Each week, I’ll try to answer your queries, comments, raves and rants about North Carolina hoops. Send your interrogatives by visiting this page. You can also email me at bylinerp@gmail.com or contact me via Twitter at @bylinerp.
This week, I’ll answer the first question via video. Read below for more. And if I didn’t get to your question today, there's always next Thursday. Or the Thursday after that. Keep them coming ..
Robert from Asheville, N.C.: As we all know, UNC's fast break is very important. Many teams try to slow this down by interfering with the ball after a made basket. Throwing the ball to a ref or knocking it into the crowd are favorite moves. So is grabbing the ball and holding onto it for a second or two before dropping and giving it a subtle kick off the knee or shins. I've even seen the opposing players reach out and knock the ball out of a Carolina players hands as they are heading out of bounds to make the inlet pass, yet no technical foul is called. Why?
Pickeral: Robert, to answer your question, I went straight to John Clougherty, head of ACC men’s basketball officials. He said there’s a process to how a technical would be called in that situation.
First, officials would briefly stop the game, give the players a warning, tell the coach the players had been warned -- then make sure the warning was noted in the official book. A second infraction would then result in a tech.
Clougherty said those technicals don’t tend to be called much, especially in blowout games, because officials want to keep the game moving (and giving an official warning slows it down even more). Plus, when official warnings are ultimately given, teams seem to back off slowing it down because they don’t want to give up a couple of free throws.
Justin from Greensboro, N.C.: In reading some of the comments when the AP and Coaches poll are posted I'm seeing a lot of folks (particularly OSU and Syracuse fans lately) complaining that they didn't get enough votes. Essentially, most of the posters are declaring 'homerism' and generally point fingers at teams with coaches who don't even have a vote. Personally, I don't think it matters 7 weeks into the season and prior to major conference play beginning. I've scoured the internet to try and find which coaches actually do vote in that particular poll. Do you have a roster by chance?
Pickeral: I do.
Here’s the list of voters in the ESPN/USAToday Coaches Poll, which can also be found here: Mike Adras, Northern Arizona; Tommy Amaker, Harvard; Tevester Anderson, Jackson State; Ronnie Arrow, South Alabama; Randy Bennett, Saint Mary's; Eddie Biedenbach, North Carolina-Asheville; Jim Boeheim, Syracuse; Rick Byrd, Belmont; Tim Cluess, Iona; Charlie Coles, Miami (Ohio); Steve Donahue, Boston College; Scott Drew, Baylor; Steve Fisher, San Diego State; Mark Fox, Georgia; Don Friday, St. Francis (Pa.); Bill Herrion, New Hampshire; Ben Jacobson, Northern Iowa; Rob Jeter, Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Mike McConathy, Northwestern State; Bob McKillop, Davidson; Phil Martelli, Saint Joseph's; Ron "Fang" Mitchell, Coppin State; Matt Painter, Purdue; Dave Paulsen, Bucknell; Herb Sendek, Arizona State; Shaka Smart, Virginia Commonwealth; Scott Sutton, Oral Roberts; Donnie Tyndall, Morehead State; Don Verlin, Idaho; Bob Williams, UC-Santa Barbara; Doug Wojcik, Tulsa.
Hope that helps.
Spencer from San Francisco: I watched the ‘09 team dismantle opponents not only because of their natural abilities, but because they refused to beat themselves -- either by mistakes or missed opportunities. They took it personal. Do you think if this year's team were to do the same, and play up to their potential (Zeller, free throws, lost leads), they would be better than 09? I think so, and that's saying something, because that team was unstoppable.
Pickeral: Spencer, it really depends on how you define “better.” This team doesn’t have the offensive firepower of ’09, when all five starters were capable of scoring 20 points at any given time (make that 30 for several of them). I’m not sure it has the same focused, tenacious, win-or-hurt-you-trying star as Tyler Hansbrough (although Harrison Barnes boasts his own brand of big-game, big-shot competiveness, albeit from a different position).
It still has the pieces, and talent, to win a national title, especially if it consistently shows the temperament it did against Texas on Wednesday night. The only way this team will be compared to ’09 in the years to come, though, is if it has its “One Shining Moment” come April.
Zach from Connecticut: Who would you want to take a big 3-pointer in a game if [Harrison] Barnes was out of the game? [Reggie] Bullock or [P.J.] Hairston?
Pickeral: This one really got me pondering, Zach. The first instinct that popped into my head was Hairston -- he’s not afraid to throw it up there, and even though he’s connected on fewer 3-pointers than Bullock (38 percent compared to 42.6 percent), there’s something about his fearless attitude that makes you want to see the ball in his hands in that situation. Miss or make, he could handle the outcome, and want the ball again.
But then again, Bullock has hit a big 3 this season -- that one in the final minute at Kentucky that cut the Wildcats’ lead to one point. And he’s got more experience, plus a sort of quiet determination after knee surgery last season that makes you want to see him succeed in a last-second situation.
Torn, I bandied the question around with some of the UNC beat writers who have also seen the Tar Heels play every game this season. The consensus was Hairston, probably because he’s had such a quick start as a freshman, compared to Bullock’s more tentative rookie beginning because of his injury last season.
But the other consensus was this: Isn’t it good for the Tar Heels that they have so many options in that situation, after struggling so mightily from 3-point-last last season?
Happy Holidays, all.
This week, I’ll answer the first question via video. Read below for more. And if I didn’t get to your question today, there's always next Thursday. Or the Thursday after that. Keep them coming ..
Robert from Asheville, N.C.: As we all know, UNC's fast break is very important. Many teams try to slow this down by interfering with the ball after a made basket. Throwing the ball to a ref or knocking it into the crowd are favorite moves. So is grabbing the ball and holding onto it for a second or two before dropping and giving it a subtle kick off the knee or shins. I've even seen the opposing players reach out and knock the ball out of a Carolina players hands as they are heading out of bounds to make the inlet pass, yet no technical foul is called. Why?
Pickeral: Robert, to answer your question, I went straight to John Clougherty, head of ACC men’s basketball officials. He said there’s a process to how a technical would be called in that situation.
First, officials would briefly stop the game, give the players a warning, tell the coach the players had been warned -- then make sure the warning was noted in the official book. A second infraction would then result in a tech.
Clougherty said those technicals don’t tend to be called much, especially in blowout games, because officials want to keep the game moving (and giving an official warning slows it down even more). Plus, when official warnings are ultimately given, teams seem to back off slowing it down because they don’t want to give up a couple of free throws.
Justin from Greensboro, N.C.: In reading some of the comments when the AP and Coaches poll are posted I'm seeing a lot of folks (particularly OSU and Syracuse fans lately) complaining that they didn't get enough votes. Essentially, most of the posters are declaring 'homerism' and generally point fingers at teams with coaches who don't even have a vote. Personally, I don't think it matters 7 weeks into the season and prior to major conference play beginning. I've scoured the internet to try and find which coaches actually do vote in that particular poll. Do you have a roster by chance?
