#3 UNC vs Maryland

Brian Barbour on February 3rd, 2009 |

37 comments - (Comments are closed)

Where: Dean Smith Center, Chapel Hill, NC
When: Tuesday, February 3rd, 8:00 PM
TV: Raycom Regional
Livestats: SCACC Hoops
Liveblogging: Yes
Records: UNC 19-2, 5-2 ACC; Maryland 14-7, 3-4 ACC

UNC has lost two straight to Maryland.

You would think that streak comes to a quick end this evening considering Maryland has devolved into basically a one man team. Think I am kidding? The Terps leader in points, assists and rebounds is Greivis Vasquez. He is also the team leader in steals, turnovers and asinine statements to the media which included saying something about Cameron being “his house” prior to the Duke game. Not fundamentally very bright on his part but someone should tell him not to make any such claims about the RBC Center or Ben McCauley might pop him.

But I digress.

Maryland showed signs of life early in the season when they smacked Michigan State right before UNC did the same thing to the Spartans. Maryland also beat Michigan and things were looking good for the Terps until they lost to Morgan State. Anytime you have a MEAC school on your schedule and a “L” next to it, there is a good chance your season is not going to end well. And that has been the case for the most part. The level of craptitude peaked with the debacle at Cameron that saw Maryland down 63-20 at one point. Maryland did snag a win over Miami this past weekend and on more than a few occasions have played well in Chapel Hill, including last season. There is also the matter of Gary Williams job security which is allegedly fine according to his AD Debbie Yow. Then again an AD’s “vote of confidence” is tantamount to them filling out the termination notice but not signing it. In other words Maryland has plenty to play for and shown a knack for playing their best game against UNC.

That basically means UNC needs to do what Duke did and throttle the Terps in a way, Gary actually stops sweating. And honestly that is exactly what should happen. If Maryland’s PG is their leading rebounder at 5.9 boards per game, that tells me there are slim pickings on the interior for the Terps. Tyler Hansbrough, Deon Thompson and Ed Davis should be able to do about what they want to. Maryland’s guard play is what will keep them in it, if they can manage to stay in it but if Ty Lawson remembers how things went last season I am betting he would love to go out and own Vasquez. At any rate, the Heels should roll and anything else is probably going to be a disappointment.

UNC 105 Maryland 67

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ed geth lives

February 3, 2009 at 11:42 am

I wish I shared your complete confidence. I think it will be a fairly tight game at the beginning before the Heels use their patented late 1st half push. But really, I just want a win.

C. Michael

February 3, 2009 at 11:45 am

Anyone else hear the rumor that Tyler is now engaged? If true, let’s hope he has a heck of a game to celebrate!

tarheel4lifer

February 3, 2009 at 11:47 am

I agree with THF. We’re going make Vasquez cry all the way back to College Park.

Tar Heel Fan

February 3, 2009 at 11:51 am

It is on his Facebook page which, from what I can tell, looks legit. It says he is engaged to Britney Eden who is also a senior at UNC from Poplar Bluff.

uncgirl50 is going to be upset.

February 3, 2009 at 12:08 pm

“uncgirl50 is going to be upset.”

Ha! That was my first thought, too… My condolences, uncgirl50!

I love how Facebook has become THE place to go for information. There was even an article in the NY Times last summer about how Facebook as become the number 1 metric in terms of confirming the validity of a relationship.

THF should start a group on Facebook…

February 3, 2009 at 12:15 pm

“THF should start a group on Facebook… ”

Dear Lord…I have no desire to actually know you people!

I actually thought about it since most folks here are pretty sane.

william

February 3, 2009 at 12:17 pm

I don’t think that anyone here in the D.C. area thought that Maryland was looking good until the Morgan State game. It was already obvious they had real problems. They beat Vermont in overtime and that was very lucky. Then they got smoked by both Gonzaga and Georgetown on neutral courts, losing both by over 20 points. They struggled with Charlotte and then lost to Morgan State.

Believe it or not, Maryland has probably so far outperformed expectations in the ACC.

Maryland is fortunate in that it has four games against last place Georgia Tech and UVa, and are 2-0 in those games so far, although both of them were in College Park.

They have played two tight games with Miami, winning one and losing one, and probably should have won them both. They played seemingly well against FSU, losing down there in overtime. Only the Duke game was really horrible. They are 3-4 and probably that is about right, but they could easily be 4-3.

The problem for Maryland is that now things get harder. They have two games against UNC; they have another against Duke; they have one against Wake, one against Clemson and one against Virginia Tech, and the road games against State, UVa and GIT.

Do they win any of these? Probably, based upon match-ups, they will take 2 or 3 more games in the ACC, but that leaves them at 6-10 in the league. Gary Williams is apparently not in any danger, but it is certainly a disappointing year for the turtle.

Heels Perspective

February 3, 2009 at 12:19 pm

I’d like to see our regulars go out and take of business early tonight and then get Frasor, Drew and Graves some minutes to get back in some sort of rhythm.

Any word on Marcus today?

I think Gary gets afforded some kind of graceful exit at the end of this season. Maybe they name the court after him or something.

