North Carolina Basketball: North Carolina State Wolfpack
ATLANTA – Florida State hasn’t looked at any of the film from its 33-point victory over North Carolina on Jan. 14.
“When you get big blowout wins like that, it’s probably not the best idea to go back and watch; you might get a sense of comfort, or forget that we have to play hard – or what got us that 33-point lead,’’ forward Bernard James said. “So we just put that one behind us, and chalked it up to Carolina not being ready.”
He knows the Tar Heels will be this time.
The Seminoles downright embarrassed the UNC two months ago, beating the Tar Heels on the boards, holding them to 37 percent shooting. The 90-57 rout marked the most lopsided loss of the Roy Williams era, and it was so irritating/befuddling/maddening that Williams and most of the team left the court early – leaving three walk-ons and two reserves to finish the game.
Since then, the Tar Heels have lost only once, to Duke on a buzzer-beater.
Since then, the Seminoles have lost three times, but won three games with last-second heroics.
"We can't necessarily worry about the games that we've played prior to this game coming up,’’ FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said. “Each game takes on a different personality and I'm sure the team that we played in Tallahassee will not be the team we play on Sunday."
UNC will be competing for its first ACC title since 2008; FSU will be vying for its first ACC title, period.
A few things to watch in the 1 p.m. EST showdown at Philips Arena:
WILL UNC’S JOHN HENSON PLAY?
The ACC Defensive Player of the Year sat out Saturday’s semifinal victory over NC State after spraining his left wrist during Friday’s quarterfinal win over Maryland.
His status will once again be a game-time decision – and his potential absence will hurt.
James, a former Air Force sergeant and all a member of the ACC’s All-Defense team, is a load for anyone to handle, and if Henson can’t go, James would probably match up with UNC’s James Michael McAdoo. The Tar Heels freshman has been more confident and aggressive lately, but got he into foul trouble during Saturday’s game against the Wolfpack.
3-POINTERS
One of the reasons FSU was so successful against UNC last time was Deividas Dulkys, who shot 8-for-10 from behind the 3-point arc and scored a career-high 32 points.
The Seminoles senior hasn’t approached anything close to that since (with 12 points being his high), but you get the point: UNC (which also lost to Duke at home when the Blue Devils shot 14-for-36 on 3s) can’t afford to let an opposing team get hot.
The Seminole to watch: Michael Snaer. He’s shooting better than 40 percent from 3-point land for the season, and buried two of those aforementioned game-winners this season.
THAT COMPETITIVE FLARE
One of the reasons UNC lost so badly – and looked so listless in doing so – in the last meeting, according to players, was that they bought into their own preseason No. 1 hype and didn’t compete as hard as necessary. That shouldn’t be a problem Sunday.
The last time UNC was looking for revenge was last weekend, when it went into Cameron Indoor Stadium and pasted the Blue Devils, building a 24-point lead by halftime en route to the ACC regular-season title.
FSU, though, has plenty of motivation, too. Lots of folks wrote the Seminoles off when they lost to two Ivy League schools, then opened the ACC season with a 20-point defeat at Clemson. Since then, they’ve beaten UNC and Duke, but winning the league tournament would prove that the conference is more than a two-team league.
“This has been our goal since the beginning of the season, and we want to accomplish it,’’ Dulkys said.
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
“When you get big blowout wins like that, it’s probably not the best idea to go back and watch; you might get a sense of comfort, or forget that we have to play hard – or what got us that 33-point lead,’’ forward Bernard James said. “So we just put that one behind us, and chalked it up to Carolina not being ready.”
He knows the Tar Heels will be this time.
The Seminoles downright embarrassed the UNC two months ago, beating the Tar Heels on the boards, holding them to 37 percent shooting. The 90-57 rout marked the most lopsided loss of the Roy Williams era, and it was so irritating/befuddling/maddening that Williams and most of the team left the court early – leaving three walk-ons and two reserves to finish the game.
Since then, the Tar Heels have lost only once, to Duke on a buzzer-beater.
Since then, the Seminoles have lost three times, but won three games with last-second heroics.
"We can't necessarily worry about the games that we've played prior to this game coming up,’’ FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said. “Each game takes on a different personality and I'm sure the team that we played in Tallahassee will not be the team we play on Sunday."
UNC will be competing for its first ACC title since 2008; FSU will be vying for its first ACC title, period.
A few things to watch in the 1 p.m. EST showdown at Philips Arena:
WILL UNC’S JOHN HENSON PLAY?
The ACC Defensive Player of the Year sat out Saturday’s semifinal victory over NC State after spraining his left wrist during Friday’s quarterfinal win over Maryland.
His status will once again be a game-time decision – and his potential absence will hurt.
James, a former Air Force sergeant and all a member of the ACC’s All-Defense team, is a load for anyone to handle, and if Henson can’t go, James would probably match up with UNC’s James Michael McAdoo. The Tar Heels freshman has been more confident and aggressive lately, but got he into foul trouble during Saturday’s game against the Wolfpack.
3-POINTERS
One of the reasons FSU was so successful against UNC last time was Deividas Dulkys, who shot 8-for-10 from behind the 3-point arc and scored a career-high 32 points.
The Seminoles senior hasn’t approached anything close to that since (with 12 points being his high), but you get the point: UNC (which also lost to Duke at home when the Blue Devils shot 14-for-36 on 3s) can’t afford to let an opposing team get hot.
The Seminole to watch: Michael Snaer. He’s shooting better than 40 percent from 3-point land for the season, and buried two of those aforementioned game-winners this season.
THAT COMPETITIVE FLARE
One of the reasons UNC lost so badly – and looked so listless in doing so – in the last meeting, according to players, was that they bought into their own preseason No. 1 hype and didn’t compete as hard as necessary. That shouldn’t be a problem Sunday.
The last time UNC was looking for revenge was last weekend, when it went into Cameron Indoor Stadium and pasted the Blue Devils, building a 24-point lead by halftime en route to the ACC regular-season title.