Pickeral: I do.
Here’s the list of voters in the ESPN/USAToday Coaches Poll, which can also be found here: Mike Adras, Northern Arizona; Tommy Amaker, Harvard; Tevester Anderson, Jackson State; Ronnie Arrow, South Alabama; Randy Bennett, Saint Mary's; Eddie Biedenbach, North Carolina-Asheville; Jim Boeheim, Syracuse; Rick Byrd, Belmont; Tim Cluess, Iona; Charlie Coles, Miami (Ohio); Steve Donahue, Boston College; Scott Drew, Baylor; Steve Fisher, San Diego State; Mark Fox, Georgia; Don Friday, St. Francis (Pa.); Bill Herrion, New Hampshire; Ben Jacobson, Northern Iowa; Rob Jeter, Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Mike McConathy, Northwestern State; Bob McKillop, Davidson; Phil Martelli, Saint Joseph's; Ron "Fang" Mitchell, Coppin State; Matt Painter, Purdue; Dave Paulsen, Bucknell; Herb Sendek, Arizona State; Shaka Smart, Virginia Commonwealth; Scott Sutton, Oral Roberts; Donnie Tyndall, Morehead State; Don Verlin, Idaho; Bob Williams, UC-Santa Barbara; Doug Wojcik, Tulsa.
Hope that helps.
Spencer from San Francisco: I watched the ‘09 team dismantle opponents not only because of their natural abilities, but because they refused to beat themselves -- either by mistakes or missed opportunities. They took it personal. Do you think if this year's team were to do the same, and play up to their potential (Zeller, free throws, lost leads), they would be better than 09? I think so, and that's saying something, because that team was unstoppable.
Pickeral: Spencer, it really depends on how you define “better.” This team doesn’t have the offensive firepower of ’09, when all five starters were capable of scoring 20 points at any given time (make that 30 for several of them). I’m not sure it has the same focused, tenacious, win-or-hurt-you-trying star as Tyler Hansbrough (although Harrison Barnes boasts his own brand of big-game, big-shot competiveness, albeit from a different position).
It still has the pieces, and talent, to win a national title, especially if it consistently shows the temperament it did against Texas on Wednesday night. The only way this team will be compared to ’09 in the years to come, though, is if it has its “One Shining Moment” come April.
Zach from Connecticut: Who would you want to take a big 3-pointer in a game if [Harrison] Barnes was out of the game? [Reggie] Bullock or [P.J.] Hairston?
Pickeral: This one really got me pondering, Zach. The first instinct that popped into my head was Hairston -- he’s not afraid to throw it up there, and even though he’s connected on fewer 3-pointers than Bullock (38 percent compared to 42.6 percent), there’s something about his fearless attitude that makes you want to see the ball in his hands in that situation. Miss or make, he could handle the outcome, and want the ball again.
But then again, Bullock has hit a big 3 this season -- that one in the final minute at Kentucky that cut the Wildcats’ lead to one point. And he’s got more experience, plus a sort of quiet determination after knee surgery last season that makes you want to see him succeed in a last-second situation.
Torn, I bandied the question around with some of the UNC beat writers who have also seen the Tar Heels play every game this season. The consensus was Hairston, probably because he’s had such a quick start as a freshman, compared to Bullock’s more tentative rookie beginning because of his injury last season.
But the other consensus was this: Isn’t it good for the Tar Heels that they have so many options in that situation, after struggling so mightily from 3-point-last last season?
Happy Holidays, all.
Some UNC-hoops-related links from around the web:
- The Tar Heels turned up their intensity against Texas, writes Andrew Carter of The News & Observer.
- Motivation lingered from last season, writes Stephen Schramm of The Fayetteville Observer.
- Focus led to the easy win, writes Steve Wiseman of the Durham Herald-Sun.
- UNC ended its losing streak to the Longhorns, writes Bill Cole of the Winston-Salem Journal.
- Jonathan Jones at The Daily Tar Heel also writes about snapping the streak.
- Andrew Jones of Fox Sports Carolinas writes that Roy Williams awakened Super Barnes.
TMA: Barnes grades himself a low B
December, 22, 2011
12/22/11
8:00
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, the No. 5/6 Tar Heels’ 82-63 win over Texas on Wednesday night).
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- North Carolina forward Harrison Barnes said he hadn’t seen the blog (HoopSpeakU.com) that has gone so far as to analyze his efficiency by number of dribbles used.
But told the basics of it, the sophomore wasn’t exactly shocked.
“I just think after last year, nothing surprises me,’’ Barnes said, referring to all of the press he got after his slow start his freshman season. “… I learned that very quickly; the media can be your best friend, and they can have some strong opinions about you. It’s all a part of the process, and you’ve got to focus on what your team does.
“You don’t want to let outside influences influence your game, in the sense of, ‘Oh, this is what someone says, I need to go compensate for that,’ because it’s going to take you out of your team’s offense, and what your team is trying to do.”
Plus, Barnes acknowledges, no one picks apart Barnes’ game more than Barnes, himself.
Wednesday night, for instance, he was fairly pleased with his 26-point, 10-rebound performance against Texas, but said he must play better defense.
“There were at least three open looks I saw on 3s that were just effort plays,’’ he said. “Getting over screens, fighting through those, and that can change them going on a run, which they did, or us going up from 17 to 26.”
And his overall performance so far this season? He’s averaging a team-leading 16.8 points, plus 4.8 rebounds, but he’d grade himself a low B.
“Thirteen games in, I would like to rebound more and have higher assists; those are the biggest things that jump out to me,’’ said Barnes, who is averaging fewer than 1 assist per game. “You can’t really control points; points ... depends on the game. But rebounding is simply effort. If you put forth that effort -- the ball is going to come off of the rim. Are you going to have enough determination to get the ball or not?
“And assists ... are about making the smarter play. You can make the easy play; you don’t always have to make the home run play. Just a simple basic pass, and that will improve your assist to turnover ratio.”
The key, he said, is to be more than a shooter (no matter how many dribbles you take).
“You’ve got to be able to do everything,’’ he said. "You don’t want to have flaws in your game. You don’t want to be, ‘Oh, he’s just a gunner; every time he gets the ball, he’s just looking to score’ because that puts a lot of pressure on the defense to say, ‘OK, load up on him.’”
REWIND THAT DUNK: There were a lot of transition dunks during Wednesday night’s win. But forward John Henson’s favorite? Freshman P.J. Hairston’s drive from the wing in the first half that left Texas freshman Julien Lewis flat on his back after he unsuccessfully tried to take a charge.
