In losing to Clemson and Georgia Tech, for the first time in years to both schools, the Heels confirmed that there are some as yet uncorrected – and major - flaws with this team.
Actually, perhaps there is only one serious flaw with one major culprit. There are way too many turnovers, and I fear that that problem can be laid at the feet of Larry Drew.
To be certain, there are other problems: a lack of assertiveness by Deon Thompson and Ed Davis; nagging off and on injuries to a mix of players; and less than stellar play from Marcus Ginyard.
Going into this year, Heels fans were looking forward to another giddy, 2006-like ride led by players like Ginyard and Thompson.
But this year’s team is not as competent as the 2006 edition of the Tar Heels. I’ve blogged enough about how Ginyard is no David Noel, as a leader nor as a athlete. This year’s team also lacks someone like – or specifically – Tyler Hansbrough (Psycho T phone home!), a relentless and consistent talent who assertively carries the team. Carolina also lacks someone like Reyshawn Terry, and athletic player who could make plays all over the floor.
The good news is that four out of five freshmen – Dexter Strickland, Leslie McDonald and the Wear twins, at least Travis – are getting better.
But most importantly, we don’t have a point guard like Bobby Frasor. We’ve been spoiled by Raymond Felton and Ty Lawson in the last 8 years, but don’t forget how great Frasor was at running the point in 2006.
Carolina basketball is about playing smart and playing hard. Though he averaged less than 7 points a game Frasor – the son of a coach – quickly figured out how to run the Tar Heel offense. Run, run smart, feed the post, move the ball around – do that and you get a good shot.
Unfortunately, Drew still struggles with running a Carolina-style game. He will eventually figure it out, and he has in games against Michigan State and others this year. But until he consistently does this team will be up and down, from game to game and half to half, sometimes from one TV timeout to the next.
Even though he had 9 assists against Georgia Tech I imagine most of those were not to Thompson and Davis but to the wing and players like Will Graves. The Greensboro junior had a great game, but not just in shooting 3s; he played a total floor game, with good passing and playing defense. Graves seems to be rounding into a legit Tar Heel. Perhaps he will become this year’s Ray Ray?
Back to Drew, who made a number of shaky and un-Tar Heel like plays yesterday, none bigger than his failure to get the ball from Davis with a minute and half left and Carolina clinging to a one-point lead. A point guard has got to, GOT TO, come back and get the ball from a big man. That failure cost Carolina an important possession and helped give the Yellow Jackets the game.
More frustrating than losing is losing when not playing smart, Carolina basketball (go get the ball from Davis!). That was the biggest frustration with the Doherty era; he thought he had to change a philosophy that worked. Fine tune it, sure, but Doherty discarded smart basketball. Roy and Felton restored that, but we are regressing this season.
It sounds like ‘ol Roy and Drew are equally frustrated, and Drew II can turn it around soon. Drew is good. I just hope it happens soon, by Wednesday.
GO HEELS!
A few random notes
- It’s worth following Bobby Frasor, who is playing professionally in Bulgaria, on Twitter. His address is BFrasor.
- Felton and his Charlotte Bobcats are quietly putting together a good season. The Bobcats are 19 and 19 after yesterdays shellacking of the Phoenix Suns.
- Evan and I got to watch the Wizards defeat the Sacramento Kings last night. Sean May was inactive, but it was still nice to be in the same building with a Star Heel. When will his pro career take off?
- One last thought. I and others need to stop looking back at 2006, a team with no expectations and therefore no pressure. This year's team needs to find it's own way and forge it's own identity free of homages to recent Heels teams.
1 comment:
Your last point is the best point. Drew's lack of progress is distressing but the problem with that inbounds pass was a failure to do what the coach asked. The ball was supposed to be thrown into the backcourt to set up the offense. Whether Drew forgot to go into the backcourt or whether Graves mistakenly passed too quickly to Davis, it was screwed up on several levels. Several little things we consistently do wrong -- and we're terrible coming out of timeouts and executing. Turrible.
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