The Missing Piece of the Puzzle

      UNC's Tar Heels started off the season looking like a potentially great team, winning two games by double digits over weaker teams, but recognizably missing the presence of All American senior guard Marcus Paige.

     Behind great inside play from center Kennedy Meeks, and consistent outside shooting from guard Nate Britt, Carolina turned away a tempestuous Temple team and a better-than-fair Fairfield team.  Both teams stayed too close in the first half, before Carolina pulled away in the second stanza.  C Meeks (25 & 11) and F Brice Johnson (16 & 10) combined for 41 points and 21 rebounds in the Temple game, while G Britt shot an accurate 11--17 in both games and scored a career high 17 points against Fairfield, while backcourt partner G Joel Berry II also scored 29 points in the two games.

    UNC was able to dominate the boards and score many easy baskets against these weaker opponents.  Whenever the defense collapsed or the score got too uncomfortably close, the Tar Heels turned to three-point shooting to open up the margin.   There were significant fast breaks, but the team's breaks did not seem to flow as freely as they do with the ball in Carolina's starting point guard's hands.

Marcus Paige: Missing Piece of Puzzle ?

    Carolina will no doubt maintain their #1 Ranking in most of the nation's college basketball polls, but will face several severe tests over the next two weeks as they patiently await the return of Paige to the starting lineup.  Originally from the Hawkeye state, Paige will most definitely miss his "home" game against Northern Iowa on Nov. 21.   But the Heels' biggest challenge, with or without him,  will most likely come on Dec. 1, when they will play #3 Maryland in the ACC--Big 10 Challenge.   

    With the return of Marcus Paige, we will get a glimpse of how good the Tar Heels can really be this year, for he will not only be improved, but will also make all of Carolina's players better. The pundits have spoken, and give the Tar Heels the nod for chasing another national title this year.  There will be many hurdles before then, but with the team intact, they should be able to face and overcome them.

NEXT TAR HEELS BLOG :  Tar Heels Turn The Paige

Getting Ready for 2015

DOUBLE TROUBLE

   It's just about that time.  Football starts back in the fall, then you get a glimpse of basketball starting in October.  By November, we're in full swing with both sports.  In some ways, it's a favorite time of the year for me, although I'd much prefer a milder climate in the winter.  But if I moved to-- say Arizona or back to Florida-- I could still have my football and basketball, only I'd have to always watch on TV rather than in person.

  Speaking of live sports, I do enjoy going to games.  I'm hoping to go to both Panthers football and Tar Heels basketball games this year.  It would be nice if a fellow sports fan and friend {I honestly do NOT have any one person in mind} would read this, and think of me when they are ordering their tickets.  But either way, I still enjoy watching the games, even if it is on television, and as my dad used to say, "you've got the best seat in the house, without leaving yours."

BAD AND SAD MEMORIES

  I find it quite ironic that Wisconsin beat the Tar Heels in the Sweet Sixteen earlier this year, and then the Charlotte Hornets selected their center Frank Kaminsky III in the NBA draft.  It's sorta like watching Steve Kerr play with Michael Jordan on the Bulls' championship teams, or at one point, seeing Glen Rice play for the Hornets, after Kerr's Arizona and Rice's Michigan teams ousted the Tar Heels from the NCAA tournament in 1988-89.  At least Rick Mount (Purdue) or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (UCLA) never played pro ball in Carolina after they devastated UNC in the tournament.

   I'm thinking of writing an essay or article on all of the various "if's, and's, and but's" in Tar Heels' basketball history.  These would obviously include the two aforementioned examples, as well as UNC point guards Phil Ford's (1977), Kenny Smith's (1984), and Kendall Marshall's (2012) key injuries on the road to potential championships.

SUBJECTIVE PROSPECTIVE
   
   It looks as though the Tar Heels are looking fairly optimistic this year, with all but one (J.P. Tokoto) of their five starters returning.  However, that does NOT mean that all four of the returners will be starting for the Heels.   Remember several years ago, when UNC was forced, due to injuries, transfers, and personnel, to start three or even four guards in their lineup?   Well, last year was like a flip-flop year, in which they had 6'9" Kennedy Meeks, 6'9" Brice Johnson, and 6'8" Justin Jackson all playing with 6'1" point guard Marcus Paige.  

