First Real Win of the Season

A look back at last night's win over Ohio State, Carolina's first real test of the young season, reveals a number of story lines, almost too many for one game.

• The team resembled the 2009 national champs to start the game, methodically and calmly dominated a top-20 team from a power conference, and quickly built a double-digit lead;
• In fact, the game reminded me of the win over Villanova in the Final Four. Offensively, the Heels did what they wanted while forcing a seemingly good team into a terrible shooting night before they (Villanova/OSU) regroup and make a run in the second half only to be stymied by . . .
• As part of their mimicking of the defending national champs, Deon Thompson looked like Hansbrough, going to the line a lot early; Marcus Ginyard and especially Will Graves looked like Danny Green, and hit shots from all over the court; Graves did not settle for threes and had two nice takes to the rack in the first half;
• Carolina threw waves of players at the Buckeyes, and it paid off defensively and offensively as the Wears, Tyler Zeller and Justin "The Microwave" Watts contributed mightily off the bench;

Mixed in with good story lines were some bad ones, too. The offense looked a little herky-jerky with not much flow. And the Heels lost their concentration late and were guilty of some sloppy and panicky turnovers, play that made this team look very, very young.  Which, of course, it is.


And Larry Drew missed 3 of 4 free throws late to create a ripple of nervousness. But to his credit, Drew went on to hit four more free throws - including two to make it a two-possession game with 11 second left - to seal the win. 


We may look back at those last two free throws as the moment when Larry Drew officially became a big-time point guard.  Tonight's game versus Syracuse will be our first chance to test that theory.


Drew also hit a big three late to keep Ohio State at bay. For me, the three-point shooting and the multiple big plays made late - made by multiple players - were THE biggest and best story lines. 


Drew, Ginyard, and Graves all took turns hitting import three-pointers last night. And I imagine each generated huge cheers from the couches of Tar Heel Nation. 


Thompson and Ginyard also made big-time basketball plays late. Thompson made a great pass to Drew for his 3, and Ginyard had a key steal and a big board to compliment his three-point basket and played a great floor game for 40 minutes. Exactly what you would expect from the two senior leaders on this team.


As sloppy as the ending of this game was - and one can rightfully complain about a lack of concentration and the failure to put a team away - this was a nice win in Carolina's first real test (a win with Ed Davis a non-factor due to foul trouble). If the rest of the seaon features leadership and play making from Ginyard and Thompson, Drew II stepping up when needed, good outside shooting from Graves, Ginyard, Watts, etc. and waves of talent - especially on the front line - this team will be even funner to watch that I expected.


GO HEELS!