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.
Kathy from Tampa, Fla.: So, it’s been noted everywhere that no national championship team since 1980 has lost by as much as UNC. What do you think? Does this mean they have no chance?
Pickeral: One loss doesn’t make a season, Kathy, but it could shape it. As I’ve pointed out this week, the Tar Heels have plenty of work to do after losing by 33 points at Florida State on Saturday -- from hitting more outside shots, to connecting on free throws, to getting more from their bench, to showing more poise on the road.
But what bothers me the most is this whole intensity deal. Coach Roy Williams has said this isn’t a naturally intense team, and that he’s trying to create more competition in practice to increase the intensity vibe. But should he really have to?
With so much talent, so many NBA prospects, on this squad, perhaps these Tar Heels thought they could skate through. Playing nine straight games at home, with little competition, may have inflated that belief. But it’s no excuse for a team that is supposed to be so much better, both physically and mentally.
My colleague, ESPN.com’s Jason King, made some good points earlier this week when he wrote:
That said, it could be done. Folks panicked back in 2008-09, when the Tar Heels lost their first two ACC games. That team went on to win the national title. UNC looked like it was going to implode again last year, when it lost by 20 points at Georgia Tech -- only to win 17 of its last 20 games, and make a surprising trip to the Elite Eight.
The most lopsided loss in the Williams era should be like ice-water to the Tar Heels' faces (and fire to their veins), and we’ll (start to) see when the Tar Heels play at Va. Tech on Thursday night. Unlike the game following last year’s loss to the Yellow Jackets, Williams has said there won’t be a lineup change this time around.
That means this team, which features mostly the same players as that one, is going to have to prove it boasts more than just talent. The Tar Heels have to prove they are tenacious and intense and mentally tough in order to make history. Can they do it? We'll see.
Ed from Charlotte: Where were you when the FSU fans rushed the floor [Saturday]?
Pickeral: Beat writers from the (Raleigh) News & Observer, InsideCarolina, The Daily Tar Heel and I were sitting behind the baseline, in the corner nearest UNC’s bench, and we came out unscratched (thanks for asking).
In retrospect, what UNC officials didn’t realize -- or weren’t told, or didn’t ask -- when most of the team walked off the court with 14.2 seconds left was that there was an exit in the corner nearest their bench that the Tar Heels could have used, rather than walking out in front of FSU’s bench early.
In all of the hubbub of an embarrassing 33-point loss, and the fans lining up in the aisles to rush the court, I’ve been told that UNC didn’t know it could exit that way. With a couple minutes left, security started flooding that entry/escape, preparing to help with crowd control.
But that’s how the beat writers got out.
Scott from Rhode Island: A lot’s been made of Roy Williams taking his team off the court with 14.2 second left. But he’s not the first one to do it, is he?
Pickeral: No. As Jeff Mills at the Greensboro News & Record pointed out earlier this week, the last time it happened in recent ACC memory was in 2006, also at Florida State. That night, when the Seminoles beat the top-ranked Blue Devils 79-74, fans began running onto the court with 1.7 seconds left. Officials delayed the game, and during that time, coach Mike Krzyzewski sent all of his players, except the five left on the court, to the locker room. Krzyzewski stayed with the quintet that was left.
Brandon from Virginia Beach, Va.: I watched the Duke-UVa game last night, and I couldn't help but notice how bad of a free throw shooter Mason Plumlee was. When UNC plays Duke on February 8th, do you think that Hack-a-Mason will be part of their gameplan, and how much do you think it would come into play in the outcome of the game?
Pickeral: Depends on how close the game is -- because Duke could easily play hack-a-Henson, as well.
While Plumlee was 2-for-10 from the line that game and has made 42.3 percent of his free throws this season, UNC junior John Henson hasn't fared much better. Hens0n is making only 45.3 percent of his free throws. The UNC team, as a whole, is making only 63.7 percent.
The Tar Heels insist they make ‘em in practice, but that it’s just not consistently carrying over to games. It’s another area they need to continue to improve, before it comes back and bites them in a close game.
Kathy from Tampa, Fla.: So, it’s been noted everywhere that no national championship team since 1980 has lost by as much as UNC. What do you think? Does this mean they have no chance?
