitchers have held UCLA batters to nine hits and a .148 batting average in the two games thus far. They have also struck out 30 UCLA batters.
Saturday, February 20, 2016
The Diamond Tarheels Season Opener Vs. UCLA
The #16 North Carolina Tarheels baseball team traveled to Los Angeles to take on the #9 UCLA Bruins this weekend in a season opening three game series. The Tarheels won game number one behind the pitching of Zac Gallen and the timely hitting of freshman designated hitter Brandon Riley. Gallen went 7 2/3 innings, gave up four hits, walked two, and struck out 11. Relievers Hunter Williams and Hansen Butler came on and pitched 2/3 of an inning a piece with Butler striking out the last two Bruins batters to get his first career save.
The Tarheels scored their first run in the third inning on a sacrifice fly from Tyler Lynn and scored three in the sixth inning on a two run double from Riley and that was followed by a run scoring double from Logan Warmoth. The Tarheels totaled nine hits for the game, three of those coming from first baseman Brian Miller.
The Tarheels are looking to get back to the NCAA playoffs after missing last season for the first time in ten seasons. They will have to infuse a group of talented freshmen and veterans in order to get back to the tournament. The Tarheels started three freshmen against the Bruins including freshman catcher Cody Roberts.
The Tarheels scored their first run in the third inning on a sacrifice fly from Tyler Lynn and scored three in the sixth inning on a two run double from Riley and that was followed by a run scoring double from Logan Warmoth. The Tarheels totaled nine hits for the game, three of those coming from first baseman Brian Miller.
The Tarheels are looking to get back to the NCAA playoffs after missing last season for the first time in ten seasons. They will have to infuse a group of talented freshmen and veterans in order to get back to the tournament. The Tarheels started three freshmen against the Bruins including freshman catcher Cody Roberts.
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Get A TO Baby!
The North Carolina Tarheels head coach Roy Williams admitted today that he should have taken a time out to set up a last shot against Duke. His reasoning was very simple and referred to a Dean Smith philosophy that he used often at the end of games. That was to set up for the last shot before the defense has a chance to get set. When the game is over, the second guessing began but to leave the game in the hands of Marcus Paige or Joel Berry II may not have worked anyway. The bottom line is that it was a loss at home and a tough loss to take against a resurgent Duke team as the Tarheels shooting woes continue. Paige and Berry II were a combined 4 for 22 from the field and the Tarheels were 1 for 13 from the three point line.
Monday, February 15, 2016
Home Cooking
The North Carolina Tarheels needed some home cooking against Pittsburgh after a three game road trip that only saw the Tarheels win one of those games. The Tarheels got back to the formula that saw them win 19 of their first 21 games as they played good defense, shot the ball well, and distributed the ball well as the Tarheels had five players score in double figures. The only thing the Tarheels did not do was rebound. Pittsburgh held a 41-29 advantage in rebounds including an 18-1 advantage on the offensive glass. Even with that statistic the Tarheels still beat Pittsburgh going away 85-64.
A segment on ESPN about the Tarheels that highlighted their defensive struggles seemed to inspire the Tarheels defense as they held Pittsburgh to under 38% shooting for the game and forced 19 Pittsburgh turnovers. Marcus Paige is quoted as saying that the piece aired by ESPN helped inspire their defensive effort but he also said it was also something they had been hearing from the coaches most of the season.
A segment on ESPN about the Tarheels that highlighted their defensive struggles seemed to inspire the Tarheels defense as they held Pittsburgh to under 38% shooting for the game and forced 19 Pittsburgh turnovers. Marcus Paige is quoted as saying that the piece aired by ESPN helped inspire their defensive effort but he also said it was also something they had been hearing from the coaches most of the season.
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Taking A Powder At BC
A trip to Boston College was should have been just what the doctor ordered to cure the North Carolina Tarheels basketball team's road ills. The trip ended in a victory but seems to have made the Tarheels even sicker especially head coach Roy Williams. Williams had to leave the court with just under 15 minutes to go in the game due to an attack of vertigo. Assistant coach Steve Robinson, a long time Williams assistant and former head coach at Florida State, took over.
The Tarheels overcame a nine point deficit with 10 minutes to play for a 68-65 win over Boston College who came into the game 0-10 in ACC play. This is the same Boston College team that the Tarheels beat by 27 points in a lackluster effort a little over a week ago. Justin Jackson had his most impressive game since Thanksgiving with 20 points and even nailed a couple of three pointers for good measure. That was the Tarheels 20th victory on the season but it was not a strong showing against the worst team in the ACC.
The Tarheels overcame a nine point deficit with 10 minutes to play for a 68-65 win over Boston College who came into the game 0-10 in ACC play. This is the same Boston College team that the Tarheels beat by 27 points in a lackluster effort a little over a week ago. Justin Jackson had his most impressive game since Thanksgiving with 20 points and even nailed a couple of three pointers for good measure. That was the Tarheels 20th victory on the season but it was not a strong showing against the worst team in the ACC.
Friday, February 5, 2016
National Signing Day
I love National Signing Day. The new prospects sign on to come to play for the North Carolina Tarheels and it is a day full of possibilities. The Tarheels went after defense on National Signing Day as 16 of the 26 players that signed were defensive players, 7 of those 16 were defensive backs. The defensive side of the ball is where a Freshman could step in and play immediately next year. Defensive End Tomon Fox has been mentioned as being able to step in and play immediately as has defensive back Myles Dorn, son of former Tarheel and NFL player Torin Dorn, and defensive back Patrice Rene.
There will also be a battle to see who backs up quarterback Mitch Trubisky. The Tarheels have two quarterbacks in this class, Logan Byrd, who enrolled at North Carolina in January, and National Player of the Year Chazz Surratt. They will compete for the backup job with four other quarterbacks on the Tarheels spring roster. Caleb Henderson got into three games last season as the third on the depth chart. He attempted two passes. No other quarterback on the roster has seen game action.
There will also be a battle to see who backs up quarterback Mitch Trubisky. The Tarheels have two quarterbacks in this class, Logan Byrd, who enrolled at North Carolina in January, and National Player of the Year Chazz Surratt. They will compete for the backup job with four other quarterbacks on the Tarheels spring roster. Caleb Henderson got into three games last season as the third on the depth chart. He attempted two passes. No other quarterback on the roster has seen game action.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
The Writing On The Wall
The writing was on the wall for the North Carolina Tarheels loss to Louisville. You might be able to get away with subpar shooting performances against North Carolina State and Wake Forest but it is a different story when you are playing a ranked Louisville team on the road. Cold shooting seems to have infected the entire team and even though I di a little bit of coaching, I really cannot think of a solution for a cold shooting basketball team that has spread through the better part of six games. This has been one for the record books.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)