February 3, 2009 at 12:25 pm

Yeah, like Bobby Cremins? GIT fought so hard to keep him from going to USC and then showed him the door just a few years later.

I don’t think that Maryland wants to pay off the rest of Gary’s contract during a recession. I think he has three and a half more years guaranteed. That was something that Skip Prosser had going for him when he had those two horrible years.

To be fair to Gary, I think most of his success came during Duke’s down period from 1994-1997 and then during UNC’s down period from 2000-2004. This probably elevated expectations beyond where they should have been, given that he has never been the kind of recruiter Driesell was.

Once UNC got rolling again, Maryland started to get squeezed and fell back with the Pack.

52bgJ

February 3, 2009 at 12:28 pm

that would be a disappointment imo. I like Gary and think he’s earned a measure of respect, and margin at Md. Despite his humorous machinations on-court, Gary is a class act.

C.M–pm me thru THF

February 3, 2009 at 12:46 pm

52,

Is that possible to do directly through the site? If not, THF has my email, which he can give you with no issues on my side.

As I pointed out, Gary is not that good as a recruiter but the power vacuum did help and from a recruiting perspective, Roy can take a lot of guys right from your backyard. His other problem is Georgetown has re-emerged as a power.

February 3, 2009 at 12:50 pm

How many minutes would they need to do that, HeelsPerspective?

Min Avg FG-FGA Pct 3FG-FGA Pct

13 Will Graves…….. 20-0 224 11.2 31-71 .437 10-36 .278
04 Frasor, Bobby…… 21-0 312 14.9 19-64 .297 11-45 .244
11 Larry Drew II…… 21-0 226 10.8 16-38 .421 5-17 .294

HeelYeah

February 3, 2009 at 12:52 pm

We have a definite advantage on the interior, and Ty should be enough to slow down Greivis. We also should have the revenge factor for last year in full effect. This game had better be a butt whipping or I’m going to be disappointed.

February 3, 2009 at 12:59 pm

http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/020309aad.html:

“I started thinking about it in the last couple of games it seems like Graves, Drew, Frasor are no longer there and if they play there is not much production on the offensive side. So I just took the stats from the FSU game and see that Frasor had 8 minutes, Drew and Graves had 3. Now I don’t know what I expected before the season but I was hoping they would be able to play maybe 10 minutes apiece especially during close games? So say could you somehow compare the 2005 team and minutes played with the 2009 in games say that were within 10 points?
Rito from Kansas

Roy Williams noticed the same thing you did about the Florida State game, except he looked less at how much the reserves played and more at how much his starters played. In that game, Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson played 37 minutes apiece. “They won’t be able to give their best and play as hard as we want them to play if they’re playing that much,” the head coach said. Those figures changed to 31 minutes for Lawson and 33 minutes for Ellington against NC State.

As you might have noticed, Frasor hasn’t exactly been on a hot streak offensively lately. He’s made just one 3-pointer in conference play, and that shot came way back in the ACC opener on Jan. 4 against Boston College. That’s led a bevy of emailers to wonder why he’s still in the rotation. Let’s let Williams answer that question: “Bobby is really good at moving the ball and really good defensively. I don’t know that I’ve been playing Bobby as much as he deserves.”"

February 3, 2009 at 1:41 pm

my feeling is that Drew & Frasor are fine. Drew just needs pt, and Bobby will get on track. Hell, if a guy my age can can 3′s, I’m sure Frasor will get uncorked. What seems to be lost in these conversations about offense, is that if the Heels play D the way they should, it relieves the pressure on outside shooting quite a bit…and I truly believe that (mental pressure) is the only problem with Bobby’s shooting woes right now.

February 3, 2009 at 2:19 pm

Drew is okay for a freshman. He is outplaying the level of performance given by Quentin Thomas as a freshman, handily, but is not as good as a freshman as Thomas was a senior, not yet anyway. There are 19 games to go, hopefully.

If Frasor does get “on track” offensively, that would be great and it will be for the very first time in his career.

Frasor’s best season over all was probably in 2006 and he hit 37% from the floor, which was pretty lackluster, and 31% from three point range, which was acceptable. If he could even get back to those numbers, it would be helpful. I guess mental woes could explain some of the slippage, but the problem is that the starting point was not that good to begin with. I am not sure if I can ever remember a Tar Heel in the playing rotation who shot under 30% from the floor.

People have discussed this on here, but it was Wes Miller who hit most of the big three’s back in 2005 and 2006, not Bobby Frasor. For some reason, we see over and over on here that people just keep hoping that Frasor can find his touch again. The more honest wish is that we all hope that Frasor can become a good shooter as a Tar Heel for the very first time in his career.

I will agree with you that a lot of people could make the three point shots that Frasor took against NC State, as he was unguarded both times from three point range, but he just couldn’t quite keep them on track towards the basket. I am glad to hear that he is taking extra shooting practice, but he may need to practice even more on his own than he is now. He owes it to his teammates to make sure that whatever he shoots from the floor is truly the best he can deliver. I just can’t imagine that .297 is the best he can muster.