FSU, though, has plenty of motivation, too. Lots of folks wrote the Seminoles off when they lost to two Ivy League schools, then opened the ACC season with a 20-point defeat at Clemson. Since then, they’ve beaten UNC and Duke, but winning the league tournament would prove that the conference is more than a two-team league.
“This has been our goal since the beginning of the season, and we want to accomplish it,’’ Dulkys said.
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
ATLANTA -- On Friday, the talk concerning North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall was all about his ability to pass the ball. On Saturday, it was all about his clutch, calm demeanor, as he sank a bank shot in the final seconds to give UNC the 69-67 win over NC State.
The win moves UNC into Sunday's ACC championship game.
UNC struggled for most of the day to stop NC State in the paint without John Henson, who was out with a sprained left wrist. The Heels moved to a zone defense midway through the second half, which helped contain NC State's offense, especially inside.
NC State eventually adjusted to UNC's zone, but lost top post presence C.J. Leslie with eight minutes remaining after he fouled out. That allowed UNC to work the paint more and helped the Tar Heels execute their zone more efficiently.
Before fouling out, UNC forward Tyler Zeller scored a game-high 23 points.
NC State never backed down and had chances to reclaim the lead with under a minute left, but turned the ball over twice before Marshall's game-winning jumper.
Turning point: UNC rarely plays zone, but the Tar Heels moved to it with a little more than 13 minutes remaining in Saturday's semifinal. It helped UNC slow down NC State's offense without Henson down low. It also helped that Leslie fouled out with 8:03 left after collecting three fouls in the span of a minute and a half.
Key player: UNC guard Reggie Bullock only scored five points, but he was all over the court. He grabbed seven rebounds and dished six assists, but really helped the Tar Heels on defense. He shut down NC State sharpshooter Scott Wood, who was held to two points on 1-of-6 shooting, and smothered him on a potential game-winning 3-point shot that Wood failed to even take. He also kept things under control for UNC late in the first half when he hit two straight buckets and grabbed a couple of rebounds.
Key stat: Neither team could get much going at all from the outside as they combined to shoot 8-of-31 from beyond the 3-point line. UNC hit five 3-pointers, while NC State hit just three.
Miscellaneous: UNC has now won 13 straight over the Wolfpack. ... The loss dropped NC State to 5-6 in the ACC tournament as the No. 5 seed. ... Despite fouling out, Leslie continued his tournament tear with 22 points, seven rebounds and two steals. ... With James Michael McAdoo dealing with foul trouble, UNC's Justin Watts played both point guard and power forward.
What’s next: The Tar Heels await the winner of the Duke-Florida State game. A win over Duke would lock up a No. 1 seed for UNC in the NCAA tournament. If the Blue Devils don't make it, the Heels will likely clinch a top seed before the day is over. As for the Wolfpack, Friday's win over Virginia was huge as far as the NCAA tournament is concerned. While NC State is probably still on the bubble, its ACC tournament showing has it in much better shape than a couple of days ago.
UNC's Marshall can shoot the ball, too
February, 22, 2012
Feb 22
12:45
AM ET
By
Robbi Pickeral | ESPN.com
RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina sophomore Kendall Marshall on Tuesday became the second-fastest player in ACC history reach 500 assists. He recorded his 12th double-figure assist game of the season, tying a school record. He finished with zero turnovers, the first time as a starter he’s managed that feat.
All that, and he showed that he can, indeed, knock down shots, too.
“Leading scorer? I don’t think I’ve ever heard that before,’’ Marshall said after recording a career-high 22 points in the seventh-ranked Tar Heels’ 86-74 win over rival N.C. State.
Ever?
“Well, not since middle school,’’ he said, laughing.
The 6-foot-4 Marshall, you see, is known for his passing. Takes pride in it. Likes to check how far he trails Iona’s Scott Machado in the national assist rankings (Machado was averaging 10.1, and Marshall 9.7, entering Tuesday’s games).
And he tends to prefer deferring to his teammates when it comes to points.
“When I have such great scorers on my team, it’s not my job to score 20 a game,’’ he explained.
But a couple of things happened Tuesday.
First, team video coordinator Eric Hoots gave the player a copy of an article from The (Raleigh) News & Observer, a local newspaper. It gave NC State’s Lorenzo Brown the edge in the point guard matchup because, according to the story, he is more multidimensional than Marshall.
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Gerry Broome"Leading scorer? I don't think I've ever heard that before," said Kendall Marshall after scoring 22 points to go with 13 assists without a turnover.
AP Photo/Gerry Broome"Leading scorer? I don't think I've ever heard that before," said Kendall Marshall after scoring 22 points to go with 13 assists without a turnover.Then Marshall’s dad gave him a pep-talk about being more confident in his shot. “Assists are easy -- because other guys finish,’’ the player explained.
And then he hit his first two shots -- both 3-pointers -- to help give his team a 10-point lead.
“Going into games, if I miss the first one or two, I’m like, ‘All right, that’s it,’” he said. “Tonight, to be able to see those first two go in, I think it really pulled the defense out.”
Which is a positive of having Marshall bury 7 of 8 shots (including a career-high four 3-pointers).
UNC coach Roy Williams has said all season that his team, which has now won 12 in a row over the Wolfpack, would be even better if Marshall could make the shots in games that he was consistently making in practice.
“I’ve seen him shoot like this -- even in the summer, he was phenomenal,’’ said forward Tyler Zeller. “He’ll go out and make 10 or 12 in a row, and we sometimes wonder why he doesn’t shoot more.”
It’s because, Marshall explained, he has so many talented scorers in forwards Zeller (14 points, eight rebounds Tuesday), Harrison Barnes (20 points) and John Henson 14 points, 13 rebounds) around him.
He knows, though, that when those guys are drawing double teams, he needs to connect in order to keep defenses honest.
And that was especially important at the RBC Center, in a game that saw State be the aggressor in the lane (it outscored the Tar Heels 42-22 in the point, and 16-8 off second-chance points).
“We just didn’t expect him to score like that,’’ Brown, who finished with 18 points and four assists, said of Marshall. “He must have been in the gym.”
