Everyone looked good tonight, even Marc Campbell who was the backup PG because Marcus Ginyard and Dexter Strickland were both out. I am not sure what value there is in a game like this. Presbyterian is a really bad team and UNC dominated the game from the very beginning. Still, since you have to play a game smack in the middle of exams you might as well pick someone so bad ESPNU would not even pick up the game.
For the record, Ed Davis has 20 points, 10 boards and five blocks. Deon Thompson followed up with 19 points and six rebounds. Larry Drew basically did anything he wanted to scoring 12 points, dishing nine assists.
Among the freshmen, John Henson had his best game as a Tar Heel scoring 11 points and collecting nine boards via a mix of three pointers and follow dunks. Justin Watts and Leslie McDonald made the most of their playing time scoring nine and seven respectively.
It was basically an exhibition game and UNC gets a week to prep for Texas at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas. Hopefully, Ginyard and Strickland will be ready to do.
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I was at the game and was wondering about a guy who got escorted out by police towards the end. Roy was pointing at the guy and that prompted his removal. Anybody know what was up with that?
HeelYeah, from what I heard, the guy ran on the court, but I’m not sure.
Finally, a triple digit score.
I know this is jumping forward, but can we beat Texas?? I would hate to lose to pRick Barnes.
You can see that Henson has tremendous ability, but it drives me nuts that he so often looks out of it. He threw one pass into the third row, with no teammate in sight, then promptly launched an air ball three-pointer.
Strickland and the Wear twins have been making good progress. Why is it taking Henson longer?
Rath, My guess is it’s because of his position change. I didn’t see him much in high school, but I bet he could spend plenty of time with his back to the basket as a C or PF. Now he’s having to do almost everything facing the basket.
It is the position change. You can see it on his face when he has the ball on the perimeter he is simply unsure of what to do with it. He is not a threat to put it on the floor and his shot is not that great so he looks to pass a lot. The offense looks different from there than it does when you are in the post. The problem is he is too thin to play the post not to mention there being enough bodies down there.
The Wears are ahead of the curve because of their fundamentals. Strickland is just very talented and the UNC system suits him.
THF-
That last breakdown of the team was impressive…well done. Any thoughts on Graves? 0-5 and really no production to speak of, unless I am mistaken.
“Any thoughts on Graves? 0-5 and really no production to speak of, unless I am mistaken.”
To me, the biggest concern is not that he went 0-for the game, but is was that he was taking terrible shots. An open 3 after 3-4 passes is a good-to-great shot. An open 3 after 1 or less passes is an “okay” shot if you are a “hot” WE or DFG, if not, it is a terrible shot.
Will Graves can be a vital part to this team if he shoots like he did as a freshman (44.2% 3PT). If not, his lack of ball handling and defense really makes him a liability.
http://live-blogs.fayobserver.com/accbasketball/December-2009/Roy-freaks-out-over-heckler,-asks-everyone-else-to
Uh oh. Bad press!
I too was at the game and wondered about the guy escorted out. I got a pretty god Bronx cheer.
It was a glorified scrimmage and we looked very good in the first half. Not too good in the second, but it was with most of the second/third team in getting valuable minutes.
It was a time to experiment: at one point the team consisted of Zeller, the Wears, John Henson and Marc Campbell! Quick turnover.
I was impressed with Leslie McDonald especially on the defensive end. He could really be a lock down defender. Played pretty well on offense as well.
One thing that was very obvious. Tyler Zeller gets open on the base line frequently and the ball does not get to him fast enough. Then he gets pushed out of position. He needs a stronger base.
Will does not look like a guy that is 30 pounds overweight. He looks much heavier on tv. He is very trim looking. He did good things that do not show up in the stat sheet. He played pretty good d. But his minutes were way down and everybody but Larry Drew were shooting too many threes for sure. 23 threes. The fact that we were up 8-0, then 12 -1 within seconds certainly hurt the long term intensity.
Dan Wiederer is a classic ABC’er. From what I’ve read, the guy had moved from his seat into the “friends and family” section, which is where he got booted from. Roy was right to do it; as would it have been Coach K had he done the same thing.