   This year brings in two highly touted freshmen, local native (Huntersville, NC) Luke Haye, a 6'7" forward, and 6'4" shooting guard Kenny Williams (from Virginia).  Ever since the advent of P.J. Hairston, the Tar Heels have lacked an accurate outside shooting threat, and Williams just may be the answer this year.  In addition, Haye, while not a guard, also won a three-point shooting contest at a Florida high school all-star game.  Look for the new freshman Williams to join senior Marcus Paige in UNC's backcourt this year, along with Meeks, Johnson, and Jackson in the frontcourt.  Carolina's key reserves this year will be Joel Berry II, Isaiah Hicks, Theo Pinson, and Joel James.

JUST HOW GOOD ARE THE TAR HEELS?

   How good will the 2015-16 UNC Tar Heels be?  Well-- if you're asking the so-called experts, NBC Sports and USA Today both list Carolina as the #1 team in their Top 25 preseason poll, and ESPN rates them at #3.  

   I'm sure Duke and Virginia, as well as an improved NC State, will have something to say, both on and off the court, about this, but my overall impression is that with a team returning most of their upperclassmen, and adding two find recruits in Haye and Williams, the Tar Heels won't be hurting at all.

   We may find out more about this year's potential for Carolina when they travel to play either Kansas State or Missouri on Nov. 24, and UCLA on Dec. 19.

   Until next time, I am your 'Couch Potato' sports analyst, signing off.

Tar Heels Face Wisconsin

  The Carolina Tar Heels rolled into the SWEET SIXTEEN by knocking off Arkansas, 87-78. The game was close in the first half, but then UNC star guard Marcus Paige scored 20 of his 22 points in the second half to pull the Heels ahead and allow them to break away in the closing minutes.

  Now UNC advances to the round of 16 for a record 26th time, but faces the #1 seed Wisconsin.  Even if Carolina upsets Wisconsin to play in the West Regional final, it will most likely face another behemoth in #2 seed Arizona.  Both the Badgers and the Wildcats sport identical 31-3 records, two of the best season records in the tournament.  

DAVID & GOLIATH

  The UNC-Wisconsin game measures up as a David vs. Goliath matchup, not only because of the Badgers' impressive record, but because of the stars of the respective teams.  While 6'1"guard Marcus Paige leads the Tar Heels, 7'0" giant Frank Kaminsky is the leader of the Wisconsin squad.  They also are their team's scoring leaders at 18.4 (Kaminsky) and 14.1 (Paige).  The underdog role is heightened by the fact that UNC big man Kennedy Meeks went down in the Arkansas game with a left knee sprain, and is considered unlikely to play on Thursday night against Wisconsin.

   It is my opinion that UNC will pound the ball inside, hoping to get Kaminsky in foul trouble;  while Wisconsin is loaded with big, tall players, none of them is as potent inside as is Frank Kaminsky.  So getting him into foul trouble early would greatly help the Tar Heels' chances.

   The Tar Heels will have to shoot well, and handle the ball better than they did against either Harvard or Arkansas, to be able to win against Wisconsin.

   While Carolina's record of 26-11 isn't as impressive as either Wisconsin's or Arizona's, they have come on strong lately, especially in the postseason, beating Virginia in the ACC semifinals and two hard-fought wins in the first two rounds of the NCAA's.   They are a definite underdog to Wisconsin, but not a huge underdog.  The Badgers are favored by a mere five points.

   If UNC gets out of the West region, I really like their chances in the Final Four.  Some of this feeling stems from my thoughts that more high seeded teams are likely to get knocked off before it comes down to Indianapolis.   In particular, I'm looking for Kentucky and Duke to fall, but that is not a certainty.  Either way, if the Heels get to that point, they will be playing good enough basketball to win it all.