Indeed, after the Wolfpack rallied from an early 14-point deficit to tie the score in the first half, it was a key 3 by Marshall that gave the Tar Heels a six-point cushion.
He opened the second half with a layup. And then another eventual 3 – with 7:34 left – gave the Tar Heels an 18-point advantage, their largest lead of the game.
His only self-described “awful” attempt: a first-half 3-point transition miss that he knows he should have passed. “If I could have that one play back, I would.”
Not that he needs to erase it. In the end, Marshall-led UNC made 10 of 19 3-pointers, its best output this month.
"Kendall was something else tonight,'' Williams said.
As usual, the sophomore's favorite stat was his assists (he now needs only nine more to tie the school record for dish-outs in a season).
His opponents, though, left impressed with all the facets of his play.
Asked if he had ever seen Marshall shoot like that, Brown replied in the affirmative:
“When he was 12.”
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
Seventh-ranked North Carolina has won 11 in a row over NC State, but there’s more than the rivalry at stake at the RBC Center on Tuesday night.
The Wolfpack has lost two straight, and needs a win over a top-tier team to stay in the NCAA tournament at-large discussion.
The Tar Heels, meanwhile, are trying to stay atop the ACC standings and push themselves in the NCAA positioning.
A few things to watch in the 8 p.m. EST tip-off (ESPN3):
CROWD CONTROL
Expect emotions to be running high.
Saturday night, former NC State stars Chris Corchiani and Tom Gugliotta — whose jersey numbers hang from the rafters — were ejected from the Wolfpack’s game at the RBC Center by official Karl Hess for “excessive demonstration.” (Hess was subsequently reprimanded by the ACC).
Tuesday night, the duo will be back on the court, as the school will honor the 1989 ACC regular-season title team — which featured both players — before the game.
“Our goal is that we want to come out with a strong start and take the crowd out of it early,” UNC point guard Kendall Marshall said. “If we can do that, it’ll be a lot easier than if we let the crowd get behind them. I think they’re also honoring one of their teams, so the juices are going to be flowing for them. We just want to take the air out of the building as quick as possible.”
UNC’S DEFENSE
“Everybody thinks that defense is just sweat and slobbering and yelling at guys and stuff like that,’’ UNC coach Roy Williams said. “You’ve got to know what the dickens you’re doing.”
The Tar Heels appear to be getting there. They’ve held their last three opponents to less than 40 percent shooting, and pose a tall matchup problem for the Wolfpack, which shot only 36.8 percent against the Tar Heels last month.
One key again will be slowing junior Scott Wood, who made only 4 of 12 shots in the last match-up. According to The (Raleigh) News & Observer, the Pack actually locked away the balls and didn't practice on Sunday to keep the players – including Wood – from wearing themselves out by shooting too much.
THE POINT GUARD MATCH-UP
Marshall, before the last showdown, complimented Wolfpack ballhandler Lorenzo Brown, saying Brown had quietly posted “one of the best point guard seasons of the year.” Marshall, though, easily won the battle last time, recording seven points and 11 assists. Brown finished with nine and six, respectively, and his team lost 74-55.
If Brown was aggressive, he could test Marshall. If not, expect the Tar Heels sophomore to add to the 11 double-digit assist games he’s already posted this season.
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
The Wolfpack has lost two straight, and needs a win over a top-tier team to stay in the NCAA tournament at-large discussion.
The Tar Heels, meanwhile, are trying to stay atop the ACC standings and push themselves in the NCAA positioning.
A few things to watch in the 8 p.m. EST tip-off (ESPN3):
CROWD CONTROL
Expect emotions to be running high.
Saturday night, former NC State stars Chris Corchiani and Tom Gugliotta — whose jersey numbers hang from the rafters — were ejected from the Wolfpack’s game at the RBC Center by official Karl Hess for “excessive demonstration.” (Hess was subsequently reprimanded by the ACC).
Tuesday night, the duo will be back on the court, as the school will honor the 1989 ACC regular-season title team — which featured both players — before the game.
“Our goal is that we want to come out with a strong start and take the crowd out of it early,” UNC point guard Kendall Marshall said. “If we can do that, it’ll be a lot easier than if we let the crowd get behind them. I think they’re also honoring one of their teams, so the juices are going to be flowing for them. We just want to take the air out of the building as quick as possible.”
UNC’S DEFENSE
“Everybody thinks that defense is just sweat and slobbering and yelling at guys and stuff like that,’’ UNC coach Roy Williams said. “You’ve got to know what the dickens you’re doing.”
The Tar Heels appear to be getting there. They’ve held their last three opponents to less than 40 percent shooting, and pose a tall matchup problem for the Wolfpack, which shot only 36.8 percent against the Tar Heels last month.
One key again will be slowing junior Scott Wood, who made only 4 of 12 shots in the last match-up. According to The (Raleigh) News & Observer, the Pack actually locked away the balls and didn't practice on Sunday to keep the players – including Wood – from wearing themselves out by shooting too much.
THE POINT GUARD MATCH-UP
Marshall, before the last showdown, complimented Wolfpack ballhandler Lorenzo Brown, saying Brown had quietly posted “one of the best point guard seasons of the year.” Marshall, though, easily won the battle last time, recording seven points and 11 assists. Brown finished with nine and six, respectively, and his team lost 74-55.
If Brown was aggressive, he could test Marshall. If not, expect the Tar Heels sophomore to add to the 11 double-digit assist games he’s already posted this season.
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
TMA: Bullock, White cheered in new roles
January, 27, 2012
Jan 27
9:20
AM ET
By
Robbi Pickeral | ESPN.com
The Morning After: Thoughts, notes and anything else that didn’t quite make this space after North Carolina’s latest game (in this case, No. 8 UNC's 74-55 win over rival NC State on Thursday night at the Smith Center).
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- It’s hard to judge who got the bigger roar during eighth-ranked North Carolina’s 19-point win over NC State on Thursday night: sophomore Reggie Bullock after he was introduced as a starter for the first time in his career or freshman Stilman White after he checked into the game as the new backup point guard.