“It was unexpected to say the least,’’ Henson said.
Why?
“Usually people in practice don’t really stand there and take charges on fast breaks, because we don’t want to hurt each other and things of that nature,’’ Henson said. “... It was a great dunk, and I’m going to go and watch it on youtube a few more times.”
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- North Carolina forward Harrison Barnes said he hadn’t seen the blog (HoopSpeakU.com) that has gone so far as to analyze his efficiency by number of dribbles used.
But told the basics of it, the sophomore wasn’t exactly shocked.
[+] Enlarge
Bob Donnan/US PRESSWIREHarrison Barnes was asked about a HoopSpeakU.com story analyzing his efficiency after dribbling.
Bob Donnan/US PRESSWIREHarrison Barnes was asked about a HoopSpeakU.com story analyzing his efficiency after dribbling.“You don’t want to let outside influences influence your game, in the sense of, ‘Oh, this is what someone says, I need to go compensate for that,’ because it’s going to take you out of your team’s offense, and what your team is trying to do.”
Plus, Barnes acknowledges, no one picks apart Barnes’ game more than Barnes, himself.
Wednesday night, for instance, he was fairly pleased with his 26-point, 10-rebound performance against Texas, but said he must play better defense.
“There were at least three open looks I saw on 3s that were just effort plays,’’ he said. “Getting over screens, fighting through those, and that can change them going on a run, which they did, or us going up from 17 to 26.”
And his overall performance so far this season? He’s averaging a team-leading 16.8 points, plus 4.8 rebounds, but he’d grade himself a low B.
“Thirteen games in, I would like to rebound more and have higher assists; those are the biggest things that jump out to me,’’ said Barnes, who is averaging fewer than 1 assist per game. “You can’t really control points; points ... depends on the game. But rebounding is simply effort. If you put forth that effort -- the ball is going to come off of the rim. Are you going to have enough determination to get the ball or not?
“And assists ... are about making the smarter play. You can make the easy play; you don’t always have to make the home run play. Just a simple basic pass, and that will improve your assist to turnover ratio.”
The key, he said, is to be more than a shooter (no matter how many dribbles you take).
“You’ve got to be able to do everything,’’ he said. "You don’t want to have flaws in your game. You don’t want to be, ‘Oh, he’s just a gunner; every time he gets the ball, he’s just looking to score’ because that puts a lot of pressure on the defense to say, ‘OK, load up on him.’”
REWIND THAT DUNK: There were a lot of transition dunks during Wednesday night’s win. But forward John Henson’s favorite? Freshman P.J. Hairston’s drive from the wing in the first half that left Texas freshman Julien Lewis flat on his back after he unsuccessfully tried to take a charge.
“It was unexpected to say the least,’’ Henson said.
Why?
“Usually people in practice don’t really stand there and take charges on fast breaks, because we don’t want to hurt each other and things of that nature,’’ Henson said. “... It was a great dunk, and I’m going to go and watch it on youtube a few more times.”
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
Barnes shoots away UNC's 'bad taste'
December, 21, 2011
12/21/11
11:32
PM ET
By
Robbi Pickeral | ESPN.com
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- North Carolina forward Harrison Barnes was so eager for Wednesday’s rematch against Texas that he was at the Smith Center before noon, a full 90 minutes before his team’s shootaround, waiting for the Longhorns to leave the court so he could get in a bit more practice.
“I was ready and excited,’’ Barnes said after his No. 6 Tar Heels blew out Texas 82-63 at the Smith Center. “I just remember last year, and that was kind of my first big-game experience. To have that [78-76] loss, and that bad taste in your mouth, it kind of makes you want to get out there and make sure that when you come into this game, you did everything you could to be prepared for it.”
So he did. And he was.
Barnes -- still motivated by the Longhorns’ game winner with 1.4 seconds left to beat the Tar Heels last December, just after he buried a 3-pointer to tie it up -- made sure the younger, shorter Texas team didn’t have a chance at a repeat.
His 26 points and 10 rebounds were both season highs, and pushed him out of a mini-slump (4-for-12 each of his previous two games) that never really had him, or UNC coach Roy Williams, worried.
“I told him I thought he’d be great tonight,’’ Williams said. “Everyone only looks at the points, but I look at what we’re doing defensively. ... I really thought he was more active tonight. If he’s attacking the basket, I like that. I also like when he shoots the 3-point shot. He’s got a wide variety of options, and hopefully we are moving forward to where we can use all of them.”
North Carolina, which broke a four-game losing streak to the Longhorns, dominated from the outset, using its superior experience (six of Texas’ nine-man rotation were freshmen) and height (Texas’ tallest starters were 6-foot-7) to take a double-digit lead within the first eight minutes.
Barnes actually cheered the biggest series of first-half highlights from the bench.
With about six minutes left before halftime -- and UNC’s lead cut to eight points -- Tar Heels guard P.J. Hairston took a pass from point guard Kendall Marshall, drove from the wing, and threw down a one-handed transition dunk that had Texas freshman Julien Lewis on his back as he was whistled for the foul.
Hairston missed the free throw, but on UNC’s next possession, forward John Henson followed with a two-handed dunk. On the Heels’ ensuing possession, reserve Reggie Bullock scored in transition -- on a ball batted to him by Henson. That gave UNC a 30-16 advantage, “and that just kept us rolling,’’ said Henson, who had 14 points and eight rebounds.
Barnes, who had seven points by halftime, broke out in the second, scoring from all over the floor.
His most memorable highlight came with about 12 minutes to go, when UNC forward Tyler Zeller grabbed a steal and passed it to Bullock -- who found Barnes in the lane. The 6-8 wing promptly dunked it over 6-10 Texas forward Clint Chapman, then belted out a roar.
“It’s always fun,’’ said Barnes, who made 9 of his 15 shots. “I’ve always loved being in big games, because all my favorite players always thrived in big games. So it’s definitely something I look forward to.”
And why, Henson said, they’ve come up with another teasing moniker for the already-nicknamed “Black Falcon”: Big Game Ames. (As in Ames, Iowa, Barnes’ hometown.)
“He always shows up when we need him,’’ Henson said. “And that’s what we need from him.”
Three Longhorns -- Jonathan Holmes, J'Covan Brown and Sheldon McClellan -- finished with 16 points, but UNC outrebounded the Longhorns by 15 and held them to 34.8 percent shooting. For his part, Barnes said the most important thing about Wednesday’s game was the team’s increased concentration.
“I think the biggest things we’re going to take out of this is the level of intensity we need to maintain for ACC play,’’ he said. “We can’t come out and have slow starts; we can’t come out and be lackadaisical and have a lack of focus, because we saw how that went last year.
“A lot of games came down to the wire. A lot of games, [saw us] down by 10, storming back. And teams are targeting us more than last year.”
