Roy Williams and the North Carolina Tarheels honored Dean Smith by starting today's game against Georgia Tech running the Four Corners offense. Roy Williams had on a vintage Dean Smith Sports Jacket and as soon as Marcus Paige gained control of the basketball, Roy Williams held up four fingers. It took about five seconds for the Tarheels to score as Brice Johnson went back door and Marcus Paige fed him the ball for a layup. The Georgia Tech players were not sure what was going on because I am sure they have never seen that before.
Dean Smith installed the Four Corners offense as a means to control the ball and kill the clock and to create easy scoring opportunities with a lead late in the game. Phil Ford was the force behind the Four Corners in the days before the shot clock.
Many point to the North Carolina- Virginia game in 1982 pitting James Worthy vs. Ralph Sampson as to why the Shot Clock was instituted in the college game. North Carolina went into the Four Corners offense nursing a 2 or 4 point lead with about 9 or 10 minutes to go in the game. They ended up winning the game because of the Four Corners and most fans felt that when Dean Smith took the air out of the ball, it changed the competitive balance of the game and did not give Ralph Sampson an opportunity to win the game.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Sunday, February 15, 2015
The Diamond Tarheels Opening Series
The North Carolina Tarheels Baseball team opened up the season with a three-game sweep of Seton Hall. Pitching is going to be the Tarheels strength this season and that was proven in the sweep of Seton Hall.
Senior Benton Moss got his 20th win as a Tarheel, Reliever Spencer Trayner got a win in relief with 2 2/3 scoreless innings behind starter Trent Thornton, and Freshman starter J.B. Bukauskas picked up his first win as a Tarheel with 5 innings and only giving up one unearned run. Bukauskas was a 20th Round Draft Pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in spite of his request that he be taken off Major league Draft Boards because of his desire to be a Tarheel. He was still drafted on the strength of his Fastball that can run up to 98 MPH.
The offensive standouts against Seton Hall were Adrian Chacon with 6 hits in the series, Joe Dudek with a Homerun and 4 RBI's, and Tyler Ramirez had a Homerun and 6 RBI's. The Tarheels batted .327 in the three games and had a 2.67 team ERA.
Senior Benton Moss got his 20th win as a Tarheel, Reliever Spencer Trayner got a win in relief with 2 2/3 scoreless innings behind starter Trent Thornton, and Freshman starter J.B. Bukauskas picked up his first win as a Tarheel with 5 innings and only giving up one unearned run. Bukauskas was a 20th Round Draft Pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in spite of his request that he be taken off Major league Draft Boards because of his desire to be a Tarheel. He was still drafted on the strength of his Fastball that can run up to 98 MPH.
The offensive standouts against Seton Hall were Adrian Chacon with 6 hits in the series, Joe Dudek with a Homerun and 4 RBI's, and Tyler Ramirez had a Homerun and 6 RBI's. The Tarheels batted .327 in the three games and had a 2.67 team ERA.
The Defense Is Offensive
As a lifelong, diehard Tarheel fan, yesterday's game against Pittsburgh was difficult to watch. The Pittsburgh offense Pittsburgh dictated the play on both ends of the court. Pittsburgh ran at will on the Tarheels, they ran their halfcourt offense to perfection, and ended up shooting 65% for the game. They repeatedly drove the ball down the middle of the lane and either hit layups or kicked it out for wide open jumpers. Pittsburgh was not considered a good offensive team before this game. Pittsburgh had 30 assists on 37 made field goals and only had 4 turnovers in the game. Only towards the end of the game did North Carolina apply anything remotely resembling defensive pressure. By then the Tarheels were down by 20 points.
On offense, the Tarheels played well enough to win. They shot almost 50% and only had 5 turnovers. Brice Johnson had 19 points and Kennedy Meeks had 15. Marcus Paige cannot get going. Paige only had 8 points and 6 assists but was only 1 for 7 from the three point line.
In my limited coaching experience, defense is mostly "want to" and "desire". As a coach, you can preach and teach defense all you want to, but the team or player has to want to play great defense. Some teams get after it more than others. Right now, it looks like the 'Heels have lost the desire to play defense.
On offense, the Tarheels played well enough to win. They shot almost 50% and only had 5 turnovers. Brice Johnson had 19 points and Kennedy Meeks had 15. Marcus Paige cannot get going. Paige only had 8 points and 6 assists but was only 1 for 7 from the three point line.
In my limited coaching experience, defense is mostly "want to" and "desire". As a coach, you can preach and teach defense all you want to, but the team or player has to want to play great defense. Some teams get after it more than others. Right now, it looks like the 'Heels have lost the desire to play defense.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Dean Smith
Legendary coaching icon Dean Smith passed away Saturday night at the age of 83. I grew up in the 1970's and Dean Smith's name was revered in my house. He was the standard in which coaching excellence was measured. He believed in sportmanship, respect for the other team, and his innovations for the game of college basketball have been well documented.
I do not know who coined the term "Carolina Family" but it also became legendary throughout college and pro basketball. This family also extended to players that transferred out of the program. Current and ex-Tarheels used to gather in Chapel Hill over the summer to play pick up games and to see Dean Smith and stay involved with the Carolina Program.
Dean Smith's biggest contributions may have come off the court. He recruited the first African American, Charles Scott, to play in the ACC ands not for any politically motivated reasons but because he felt it was the right thing to do.
He retired as the all-time winningest coach in College Basketball but he knew the time was right for him to leave. His coaching tree extends far and wide and the roots run deep and his impact will be felt for a long, long time.
I met Dean Smith one time when he was at Owen High School near Asheville, NC recruiting future Tar Heel Brad Daugherty. My team East Henderson, was playing Owen in an exhibition game and I had the opportunity to go say a few words to him and get an autograph. He obliged but I knew he had better things to do but he still took the time.