Either way, both filled in admirably for former starting shooting guard/reserve ballhandler Dexter Strickland, out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL in his right knee.
“Basically, like I played off the bench, I needed to start off that way, and play like that all game,’’ Bullock said. “And that’s what I tried to do.”
He succeeded. Not only did the 6-foot-7 athlete help hold NC State’s leading scorer, Scott Wood, to a 4-for-12 outing, he chipped in with 11 points (with three 3-pointers), plus five rebounds and three assists.
White, meanwhile, came off the bench for the first time with 12:34 to go in the first half. In five total minutes, he finished 1-for-2 (with a 3-pointer), plus an assist (to help Tyler Zeller on a 3-point play) and a foul.
“It was really great to get out there for the first time in that type of situation,’’ said White, who had previously played only nine minutes in ACC action. “In the beginning, I was [nervous], but for me, it was just a matter of getting comfortable out there. And now that I’m comfortable out there, it’s a matter of gaining confidence.”
Coach Roy Williams said that he was pleased, for the most part, with both of the guards’ play. And he liked how he managed starting point guard Kendall Marshall’s minutes (34), using White around timeouts to help give the sophomore a longer breather.
He said the rotation, without Strickland, remains a work in progress but that his team can still shoot better, run more, and play even better defense than it did Thursday night.
A FRUSTRATING STREAK: UNC has now beaten the Wolfpack 11 straight times, meaning Wood, a junior, has yet to top the Tar Heels. How frustrating is that, he was asked after his team’s latest loss.
"I don't know. Has your wife ever cheated on you?" he responded.
The he paused roughly four seconds.
"That's probably about how frustrating it is, probably."
BRIEFLY: Marshall finished with 11 assists, the eighth time this season he has posted 10 or more, and the 14th time in his career. He now has 422 assists as a Tar Heel, passing Walter Davis (409) for 13th place at UNC. … Sophomore forward John Henson blocked five shots, the 17th time in his career he has blocked at least that many in game. Henson now has 243 swats and needs only three more to pass Sam Perkins for second place at UNC. … The Tar Heels pushed their home winning streak to 30 games, extending the school record.
Correction: Scott Wood is a junior, and the text of this post has been updated to correct that fact.
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- It’s hard to judge who got the bigger roar during eighth-ranked North Carolina’s 19-point win over NC State on Thursday night: sophomore Reggie Bullock after he was introduced as a starter for the first time in his career or freshman Stilman White after he checked into the game as the new backup point guard.
[+] Enlarge
Bob Donnan/US PresswireReggie Bullock had a solid debut as a starter, ending up with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Bob Donnan/US PresswireReggie Bullock had a solid debut as a starter, ending up with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.“Basically, like I played off the bench, I needed to start off that way, and play like that all game,’’ Bullock said. “And that’s what I tried to do.”
He succeeded. Not only did the 6-foot-7 athlete help hold NC State’s leading scorer, Scott Wood, to a 4-for-12 outing, he chipped in with 11 points (with three 3-pointers), plus five rebounds and three assists.
White, meanwhile, came off the bench for the first time with 12:34 to go in the first half. In five total minutes, he finished 1-for-2 (with a 3-pointer), plus an assist (to help Tyler Zeller on a 3-point play) and a foul.
“It was really great to get out there for the first time in that type of situation,’’ said White, who had previously played only nine minutes in ACC action. “In the beginning, I was [nervous], but for me, it was just a matter of getting comfortable out there. And now that I’m comfortable out there, it’s a matter of gaining confidence.”
Coach Roy Williams said that he was pleased, for the most part, with both of the guards’ play. And he liked how he managed starting point guard Kendall Marshall’s minutes (34), using White around timeouts to help give the sophomore a longer breather.
He said the rotation, without Strickland, remains a work in progress but that his team can still shoot better, run more, and play even better defense than it did Thursday night.
A FRUSTRATING STREAK: UNC has now beaten the Wolfpack 11 straight times, meaning Wood, a junior, has yet to top the Tar Heels. How frustrating is that, he was asked after his team’s latest loss.
"I don't know. Has your wife ever cheated on you?" he responded.
The he paused roughly four seconds.
"That's probably about how frustrating it is, probably."
BRIEFLY: Marshall finished with 11 assists, the eighth time this season he has posted 10 or more, and the 14th time in his career. He now has 422 assists as a Tar Heel, passing Walter Davis (409) for 13th place at UNC. … Sophomore forward John Henson blocked five shots, the 17th time in his career he has blocked at least that many in game. Henson now has 243 swats and needs only three more to pass Sam Perkins for second place at UNC. … The Tar Heels pushed their home winning streak to 30 games, extending the school record.
Correction: Scott Wood is a junior, and the text of this post has been updated to correct that fact.
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
Tar Heels get defensive in rivalry win
January, 26, 2012
Jan 26
11:50
PM ET
By
Robbi Pickeral | ESPN.com
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- It looks like Dexter Strickland isn’t the only Tar Heel who can play defense.
With questions about North Carolina’s fortitude still lingering after a 33-point loss at Florida State earlier this month, and new concerns emerging after it lost its starting shooting guard/backup point guard to a torn ACL last week, No. 8 UNC showed it should be just fine -- thank you very much -- by blowing out NC State 74-55 on Thursday night.
And the Tar Heels did it in a way that paid homage to Strickland, widely considered their best shut-down defender.
They blocked eight shots. They held NC State to a season lows in points and shooting (36.8 percent).
They outrebounded the Wolfpack by 22, and sophomore Reggie Bullock -- making his first career start, in place of Strickland -- held State sharpshooter Scott Wood to a forgettable 4-for-12 outing.
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Gerry BroomeJohn Henson, who finished with five blocks, and UNC stepped up on defense against NC State.
AP Photo/Gerry BroomeJohn Henson, who finished with five blocks, and UNC stepped up on defense against NC State.All year long, UNC coach Roy Williams has insisted this team had the ability to be “very good” defensively. But it wasn’t until the absence of Strickland in drills this week, his teammates said, that they really realized how much he did -- and how much more they could do.