Which was why he was in the gym so early on Wednesday, making sure this game didn’t have a chance to go down to the wire again.
“I think just that shot [that Texas made last season] -- I’ll never forget that,’’ he said. “That was our first [time] losing on a last-second buzzer-beater. … That [3-pointer] I made before, it was my first big shot of the year, so I was happy, and I thought that was going to be our first big win, and we end up losing like that. So we definitely wanted to come in and win, especially here.”
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
“I was ready and excited,’’ Barnes said after his No. 6 Tar Heels blew out Texas 82-63 at the Smith Center. “I just remember last year, and that was kind of my first big-game experience. To have that [78-76] loss, and that bad taste in your mouth, it kind of makes you want to get out there and make sure that when you come into this game, you did everything you could to be prepared for it.”
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Gerry BroomeNorth Carolina's Harrison Barnes is just 4-for-13 from 3-point range to open ACC play.
AP Photo/Gerry BroomeNorth Carolina's Harrison Barnes is just 4-for-13 from 3-point range to open ACC play.Barnes -- still motivated by the Longhorns’ game winner with 1.4 seconds left to beat the Tar Heels last December, just after he buried a 3-pointer to tie it up -- made sure the younger, shorter Texas team didn’t have a chance at a repeat.
His 26 points and 10 rebounds were both season highs, and pushed him out of a mini-slump (4-for-12 each of his previous two games) that never really had him, or UNC coach Roy Williams, worried.
“I told him I thought he’d be great tonight,’’ Williams said. “Everyone only looks at the points, but I look at what we’re doing defensively. ... I really thought he was more active tonight. If he’s attacking the basket, I like that. I also like when he shoots the 3-point shot. He’s got a wide variety of options, and hopefully we are moving forward to where we can use all of them.”
North Carolina, which broke a four-game losing streak to the Longhorns, dominated from the outset, using its superior experience (six of Texas’ nine-man rotation were freshmen) and height (Texas’ tallest starters were 6-foot-7) to take a double-digit lead within the first eight minutes.
Barnes actually cheered the biggest series of first-half highlights from the bench.
With about six minutes left before halftime -- and UNC’s lead cut to eight points -- Tar Heels guard P.J. Hairston took a pass from point guard Kendall Marshall, drove from the wing, and threw down a one-handed transition dunk that had Texas freshman Julien Lewis on his back as he was whistled for the foul.
Hairston missed the free throw, but on UNC’s next possession, forward John Henson followed with a two-handed dunk. On the Heels’ ensuing possession, reserve Reggie Bullock scored in transition -- on a ball batted to him by Henson. That gave UNC a 30-16 advantage, “and that just kept us rolling,’’ said Henson, who had 14 points and eight rebounds.
Barnes, who had seven points by halftime, broke out in the second, scoring from all over the floor.
His most memorable highlight came with about 12 minutes to go, when UNC forward Tyler Zeller grabbed a steal and passed it to Bullock -- who found Barnes in the lane. The 6-8 wing promptly dunked it over 6-10 Texas forward Clint Chapman, then belted out a roar.
“It’s always fun,’’ said Barnes, who made 9 of his 15 shots. “I’ve always loved being in big games, because all my favorite players always thrived in big games. So it’s definitely something I look forward to.”
And why, Henson said, they’ve come up with another teasing moniker for the already-nicknamed “Black Falcon”: Big Game Ames. (As in Ames, Iowa, Barnes’ hometown.)
“He always shows up when we need him,’’ Henson said. “And that’s what we need from him.”
Three Longhorns -- Jonathan Holmes, J'Covan Brown and Sheldon McClellan -- finished with 16 points, but UNC outrebounded the Longhorns by 15 and held them to 34.8 percent shooting. For his part, Barnes said the most important thing about Wednesday’s game was the team’s increased concentration.
“I think the biggest things we’re going to take out of this is the level of intensity we need to maintain for ACC play,’’ he said. “We can’t come out and have slow starts; we can’t come out and be lackadaisical and have a lack of focus, because we saw how that went last year.
“A lot of games came down to the wire. A lot of games, [saw us] down by 10, storming back. And teams are targeting us more than last year.”
Which was why he was in the gym so early on Wednesday, making sure this game didn’t have a chance to go down to the wire again.
“I think just that shot [that Texas made last season] -- I’ll never forget that,’’ he said. “That was our first [time] losing on a last-second buzzer-beater. … That [3-pointer] I made before, it was my first big shot of the year, so I was happy, and I thought that was going to be our first big win, and we end up losing like that. So we definitely wanted to come in and win, especially here.”
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
Harrison Barnes -- who recorded his first double-double of the season -- talks with Robbi Pickeral about North Carolina's 82-63 win over Texas.
Video: Analyzing UNC's win over Texas
December, 21, 2011
12/21/11
10:27
PM ET
By ESPN.com staff | ESPN.com
Harrison Barnes' 26 points pace North Carolina to an 82-63 victory over Texas.
Final: North Carolina 82, Texas 63
December, 21, 2011
12/21/11
9:50
PM ET
By
Robbi Pickeral | ESPN.com
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- A quick look at No. 5/6 North Carolina’s 82-63 victory over Texas at the Smith Center on Wednesday:
How it happened: A taller, more veteran North Carolina team led from the outset -- out-pacing, out-dunking and out-rebounding the Longhorns.
A 13-1 run put the Tar Heels ahead early 19-7. Texas cut into the lead with a 7-2 run of its own, but then UNC put on a sprint that had the home crowd screaming louder than it has been all season.
First, reserve guard P.J. Hairston took a pass from point guard Kendall Marshall, drove from the wing, and threw down a one-handed transition dunk that had Texas’ Julien Lewis on his back -- after he was whistled for the foul.
Hairston missed the free throw, but on UNC’s next possession, forward John Henson followed with a two-handed dunk. On the Heels' possession after that, reserve Reggie Bullock scored in transition -- on a ball batted to him by Henson. That gave UNC a 30-16 advantage.
UNC led 39-23 at halftime, and it was only more of the same after the break.
The highlight dunk of the second half came around the 12-minute mark, when UNC forward Tyler Zeller grabbed a steal and passed it to Bullock, who found forward Harrison Barnes in the lane. The sophomore promptly dunked it over 6-10 Texas senior Clint Chapman, and let out a roar.
Relief? Celebation? Maybe a bit of both. After all, the Tar Heels had lost four straight times in this series, including twice in the past two seasons, before Wednesday night.
Barnes, held to nine points each of his past two games, finished with a season-high 26 points and 10 rebounds, his first double-double of the season. Henson added 14 points and eight rebounds.
Texas point guard Myck Kabongo, averaging 10.8 points entering the game, finished with one point. Jonathan Holmes led the Longhorns, who shot only 34.8 percent, with 16 points.
