Carolina vs. Texas

• swamisez

  

  Harrison Barnes just drilled a three to tie it with under 15 seconds left
  Texas has the ball shooting for the win.
  
  Turn it on if you haven't yet
• swamisez

  

  That looked like Rip Hamilton vs. Washington in the 99 tournament
  Which if memory serves, the game was in Greensboro as well.
• cbus4life

  What a great shot.
• wildcats20

  

  Should have been shooting free throws after Gary Johnson plowed over a Carolina player on the in bound pass.
  
  Such is life, great effort by the Heels.
  
  Also, its time for Marshall to be getting a ton more minutes.
• ironman02

  Have this one on the DVR, but it'll probably just break my heart to watch it. Sounds like it was a great game, but as has been the case recently, the Tar Heels came up just short. I really saw this as a "must-win" for Carolina to build some momentum heading into ACC play, and also to notch another resume booster for NCAA Tournament time, but it just didn't happen. Provided they take care of business during the rest of the non-conference slate, the Heels will sit at 10-4 going into ACC play. The ACC is pretty weak this season, but it'll still be a difficult road ahead. They absolutely have to get to 20 wins before the end of the regular season and get this program headed back toward prominence.
  
  Looking at the box score it appears that Dexter Strickland had a break out game today. That's certainly a good sign, along with Barnes starting to come around offensively. After the lack of progress last season, it's still hard to be optimistic about where this team is heading at this point, but I do feel like they're getting closer to putting it all together. We'll see.
• wildcats20

  

  Have this one on the DVR, but it'll probably just break my heart to watch it. Sounds like it was a great game, but as has been the case recently, the Tar Heels came up just short. I really saw this as a "must-win" for Carolina to build some momentum heading into ACC play, and also to notch another resume booster for NCAA Tournament time, but it just didn't happen. Provided they take care of business during the rest of the non-conference slate, the Heels will sit at 10-4 going into ACC play. The ACC is pretty weak this season, but it'll still be a difficult road ahead. They absolutely have to get to 20 wins before the end of the regular season and get this program headed back toward prominence.
  
  
  
  Looking at the box score it appears that Dexter Strickland had a break out game today. That's certainly a good sign, along with Barnes starting to come around offensively. After the lack of progress last season, it's still hard to be optimistic about where this team is heading at this point, but I do feel like they're getting closer to putting it all together. We'll see.

  It definitely was a heart breaker. When Barnes hit the 3 to tie it, I for sure thought it was headed to OT.
  
  Dex played a great game. Not only on the offensive end, but defensively as well. Finally becoming the player I thought he could/would be.
  
  And like I said, Kendall Marshall needs to be getting the majority(if not all) of the PG minutes. The kid has stud all over him IMO.
  
  Corey Joseph is going to be a nasty player. Really impressed with him.
• wes_mantooth

  

  I am by no means a Carolina fan, but college basketball just doesn't seem right with them as nonfactor in the national picture.
• ironman02

  Just finished watching the game and here are my thoughts.
  
  I have no idea how Carolina managed to blow that game. They led by 5-7 points for most of the second half, but somehow threw it away down the stretch.
  
  I agree, Kendall Marshall definitely needs more minutes at the PG position. I'm tired of watching Drew throw passes off of the back of people's heads or at their feet.
  
  How in the hell did Joseph make that damn shot? Very impressed with him and Hamilton for the Horns.
  
  And finally, Karl Hess is a bastard. If I ever see him in person, I will punch him in the face.
• swamisez

  

  Carolina let the game slip when Tyler Zeller couldn't get a bucket to fall down the stretch. Lots of bunnies just rimmed out for him and Texas made shots.
  Hard to argue, if put in the same situation I would feed Zeller the ball as well. He is their most consistent scorer. I imagine at some point there will be late game situations where Carolina overloads one side with Marshall, Barnes, and Zeller. If the defense collapses on Zeller, Barnes will have a 10-12 foot jumper all day, if they don't Zeller will pick up a bucket down low. The shots just didnt fall for him today.
• ironman02

  Yeah, Zeller and Henson both had point blank looks on the last few possessions and couldn't convert. Obviously Carolina just didn't get the shots to fall at the end, but they were playing pretty solid basketball from the midway point of the first half until there were about four minutes remaining in the game. Then, during crunch time, they made way too many mistakes. This team is still pretty young overall, but they need to learn how to win close games like this. I just don't understand why it's taking so long for that to happen.
  