“As a team, we knew we needed to step up collectively on defense,’’ point guard Kendall Marshall said.
With Strickland watching from the bench in a natty striped sweater, they did.
The Tar Heels led 17-14 about midway though the first half, but then they outscored the Wolfpack 20-9 to take a 37-23 lead into halftime. They flooded passing lanes; they swatted shots from the lane.
The Wolfpack seemed confounded by the overwhelming size of 6-foot-11 John Henson (nine points, 10 rebounds, five blocks) and 7-0 Tyler Zeller (21 points, career-high 17 rebounds) -- especially when State starting forward Richard Howell picked up three quick fouls early.
And the only reason they didn’t trail by more at the break was point guard Lorenzo Brown's 80-foot buzzer beater.
“They got after it defensively, we got a little flustered, we didn't play with poise like we had been the first 20 games of the season and they took us out of what we wanted to do,’’ Wolfpack forward C.J. Williams said.
New coach Mark Gottfried said that for the first time in his 21 games at NC State, a foe’s defensive pressure affected his team’s offensive composure.
“They took away one option and we didn’t have the wherewithal to stay with our offense and really grind out good shots,’’ he said.
Granted, the in-state rivalry had to add something to UNC’s intensity. State, under Gottfried, was off to its best start in six years. Tied for the ACC lead at the beginning of the week, the Wolfpack -- a balanced team featuring five starters that averaged double figures -- finally looked ready to make a run at their down-the-road foes.
Instead, the game marked UNC’s 11th straight win in the series, tying its longest streak of dominance over the Wolfpack (the Tar Heels also won 11 in a row from 1934 to '38).
“We definitely wanted to go out and show them that this was our home court, and that’s what we did,’’ Barnes said.
The Tar Heels shot 48.4 percent for the game; Bullock recorded 11 points, five rebounds and three assists as a starter; and freshman Stilman White, the new backup ballhandler now that Strickland is sidelined, had a 3-pointer, an assist and a foul in five minutes.
Coach Roy Williams wasn’t thrilled when UNC’s defensive intensity let up a bit in the second half, after the Tar Heels led by as many as 31 points. State shot 52 percent after halftime, when Wood also scored all of his team-high 11 points.
Marshall said the Tar Heels need to keep their defensive focus for 40 minutes, “but we’re getting there.”
He added: “I think we could have been a better team while he [Dexter] was here. We just didn’t take advantage of that opportunity. Moving forward now, I think we’re 4-1 [in the ACC], so we’ve got 11 more games where we can better ourselves.”
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
Rapid Reaction: UNC 74, NC State 55
January, 26, 2012
Jan 26
9:03
PM ET
By
Robbi Pickeral | ESPN.com
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- A quick look at No. 8 North Carolina’s 74-55 victory over NC State at the Smith Center on Thursday:
What it means: Continued bragging rights for UNC. A bounce-back test for NC State – and fast. The Tar Heels won their 11th straight in the rivalry series, and in easier fashion than expected considering the Wolfpack, under new coach Mark Gottfried, was off to their best start in six years. It couldn’t handle the Tar Heels’ size, and intensity or defense. State has only until Saturday to regroup and prepare for its next test, against Virginia.
How it happened: UNC put it into another defensive gear early, what with first-time starter Reggie Bullock holding Wolfpack leading scorer Scott Wood to 0-for-3 at halftime, 7-footer Tyler Zeller almost out-rebounding State all by himself in the first 20 minutes and the team recording six first-half blocks. UNC led 37-23 at the break, and the only reason it wasn’t by more was State point guard Lorenzo Brown’s 85-footer at the buzzer.
Wood finally made a field goal to open the first half, but UNC just poured it on. Three-pointers by Kendall Marshall and his new backup, Stilman White, helped the Tar Heels to a 61-32 lead with 11:30 left. And when White bricked another 3-point attempt a couple of minutes later and coach Roy Williams only smiled in response – that pretty much said it all.
Zeller set a new career high in rebounds (17) to go along with 21 points. Harrison Barnes added 15 for the Tar Heels.
Wood ended up leading the Pack, who shot only 36.8 percent for the game, with 11 points on 4-for-12 shooting.
Number to know: Zeller has now grabbed 116 rebounds in his past 10 games.
What’s next: UNC will play Georgia Tech on Sunday at the Smith Center. NC State will host Virginia on Saturday.
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
A few quick thoughts as No. 8 North Carolina leads N.C. State 37-23 at halftime at the Smith Center:
- It would have been hard enough for the Wolfpack to handle UNC 7-footer Tyler Zeller -- and on top of that, the senior showed up to play. He has a double-double (13 points, 12 rebounds) already, has made 6 of his 7 shots, and helped push State big man Richard Howell into picking up three fouls early.
- With first-time UNC starter Reggie Bullock guarding him, Wolfpack leading scorer Scott Wood is 0-for-3. State has made only 25 percent of its tries for the game, and its best shot may have been the 70-footer that guard Lorenzo Brown lucked in at the halftime buzzer.
- A few other numbers: UNC is outrebounding State 29-15 … The Tar Heels have an uncharacteristic assist-to-turnover ratio so far (9-to-10) … C.J. Leslie leads State with seven points. … UNC freshman point guard Stilman White, UNC’s new back-up ballhandler after Dexter Strickland’s knee injury, has picked up an assist and a foul in one minute of play.
UNC/NCSU notes: Points, steals and spirits
January, 25, 2012
Jan 25
1:30
PM ET
By
Robbi Pickeral | ESPN.com
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- North Carolina guards P.J. Hairston and Reggie Bullock spent extra time in the gym Monday night, putting up jumpers, scrimmaging one-on-one, working to create their own shots.
With starting shooting guard Dexter Strickland out for the rest of the season because of a knee injury, Hairston says the duo knows it will need to contribute more, especially in one key aspect.
“Without a doubt, [Strickland] is our best on-the-ball defender, and that’s what our big role has to be: defense first,’’ Hairston said Tuesday. “And that’s the main thing that I’m working on is focusing on defense more and trying to stay with my man, because I’m going to have to guard 2-guards more, and I have to focus better on defense.”
