Barnes Named ACC Player of the Week

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Harrison Barnes was named ACC Player of the Week becoming the second Tar Heel in as many weeks to win the award.

North Carolina forward Harrison Barnes, who helped bring the Tar Heels back from a nine-point second-half deficit to win at Miami, is the ACC’s Player of the Week, and Boston College forward Ryan Anderson, who averaged 21.5 points in the Eagles’ two contests, is the conference’s Rookie of the Week for the period ending Feb. 19.

Barnes, a 6-foot-8 sophomore from Ames, Iowa, scored 14 of his 23 points at Miami after halftime as the Tar Heels rallied for a 73-64 victory over the Hurricanes this past Wednesday. He added 24 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals in UNC’s 74-52 triumph over Clemson three days later. On the season, Barnes stands second in the ACC in scoring at 18 points per game and sixth in field-goal percentage (.470).

The 2011 ACC Rookie of the Year is the second Tar Heel in as many weeks to be named Player of the Week. He was preceded by senior center Tyler Zeller.

The upside is if Harrison Barnes and Tyler Zeller can really start producing like this UNC will be in great shape going forward. Of course they did in the Duke game just in different halves which is fine. The downside, if you can call it that, is vote splitting for ACC Player of the Year is bound to occur. Barnes has gotten little to no attention for ACC POY despite his scoring average, in part due to some not so stellar games. Zeller on the other hands has been the model of consistency and averaging a double-double in league play doesn’t hurt.

At any rate Barnes is beginning to state his case to be the third Tar Heel on the All-ACC first team with Zeller and John Henson. Three Heels on the first team has a good chance of happening providing UNC finishes first at 14-2.

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