Watching Carolina's game versus Pitt yesterday my fandom matched the level of play from the Heels. Given the news of the week, losing a basketball game on the road did not seem that big of a deal. I shrugged off the loss, unaffected, much the same way the players seemed to.
That said, there were some interesting basketball-game related insights.
- Despite sleepwalking through much of the game the Heels DID tie it up late in the first half. But at the under-four time out the wheels fell off - and stayed off.
- That run to tie the game was led by Kennedy Meeks, who came off the bench for the second game in a row. I imagine, or more to the point hope, that Meeks will be back in the starting line up versus Duke. As much as Isaiah Hicks has improved the Heels are strongest when Brice Johnson and Meeks are feeding off each other.
- The other player who helped lead that run was Joel Berry. It was great to see the Florida freshman step up and play with confidence; he was so confident Roy had him start the second half at the point.
- As good as it was to see Berry contribute it was also an admission that Nate Britt, after a great couple of games highlighted by his performance against Syracuse, and J.P. Tokoto have regressed in the last 4 games. We need both to get back to their A game if this team is to compete for an ACC championship and make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.
- This week's game at Duke may be just what this team needs. This is a good team, one that should regain it's focus and mojo in Cameron Indoor Stadium. Never underestimate how some adversity can help get a team back on track.
Finally, a huge 'point to the passer' to the University of Pittsburgh student section.
Not only did the students unveil this banner but they also presented Roy with a signed card offering their condolences for Coach Smith's death. Those gracious actions from the self proclaimed Oakland Zoo prompted Roy to say "College athletics is not all bad. There are some darn good things that happen."
Kudos to the Oakland Zoo for the ultimate Dean move. Point to the passer!
It's only Tuesday but what a week. First, Tsipras and Syriza sweep into power in Greece, and President Obama decides to protect 12 million acres in the Arctic Refuge including the coastal plain as wilderness, both on Sunday.
But of course I can't stop thinking about Monday night and Carolina's beat down of Syracuse. It was one of those games where the Heels looked terrible, at least for the first twenty minutes, with turnovers and unforced errors all over the Dean Dome. Even 5 minutes into the second the Heels still trailed and the Orange controlled the game.
Then, all of a sudden you look up and the Heels are up 10, have scored more than 90 points against a historically tough defense, and shoot better than 60 percent in the second half and better than 55 percent for the game.
This team is starting to come together at the right time, and are looking both dangerous and intriguing at the same time.
Best of all, it's been vintage Carolina basketball.
One reason the Heels are shooting it so well is they are steadily and competently feeding the post, Dean style, for easy baskets. Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks have been feasting inside, with Johnson making 57 percent of his shots while Meeks makes 58 percent.
And of course it's not a coincidence that those two have benefited from the return of a more confident Marcus Paige. Paige has been good most of the season, as was Carolina. But of late he has been great; ditto the Heels.
A Few More Thoughts
- I've always liked Nate Britt since he was born and raised inside the Beltway. If he plays like he did last night...man oh man!
- He had a rough game last night, but Justin Jackson is also coming on. After being reminded to be aggressive he had games of 17 and 16 versus Virginia Tech and FSU.
- This week may be the true test to see if this team is peaking and worthy of the loftiest of expectations. The Heels travel to the YUM! Center to take on the Cardinals, then return to Chapel Hill on Monday, Feb. 2nd to take on undefeated Virginia.
GO HEELS!
There'll be a Carolina victory - every time the Tar Heels play Michigan State. What a great win in East Lansing against the undefeated and top-ranked Spartans,* again.
Many if not all the post-game stories included words or sentiments such as 'unexpected' or 'upset' but as we all know, when Carolina wins it's never an upset. Even against number one on the road, even after a loss to UAB. Carolina is Carolina.
Carolina basketball is a feeling as much as it is a system (a term Dean hated) or philosophy. That feel extends to fans, too. For instance, five minutes into the game in Birmingham I imagine most Carolina fans knew - as I felt - that we were going to lose. The Heels came out flat, listless, and disengaged thanks to a combination of (a week off)+ (a little too much post-Louisville hubris)=loss.
But those kinds of games are to be expected from a young team still learning it's way.
Five minutes into the game versus Michigan State I felt - I knew, I tweeted - the Heels were going to win.
Why? Because we looked like Carolina. Carolina forced a terrible shot on Michigan State's initial possession to start the game. On the other end we immediately went inside, as Dean taught for years, something that worked ALL night.
It was Carolina blue heaven all night.
- The Heels were relentless in feeding the post, as Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks, and Joel James were getting lots of touches and making lots of shots.
- When someone missed, Johnson, Meeks, and especially J.P. Tokoto were there for the offensive rebound. Tokoto also seemed to grab every lose ball.
- If we weren't feeding the post the Heels were taking it to the rack. Nate Britt was fantastic both looking for his shot and getting the ball down low, as was Marcus Page. And Tokoto.
- Our aggressiveness on offense led us to the free-throw line, where at least for one night the Heels were awesome (especially Britt late, less so for James Michael McAdoo).
Feeding the post, rebounding, getting to the free throw line - THAT"S Carolina basketball!
And so is winning.
The only item not on that list is lots of fast break points. Though the Heels did not run that much, they did have some impressive and important points in transition. Tokoto's block of a dunk attempt early in the second half, a dunk that would have given the Spartans their first lead of the night, led to an old-fashioned three-point play when Britt threw an incredible diagonal pass to a streaking Page for a huge bucket and one.
Page made huge plays all night. You can pick among his 3 to open the second half, the charge he took in the first half, the fast break basket from Britt, or his big 3 late.
Later in the half, when once again Michigan State had tied the score, feeding the post Caroli
na-style won the game for the Heels. Johnson scored 4 straight, then Tokoto scored 6 straight with one hoop coming on an offensive board and another on a one-man fast break, before Meeks went on a one-man 4-point run.
As it was against Louisville every Heel contributed. Britt and McAdoo got us started with some great shooting in the first half; when they went out with two fouls the Spartans finally tied the Heels after trailing by 10 for most of the half. McAdoo struggled for most of the night, but in addition to the good first half offensively he had a huge board at the end of the shot clock in the second half and a great block with less than a minute left.
Meeks also had an impressive block late, and his skip pass from the post to Page for Marcus' killer three was a thing of beauty and probably the play of the game.
Lots of great performances for a great win, a win that was all Carolina basketball right from the start.
GO HEELS!
Not only did the students unveil this banner but they also presented Roy with a signed card offering their condolences for Coach Smith's death. Those gracious actions from the self proclaimed Oakland Zoo prompted Roy to say "College athletics is not all bad. There are some darn good things that happen."