Number to know: UNC has now won 24 straight games at the Smith Center. One more win would tie the school record, set from 1992-94.
Hubbub: What was with Texas coach Rick Barnes’ sling? In case you missed it, he had surgery on his right shoulder earlier this month to repair a rotator cuff injury.
UNC coach Roy Williams, who was in a sling a couple years back after left shoulder surgery himself, said earlier this week that he had advised Barnes to go ahead with the procedure, rather than put it off until after the season.
"You can still coach," Williams told reporters. "If I had waited until the end of the season, I wouldn't have been able to play golf. I'm not that dumb."
What’s next: UNC’s players planned to begin heading home for the holidays after the game Wednesday night. They will return to campus Monday, and play Elon next Thursday. Texas will play Rice on New Year’s Eve.
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – With a little more than four minutes left in the first half, North Carolina coach Roy Williams grabbed a towel and helped soak up a wet spot in the middle of the Smith Center court.
It’s sort of fitting for the game so far, considering his No. 5/6 Tar Heels -- who lead 39-23 at halftime -- are wiping the floor with Texas so far.
A 13-1 run put the Tar Heels up over the younger, shorter Longhorns early, 19-7. Texas cut into the lead with a 7-2 run of its own, but then UNC put on a sprint that had the home crowd louder than it has been all season.
First, reserve guard P.J. Hairston took a pass from point guard Kendall Marshall, drove from the wing, and threw down a one-handed transition dunk that had Texas’ Julien Lewis on his back – after he was whistled for the foul.
Hairston missed the free throw, but on UNC’s next possession, forward John Henson followed with a two-handed dunk. On the Heels' possession after that, reserve Reggie Bullock scored in transition – on a ball batted to him by Henson. That gave UNC a 30-16 advantage.
Harrison Barnes leads the Tar Heels – who are shooting 42.4 percent – with 7 points. Tyler Zeller has 6 points and 7 rebounds.
Texas has made only a quarter of its shots, and Jonathan Holmes has scored 10 of it points.
UNC has scored 13 points off turnovers.
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
It’s sort of fitting for the game so far, considering his No. 5/6 Tar Heels -- who lead 39-23 at halftime -- are wiping the floor with Texas so far.
A 13-1 run put the Tar Heels up over the younger, shorter Longhorns early, 19-7. Texas cut into the lead with a 7-2 run of its own, but then UNC put on a sprint that had the home crowd louder than it has been all season.
First, reserve guard P.J. Hairston took a pass from point guard Kendall Marshall, drove from the wing, and threw down a one-handed transition dunk that had Texas’ Julien Lewis on his back – after he was whistled for the foul.
Hairston missed the free throw, but on UNC’s next possession, forward John Henson followed with a two-handed dunk. On the Heels' possession after that, reserve Reggie Bullock scored in transition – on a ball batted to him by Henson. That gave UNC a 30-16 advantage.
Harrison Barnes leads the Tar Heels – who are shooting 42.4 percent – with 7 points. Tyler Zeller has 6 points and 7 rebounds.
Texas has made only a quarter of its shots, and Jonathan Holmes has scored 10 of it points.
UNC has scored 13 points off turnovers.
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
Some UNC hoops-related links from around the Web:
- Mark Rosner of the Austin American-Statesman writes that Texas believes it can rebound with the best of 'em.
- Kabongo is guiding the Horns into tonight's test, writes Mike Finger of the Houston Chronicle.
- Bret Strelow of the Fayetteville Observer writes that Texas' shoes, and record, will keep the Longhorns from sneaking up on the Tar Heels.
- Texas, an old nemesis, is coming to town, writes Bill Cole of the Winston-Salem Journal.
- Steve Wiseman of the Durham Herald-Sun previews the game.
- Greg Barnes of InsideCarolina breaks down the game.
- The Tar Heels figure it's their turn to turn back Texas, writes Adam Smith of the Burlington Times-News.
North Carolina's game at Miami on Feb. 15 has been moved from 7 to 8 p.m. ET, according to an email sent by a team spokesman.
The game will still be televised by ESPN or ESPN2.
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
The game will still be televised by ESPN or ESPN2.
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
Myck Kabongo slowly taking over for Texas
December, 21, 2011
12/21/11
11:20
AM ET
By
Jason King | ESPN.com
Texas coach Rick Barnes knew he'd landed one of the fastest recruits in the country when he signed Canadian point guard Myck Kabongo in the fall of 2010.
Occasionally, though, Kabongo seems almost too fast.
Multiple times this season, the 6-foot-1 freshman has sprinted up the court with the basketball and realized that none of his teammates were there with him. Instead of pulling back and waiting for them to catch up, Kabongo often tried to make things happen all by himself, which usually resulted in an ill-advised shot or a turnover.
"I needed to learn how to slow down and run my team," said Kabongo, chuckling during a phone interview with ESPN.com Tuesday night. "They need me to play great for us to be in games. I understand that now."
Apparently so.
Texas has won seven straight games -- all by double digits -- since a pair of early-season losses to Oregon State and North Carolina State. Kabongo is one of the main reasons. The Toronto native is averaging 12.8 points and 6.7 assists in his last six contests, which includes a season-high 18-point effort in Saturday's win over Temple.
Tonight Kabongo will face the toughest test of his career thus far when the Longhorns face No. 6 North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Texas has defeated the Tar Heels the last two seasons, but with a rotation that includes five freshmen and just three experienced players, Kabongo knows he'll have to be at his best if Texas has any hopes of a victory.
"I could try to tell you it's just another game, and it is," Kabongo said. "But at the same time, I'm excited for the opportunity for our team and our guys. It's a chance for us to get better. North Carolina has an NBA front court. It's a great chance for our freshmen to play against guys that are good so we can keep getting better and keep improving.
"I think my guys are ready for it."
That Kabongo refers his teammates as "my guys" says everything you need to know about the freshman's confidence. Junior J'Covan Brown is the Longhorns' top scorer, and Alexis Wangmene and Clint Chapman are seniors. Still, even when he struggled early, Kabongo said he always viewed this as "his" team. That type of mind set has been missing in the Longhorns' backcourt the past few seasons, which may be one of the reasons Texas hasn't advanced past the second round of the NCAA tournament since 2008.
Kabongo is hopeful that will change this season. Texas lost big leads against Oregon State and North Carolina State in a pair of setbacks at the Legends Classic in New Jersey in mid-November. Frustrating as the losses were, Kabongo said they will benefit a young Texas team in the long run.
The Longhorns lost forward Tristan Thompson and guards Cory Joseph and Jordan Hamilton to the NBA draft, and under-appreciated forward Gary Johnson graduated.
"We're finishing games now," he said. "We know now that teams aren't going to quit playing at this level. In high school, if a team is down by 14 in the fourth quarter, they may just give up. But at this level teams are going to continue to push and push and push."
