According to ACC Now, Marcus Ginyard returned to practice but Dexter Strickland is still out with a hamstring issue:
No clarification has been given to the nature of Ginyard’s pain but obviously they deemed him fit for action. Roy said during his radio program that Strickland went up for a dunk during practice last week and felt something pop. The knee was checked out and it was fine. In Roy’s system if you are unable to practice leading up to a game, chances are you won’t play unless it is late in the season or the NCAA Tournament. Since Texas is a guard heavy team with plenty of depth, it would be prudent to have all perimeter players available. That being said, it is a December game UNC probably should not have scheduled, something Roy has admitted. Strickland’s availability will be determined with the big picture in mind I am sure.
In other news, contrary to current media characterizations that make Roy Williams out to be some hideous gorgon who devours opposing fans at the Dean Dome, the UNC coach proved otherwise when it came to a tragedy in the life of a rival team’s player. Roy had flowers sent to the family of Andre Dawkins, who lost a sister to a car accident earlier this month.
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The part about Strickland is very unfortunate. He looked like was finally starting to click in the offense prior to missing the game against PC.
The part about flowers is something that, unfortunately, many Duke fans will simply ignore… the same way many State fans ignore the fact that Roy Williams went to visit Coach Lowe in the hospital after he got sick during State’s game against UNC. These FACTS don’t support their opinions of Roy so they ignore them. Oh well – I guess if they can’t beat Carolina, then they just try to find reasons to complain about Carolina. Losers.
Man oh man, we could have really used Strick9 (that’s right I said it) I really like that young mans game. A little stronger and I think we are talking about another Lawson.
Gorgon seems a little off base as they are generally women the most famous being Medusa. I would think a nice Star Wars monster would be more fitting given your posts THF. Say a NCAA Mens Basketball Rancor or perhaps a Dean Dome Sarlacc – fits nicely into the home court theme so prevalent today, “don’t get too close to the bench”.
I don’t care for injuries to players and that always stinks regardless if they are Heels or not.
Tough schedule, easy schedule – I don’t know enough about this but I would think playing a tougher schedule is better. I’m not sure what we gained from playing the Blue Hoses, it was just a miserable game and really more akin to a practice. Maybe that’s what is so good about the Hoses – practice isn’t meant to be pretty. I’m not Roy so I don’t know and I won’t question the logic.
One of the reasons Roy came back to Chapel Hill was to be closer to his ailing sister and aging father, both of whom have passed away in recent years. So I can definitely see Roy reaching out to a young man who just tragically lost his sister. Classy move on Roy’s part. Continued prayers to the Dawkins family.
Still couple practices before Satuday remaining, if Strickland does not return to practice today or tomorrow, then he most likely won’t play.
Will it be the end of the world if Watts gets a chance to shine in a preseason game? He may not play many minutes in the ACC season. If he ever does, it will be in a situation where he needs to perform well. Look at the players at the 1 2 and 3 positions who have been injured or suspended over the past few years and how someone has had to step up each time. The more experience the marginal guys (not exiled to the walk-on end of the bench, but not able to crack the top 9 player rotation) get in the preseason, the better.
Oh Lord, please, please, please let Strick be okay.
Also, a very classy move on Roy’s part. My prayers still going out to Dawkins and his family. It’s actions like that, that makes me proud to be a Tar Heel.
Best/worst part of being in a year that ends in “9″? All of the All-Decade stuff. Here is Seth Davis’:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/magazine/specials/2000s/12/08/cbb.highlights.lowlights/index.html
Highlights:
Best Player: Hansbrough
- Tough to argue. Certainly the most accomplished.
Best Coach: Roy
- No brainer. 5 Final 4′s, 2 Titles, absurd winning %.
Best Team: Mich St.
- MSU was definitely the most consistent, and UNC is hurt by the 2001-2004 stretch, but it is still tough to argue UNC’s 4 Final fours and 2 titles.
And here is Grant Wahl’s All-Decade Team:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/magazine/specials/2000s/12/15/cbb.all.decade.team/index.html?xid=twitter_share
For UNC: Hansbrough (1st Team), May (2nd Team), Roy (Coach)
Thoughts:
- Shane Battier was a great college basketball player, but he played 60% of his games in the 90′s. I’m not sure he should be eligible.