   But that doesn't really help them this weekend.  More updates after the Wisconsin game.   Here's hoping for a victory on Thursday night, and advancing to the Regional Final.

  GO  TAR  HEELS!  

UNC vs. Harvard-- The Tar Heels Escape

   It's been awhile since I've written about Tar Heels basketball.  This blog was meant to be a game-by-game coverage of UNC's seasons.  As I've said before, I don't get paid for this, so sometimes other things take precedence, and lapses do occur.  I apologize to you for this.  

  This 2014-15 season for UNC basketball has been a series of ups and downs.  The team is 25-11 and should be about 31-5... in my opinion.  The only losses that I see as excusable are those to Duke, Virginia, or Kentucky.  The other losses were to weaker teams, and were due to poor and inconsistent play on the part of Carolina.  In many of these losses, the Tar Heels held a double-digit lead late in the second half, and managed to squander it away.

   The same was also true tonight in the opening NCAA Tournament game against Harvard;  however, UNC somehow held on to win the game, 67-65, and advance to the next round.  Carolina led by as many as 16 points in the second half, but allowed Harvard to claw its way back into the game, and actually take the lead at one point.

Justin Jackson

   Freshman Justin Jackson and Marcus Paige led the way with 14 and 12 points, while Isiah Hicks provided some good play off the bench.   UNC won despite allowing a game-high 26 points to Harvard ace Wesley Saunders.

   The bottom line in tonight's game was--- the Tar Heels played well enough to win... but barely escaped.  A three-point shot by Harvard with less than a second on the clock could have sent Carolina home for the season, but caromed off the back of the rim.   As is the usual case, the Heels played extremely well in spurts, but as Paige put it, (they) "got complacent" in the second half.  This changed a potential blow-out into a close game at the end.  For some fans, this would've been an entertaining game to watch.  For Tar Heels fans, we wish they would "put the nail in the coffin" when they have a game in hand.  

   If UNC is to advance much farther, they must play each game consistently for forty minutes.   These inconsistent lapses will not hold up in games against better teams in their WEST bracket like Wisconsin or Arizona, both with 31-3 records.   

NEXT UP :  WOFFORD or ARKANSAS

Saturday (3/21)

The Anatomy of a Defeat

NCAA Regional Quarterfinal

   Most analysts and fans point to the final 30 seconds of the NCAA regional quarterfinal between UNC and Iowa State as the crucial point in the game, in which the Tar Heels lost the ball, and subsequently the game, as Iowa State player DeAndre Kane, who was a thorn in Carolina's side all day long, drove the lane and scored on a layup.  After both teams had led by as many as eight or nine points, the game came down to one deciding shot.

        
   Or they will point to the aftermath, in which panic and frenzy ensued, as freshman Nate Britt dribbled the ball upcourt, thinking there was still time on the clock.  The referees ended the game in a dead ball huddle,  determining that there was actually no time left on the clock, when the scoreboard showed otherwise.  Apparently, the scorekeeper turned the clock off and forgot or neglected to turn it back on.

   
  These plays obviously seemed like the determining factors in the game.

  Or were they ?

  While UNC guard Marcus Paige openly took blame for the defeat, it was not necessarily his turnover with 0:31 left on the clock that ultimately led to UNC's meltdown loss.  The Tar Heels had trailed by as many as nine points (35-26) in the first half, and seven in the second stanza, before they rallied and fought back to go ahead THREE DIFFERENT TIMES by eight, the last time by 76-68 at 4:24 left.   The Tar Heels steal the ball, and at the other end, Paige immediately hoists up a 3-point shot, which in most cases, would've counted.  He's almost 40% from the arc, and a lot higher percentage in clutch situations.  This time, though, it caromed off the rim.  Naz Long rebounded, then received a pass on the other end where he connected on a 3-point shot to trim the lead to five, 76-71.