And when that happens, Kabongo must keep his poise. Barnes certainly wants Kabongo to use his speed to push the ball and beat opposing defenses down the court. But he said Kabongo needs to do a better job of "picking his spots."
Carelessness is a trait almost every freshman point must overcome before becoming a high-level player.
"At first, I was just so excited to be out there playing, that I was trying to make a lot of plays that weren't there," Kabongo said. "I was running the floor and no one was running with me. I have to pace myself so that my teammates are running with me when I'm running. I was pushing the fast break when it wasn't there.As the game slows down, I'm starting to realize when I can go and when I can't."
Statisticians track Kabongo's turnovers during games -- but Barnes began doing it in practice just so Kabongo could see how much his miscues were affecting the team.
"That one possession where you don't execute could come back to haunt you at the end of the game," Kabongo said. "I understand I can't make a lot of poor decisions for us to win."
Especially against the Tar Heels.
Occasionally, though, Kabongo seems almost too fast.
Multiple times this season, the 6-foot-1 freshman has sprinted up the court with the basketball and realized that none of his teammates were there with him. Instead of pulling back and waiting for them to catch up, Kabongo often tried to make things happen all by himself, which usually resulted in an ill-advised shot or a turnover.
"I needed to learn how to slow down and run my team," said Kabongo, chuckling during a phone interview with ESPN.com Tuesday night. "They need me to play great for us to be in games. I understand that now."
Apparently so.
Texas has won seven straight games -- all by double digits -- since a pair of early-season losses to Oregon State and North Carolina State. Kabongo is one of the main reasons. The Toronto native is averaging 12.8 points and 6.7 assists in his last six contests, which includes a season-high 18-point effort in Saturday's win over Temple.
Tonight Kabongo will face the toughest test of his career thus far when the Longhorns face No. 6 North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Texas has defeated the Tar Heels the last two seasons, but with a rotation that includes five freshmen and just three experienced players, Kabongo knows he'll have to be at his best if Texas has any hopes of a victory.
"I could try to tell you it's just another game, and it is," Kabongo said. "But at the same time, I'm excited for the opportunity for our team and our guys. It's a chance for us to get better. North Carolina has an NBA front court. It's a great chance for our freshmen to play against guys that are good so we can keep getting better and keep improving.
[+] Enlarge
Chris Williams/Icon SMITexas point guard Myck Kabongo is learning to slow down and involve his teammates.
Chris Williams/Icon SMITexas point guard Myck Kabongo is learning to slow down and involve his teammates.That Kabongo refers his teammates as "my guys" says everything you need to know about the freshman's confidence. Junior J'Covan Brown is the Longhorns' top scorer, and Alexis Wangmene and Clint Chapman are seniors. Still, even when he struggled early, Kabongo said he always viewed this as "his" team. That type of mind set has been missing in the Longhorns' backcourt the past few seasons, which may be one of the reasons Texas hasn't advanced past the second round of the NCAA tournament since 2008.
Kabongo is hopeful that will change this season. Texas lost big leads against Oregon State and North Carolina State in a pair of setbacks at the Legends Classic in New Jersey in mid-November. Frustrating as the losses were, Kabongo said they will benefit a young Texas team in the long run.
The Longhorns lost forward Tristan Thompson and guards Cory Joseph and Jordan Hamilton to the NBA draft, and under-appreciated forward Gary Johnson graduated.
"We're finishing games now," he said. "We know now that teams aren't going to quit playing at this level. In high school, if a team is down by 14 in the fourth quarter, they may just give up. But at this level teams are going to continue to push and push and push."
And when that happens, Kabongo must keep his poise. Barnes certainly wants Kabongo to use his speed to push the ball and beat opposing defenses down the court. But he said Kabongo needs to do a better job of "picking his spots."
Carelessness is a trait almost every freshman point must overcome before becoming a high-level player.
"At first, I was just so excited to be out there playing, that I was trying to make a lot of plays that weren't there," Kabongo said. "I was running the floor and no one was running with me. I have to pace myself so that my teammates are running with me when I'm running. I was pushing the fast break when it wasn't there.As the game slows down, I'm starting to realize when I can go and when I can't."
Statisticians track Kabongo's turnovers during games -- but Barnes began doing it in practice just so Kabongo could see how much his miscues were affecting the team.
"That one possession where you don't execute could come back to haunt you at the end of the game," Kabongo said. "I understand I can't make a lot of poor decisions for us to win."
Especially against the Tar Heels.
Hairston's 3-point shooting has been huge
December, 21, 2011
12/21/11
10:45
AM ET
By
Paul Biancardi | ESPN.com
Here is a look at P.J. Hairston's progress report thus far at North Carolina:
What he's doing well:
He came in with a reputation of the big-time shooter and he's consistently making 3-point shots at 39 percent, which an impressive number considering 49 of his 64 shot attempts are 3s.
Hairston possesses great size at 6-foot-6 that helps him see over most defenders and allows him to get a good look at the rim, which is what the best shooters want. Thanks to his quick trigger, most of his makes come without the use of a dribble.
By sprinting the floor and filling the lane, he gets opportunities in the transition game. However, the bulk of his attempts -- according to Synergy Sports -- come in the half-court setting, which means he understands the ball will find him by moving.
His free throw shooting (84 percent), while attempting three per game, is impressive -- especially when you consider he only averages 12 minutes per game. That means he is also trying to drive it and be more aggressive overall.
Read more
on the College Basketball Recruiting blog.
What he's doing well:
He came in with a reputation of the big-time shooter and he's consistently making 3-point shots at 39 percent, which an impressive number considering 49 of his 64 shot attempts are 3s.
Hairston possesses great size at 6-foot-6 that helps him see over most defenders and allows him to get a good look at the rim, which is what the best shooters want. Thanks to his quick trigger, most of his makes come without the use of a dribble.
By sprinting the floor and filling the lane, he gets opportunities in the transition game. However, the bulk of his attempts -- according to Synergy Sports -- come in the half-court setting, which means he understands the ball will find him by moving.
His free throw shooting (84 percent), while attempting three per game, is impressive -- especially when you consider he only averages 12 minutes per game. That means he is also trying to drive it and be more aggressive overall.
Read more
on the College Basketball Recruiting blog.CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Texas isn’t out to prove anything to anyone else when it faces No. 5/6 North Carolina at the Smith Center tonight, according to Longhorns freshman Myck Kabongo.
“It is about proving to ourselves that we can take steps as a team to get better than the day before,’’ he told reporters earlier this week.
This is a much younger Texas team than the ones that beat UNC up on the backboards two years ago in Arlington, Texas, and won a thriller in the final seconds in Greensboro, N.C., last season. Six of the Longhorns’ nine-man rotation are freshmen, and Texas began the season un-ranked for the first time to 2000-01. But Tar Heels coach Roy Williams knows his team faces a challenge.
