UNC Tar Heels

[stewaat]

Starting lineup for 2009-2010:

PG- Larry Drew II
SG- Marcus Ginyard
SF- John Henson
PF- Deon Thompson
C- Ed Davis

Bench:
PG- Dexter Strickland
G- Leslie McDonald
SF- Will Graves
PF- David Wear
PF- Travis Wear
C- Luke Zeller

If a PG steps up UNC will be back in the race for a National Title. I sure as heck hope Dexter Strickland can take the starting job. Larry Drew II is pretty good, but I don't think he's a top tier PG.

Our lineup is HUGE and it is going to be absolutely filthy.

Henson will play the 3 says Roy Williams: "John will begin the season on the perimeter as a three and I think he will stay there all season," says Williams. "He has tremendously long arms and will probably block more shots than any perimeter player in college basketball. With Ed (Davis) and Deon (Thompson), we may block more shots than any team I've ever coached. John has the ability with his length to hurt you inside and also step out and put the ball on the floor or shoot it."

I love Carolina basketball man, I absolutely love it.

[sweny5632]

Re: UNC Tar Heels

I know they will dominate inside but im a little concerned where the shooting is going to come from. There will be a few games where the Heels are going to have to score from the 3point line, although I dont think there are very many teams in the country that can stop them in the paint. Not so tense watching games when they are not everyones champion at the beginning of the season. Overall its going to be an amazing season!

[LingeringRegime]

Re: UNC Tar Heels

Good to know about Henson's versatility. I was so happy/bummed at the end of last year when everyone left, but I knew that Roy would be Trailblazing again.

I hope that Drew II can step up, and not turnover the ball over as much as he did last year. When he was in the game I would hold my breath.

This will be the year of Ed Davis. He reminds me of a younger, more athletic version of Sam Perkins.

Can't wait for the season to start!

[J0nnD0ugh]

Re: UNC Tar Heels

Everyone is pointing @ the PG position is the key. But what do they need from him? Look @ the 4 points that have one titles @ Carolina.

Jimmy Black, Derrick Phelps, Raymond Felton, Tywon Lawson.

What do they have in common? Half were great offensive players in their own right. The others weren't. UNC doesn't need points. Each of those PG's though, had great talent around them.

These are the keys: All 4 were "pass-1st". All 4 put great pressure on the ball. That's what UNC needs from Drew.

I'm more concerned w/the 2. Ginyard is a fantastic player. But can he provide enough of a threat w/his jump shot to make the defense honest?

[beatnik]

Re: UNC Tar Heels

I'm more concerned w/the 2. Ginyard is a fantastic player. But can he provide enough of a threat w/his jump shot to make the defense honest?

I'm with you on that. He's an excellent swing man who can definitely play some defense, but I was never totally sold on the guy's long range shot.

On a different note, seeing how much Davis and Zeller beefed up during the off-season was really encouraging.

[ZM Punk]

Re: UNC Tar Heels

Everyone is pointing @ the PG position is the key. But what do they need from him? Look @ the 4 points that have one titles @ Carolina.

Jimmy Black, Derrick Phelps, Raymond Felton, Tywon Lawson.

What do they have in common? Half were great offensive players in their own right. The others weren't. UNC doesn't need points. Each of those PG's though, had great talent around them.

These are the keys: All 4 were "pass-1st". All 4 put great pressure on the ball. That's what UNC needs from Drew.

I'm more concerned w/the 2. Ginyard is a fantastic player. But can he provide enough of a threat w/his jump shot to make the defense honest?

Thats the million dollar question. Do we have enough outside shooting to keep teams from just packing it in on us every game. That is by far the biggest question mark concerning this team. We should be good at every other aspect of the game. But in College Basketball, if you don't have anybody that can hurt you from the outside. It really puts you at a big disadvantage.

[J0nnD0ugh]

Re: UNC Tar Heels

Sounds like Drew had some trouble in the exhibition vs Vandy.

http://northcarolina.scout.com/2/916635.html

Maybe I'm wrong & should be concerned.

[J0nnD0ugh]

Re: UNC Tar Heels

Free online broadcast of the exhibition game vs Belmont can be found here.

[J0nnD0ugh]

Re: UNC Tar Heels

So far, you see the Heels have a lotta height & talent. Little anything else. Very disorganized as Roy seems to have little clue as to who works well together. But the hustle is there. They are subbing in waves & going full speed each trip down the floor.

[J0nnD0ugh]

Re: UNC Tar Heels

@ halftime, UNC up 57-32. Heels took 40 shots, just 2 of them 3's. Made none from downtown. 11 turnovers. 31-13 rebounding edge.

[J0nnD0ugh]

Re: UNC Tar Heels

Currently 87-41. Davis has 11pts 5reb, 5assists 4 blks.

[stewaat]

Re: UNC Tar Heels

Thanks for the update!

How are the freshmen doing?

[J0nnD0ugh]

Re: UNC Tar Heels

Final 107-59. I hope Roy keeps this style early. Its going to take awhile for the Heels to get acclimated to each other, the frosh to get used to the system & the points to get confident. Playing a frantic, hectic, wild pace while subbing in waves will hide their deficiency in the half court. 20 turnovers tell the tale. Many unforced.

Some poor shot selection. Like Henson shooting a 3 after air balling 2 free throws. Take a few step in, bro, till you get your range.

Davis was the only player to get more than 19 minutes. 13pts, 6 boards, 5 dishes, 4 blks.

I like the fact they hustled so well on D. 17 steals. 56 rebounds, 19 offensive. 12 players had @ least 12 minutes. The only one of them not to score was McDonald.

Tyler Zeller runs so well for a guy w/his length. Watts is going to surprise some w/his athleticism.

Thompson was 12 of 13 for 25 pts in just 16 minutes.

Only 8 3pt shots taken all game, 2 made. Graves was the only Heels to put it up from behind the arc twice.

Ginyard looked good filling in @ the point. 6 assists, 2 turnovers & 4 steals. Plus, he's gotten real cut over the offseason.

FT's need work. 13 of 24. Teams are going to pack it in & take the foul if the Heels get it inside. That was the underrated part of Hansbrough's game. Teams wanted to send him to the line & he still made them pay.

[J0nnD0ugh]

Re: UNC Tar Heels

Thanks for the update!

How are the freshmen doing?

Henson appeared nervous. But he & the Wear twins had surprising handles for 6'9/10" guys. I thought the passing by the big men in the paint was exceptional. Course, having looked @ the black hole that was Psycho T for 4 seasons may have distorted my ability to assess that area.

I also thought the big fellas did a nice job in trapping, even in the full court. They forced a few TO's & time outs with that.

Strickland was pretty gritty. Good ability to take it to the hoop. Played the passing lanes well.

McDonald struggled a bit. He seems to have the most to learn. I mentioned in the post above about Henson's shooting.

The whole team seems like they can reject shots. Watts had a tremendous denial of a breakaway lay up. Seven different players had a blk, Davis & Henson each had 4.

[JVal3208]

Re: UNC Tar Heels

It's gonna be an interesting year, fellas. I haven't seen the Heels with this big of a team in a while. They are young, but very deep in the front court. They also don't have any reliable 3pt shooters. Can't wait to see them play, though, it's gonna be a great season