Coach Roy Williams has said that Bullock, a sophomore, will move into the opening five when the eighth-ranked Tar Heels play NC State on Thursday. He’s improved on defense, and will give UNC’s backcourt more of an outside scoring presence than Strickland, who got most of his 7.5 ppg in transition.
“I think it will give them a new dimension,’’ said NC State guard Scott Wood, the Wolfpack's leading scorer. “It will open things up for [John] Henson and [Tyler] Zeller if they can knock down some open shots. It could definitely make them a better offensive team.”
By the way, the winner of that one-on-one game Monday night?
“It was even,” Hairston said. “I won about three and Reggie won about three. Each time one of us lost, we got mad and won the next one. It’s always competitive with me and Reggie.”
STEALING THE SPOTLIGHT: Wolfpack point guard Lorenzo Brown leads the ACC, and ranks 50th in the nation, in steals at 2.0 per game. Why?
“My arms are long, and my hands are active most of the time,’’ the 6-foot-5 sophomore said. “I look at the ball most of the time, I’m not trying to follow my defender.”
Brown said he’s tried to improve his defense this year, after the Wolfpack’s new coaching staff told him at the beginning of the season that he didn’t play it very well, or up to his capabilities. “So I’ve been trying to prove it to them,” he said.
Thursday will be another test, as he matches up with UNC starter Kendall Marshall, one of the best passers in the nation.
“I think you just have to keep a hand up in front of his face, so he can’t see where his teammates are --because that’s who he goes to,’’ Brown said. “His teammates are great scorers, so you’ve got to try ... to make it hard for him to get the ball to them.”
Swiping it in the process? That would be an added benefit.
“Last year, I wasn’t as active as I am this year, and I’m more vocal with my teammates,’’ said Brown, who is also averaging 12.4 points, 6.9 assists and 4.3 rebounds. “And that helps.”
STRICKLAND IN GOOD SPIRITS: Hairston said Strickland -- who tore his ACL at Virginia Tech last Thursday -- has been joking around the locker room, even teasing Bullock that he might have to play point guard.
“He acts like it never even happened, that his knee’s not bothering him,’’ Hairston said. “But I know deep down inside he’s hurting, that he really wants to play. But he’s still being a good team player, still motivating us to do good things on the court.”
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
With starting shooting guard Dexter Strickland out for the rest of the season because of a knee injury, Hairston says the duo knows it will need to contribute more, especially in one key aspect.
“Without a doubt, [Strickland] is our best on-the-ball defender, and that’s what our big role has to be: defense first,’’ Hairston said Tuesday. “And that’s the main thing that I’m working on is focusing on defense more and trying to stay with my man, because I’m going to have to guard 2-guards more, and I have to focus better on defense.”
Coach Roy Williams has said that Bullock, a sophomore, will move into the opening five when the eighth-ranked Tar Heels play NC State on Thursday. He’s improved on defense, and will give UNC’s backcourt more of an outside scoring presence than Strickland, who got most of his 7.5 ppg in transition.
“I think it will give them a new dimension,’’ said NC State guard Scott Wood, the Wolfpack's leading scorer. “It will open things up for [John] Henson and [Tyler] Zeller if they can knock down some open shots. It could definitely make them a better offensive team.”
By the way, the winner of that one-on-one game Monday night?
“It was even,” Hairston said. “I won about three and Reggie won about three. Each time one of us lost, we got mad and won the next one. It’s always competitive with me and Reggie.”
STEALING THE SPOTLIGHT: Wolfpack point guard Lorenzo Brown leads the ACC, and ranks 50th in the nation, in steals at 2.0 per game. Why?
“My arms are long, and my hands are active most of the time,’’ the 6-foot-5 sophomore said. “I look at the ball most of the time, I’m not trying to follow my defender.”
Brown said he’s tried to improve his defense this year, after the Wolfpack’s new coaching staff told him at the beginning of the season that he didn’t play it very well, or up to his capabilities. “So I’ve been trying to prove it to them,” he said.
Thursday will be another test, as he matches up with UNC starter Kendall Marshall, one of the best passers in the nation.
“I think you just have to keep a hand up in front of his face, so he can’t see where his teammates are --because that’s who he goes to,’’ Brown said. “His teammates are great scorers, so you’ve got to try ... to make it hard for him to get the ball to them.”
Swiping it in the process? That would be an added benefit.
“Last year, I wasn’t as active as I am this year, and I’m more vocal with my teammates,’’ said Brown, who is also averaging 12.4 points, 6.9 assists and 4.3 rebounds. “And that helps.”
STRICKLAND IN GOOD SPIRITS: Hairston said Strickland -- who tore his ACL at Virginia Tech last Thursday -- has been joking around the locker room, even teasing Bullock that he might have to play point guard.
“He acts like it never even happened, that his knee’s not bothering him,’’ Hairston said. “But I know deep down inside he’s hurting, that he really wants to play. But he’s still being a good team player, still motivating us to do good things on the court.”
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
For NCSU's Wood, streak is in the feet
January, 25, 2012
Jan 25
10:15
AM ET
By
Robbi Pickeral | ESPN.com
UNC Foe to Know: At 4-1 in the ACC, the Wolfpack is off to its best league start since 2003-04, and sharpshooter Scott Wood is a big reason for it. North Carolina faces its in-state rival Thursday night at the Smith Center.
RALEIGH, N.C. -- NC State junior Scott Wood made only 70.6 percent of his free throws as a freshman.
So, to what does he credit his perfect season thus far (he's made all 48 attempts, part of an ACC record 58 in a row dating to his sophomore season)?
Luck. Concentration.
And footwear.
“To be honest, I hated taping my ankles, and I think that was an adjustment,’’ said the 6-foot-6 guard, whose Wolfpack plays No. 8 North Carolina on Thursday night. “I’m being serious -- if you’ve ever taped your ankles, you’ve got no flexibility in your ankles. But now that I’ve done it for so long, I’m kind of used to it. Now it feels better.
