In preparation for the 2008-09 basketball season, I will be profiling key contributors for the Tar Heels. Today’s profile looks at fifth year senior G-F Marcus Ginyard
Vitals
Number: 1
Position: G-F
Height: 6-5
Weight: 220 lbs
Year: Fifth Year Senior
2008-09 Stats: 3 gams, 1.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.3 apg, 25% FG
2007-08 Stats: 39 gms, 6.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.1 spg, 44% FG
Career: 110 gms, 5.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.0 spg, 1.5 apg, 43% FG
What Happened Last Season
Marcus Ginyard suffered a foot injury just prior to the season which eventually required surgery. Upon his return from surgery in late December, Ginyard never quite reach his previous form. In fact, Roy was on record as saying that Ginyard was not doing the things he normally did. As a result Ginyard was shutdown and the decision made to redshirt him.
Outlook For This Season
According to Roy, Ginyard is in excellent physical condition. There do not appear to be any lingering effects from the foot injury that sidelined him a year ago and Ginyard was extremely impressive in the preseason conditioning drills. The question is whether his shooting has improved between two years ago when he was a marginal shooter and now when so much more is expected of him from a scoring perspective.
Main Concerns
The biggest concern is that Ginyard turns out to be another Pat Sullivan. Sullivan was a junior on the 1993 title team and the player who made one of two FTs at the end to extend the Heels’ lead to two just before Michigan’s Chris Webber called that ill fated timeout. Following that season, Sullivan redshirted then came back as a fifth year senior on the 1995 squad. Sullivan was pretty much a non-factor on a team that went to the Final Four. In many ways, I doubt that will be the case with Ginyard, assuming his recovery is indeed full in the basketball sense. At the very least, Ginyard is going to give you a solid defensive presence so he has that going for him. What remains to be seen is if Ginyard can do more on the offensive end.
Wish List
The best case is that Ginyard becomes David Noel and then some. His defensive prowess is known and his leadership abilities are unquestioned. If Ginyard can average in double figures and hit 35-40% from three point range on a consistent basis, UNC will be in very good shape. What most UNC fans are looking for is a Ginyard’s whose offensive game that has significantly improved, especially when it comes to three point shooting. Ginyard has always been known for doing the little things such as getting a key putback or scoring on the fast break. Given the questions surrounding the perimeter shooting, UNC needs Ginyard to be more of a intentional scorer along with picking up those opportunistic scoring chances. If Ginyard along with Will Graves can hit their share of three pointers with Ginyard creating his own shot and getting some baskets that way, it will go a long towards shoring up the uncertainty in the perimeter offense.
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Ginyard is still throwing his shoulders back on his jump shot. Not sure if he is going to suddenly turn into a marksman or have the offense that Noel did. But if the foot is better, he can help form
an awesome defensive squad.
“The biggest concern is that Ginyard turns out to be another Pat Sullivan… Sullivan was pretty much a non-factor on a team that went to the Final Four.”
Well, the last part would be okay…
Do the Heels want a lot of 3-pt attempts from Ginyard? I see him as more of a dribble penetrator who can break down the defense and either take it to the basket or dish to someone who is open. I think that’s probably more critical, since Graves is an outside player and no one else is a proven penetrator. In previous years, the Heels were so loaded with scoring that Ginyard didn’t score much, but when he did it was usually around the basket. I can’t even remember Ginyard attempting a 3, although I’m sure he did.
From what I can gather, Roy is going to have a three forward offense this year with Henson at the three. It will not be the same half court offense. The two true guards in the lineup will need to hit from the outside. Marcus has been working on his shooting, which Roy probably told him to do. Hope it works
i agree with wb3′s first comment in that i don’t expect ginyard to suddenly be a high % outside shooter. however, i’m all for having him give it a go early this season. we really can’t afford to rely on his outside shooting, but if he can develop confidence, then as a senior and a leader, i trust that he will knock down big shots when we need it, regardless of percentage. i just don’t want to have to rely on him taking and making enough 3′s to stretch a defense. just enough to keep them honest against him, b/c he will be a slasher. with his body and athleticism, especially at the 2, he should be able to get to the lane and absorb contact and get the ball on the rim. if we then have a DT, zeller, Ed Davis, and John Henson (or pick any 3 of those) all in the game. we should be good to go on the O glass.
this team is going to be fast, big, and defense oriented.
from a shooting standpoint, i have more questions about henson’s ability to knock down mid range shots, LD’s 3 point shooting (he did win the mcdonalds’ all american 3 point shooting contest), will graves ability to make shots in games versus practice…which comes from game reps against top competition under pressure and confidence which he has gained (hopefully) through this offseason…and lastly strickland and macdonald’s ability to knock down 3′s and mid range jumpers off the bench (or in the starting role in dexter’s case)….
i think this year’s “outside shooting” will be more than just the 3′s, it will also be ed davis, tyler zeller and DT with mid range j’s, the wear’s and henson facing up and hitting j’s, etc….
this will be a fun season guys
I will bet the ranch that Ginyard will not turn into Pat Sullivan; his basketball instincts are way better than Sullivan’s were. Unfortunately, I will bet the same ranch that he won’t turn into Wayne Ellington either. Some people are just natural shooters, and Ginyard ain’t one of them.
I don’t know where the outside shooting is going to come from. No one has shown that he can be relied upon. We’ll just have to see if someone steps up.
^That is the question that will determine whether this team is just good or chance to defend their title good.
THF we need to start a thread about repeat chances. i for one, think that while we’re an outside favorite at best, that this year is different from those in recent memory. Really, the last 3 years have had resounding favorites, florida to repeat, then the big 4 of us, kansas, memphis and ucla (all of which were near locks to make the FF), and last year with us and us alone. 2006 was a crappy tournament and was anybody’s to win, and 2005 basically pitted us versus illinois the entire way, just like the season had been (toss in wake w/ CP3 for arguments sake). my memory may serve me incorrectly, but i don’t remember too many stretches where that has been the case. duke in 99 was a big time favorite and didn’t win it, just as they were in 01 and did win it. my point is, the last 3 years have had HUGE disparities b/t teams. this year is like hte majority of years where we’ll just have to see what happens. Kansas might really be as good as people say, same with MSU, but if not, it’s anyone’s ball game. and on any given sunday (oops wrong movie to quote), it’s anyones game.
so i for one, while not placing unrealistic expectations on these youngsters by any means, am going to throw out the gauntlet and say that i think this year’s team should be just as hungry as any team we’ve had and think we really do have a shot to win it. so that is the side i stand on, that is, if we’re drawing the proverbial line in the sand between “it will be a good season” and “i want these guys to expect to win it all”. because that’s what it comes down too, their own mentality.
i can’t wait.
I think Marcus (who btw, needs a nickname) will be his usual fantastic defensive self and his shooting will be much improved. He’ll be a great leader on and off the court. I love this boy!
First of all, thanks THF for doing this. Very nice.
I agree with most of you. I’m not counting on Ginyard to knock down threes. Maybe occasionally. But I’m thinking he’d be our 4th or 5th option at any time. If he’s improved his mid range shot, go for it but his main bread and butter should be as the best offensive rebounding guard and maybe posting up smaller defenders (howany 6-5 SGs are there?) with his height and strength for easy layups.
Graves, Dex, McDonald and LD2 should be better options for the three ball in a kick out situation. Others should take a couple quick steps in and go for the mid range shot.