I Saw Wayne Ellington Last Night

I know it's only one game, and it was against Hofstra, and it was only the second game of the season - but how great was it to see Carolina make shots?  The Heels shot 56 percent for the game on the way to scoring a Hansbrough-era 107 points last night in Puerto Rico.

But it was not a Hansbrough night; the win instead evoked Wayne Ellington, Danny Green, Ty Lawson.  Safe to say the Heels have not shot it this well since the first half against Michigan State in the 2009 championship game. 

There were two distressing things about last year (of course, there were more than two; there we eleven ACC losses, and 17 overall).  For me, the two most distressing things were: the lack of offense, and the lack of getting what Carolina basketball was.

Last night's performance shows this year's squad may - again, it's only one game - get it.  Besides the great shooting and excellent passing and ball distribution, I offer this great quote from Leslie McDonald (a career high 16 points on 5-for-9 with four threes):  "We attack the middle, give it to the big men, they pass it out, and we're getting shots."

Not only are they getting shots - THAT'S Carolina basketball.

A few more notes before my battery dies:

• Harrison Barnes looked like an all-American in the first half.  He was pretty assertive and looked for his shot without forcing things.  He was scoreless in the second half but had an impressive game nonetheless.
• Zeller was a bit more aggressive last night, which was nice to see.  Loved the alley-oop off the patented Carolina back screen.
• Did not notice Larry Drew II in this game, which is good. He got the ball to where it needed to go, but it seemed like in the first half the game went through Barnes not Drew II.
• Kendell Marshall had 9 assists in less than 20 minutes.  Like this guy alot.
• McDonald had a beautiful stroke last night.  Excellent rotation.
• But in addition to the shooting, the story of the game for me was once again John Henson.  Not that his filled out the box score like he did against Lipscomb, but rather in the way he flowed and reacted.  He is some more comfortable this season.  Expect HUGE things from our thin power forward this season if he flow continues.