Where: Dean Smith Center, Chapel Hill, NC
When: Tuesday, November 18th, 9 PM
TV: ESPN
Live Stats: SCACCHoops
Records: UNC 1-0; UK 0-1
Live blogging tonight beginning around 8:30.
I think when UNC and Kentucky renewed this series they imagine it would pit two traditional powerhouses ranked in the top 25. That has never really been the case since UNC has really been up during the past few seasons and UK down. Still it is a nice game to have on the schedule since these two are #1 and #2 all time in college basketball wins. I also like that UNC does not shy away from including a trip to Lexington every other season. In this edition, UK comes to Chapel Hill hoping to avoid an 0-1 start after inexplicably losing to VMI. UNC still missing two valuable cogs to the Roy Williams Engine of High Scoring Uptempo Basketball will be asking for Tyler Zeller and Ed Davis to grow up a little faster than maybe they expected while looking to Deon Thompson to be a force in the lane versus highly touted Patrick Patterson.
The real story of this game lies with the guards, particularly the trio of Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green. Ellington and Lawson did not shoot well against Penn despite getting good looks and the junior point guard was not as aggressive versus the Quaker zone as Roy would probably like to see. Green had a good game but if UNC can get these three firing on all cylinders while the frontline plays like it did on Saturday, the Heels can really roll in this one. Having gong through one game without Hansbrough and Ginyard, the players sort of know how things look now so I expect that to not be an issue going forward.
Not to put too much on early season games, but it would be nice if the Heels could turn this one into a statement game and that statement would be:
See how good we can be without Hansbrough and Ginyard, we are going to be freaking scary when we get both of them back.
It is not a season breaker by any means but looking down the road to Duke struggling with Rhode Island, SEC West favorite Alabama losing to Mercer and a handful of other near upsets/upsets out there it would be nice to see an absolutely dominant performance from the Heels. And by dominant I am not simply looking at the score but more in the execution on both ends. UNC needs to come out and play at a high level all game, if for no other reason, than to illustrate whoever gave a #1 vote to UConn in the coaches poll is sorely mistaken.
Update: Forgot the prediction. UNC 95 UK 70
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Given ESPN’s Marathon of basketball, I really wish I had the “flu” today!! Getting to watch live basketball at 5 AM was a nice treat compared to the usual pre-work business channels!
BTW, where’s the THF score prediction?
One would have to guess that Billy will tell his perimeter defenders to stay out on the shooter and make use Deon/Zeller/Davis to beat them. I hope our freshmen and Deon are ready for the big stage.
My prediction. UNC 91 KY 83.
Posted prior to game at 10:40 AM. Prediction is subject to change based on intangible events & happenings, and based on how the course of the game plays out.
Do you think that we will retain our number one slot regardless of how sloppy our play is, provided we win?
Any voter who drops a team that wins a game while missing two starters, no matter the score or the style, is an idiot. Period.
Oops!
Yeah I know. I still imagine there will be a few that might.
Does anyone else think that the players are confused about the 3 point line? Seems to me that they take second looks at it, and it hinders quick/acute decisions that need to be made. On one possession I saw Ellington on the wing. He crossed over as if he was sizing his defender for a drive to the hole, stepped back, looked at his feet to see where they were planted, and then stepped in for a long-range 2 point jump shot. Without the line change, he could have made a quick decision to drive the hole, pass, or shoot a 3. Now shooting that three will require a step back from where they previously conditioned to shooting. Just takes time to make a decision when a hasty one would really confuse a defender. May just be me though.
I think it probably does make a difference. If they would get rid of the old line, that would help. You always used to see that happen on courts where they had both pro and college lines, and those were much farther apart, so you have to assume these two lines can cause some consternation… unless you are Jimmy Barron and you are shooting from 30′!!
The women are playing in the Smith Center this season so they cannot remove the old line. Once renovations are done at Carmichael, the women will go back over there and they can cleanup the old line. I did notice they made the new white while the old one is blue, that should help.
Also, I am not sure it matters. I would think you would pull up on the line furthest out and not the 2nd one but if a situation where you are trying to spot up quick off a pass you might mistakenly shoot inside the new line.
IC reports that Tyler practiced for the first time yesterday. My prediction is that he gradually increases playing time in Maui and then is back big time for the UNC-Asheville game on Nov. 30. Imagine the crowd reaction when they announce him in the starting lineup for that game!
Is there some kind of rule about Coaches declaring a player cannot play because of injury (Tyler H.) and then tehy get to gametime and let him get some minutes in? Or once Roy makes the anouncement means he cannot play?
Not sure, but there must be something. I know in the NFL you can’t suit up if you are “out,” but you can if you are “doubtful.” If there wasn’t a rule, you’d have coaches up to all sorts of shenanigans, which would be bad for the sport…
No rule in the NCAA but I think if anything it would be considered bad form and a bit underhanded to declare a player will not play then decide at the last minute to put him in. The reason it gets announced by UNC or Roy is so the media will not ask about it.
My prediction UNC 85 KY 75. Nervous about tonight. Is anyone else?
Excited, not nervous. Wouldn’t be surprised if it is close, but expect UNC to win going away!
We should be able to handle Kentucky. However, we will get their best effort, especially after the VMI fiasco. Going all the way back to the early Dean days, there is no one I’d rather the Heels beat than Kentucky outside of Dook and the other Big 4′s!
UK comes to Chapel Hill hoping to avoid an 0-1 start after inexplicably losing to VMI.
Hard to avoid that which has already come to pass.
From the FSS broadcast, the SAC crowd looked and acted like the ‘Heels were playing UPenn on Saturday. I hope they look and act like the team is playing UK tonight (i.e., very loud and in to the game).
As Danny Green goes, so go the Heels. This will be a tough game.