Pickeral: One loss doesn’t make a season, Kathy, but it could shape it. As I’ve pointed out this week, the Tar Heels have plenty of work to do after losing by 33 points at Florida State on Saturday -- from hitting more outside shots, to connecting on free throws, to getting more from their bench, to showing more poise on the road.
But what bothers me the most is this whole intensity deal. Coach Roy Williams has said this isn’t a naturally intense team, and that he’s trying to create more competition in practice to increase the intensity vibe. But should he really have to?
With so much talent, so many NBA prospects, on this squad, perhaps these Tar Heels thought they could skate through. Playing nine straight games at home, with little competition, may have inflated that belief. But it’s no excuse for a team that is supposed to be so much better, both physically and mentally.
My colleague, ESPN.com’s Jason King, made some good points earlier this week when he wrote:
“Elite teams lose games, but they don't lie down, they don't fold and they don't get embarrassed -- especially against mid-tier opponents. The Tar Heels are clearly missing something, and it has nothing to do with talent. They lack fire, energy, passion and, most of all, swagger.
“Bringing out all of those things in his players -- if they even exist -- will take one of the best coaching jobs of Williams' Hall of Fame career.”
That said, it could be done. Folks panicked back in 2008-09, when the Tar Heels lost their first two ACC games. That team went on to win the national title. UNC looked like it was going to implode again last year, when it lost by 20 points at Georgia Tech -- only to win 17 of its last 20 games, and make a surprising trip to the Elite Eight.
The most lopsided loss in the Williams era should be like ice-water to the Tar Heels' faces (and fire to their veins), and we’ll (start to) see when the Tar Heels play at Va. Tech on Thursday night. Unlike the game following last year’s loss to the Yellow Jackets, Williams has said there won’t be a lineup change this time around.
That means this team, which features mostly the same players as that one, is going to have to prove it boasts more than just talent. The Tar Heels have to prove they are tenacious and intense and mentally tough in order to make history. Can they do it? We'll see.
Ed from Charlotte: Where were you when the FSU fans rushed the floor [Saturday]?
Pickeral: Beat writers from the (Raleigh) News & Observer, InsideCarolina, The Daily Tar Heel and I were sitting behind the baseline, in the corner nearest UNC’s bench, and we came out unscratched (thanks for asking).
In retrospect, what UNC officials didn’t realize -- or weren’t told, or didn’t ask -- when most of the team walked off the court with 14.2 seconds left was that there was an exit in the corner nearest their bench that the Tar Heels could have used, rather than walking out in front of FSU’s bench early.
In all of the hubbub of an embarrassing 33-point loss, and the fans lining up in the aisles to rush the court, I’ve been told that UNC didn’t know it could exit that way. With a couple minutes left, security started flooding that entry/escape, preparing to help with crowd control.
But that’s how the beat writers got out.
Scott from Rhode Island: A lot’s been made of Roy Williams taking his team off the court with 14.2 second left. But he’s not the first one to do it, is he?
Pickeral: No. As Jeff Mills at the Greensboro News & Record pointed out earlier this week, the last time it happened in recent ACC memory was in 2006, also at Florida State. That night, when the Seminoles beat the top-ranked Blue Devils 79-74, fans began running onto the court with 1.7 seconds left. Officials delayed the game, and during that time, coach Mike Krzyzewski sent all of his players, except the five left on the court, to the locker room. Krzyzewski stayed with the quintet that was left.
Brandon from Virginia Beach, Va.: I watched the Duke-UVa game last night, and I couldn't help but notice how bad of a free throw shooter Mason Plumlee was. When UNC plays Duke on February 8th, do you think that Hack-a-Mason will be part of their gameplan, and how much do you think it would come into play in the outcome of the game?
Pickeral: Depends on how close the game is -- because Duke could easily play hack-a-Henson, as well.
While Plumlee was 2-for-10 from the line that game and has made 42.3 percent of his free throws this season, UNC junior John Henson hasn't fared much better. Hens0n is making only 45.3 percent of his free throws. The UNC team, as a whole, is making only 63.7 percent.
The Tar Heels insist they make ‘em in practice, but that it’s just not consistently carrying over to games. It’s another area they need to continue to improve, before it comes back and bites them in a close game.
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.
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