“We’ve got to play probably the best game we have since Wisconsin [on Nov. 30, when they beat the top-10 Badgers by three points], and we’ve got to do some things better than we did in that game,’’ he said.
A few things to keep an eye on:
REBOUNDING
UNC has been inconsistent on the boards this season despite its tall frontcourt. But it pulled down 72 rebounds, the most since 1956, during Monday’s 50-point blowout of Nicholls State.
Considering the Longhorns have outrebounded UNC in the last two match-ups, the Tar Heels need to continue a positive rebounding trend.
“A lot of it is effort,’’ UNC forward Harrison Barnes said. “[Against Nicholls] we all made a conscious effort because coach was definitely stressing on us to rebound. … That kind of effort is going to help us so much more in terms of getting second shot opportunities and also not giving them second shot opportunities.
Texas’ tallest starters are a pair of 6-foot-7 forwards, but it is still out-rebounding foes by more than five boards per game.
“Rebounding has been emphasized from day one,’’ Texas coach Rick Barnes said.
BARNES’ SHOOTING
Barnes scored the game-tying 3-pointer for the Tar Heels last December, before Texas’ Cory Joseph ultimately made the game-winning bucket with 1.4 seconds left. This year, the sophomore leads UNC in scoring (16.1 per game), although he’s been in a shooting slump lately, going 4-for-12 with nine points each of his last two games.
Many of those misses have rolled in and out, or been just-off, making them somewhat more frustrating. But Barnes is confident he’ll get back on track.
“You just have to shake that off,’’ he said. “That’s just how the ball goes. You hope with those two performances I had in the last two games that it won’t carry onward into this Texas game, which is a very big game for us.”
J’COVAN BROWN
The Texas junior’s output has increased with his playing time. He’s averaging 12.1 more minutes (33.6) than last season, and is averaging 8.9 more points (team-leading 19.3 per game). He’s connecting on 45.8 percent of his field goals.
UNC junior Dexter Strickland’s goal, he said Tuesday, is to keep the ball out of his hands.
“Brown is doing a great job this season,” Strickland said. “… So my job tomorrow will be to try to limit his touches to the ball. He likes to catch and shoot, he’s very crafty with the ball, he’s a good one-on-one player.”
The Tar Heels have had some trouble with hot-shooting wings and guards. Most notably: Mississippi Valley State’s Brent Arrington recorded 33 points against the Tar Heels, and Long Beach State’s Casper Ware set his career high earlier this month with 29 points.
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
Radio show notes: Texas will be physical
December, 21, 2011
12/21/11
8:00
AM ET
By
Robbi Pickeral | ESPN.com
Texas may be more youth-laden than the Longhorns teams that have beaten the Tar Heels the last two seasons, but Joe Holladay, UNC's director of basketball operations, knows to expect one thing for certain in Wednesday night's matchup:
“Texas will be very physical,’’ Holladay, who was filling in for head coach Roy Williams on his weekly radio show, said Tuesday night.
Holladay said that coach Rick Barnes’ Texas teams aren’t quite as physical as the squads he coached at Clemson, but they’re always tough. It’s one of Barnes' trademarks.
“Different coaches have different reputations, his kids buy into that, and he recruits kids that will play that way,’’ he said. “I’m not saying dirty, but tough kids that will play hard, and they don’t mind putting that elbow in you.”
Holladay recalled the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2004, when Texas beat UNC 78-75 and “they physically beat us up. They had four or five big guys, and we had Sean May. In fact, it kind of turned us around, because Sean came back and got in shape and changed his whole body after that one beating he took that one game.”
(May shot 2-for-10 in that game, finishing with 11 points.)
Then two years ago, the Longhorns destroyed UNC on the backboards, out-rebounding the Tar Heels by a 60-41 margin. And UNC forward Harrison Barnes called last year's match-up, which the Tar Heels lost on a game-winning shot, the most physical game he had every been a part of.
“So it’s going to be a more physical game than we’re used to,’’ Holladay said. “… They’re a young team, but if you look at them, they’ll play fast. They average 80 points at home, and 79 ½ on the road, so they don’t back off.”
BETTER SHOTS? BETTER PERCENTAGE: Holladay said one of the reasons for junior Dexter Strickland's team-leading 57.6 percent shooting percentage is his dedication to improving his shot; the guard came to the gym almost every morning last semester to shoot for an extra hour.
Another reason: “I think the key to Dexter’s shot this year is he’s taking better shots. I love to see Dexter steal the ball and go dunk it; I love that shot. But he doesn’t take a lot of contested shots. He made a couple the other night in the game, but he’s taking better shots, and good shot selection usually leads to a higher percentage.”
QUOTEABLE: Holladay on junior guard Leslie McDonald, who was recently cleared to shoot at practice after offseason knee surgery, and hopes to be able to return to full workouts soon: ”I kind of judge Leslie every game by how he’s dancing [during the fan-favorite “Jump Around” dance, after introductions]. That’s how I’ve judged his knee improvement; it’s really coming along pretty good.”
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
“Texas will be very physical,’’ Holladay, who was filling in for head coach Roy Williams on his weekly radio show, said Tuesday night.
Holladay said that coach Rick Barnes’ Texas teams aren’t quite as physical as the squads he coached at Clemson, but they’re always tough. It’s one of Barnes' trademarks.
“Different coaches have different reputations, his kids buy into that, and he recruits kids that will play that way,’’ he said. “I’m not saying dirty, but tough kids that will play hard, and they don’t mind putting that elbow in you.”
Holladay recalled the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2004, when Texas beat UNC 78-75 and “they physically beat us up. They had four or five big guys, and we had Sean May. In fact, it kind of turned us around, because Sean came back and got in shape and changed his whole body after that one beating he took that one game.”
(May shot 2-for-10 in that game, finishing with 11 points.)
Then two years ago, the Longhorns destroyed UNC on the backboards, out-rebounding the Tar Heels by a 60-41 margin. And UNC forward Harrison Barnes called last year's match-up, which the Tar Heels lost on a game-winning shot, the most physical game he had every been a part of.
“So it’s going to be a more physical game than we’re used to,’’ Holladay said. “… They’re a young team, but if you look at them, they’ll play fast. They average 80 points at home, and 79 ½ on the road, so they don’t back off.”
BETTER SHOTS? BETTER PERCENTAGE: Holladay said one of the reasons for junior Dexter Strickland's team-leading 57.6 percent shooting percentage is his dedication to improving his shot; the guard came to the gym almost every morning last semester to shoot for an extra hour.