From where I was in 212, I saw Roy turn around agitated and scan the stands in 111, the section right behind the bench. Roy said something to one of the managers who relayed it to the cops. At that point I looked down the rows and saw some idiot with a PC (Presbyterian College) shirt still standing (while everone else was seated) and pumping his chest and yelling something. When the cops got to him, he was waving his arms around like, “What did I do?” before he was escorted out. According to the News & Observer, he was yelling for Deon to miss free throws, was inebriated, and was not in his ticketed seat. So basically, some drunk, obnoxious idiot came down into the section behind the bench and was heckling Deon. If he was in the rafters, he would have probably gotten away with it, but Roy’s not gonna let that happen behind his own bench.
keithunc-
I’ve been wondering the same thing and, yes, I think this team can beat Texas…and, equally desired, Thugmeister Barnes. I read that they just lost their 2nd PG to injury and the 3rd in line will not be eligible to play until the 19th against the Heels. No ‘sperience, No prob! (For Heels, anyway.) Texas does, however, have a bruising interior that will be a challenge for our apparently often footloose front line. Heels simply MUST stake-out and MAINTAIN position. Others have observed the need to man up in the middle and now is not too soon. This is fundamental stuff.
I am not favorable to this home-and-home scheduling with Bluto Barnes. Should let sleeping (and cowardly) dogs lie. He couldn’t take the ACC competition – especially recruiting – so he hightails it to Texass. Good riddance, I say.
Will be watching for others’ assessments of Heels-Texass game.
Zoomba, Heels!
Texas is an interesting match-up. Like UNC, they are a blend of youth and experience. Their 3 seniors are very good (Pittman, James, and Mason) and according to Scouts Inc., Avery Bradely was the top recruit in the country.
Unlike UNC, this team is very guard heavy. The losses of Ward and Brown hurt, but there is still a lot of talent there, and Jai Lucas will be eligible, though it is hard to know how much he will play.
In the front court, James and Pittman are very good and very strong, but as a team, they are short and have no depth. Pittman is the only player of consequence over 6’7. If either he or James get in foul trouble, Texas could be in trouble.
Upset Alert! Temple 75 – Nova 65.
Gotta love Big 5 basketball!
If Strickland and Henson come along, as they are likely to do, we don’t need Graves, who is something of an enigma, and not a very satisfying one.
I don’t think he’s that much overweight, if at all. And he has talent. But he’s had more than enough time to develop into a consistent player, or, if not that, at least one not so mistake-prone.
This team is almost overloaded with players. I am not satisfied that Graves has earned PT, much less a starting position. He reminds me of a poor man’s Curtis Hunter, and that just ain’t gonna work.
THF –
What is your recommendation for how we should use Henson? With his body type, I don’t see him as a classic inside player no matter how much stronger he becomes. His movements, i.e., his fluid and elastic style, remind me of Sam Perkins, but Perkins could handle himself inside, to say the least, and there is little indication yet that Henson can.
The player he most nearly resembles, in a rough way, is Kevin Durant, but not as polished and not quite as talented (which is hardly a knock, since Durant was a phenom). If he can actualy BECOME Kevin Durant, then, with the talent we have coming in, I think we’ll be in great shape. (Next year’s starters: Zeller, Henson, Barnes, Strickland, Drew — five McD’s All-America’s).
For right now, though, Henson is alternately thrilling and frustrating to watch.
Rath, I know it wasn’t my opinion you were soliciting, but I think as Henson learns more where he’s supposed to be I think that he should become the starting 3. I have a feeling that his development would go faster if he was being counted on, and if he was starting we would definitely be counting on him. I think that defensively he is the best option at the 3 besides Ginyard because his length will cover up a lot of his mistakes. Basically I think the number of wow plays that he makes will begin to outnumber the number of groan plays that he makes as he gets more minutes.
i wont be suprised if he plays the four next year,provided he can add the weight.his length is what makes him so good at the three.offensively hes a liability although he has potential to blow you out of your seat.i think he might be more in the mold of marvin williams myself.xavier and cincy heading to 2nd ot.
Like I said, I think he has to adjust to playing on the perimeter which often means you have to work for your shot differently. On the post, you put yourself in a position to score whether that be posting a defender up or working into a open space. In either case you are getting an entry pass from the perimeter.
On the perimeter you need to be able to create your shot of the dribble or work for an open look via teammate screens. Henson has to figure that out not to mention figuring out on the college level. I still think he should be at the three since he has neither the weight or strength to jostled with interior players of much size.
There is just a steep learning curve for him and he will get it eventually. When he does, that freaky talent will be something to watch.
Marcus, esheel31, THF –
Thanks for the ideas. Henson has greatness in him; I can’t wait for it to come out.