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.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
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.
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
The Tarheels In The House That Jordan Built
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.
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.
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.
Friday, November 21, 2014
The Victory Bell Comes Home
UNC recaptured the Victory Bell from Duke last night with a 45-20 win and it was a great sight to see. The way ESPN did their pregame show, it was like they expected Duke to win. They interviewed Coach David Cutcliffe before the game, showed some coach or visiting crackhead from Duke giving a "motivational" speech in the Duke locker room before the game (I think the speech had to do with the benefits of smoking crack before the game), and all UNC got was a spot of Ryan Switzer's dance moves (and contrary to ESPN's commentary, I thought the moves were solid).
The end result was I hope the Duke coach is getting treatment, UNC's D played their best game of the year, The Victory Bell belongs to the Tarheels, and I am sure Ryan Switzer danced the night away after having over 100 receiving yards in the game. ESPN is left to ponder what exactly what is unbiased coverage of a sporting event.
The end result was I hope the Duke coach is getting treatment, UNC's D played their best game of the year, The Victory Bell belongs to the Tarheels, and I am sure Ryan Switzer danced the night away after having over 100 receiving yards in the game. ESPN is left to ponder what exactly what is unbiased coverage of a sporting event.
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