Another reason: “I think the key to Dexter’s shot this year is he’s taking better shots. I love to see Dexter steal the ball and go dunk it; I love that shot. But he doesn’t take a lot of contested shots. He made a couple the other night in the game, but he’s taking better shots, and good shot selection usually leads to a higher percentage.”
QUOTEABLE: Holladay on junior guard Leslie McDonald, who was recently cleared to shoot at practice after offseason knee surgery, and hopes to be able to return to full workouts soon: ”I kind of judge Leslie every game by how he’s dancing [during the fan-favorite “Jump Around” dance, after introductions]. That’s how I’ve judged his knee improvement; it’s really coming along pretty good.”
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
Horns' game-winner inspires Strickland
December, 20, 2011
12/20/11
4:30
PM ET
By
Robbi Pickeral | ESPN.com
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Dexter Strickland says he won’t ever forget Texas guard Cory Joseph’s game-winning basket last December -- when the Longhorns freshman drove to the top of the key, pump-faked to get Strickland airborne, and spun to loft a shot with 1.4 seconds left that ultimately gave his team a 78-76 victory.
The North Carolina junior calls the memory “heartbreaking.” But he also uses it for inspiration.
“You always have in the back of your mind, you always remember what happened," he said Tuesday. “And what you have to do is, you work even harder to make sure it doesn’t happen again. ... You’ve got to move on and get better.”
Strickland and his No. 5/6 ranked Tar Heels (10-2) will get a chance to show how much they have learned from that shot when Texas (9-2) comes to town Wednesday night.
This is a younger, smaller version of the Longhorns program that has topped UNC the last two seasons. Six freshmen are included in Texas’s regular nine-man rotation, while its starting forwards both stand 6-foot-7.
But the Longhorns still boast a sharpshooting perimeter threat in guard J’Covan Brown, who leads the team with 19.3 points per game and who Strickland called “crafty with the ball” and a “good one-on-one player.”
That means another test for the Tar Heels’ top perimeter defender. One he relishes.
“You should want to guard the best guy; it makes you better,’’ said Strickland, who is averaging 8.1 points. “So tomorrow, I’m planning on getting better. And I know it’s a good feeling for me, I know what I can do, my capability on defense, and I’m just ready to play.”
Strickland didn’t always feel that way about defense. The 6-3 speedster from New Jersey was known as a scorer in high school, so much so that after he committed to UNC his junior season, his high school coach used to yell at him about focusing more on defense. Tar Heels coach Roy Williams wouldn’t have it any other way, the coach warned.
But it wasn’t until after Strickland arrived in Chapel Hill that he started to embrace that role. With so many other scorers on the team, he knew he needed to find a way to earn minutes. Strickland also realized that the easiest way to get points was to get the ball back, meaning to steal it or rebound it or make the other guy miss.
If the other guy even got the ball at all.
“I think the thing that makes Dexter so unique [defensively] is that he just uses the simple logic of the guy’s easier to guard when he doesn’t have the ball," UNC forward Harrison Barnes said. “I think that makes him so much better at chasing screens, denying the ball from his man. I think that kind of takes the other team’s best player, which is the 2 guard, out of their rhythm, out of the flow of the offense.”
Which will be key to slowing Brown.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, when the 6-1 shooting guard has been on the court this season, he has taken 31.6 percent Texas’ shots — third-highest in the Big 12.
Thus, Strickland said, “my job tomorrow will be to try to limit his touches to the ball.”
Williams has shown great faith in Strickland’s abilities, calling the backup ballhandler a security blanket at point guard while “doing some great things defensively” from his starting shooting guard position.
He rides the junior harder than any other player, Williams conceded last month -- dubbing the player a “tough little nut” because he’s strong enough to take it.
Much like he was tough enough to take Joseph’s game-winner in stride last season. And learn from it.
“That was heartbreaking, especially because it was on me,’’ Strickland said. “But I think we have a great chance of getting them back this year.”
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
The North Carolina junior calls the memory “heartbreaking.” But he also uses it for inspiration.
[+] Enlarge
Rob Kinnan/US PresswireGuard Dexter Strickland has some specific tasks when the Tar Heels take on Texas on Wednesday.
Rob Kinnan/US PresswireGuard Dexter Strickland has some specific tasks when the Tar Heels take on Texas on Wednesday.Strickland and his No. 5/6 ranked Tar Heels (10-2) will get a chance to show how much they have learned from that shot when Texas (9-2) comes to town Wednesday night.
This is a younger, smaller version of the Longhorns program that has topped UNC the last two seasons. Six freshmen are included in Texas’s regular nine-man rotation, while its starting forwards both stand 6-foot-7.
But the Longhorns still boast a sharpshooting perimeter threat in guard J’Covan Brown, who leads the team with 19.3 points per game and who Strickland called “crafty with the ball” and a “good one-on-one player.”
That means another test for the Tar Heels’ top perimeter defender. One he relishes.
“You should want to guard the best guy; it makes you better,’’ said Strickland, who is averaging 8.1 points. “So tomorrow, I’m planning on getting better. And I know it’s a good feeling for me, I know what I can do, my capability on defense, and I’m just ready to play.”
Strickland didn’t always feel that way about defense. The 6-3 speedster from New Jersey was known as a scorer in high school, so much so that after he committed to UNC his junior season, his high school coach used to yell at him about focusing more on defense. Tar Heels coach Roy Williams wouldn’t have it any other way, the coach warned.
But it wasn’t until after Strickland arrived in Chapel Hill that he started to embrace that role. With so many other scorers on the team, he knew he needed to find a way to earn minutes. Strickland also realized that the easiest way to get points was to get the ball back, meaning to steal it or rebound it or make the other guy miss.
If the other guy even got the ball at all.
“I think the thing that makes Dexter so unique [defensively] is that he just uses the simple logic of the guy’s easier to guard when he doesn’t have the ball," UNC forward Harrison Barnes said. “I think that makes him so much better at chasing screens, denying the ball from his man. I think that kind of takes the other team’s best player, which is the 2 guard, out of their rhythm, out of the flow of the offense.”
Which will be key to slowing Brown.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, when the 6-1 shooting guard has been on the court this season, he has taken 31.6 percent Texas’ shots — third-highest in the Big 12.
Thus, Strickland said, “my job tomorrow will be to try to limit his touches to the ball.”
Williams has shown great faith in Strickland’s abilities, calling the backup ballhandler a security blanket at point guard while “doing some great things defensively” from his starting shooting guard position.
He rides the junior harder than any other player, Williams conceded last month -- dubbing the player a “tough little nut” because he’s strong enough to take it.
Much like he was tough enough to take Joseph’s game-winner in stride last season. And learn from it.
“That was heartbreaking, especially because it was on me,’’ Strickland said. “But I think we have a great chance of getting them back this year.”
Follow Robbi Pickeral on Twitter at @bylinerp.
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.