  It was on this critical exchange where the Tar Heels lost both the momentum and the game.  Am I saying that it was impossible that they could've won the game ?  No.  It was highly possible.  But rather than depending on last-second heroics, UNC could've bagged the game at the 4:00 mark.  Paige's shot would've given Carolina an 11-point cushion had he made it.  Even better, Paige could've chosen to push the ball inside to either McAdoo or Meeks, who had been scoring down low all game, for a 10-point lead.  Either way, we would've had a double-digit lead and incredible momentum going into the last four minutes.  I am convinced that we would've won going away, had we been successful on this one play.

   Instead, we had a six-point turnaround.  Instead of an 11-point lead, it became five. Then, with less than a minute to go, Naz Long made another 3-pointer to tie the game for the second time in three minutes at 81-81.   We "could've" pulled the game out.  But by this time, the momentum and confidence had clearly shifted to Iowa State.  

   As I've said before, a player only has seconds to think about a decision in a game, then they have months to think about it afterwards.   

   Marcus Paige says that he knows the Tar Heels blew this game.  But he's also excited and looking forward to the upcoming 2014-15 season.  Carolina has most of its starters returning, plus the #3 recruiting class in the nation.  It should be a promising year for us.  

   Ya know.. we've been on the "good" end of a blown game before.  Freddie Brown's errant pass in 1982, and Chris Webber's time out in 2003, have an unfortunate legacy that will follow them the rest of their lives.  Both of those plays resulted in UNC clinching a NCAA championship.  

  Then, we've been on the "bad" end too.. the 1977 Four Corners fiasco with Marquette, injuries to Kenny Smith in 1984 and Kendall Marshall in 2011.   We can look back at the good and savor it, and look back at the bad, and say..

   "If only.. "

CYCLONES RIP OUT CAROLINA’S HEART

Carolina's LAST game of the Year : UNC vs. Iowa State
 

Notes from the UNC-Iowa State game

__________________________________________________________

First Half Highlights :

Story of runs and cold spells :

Carolina ahead 14-7 early in game

Iowa State goes on 28-12 run to take a 9-point lead, 35-26.

UNC comes back on 11-5 run to cut lead to 3 at half, 40-37.

COLD SHOOTING :

Iowa State has been giving UNC the long shot, but they’ve not been hitting them.

Marcus Paige has 9 points and one 3-pointer at half and shot 37%.

Carolina shot 33% from 3-point arc (4-12), while Iowa State shot 47% on three’s.

PG DeAndre Kane, whose season avg. is 17 ppg, led ISU with 15 pts and 8 rebounds.

Leslie McDonald led UNC with 12 pts

__________________________________________________________

Second Half Highlights :

Tar Heels start out 4-1 to tie the game, 41-41, at  .  But then Iowa State went 7-0 to go ahead, 48-41.

J.P. Tokoto steal results in a dunk at 15:32, Iowa State up 48-45.

Leslie McDonald hits a “3” at 13:15 to tie the game at 52-52, he has 15 points and 3/7 on three pointers

Paige hits 3-pointer at 11:14 to put UNC up, 56-55.  Then Justin Hogue completes 3-point play at foul line to put Iowa State back up, 58-56.

McDonald steals, then Kennedy Meeks layup and another Paige 3-pointer finishes a 10-0 run by the Tar Heels for a six-point lead, 66-60 at 8-minute mark. 

Marcus Paige steals at the 6:30 mark and takes it for a layup and a 70-62 UNC lead.

Meeks & McAdoo have been dominating the boards, getting offensive boards and follow lay-ups.

UNC seemed poised and ready to put the game away with three different 8-point leads, the last one at 76-68 on a Meeks layup.

Carolina stole the ball and had an opportunity to raise the lead to eleven at the 4:00 mark, but Paige missed a 3-point shot.  Instead, Long hit a 3-pointer for ISU to cut the lead to five. 

But two Iowa State 3-point shots draw the score to two, at the 3:00 mark, then a layup ties the game at 76 with 2:00 to go.  ISU on an 8-0 run.