February 3, 2009 at 2:39 pm

excellent points all william, but frankly if this team starts to play consistent defense, that will also be a first imo.

February 3, 2009 at 3:33 pm

In fact their defense has been amazingly consistent. I guess you mean “better” defense.

The Heels are playing almost exactly the same defense they played last year. Last year they finished up 19th and this year they are 17th. Both years they were first over all in offense. They were better in 2008 on offense, but most of the difference is due to the better stats by last year’s reserves.

In fact, the Tar Heels statistics among their starting five are almost eerily the same as last year. Only Danny Green and Ty Lawson to a lesser extent, have changed much. But over all, it is amazing how much is the same.

Even though it may not seem like it, Tyler’s offensive stats parallel last year almost to the last jot and tittle. When I look back and forth from 2008 to 2009, I have to keep looking to make sure what year I am looking at, his stats are so close.

So, we have to hope that Memphis, Kansas and UCLA were all better last year than any of this year’s teams. If that is the case, then the Tar Heels should be okay as is. Otherwise, they better improve some more on both ends of the court.

JBowling

February 3, 2009 at 3:57 pm

Boy, I wish we had Noel and Terry on the bench right now. Could one reason Roy is sticking to his guns on starting Deon be the fact that a starting Davis means a leaving Davis? I would really love to get back to the point that our freshmen are mostly on the bench b/c our starters are so good. This helps fill in the gaps in off-year recruiting when freshmen stick around for 1 or 2 years. Imagine an 06 season with a Marvin Williams on it. I’d love to have seen him playing alongside Tyler. Both are different players that could have complimented each other very well. Marvin seemed to be much more agile than any post player we have now, outside of Tyler. Some could make an argument for Davis I suppose, but I just don’t see it.

uncgirl50

February 3, 2009 at 3:58 pm

My parents will be at the game and every game they’ve gone too the Heels have won so hopefully tonight will be the same.

Vasquez could give us some major problems but I don’t see many other players that could be huge threats. We had better get our butts on defense and get some rebounds.

Tyler, engaged? But he’s virtually married to me! This is quite upsetting, but I wish him all the happiness in the world (if the rumor is true). Until he actually gets married I can still dream, can’t I?

I actually think that B. Wright had only scratched the surface of what he could have shown us.

February 3, 2009 at 4:04 pm

No I don’t think Davis starting would send him on his way. I think he believes moving Deon to the bench would be devastating to his psyche. I also maintain Davis is not conditioned to handle many more minutes than he is playing.

rathskellar68

February 3, 2009 at 4:08 pm

Vasquez may have a big mouth, but he is a really good player. And he’s exactly the sort who’s been dogging us all year: an athletic guard who can shoot. I hope we don’t see another Toney Douglas performance today.

I was confident of this game last year, when we lost. I am just as confident this year, and I sure hope we don’t get the same result. On paper we should dominate. Maryland has even less of an answer for TH than the rest of the league. I hope Roy leaves him in for 38 minutes for once. I’d like to see him follow up his 31 point performance against Gentleman Ben McCauley with about 35 today. This would spark some renewed POY talk, which has been notably quiet over the last few weeks.

As for his reported engagement, it won’t be just uncgirl who’s miserable. Any sane, single woman out there would be miserable. I mean, what exactly would a woman want that Tyler Hansbrough DOESN’T have?

February 3, 2009 at 4:11 pm

“So, we have to hope that Memphis, Kansas and UCLA were all better last year than any of this year’s teams.”

This was a very common theme early in the season amongst sportswriters, and a big reason why UNC was so heavily favored. Of the four “great” teams last year, one was intact, three were devastated by defections, and no one could really fill there void. I think the last statement is still very true, with the difference being now that no one could have foreseen the injury to Zeller, or Ginyard’s injury taking so long to heal.

February 3, 2009 at 4:35 pm

uncgirl — Heck, you can dream AFTER he’s married, too. Wasn’t it Jimmy Carter who mentioned something about lusting in his heart? Plus, TH could turn out to behave like John Edwards.

NOT.

February 3, 2009 at 4:37 pm

I wonder if Bobby’s taken… or Zeller…OMG we get the Wear twins next year. Tyler will always hold a special place in my heart. But I think I will be able to move on.

rathskellar: Absolutley nothing at all. This is really depressing.

February 3, 2009 at 4:51 pm

Speaking of the Wears, there is a pretty glowing write-up of Travis here:

http://www.draftexpress.com/blog/High-School-AAU/#HoopHall-Classic-Scouting-Reports-Part-Three-3090

Travis is the 5th report down. Sounds like he and his brother will be a lot better at UNC than most predict.

February 3, 2009 at 5:07 pm

I predict that all UNC recruits will be amazing but the Wear twins are going to be great. Not only are they cute but there are two of them and they are great players. Next year is going to be amazing!

Andy In Omaha

February 3, 2009 at 5:29 pm

I loathe Maryland almost as much as I loathe Duke. The 105-67 mark THF predicted would be awesome, but I think it will be a little closer than that.
This is a team that I hope we absolutely destroy.