“And lowtops. I went to lowtops my sophomore year. I told Coach [Sidney] Lowe, and I told Coach [Mark] Gottfried, ‘I promise you my shooting percentages will increase if you let me wear lowtops.’ And I think it has.’”
Wood -- who leads NC State’s balanced attack with 13.3 points per game -- is also leading the ACC by making 45.3 percent of his 3-point shots. The Marion, Ind., product will be a good defensive test for UNC sophomore Reggie Bullock, who will make his first start, in place of injured shooting guard Dexter Strickland, on Thursday at the Smith Center.
But there’s no defense once Wood makes it to the free throw line, where he broke former Duke All-America J.J. Redick’s old ACC mark for consecutive swishes (54) at Miami last weekend, by going 7-for-7. He also leads the NCAA in free throw percentage this season.
Opposing fans might try to distract him, but he’s pretty good at zoning all of that out.
“The only thing I really hear [when at the line] is when the players are saying something,’’ Wood said. “Miami mentioned it a couple times, ‘You can miss one any day now.’”
But he didn’t.
“I don’t think anyone can rattle Scott,’’ teammate Lorenzo Brown said. “He hardly misses from the 3-point line; I don’t think he’s going to miss a free throw.”
Indeed, Wood -- who said he was more worried about missing the one after he set the league mark than the one that secured it, “because I thought it would be a shame for me to break the record and then miss a free throw” -- is now closing on the NCAA record for consecutive free throws. That’s held by another Indiana native, Darnell Archey, who made 85 straight for Butler from 2001-03.
Wood said he once made 214 foul shots in a row, in a gym with his uncle when he was 12. So 86 does seem doable, with a little luck and concentration.
And of course, the right footwear.
“Lowtops make me feel a little more free,’’ he insisted.
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
RALEIGH, N.C. -- NC State junior Scott Wood made only 70.6 percent of his free throws as a freshman.
[+] Enlarge
Liz Condo/US PresswireScott Wood has led NC State to a 4-1 start in the ACC.
Liz Condo/US PresswireScott Wood has led NC State to a 4-1 start in the ACC.Luck. Concentration.
And footwear.
“To be honest, I hated taping my ankles, and I think that was an adjustment,’’ said the 6-foot-6 guard, whose Wolfpack plays No. 8 North Carolina on Thursday night. “I’m being serious -- if you’ve ever taped your ankles, you’ve got no flexibility in your ankles. But now that I’ve done it for so long, I’m kind of used to it. Now it feels better.
“And lowtops. I went to lowtops my sophomore year. I told Coach [Sidney] Lowe, and I told Coach [Mark] Gottfried, ‘I promise you my shooting percentages will increase if you let me wear lowtops.’ And I think it has.’”
Wood -- who leads NC State’s balanced attack with 13.3 points per game -- is also leading the ACC by making 45.3 percent of his 3-point shots. The Marion, Ind., product will be a good defensive test for UNC sophomore Reggie Bullock, who will make his first start, in place of injured shooting guard Dexter Strickland, on Thursday at the Smith Center.
But there’s no defense once Wood makes it to the free throw line, where he broke former Duke All-America J.J. Redick’s old ACC mark for consecutive swishes (54) at Miami last weekend, by going 7-for-7. He also leads the NCAA in free throw percentage this season.
Opposing fans might try to distract him, but he’s pretty good at zoning all of that out.
“The only thing I really hear [when at the line] is when the players are saying something,’’ Wood said. “Miami mentioned it a couple times, ‘You can miss one any day now.’”
But he didn’t.
“I don’t think anyone can rattle Scott,’’ teammate Lorenzo Brown said. “He hardly misses from the 3-point line; I don’t think he’s going to miss a free throw.”
Indeed, Wood -- who said he was more worried about missing the one after he set the league mark than the one that secured it, “because I thought it would be a shame for me to break the record and then miss a free throw” -- is now closing on the NCAA record for consecutive free throws. That’s held by another Indiana native, Darnell Archey, who made 85 straight for Butler from 2001-03.
Wood said he once made 214 foul shots in a row, in a gym with his uncle when he was 12. So 86 does seem doable, with a little luck and concentration.
And of course, the right footwear.
“Lowtops make me feel a little more free,’’ he insisted.
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
Do we have UNC's class rated too high? 
November, 2, 2011
11/02/11
12:36
PM ET
By
Dave Telep | ESPN.com
The North Carolina Tar Heels have an excellent recruiting class on their hands this year. It’s going to be a highly-touted group. Let me repeat: highly touted group. The current four-man class, ranked in the top five, is the kind of group just about any high-major program would crave to sign. It’s also a class whose sum is greater than its individual parts.
North Carolina signs elite recruiting classes almost every season. That being said -- no class, no matter the ranking -- is identical. Some classes are rated high because they contain superstars while others attain a high rating because of their collection of players. This current class reminds me a lot of UNC’s 2009 class which was highlighted by John Henson and backed up by Leslie McDonald, Dexter Strickland and the now departed David and Travis Wear. Despite the rating of the current group (No. 2 in our rankings), expectations need to be tempered because there isn’t a Harrison Barnes or a James Michael McAdoo to carry the superstar load. In 2009, not even Henson was ready to step into this kind of role.
Marcus Paige (Marion, Iowa/Linn-Marr) is in my opinion, the top senior high school point guard. He’s the guy I’d want running my team. He’s a better scorer at the same stage when compared to Kendall Marshall, but not as good a passer. He’s the Tar Heels best recruit in terms of readiness to play and consistency. Brice Johnson (Edisto, S.C./Edisto) is the Henson of the group. He’s the top prospect but will need time to develop; his ceiling is highest. J.P. Tokoto (Menomonee Falls, Wisc./Menomomee Falls) and Joel James (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Dwyer) are very good supporting recruits; neither has reached their ceiling so there’s room to grow.
What’s my point? UNC's class is very strong and right now they are among the top classes in the country but don't be surprised if the Tar Heels slip in the rankings. Based on our mathematical formula (not quite as bad as the BCS, but still in depth) and some back-and-forth dialogue between the scouts, we come up with our rankings and adjust accordingly. Right now, coach Roy Williams has a good class with nice players but it’s not a game-changing enough group. In my opinion, that ranking doesn’t accurately reflect the expectations I’d have for this crop of players.