- Ditto Juan Dixon, though he only played about 40% of his games in the 90′s. Personally I would have only looked at players from the 1999 recruiting class and up.
- IMO, there is no way May should be on the team OVER his teammates (Felton or McCants) or last year’s backcourt (Lawson and Ellington). Sean May had a terrific 3 month run to end his career, but Felton and McCants were more dominant for their 3 years. The same is true of Ty and WE, who were also incredibly dominant during last year’s title run.
Oh man. Just as Strickland was starting to get into his groove, we lose him (a position we need more than any other too).
“Ginyard Practices, Strickland Does Not.” Thanks, THF, for the timely update. Half good news is better than no news when it comes to Carolina.
“Since Texas is a guard heavy team with plenty of depth, it would be prudent to have all perimeter players available.”-THF
When is in not prudent to have all perimeter players available? Or any other players. Why not just say, “I wish we had…”, which is really meant, and forget the literature.
“That being said, it is a December game UNC probably should not have scheduled, something Roy has admitted.”-THF
How come it should not have been scheduled? Did Roy give a reason? It’s a home-and-home arrangement made a year or maybe more ago, yes? (Not that I condone inviting Bluto Barnes into the Dean E. Smith Center. Unconscionable.) If the reason for lamenting the scheduling is because we may lose, as I suspect is some’s reason for the lament, then that ain’t so much “reasoning” as it is a lack of confidence or, perhaps, a reading of the wall. So what if this young, developing bunch lose to a highly proficient, more experienced team? Carolina’s history is chock full of losses to teams that were lesser. Championship game with Marquette in ’77(?) comes to mind. Those REALLY burn! What’s the biggie with losing to a better team?
Not that I believe we necessarily will, by the way. That vaunted Texass depth is now depleted by (maybe) 2 guards, who were the last two starters. Now if only they could see some depletion on the interior…that’s where they are strong (literally) and Heels are weak (so far).
It’s all about the D, folks. Time for that “Defensive Identity” to show its fierce face; time for Opening Night, for real. Intense, consistent ball pressure, trapping press, humiliating blocks – that’s what I want to see. For two halves. WIN OR LOSE. To me, that’s the substantive profit to be made with this match-up.
Zoomba, Heels!
So is Ginyard’s foot issue really a bruise?
That would be great, as he can certainly get over it.
UNC has played basketball pretty well in football stadiums of late as well.
You know what they say, history repeats itself.
Actually, I’m worried about both perimeter and the interior. They’ve got some talent down low.
Btw, the newest Tar Heel Harrison Barnes will be showcased on THU night at 9 on ESPN. I’ve never seen him play so I’m looking forward to it.
“They’ve got some talent down low. ”
That they do. Pittman is definitely a load (if you can call someone who has lost 100 pounds a load), and James is as good a rebounder at 6’6 as you will find. However, UT has very limited depth behind those two, so is the get in foul trouble the Horns cold be in trouble.
Harrison Barnes is a great player. Very polished offensive player whose penetration skills are highlighted by his awareness, quickness, length and strength. Once he gets his first step on the first defender, it’s too late. Plus he finds his teammates very well. Loves the skip pass to find a more open shooter. He looks like he needs to have a more consistent jump shot and a more accurate long range shot. At 6-6, he feels very comfortable dribbling and handling the ball. He let’s the game come to him, takes his time and attacks when he finds an opening.
Barnes had 26 pts 13 rebs and a bunch of steals. His hands are quick and his reach is long, genetrating numerous turnovers by disrupting passes. But when he was guarding someone face to face, he had a tough time and let a few go right past him.
I’m watching the game on dvr right now HS, and I have same impression. his offense is very good, but his defense on the ball is not impressive.
Actually I should say that offensively he’s special, with an uncommon knowledge of the game and unselfishness to go along with skills. He also goes hard on the boards.
I’d say most high schoolers are more polished offensively than defensively. I don’t think most of these guys put tremendous effort into defensive development early on, and that’s not what the fans go to see. They wait for guys like Roy to pound it into their young heads I guess