Future Tar Heels Harrison Barnes and Reggie Bullock enjoyed outstanding days in their respective state title games.
In Raleigh, Reggie Bullock lead Kinston to the 2-A State Championship with a 51-29 win over West Caldwell HS. Bullock had 15 points and according to various reports from THF readers in attendance, Bullock will bring something to the table next season. Not only is Bullock a great shooter but he works hard on defense and plays well within the team flow. Word is John Henson, Dexter Strickland, Leslie McDonald, Larry Drew and Ed Davis were in attendance. Roy Williams was also there to see Bullock win a title.
Meanwhile out in Iowa, Harrison Barnes’ Ames High School team registered their 53rd straight win and 2nd straight 4-A title. According to the Ames Tribune live blog, Roy Williams was in attendance there as well. In case you are keeping track, Roy watched Bullock win his title then hopped a plane to Iowa to see Barnes win his championship. Barnes scored 12 of his 19 points in the first quarter to take Ames to a 22-9 lead. By all accounts it was pretty much over at that point.
It should be noted that last week Kendall Marshall also won a state title in Virginia.
While I have no evidence to back this up, I think having players who come in having won at the previous level is a bonus. All these guys have been in championship games and won the biggest prize at their respective level. Next season UNC has three players coming in who know what it takes to win a title. Yes, the game is different but winning is winning. If they can translate that and their games in short order it will be huge.
Congrats to Barnes, Bullock and Marshall on their individual and team accomplishments. Now, hurry up and graduate so you can get to campus and begin working on making us all forget this season.
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Thank you for this. I’ve been desperate for some straight-up, non-contingent, unalloyed good news to use as a realistic basis for optimism. This definitely fills the bill.
I’m shocked to here about Marshall winning a title, although pleasantly surprised. The last I had heard about his team, they were struggling mightily and I stopped keeping track. I guess they were able to pull things back together.
If they can shoot the ball, they can play next year.
You hear that? With this thread, the sound of a ginormous toilet flushing can be heard in the distance. We have reached the point where this season is ALMOST “last year.”
As for all of this NIT fiddle-faddle, the odds of the Heels playing a good team are pretty strong. I’m all for not waving the white flag, but we could be in for one more dose of royal suckiness.
10:14 First half: UNC opens lead to 13.
13:14 Second half: 2nd Media TO: UNC trail by six, 46-40.
8:12 Second half: TO UNC: UNC trail 58-45.
3:32 Second half: Eyes dizzy…where is my bottle of green label Jack Daniels?
1:08 Second half: Hmmm? I forgot which season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” I put in the dvd player…it’s not working…did UNC play tonight? Oh yes! I’ll put in the 2009 Championship Season dvd!
Sometime later…eyes closing…just get the ball to Wayne, he’ll…hit…the…big…shot…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Next day, checking the box score with a pit in my stomach:
Opponent: 71 UNC: 58
Please, more news about Barnes, Bullock, and Marshall please.
And what’s this I hear about Roy getting back in the game for Teague?
Strickland won the state title for private schools as well as the New Jersey State Tourney of Champions last year, too.
Marcus -
Marshall’s team (Bishop O’Connell) was struggling at one point but won 10 of their last 13. The amazing thing about the end of the season was that they were playing in the Virginia independent schools state tourney and the Washington DC Catholic tourney at the same time, on alternating days. They won the state tourney, then lost to Gonzaga in the WCAC semifinals on a last-second shot then next day – their sixth game in six days. Crazy.
^IIRC, BO’C had a number of players injured/suspended early in the season, which, in combination with a grueling pre-con schedule, really hurt the team’s performance.
As an aside, 6 games in 6 days is too much, IMO. With the number games kids play today in HS and AAU, is it any wonder that stress fractures/reactions have become so prevalent?
I dont believe UNC will get invited to the NIT. The NIT committee makes there selection based on the same criteria as the NCAAs. If UNC is going to play in a tourney, it will probably be the CBI.
1. Winning state championships certainly translates into a long season. Kinston should be 28-4 according to the program but I seem to recall the announcer stating they were 29-4. I think it certainly helps to play a long season.
Things I learned from reading the program:
1. Spring-Aire rocks but it doesn’t prevent injuries.
2. Reynolds is one of the largest buildings in the South (371′ X 180″ – 66,700 sq ft). This copy was good enough in the 1930s, it’s good enough now.
3. Parking and traffic management aren’t related to engineering, just don’t ever go to NC State sporting events anywhere as you will get the shaft on parking or leaving the game afterwards. You had to know that the 5,000 fans from Kinston would overwhelm the venue.
@ Marcus, I read Kendall’s blog and it was a lesson in leadership and responsibility (someone needs to fax it to LD2). He said he just got tired of losing and decided to start scoring himself more and more. That’s what he did, and they won.
From Kendall Marshall’s Twitter:
“Watching college bball is a tease.. I’m just ready to get down there this summer and start workin! June 14th”
^ that was my favorite piece from the blog, mix that with Henson, who showed a disdain for losing, and we are forming a nucleus of winning type players.
I am really hoping that Ed comes back, mixed in with some K Mar, and Barnes the athlete on the wing, dare I say we could see Carolina basketball next year.
Hopefully we wont be rank at the start of the season, and have to earn everything next year.
Our run as defending champs is coming to a close, Here’s to the 08-09, we might never see a run more impressive that the one you guys had last year
“Hopefully we wont be rank at the start of the season, and have to earn everything next year.”
Agreed, but I’m not hopeful. The 2003-04 team was ranked 9/10 in the preseason, which is about as ridiculous as this year’s top 5 ranking, and there are a LOT of similarities between this year’s team and the 2002-03 team:
- 2003 went 16-14 in the regular season. 2010 was 16-15.
- Both teams lost NonConf games to teams they had no business losing to, even on the road: Iona in 2003 and CoC in 2010.
- Both teams won NonConf games they probably had no business winning: KU and UConn in 2003, OSU and MSU in 2010.
- Both teams were predominantly comprised of sophomores and freshmen.
- Both teams had promising starts to the season and then the wheels fell off, in part due to injuries (May in 2003, and everyone not named John Henson this year).
- In 2003 there was rumors of dissension and potential transfers. No one left, but the dissension rumors where probably pretty valid. In 2010 there are rumors of dissension and potential transfers. It is yet to be determined how that will play out.
- Both teams made significant additions in the off-season: Roy Williams in 2003, Barnes, Bullock, and Marshall in 2010.
Since UNC already has Roy, I’d like to think the addition of three big time recruits, along with the natural growth of the current roster, could have a big effect.
I’m just wondering exactly how drunk the selection committee was when they thought Wake should be in the tournament…and then thought, “HELL, LET’S MAKE ‘EM A FRIGGIN NINE SEED??? Am I losing my mind??????
There it is….we’re a 4 seed against William and Mary in the NIT…..WOOOOOOOOOOOOOEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE…..more hoops for the heels.