I do not know who coined the term "Carolina Family" but it also became legendary throughout college and pro basketball. This family also extended to players that transferred out of the program. Current and ex-Tarheels used to gather in Chapel Hill over the summer to play pick up games and to see Dean Smith and stay involved with the Carolina Program.
Dean Smith's biggest contributions may have come off the court. He recruited the first African American, Charles Scott, to play in the ACC ands not for any politically motivated reasons but because he felt it was the right thing to do.
He retired as the all-time winningest coach in College Basketball but he knew the time was right for him to leave. His coaching tree extends far and wide and the roots run deep and his impact will be felt for a long, long time.
I met Dean Smith one time when he was at Owen High School near Asheville, NC recruiting future Tar Heel Brad Daugherty. My team East Henderson, was playing Owen in an exhibition game and I had the opportunity to go say a few words to him and get an autograph. He obliged but I knew he had better things to do but he still took the time.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Paige To The Rescue
The North Carolina Tarheels followed a formula yesterday against the Louisville Cardinals that they have used all season. Out rebound their opponents (40-30), play solid perimeter defense (31.6% from the three point line), and win the battle in the paint. It did not work against Notre Dame but worked against Louisville.
Marcus Paige was the go to guy against Louisville at the end of the game. That is what the Tarheels have been searching for all year long. A collective sigh of relief went up from all Tarheel fans when Paige's floater from the left of the basket dropped from high off the backboard and went through the net with 8.5 seconds left to give North Carolina a 72-71 lead.
Paige ended tangled up in the row of photographers that sit underneath the basket and out of the play after he scored. Louisville quickly got the ball in bounds and had a 5 on 4 and got off an open three pointer and a follow shot but missed. Freshman Justin Jackson followed the ball and knocked the ball into the stands after Louisville's final attempt.
Marcus Paige was the go to guy against Louisville at the end of the game. That is what the Tarheels have been searching for all year long. A collective sigh of relief went up from all Tarheel fans when Paige's floater from the left of the basket dropped from high off the backboard and went through the net with 8.5 seconds left to give North Carolina a 72-71 lead.
Paige ended tangled up in the row of photographers that sit underneath the basket and out of the play after he scored. Louisville quickly got the ball in bounds and had a 5 on 4 and got off an open three pointer and a follow shot but missed. Freshman Justin Jackson followed the ball and knocked the ball into the stands after Louisville's final attempt.
Monday, January 5, 2015
The Tarheel Depth
The 2014-15 North Carolina basketball team probably has more depth on it than any Tarheel team in recent memory, maybe ever. They have nine players averaging double figures in minutes per game with a tenth, Joel James, averaging about 9 minutes a game. Usually by the start of ACC Conference play, the Tarheels rotation has weeded itself out to where only about eight players are getting minutes. Eleven players on the roster have played in all 14 games with a twelveth, Jackson Simmons, having played in 12 of the contests.
Over the past couple of seasons, Head Coach Roy Williams, has had to try non-traditional lineup combinations ("small ball", for example, from a few seasons ago). He has tried that same type of combination this season with Theo Pinson, Nate Britt, and Marcus Paige all being on the floor at the same time. North Carolina has a guard heavy roster. If they could all hit three-pointers that would be great but they are more ball handlers and putting on defensive pressure than they are shooters. Britt is probably the best on the ball defender on the team.
The Centers on North Carolina's team- Kennedy Meeks, Joel James, and Desmond Hubert- all get playing time. Meeks is the only true offensive threat of the three but James' game is developing nicely. He can occasionally hit a mid-range jumper and throw in an old school Sky Hook to keep the other team off balance. Hubert is good for a few rebounds and an ESPN highlight worthy block shot per game.
Over the past couple of seasons, Head Coach Roy Williams, has had to try non-traditional lineup combinations ("small ball", for example, from a few seasons ago). He has tried that same type of combination this season with Theo Pinson, Nate Britt, and Marcus Paige all being on the floor at the same time. North Carolina has a guard heavy roster. If they could all hit three-pointers that would be great but they are more ball handlers and putting on defensive pressure than they are shooters. Britt is probably the best on the ball defender on the team.
The Centers on North Carolina's team- Kennedy Meeks, Joel James, and Desmond Hubert- all get playing time. Meeks is the only true offensive threat of the three but James' game is developing nicely. He can occasionally hit a mid-range jumper and throw in an old school Sky Hook to keep the other team off balance. Hubert is good for a few rebounds and an ESPN highlight worthy block shot per game.
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Clemson Is Ice Cold
The North Carolina Tarheels won their ACC conference opener yesterday over Clemson 74-50 in a game that was pretty much over by halftime. Clemson only scored 17 points in the first half on 5 for 28 shooting (17.9%) and was only 28.3% for the game. The Tarheels defense had something to do with it but Clemson is not a good shooting team.
Justin Jackson led the way for North Carolina with 13 points, Kennedy Meeks had 12 points and 12 rebounds despite battling a stomach bug, and three other players were in double figures.
Marcus Paige had 11 points on 3 for 4 from the three point line and is showing signs of coming out of his season long shooting slump. The thing I like the most about Paige's game is that he is not forcing his shot. He is letting the game come to him.
Justin Jackson led the way for North Carolina with 13 points, Kennedy Meeks had 12 points and 12 rebounds despite battling a stomach bug, and three other players were in double figures.
Marcus Paige had 11 points on 3 for 4 from the three point line and is showing signs of coming out of his season long shooting slump. The thing I like the most about Paige's game is that he is not forcing his shot. He is letting the game come to him.
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