This collection of players is going to augment UNC’s roster and there should be a pro or two out of the group, but they’ll need time and the assistance of other players in the program and future classes to create championship expectations.
New July format has me worried
I’m not the type that is opposed to change. In fact, the NCAA had to change up the recruiting calendar and stream line some NCAA rules and regulations. The moves that were made last week -- texting, letting coaches out in April, allowing juniors to take official visits -- appear to be well intentioned and many are excited to take them for a test drive. Personally, the July ruling creating a series of three, four-day open periods, has me nervous.
July is a significant work month for myself and our staff. My goal is to see as many players as I possibly can so I don’t get surprised and miss out on seeing guys with my own eyes. There’s a measure of pride that accompanies July. I spend a lot of time planning out my days so that I can max out the number of players I can see. Watching Shabazz Muhammad play 25 times is not nearly as important as making sure I see unfamiliar faces like Grant Verhoeven (Visalia, Calif./Central Valley Christian), Connor Lammert (San Antonio, Tex./Winston Churchill) or Josh Scott (Monument, Colo./Lewis Palmer). These guys are often tucked away on AAU teams that aren’t as high profile and you might only get one or two looks at them. Still, that quick look is important.
My concern is that there are going to be so many events trying to get packed into the framework of the new July calendar that my number of actual workdays gets trimmed. Frankly speaking, I need as many work days in July as possible to do my job. Reducing the period by eight days is a significant concern as an evaluator. I’m nervous because doing my job might have gotten a lot more difficult. Here’s to hoping that there are still some good events floating around outside of the open periods where I can sit down and see a slew of players. The situation of evaluators isn’t a concern to the NCAA or college coaches but I’m thinking my job just got a whole lot more difficult by shortening the period and cramming all these events into tighter windows.
Random Thoughts
North Carolina signs elite recruiting classes almost every season. That being said -- no class, no matter the ranking -- is identical. Some classes are rated high because they contain superstars while others attain a high rating because of their collection of players. This current class reminds me a lot of UNC’s 2009 class which was highlighted by John Henson and backed up by Leslie McDonald, Dexter Strickland and the now departed David and Travis Wear. Despite the rating of the current group (No. 2 in our rankings), expectations need to be tempered because there isn’t a Harrison Barnes or a James Michael McAdoo to carry the superstar load. In 2009, not even Henson was ready to step into this kind of role.
Marcus Paige (Marion, Iowa/Linn-Marr) is in my opinion, the top senior high school point guard. He’s the guy I’d want running my team. He’s a better scorer at the same stage when compared to Kendall Marshall, but not as good a passer. He’s the Tar Heels best recruit in terms of readiness to play and consistency. Brice Johnson (Edisto, S.C./Edisto) is the Henson of the group. He’s the top prospect but will need time to develop; his ceiling is highest. J.P. Tokoto (Menomonee Falls, Wisc./Menomomee Falls) and Joel James (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Dwyer) are very good supporting recruits; neither has reached their ceiling so there’s room to grow.
What’s my point? UNC's class is very strong and right now they are among the top classes in the country but don't be surprised if the Tar Heels slip in the rankings. Based on our mathematical formula (not quite as bad as the BCS, but still in depth) and some back-and-forth dialogue between the scouts, we come up with our rankings and adjust accordingly. Right now, coach Roy Williams has a good class with nice players but it’s not a game-changing enough group. In my opinion, that ranking doesn’t accurately reflect the expectations I’d have for this crop of players.
This collection of players is going to augment UNC’s roster and there should be a pro or two out of the group, but they’ll need time and the assistance of other players in the program and future classes to create championship expectations.
New July format has me worried
I’m not the type that is opposed to change. In fact, the NCAA had to change up the recruiting calendar and stream line some NCAA rules and regulations. The moves that were made last week -- texting, letting coaches out in April, allowing juniors to take official visits -- appear to be well intentioned and many are excited to take them for a test drive. Personally, the July ruling creating a series of three, four-day open periods, has me nervous.
July is a significant work month for myself and our staff. My goal is to see as many players as I possibly can so I don’t get surprised and miss out on seeing guys with my own eyes. There’s a measure of pride that accompanies July. I spend a lot of time planning out my days so that I can max out the number of players I can see. Watching Shabazz Muhammad play 25 times is not nearly as important as making sure I see unfamiliar faces like Grant Verhoeven (Visalia, Calif./Central Valley Christian), Connor Lammert (San Antonio, Tex./Winston Churchill) or Josh Scott (Monument, Colo./Lewis Palmer). These guys are often tucked away on AAU teams that aren’t as high profile and you might only get one or two looks at them. Still, that quick look is important.
My concern is that there are going to be so many events trying to get packed into the framework of the new July calendar that my number of actual workdays gets trimmed. Frankly speaking, I need as many work days in July as possible to do my job. Reducing the period by eight days is a significant concern as an evaluator. I’m nervous because doing my job might have gotten a lot more difficult. Here’s to hoping that there are still some good events floating around outside of the open periods where I can sit down and see a slew of players. The situation of evaluators isn’t a concern to the NCAA or college coaches but I’m thinking my job just got a whole lot more difficult by shortening the period and cramming all these events into tighter windows.
Random Thoughts
- Should T.J. Warren (Durham, N.C./Brewster Academy) select NC State as expected on Wednesday, it would mean Mark Gottfried landed his third ESPNU 100 player from North Carolina in his first year. During the Sidney Lowe Era, the Pack landed a grand total of two in-state Top 100 players. The first year for Gottfried couldn’t have gone better.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
BACK TO TOP
Page: 1
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Robbi Pickeral
Robbi Pickeral joined ESPN.com in 2011 after spending eight years covering North Carolina and the ACC for The (Raleigh) News & Observer. She previously wrote about preps in Florida and the NBA in Minnesota, and now lives near Tobacco Road.