McDonald clutch 3-pointer at 1:30, Tar Heels up 3, 79-76.  Trade layups, then Long hits a 3-pointer to tie the game at 81, with less than a minute (50.9).

Steal and long pass for layup puts ISU up, 83-81, with 28 seconds left in the game.

McAdoo calmly hits two free throws at 15.7 seconds to tie game.

Driving layup with less than three seconds by Kane puts Iowa State ahead, 85-83.

A Tar Heels timeout was called late, and the referees called the game over.   Iowa State 85, UNC 83.

IT'S ALL OVER FOLKS!   THERE GOES OUR SEASON!

 Actually, it wasn't a BAD season.. just a BAD ending.. 

 

The Mercy of Providence

    I had high hopes for UNC and their chances against Providence on Friday night.  And I'm still a believer in the Tar Heels and their chances moving forward in the NCAA Tournament.  Part of that is a biased preference and passion for Carolina.  I've been a fan of the Heels ever since I was about 10 or 12 years old.  I went to their basketball camp two years in a row [I don't know for what purpose!].   I don't think that I've missed more than a handful of UNC's games over the last four decades. [Yes!]  But I have to admit, as one of my friends remarked, "They have to play better than this!"  Yes, I agree with him.

Providence was no E-Z Opponent

   For a long while on Friday, it appeared as if the Providence Friars had control of this basketball game.  They started off hitting four of their first five shots, but UNC hung in there, only down one, 9-8.  As the first half progressed, Carolina actually went ahead and built as much as a six to eight-point lead.  An impressive steal and spin dunk by J.P. Tokoto put the Heels up 37-30 with 3 1/2 minutes left.  Then PU's talented PG Bryce Cotton took over, as he did so many different times in this game, and brought Providence back to within three at the half, 39-36.

   A brief crowd pleaser occurred as the first half buzzer sounded.  Marcus Paige heaved a prayer from beyond the half court line that swished, but alas, it had been released just a half second too late to count.

   Coach Roy Williams said at halftime, "We need to play better."  This seems like a season-long mantra, more than a passing observation.   It served to hold true, as the Tar Heels were to just barely get out with their Basketball Lives in the second half.

    It appeared early in the 2nd half as if UNC would blow this game out, as they came out determined, and through several steals, layups, and dunks, ran out to leads of 45-38 and then 54-45.  But it was not to be, as BU's Cotton again led a comeback to bring this game right down to the wire.  

Providence star Bryce Cotton

   As Cotton performed his heroics, the Tar Heels went an amazing three minutes without scoring a point, and Providence went on an 11-0 run to take the lead for the first time in the half, 60-58.  At this point, UNC looked dazed and confused, and had no rhythm or rhyme in their offense, and absolutely no answer for Bryce Cotton and his amazing shooting and ballhandling display.

   Only our version of the Bryce/Brice combo, Brice Johnson, was able to keep us in the game with some key plays, while star guard Marcus Paige was battling a cold shooting night.  Then, suddenly, at the 3:00 and 1:05 marks, Paige came alive as he drilled two separate 3-pointers, each tying the score at 71-71 and 77-77.

   After a Providence missed layup, the Tar Heels rebounded and James Michael McAdoo was fouled on an offensive rebound and went to the line twice, with less than four seconds to go.  He made the first free throw, then missed and got his own rebound, and was promptly fouled again.   Once again, he hit the first, but missed the second.  However, this time, the rebound was lost as time expired.

   After the game, I heard some sportscaster praising McAdoo for "winning the game" for Carolina.  I must argue a point : McAdoo only made two of four free throws with only seconds to go in the game.   What happens when he, or another poor Carolina free throw shooter, goes to the line, down two or four points, in the closing seconds?   It's easy pontificating from the sidelines, but we need some guys (other than Paige and Britt) who can step up to the line and take care of business.. in the clutch.   If not, then missed foul shots may prove to be our downfall and send us home to contemplate next year.

  UNC wins, 79-77.  The Mercy of Providence.  

    NEXT GAME : SUN MARCH 23 vs. IOWA STATE