Where: Dean Smith Center, Chapel Hill, NC
When: Tuesday, November 22nd, 7:30 PM
TV: ESPN3
Records: UNC 3-0; Tenn St: 2-2
The second game of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational and the second game at home before the Heels head out to Las Vegas.
A quick glance of Tennessee St says statistically they are not a good team. The team shoots 38% from the floor, 29% from three and boasts only one player scoring in double figures. Of course the Tigers also beat South Carolina so they obviously have something in the tank though that game might say more about UNC Friday opponent than it does the one for tonight. Even with the win over SCAR, I can't imagine this team will give UNC too much trouble.
Since that is the case this will again be an exercise in evaluating UNC's overall game. Roy Williams mentioned in postgame comments after the win over Mississippi Valley State that he did not feel they started with a lot of energy. That has been a knock on this group going back to last season and evidence in the first three games. UNC as a team seems to be as methodical as Harrison Barnes is reputed to be. They don't destroy teams in one fell swoop but slowly strangle the life out of them. That may simply be because they are more defense oriented and the offense is not necessarily the powerhouse we saw in 2007-09. The lack of three point shooting also figures into that but as long as they win, it's all good right?
Still, maybe the Reggie Bullock/P.J. Hairston three point barrage at the end of Sunday's game will carry over into a nice streak of shooting. The free throw shooting could stand to improve but it is still early enough to refrain from a full freakout on that.
UNC 102 TSU 71