  Like I said before, the ACC isn't that strong this season, but it's still the ACC. Road wins are going to be hard to come by, so Carolina must hold serve at home, and then hope to get a handful of wins away from Chapel Hill as well. They only have one quality win out of conference, and while their losses aren't necessarily bad losses, their overall resume isn't going to look that impressive during the selection process. They better go at the very least 10-6 in a "weak" ACC or they could be on the outside looking in once March Madness gets here. Not making the tournament again would be disastrous.
• wildcats20

  

  I02...looks like we aren't the only 2 who think Kendall needs more PT...
  

  5. Kendall Marshall needs more minutes. Point guard play was one of the main contributors to North Carolina's troubles last season. It has reared its ugly head in 2010-11, too. Only this season, Roy Williams has a ready-made remedy on his bench. That remedy’s name is Marshall, who was brilliant in limited action in the Tar Heels’ loss to Texas Saturday. He has an intuitive feel for the game, can penetrate against the quickest of defenders, and finds UNC’s lanky big men better than either Dexter Strickland or Larry Drew II. (Marshall’s 41.8 percent assist rate would place him among the top 15 in the stat nationally if he had enough possessions to qualify for Pomeroy’s list.) Strickland and Drew II have improved, but Marshall is the driver Williams’ up-tempo offense needs. Now all Roy has to do is give him the keys.

  That taken from Eamonn Brennan on ESPN's College Basketball Nation blog.
• ironman02

  Drew had a few solid games leading up to Texas, but as usual, he was less than impressive against a quality opponent. Marshall is a freshman, so he's going to make mistakes, but honestly, he can't be any worse than Drew. I think it's definitely time to "give the keys" to Kendall and see what happens.
  
  Question for you, wildcats. How much do you think this team misses Will Graves? What about the Wears? I have to say that I was pretty upset when Will blew his second chance and got kicked off the team. It would be nice to have another senior leader out there. Will was obviously a defensive liability most of the time, but his perimeter scoring would be nice to have. I was somewhat glad when the departure of the Wears freed up a couple scholarships to be used on the 2012 class, but they seemed to be pretty skilled big men. They could have provided some interior depth, and because both of them were decent jump shooters, they could have really been important for this team. Their size and physicality would have helped too. What do you think?
• wildcats20

  

  To me losing the Wears doesn't hurt as much as losing Will. Will was a threat from deep, something this team does not have. When the ball goes into the post; it is either a shot by the big or a kick out for a reset. If Will is there, it is a shot or a return pass for a 3.
  
  It's give and take for me with the Wears. Like you said, it frees up 2 schollies, but losing 2 hard working kids, who knew their limits. I never thought they would be anything too special, basically a poor man's Psycho T, but they knew what they were.
• ironman02

  Heels took care of William & Mary tonight, 85-60. I haven't watched the game yet, but it looks like everyone was pretty solid.
  
  Strickland followed up his 18 point performance against Texas with 19 tonight. If he keeps scoring like that, no matter how he gets it done, this team will be infinitely better.
  
  Zeller (14), McDonald (14), Barnes (13), and Bullock (11) all scored in double figures, and Henson was having a nice game before he aggravated his thumb injury and sat out most of the game. Drew and Marshall didn't score, but they did distibute the ball nicely. Drew had 6 assists and 3 turnovers, while Marshall had 8 assists and 0 turnovers. It's pretty obvious that Kendall Marshall is stating his case for the starting spot at the point.
  
  Carolina plays Rutgers next Tuesday.
• wildcats20

  

  I totally forgot they were playing tonight and forgot to DVR it.
  
  I saw the box score and couldn't figure out why Henson only played 11 minutes.
  
  And yes, Kendall is the best PG on this team, I just wish Roy would make the switch.