Brice, Kennedy, Joel and Hicks

[Ozheelfan]

I missed much of the second half but it seems Isaiah got very little burn after going off before the break.

The armchair critic I am would be yelling less about JP's 2 turnovers (almost a season low) and more about why an underperforming front court was used instead of the player who was obviously there to play.

A couple more opinions on the front court:
Kennedy has to kick out of the double team, even if that means JP hoists a rushed 3.
Brice hurt his first round ambitions big time today - unable to dominate a team of hobbits won't even get him a contract in the Philipines.
6-10+ players need to play 6-10+, both Kennedy and Joel James "shrink" in the post with the ball instead of playing big.

 

[Spaceytoyz]

James is a bust not in the equation, Meeks and Hicks have talent but made some bad errors, Johnson has terrific talent but just is not a motivated person, my guess is he's mentally checked out , never could figure this guy out..

 

[mikeirbyusa]

We got the most fickle fans in the world! Just a short time ago many were screaming for Big Joel to get MORE minutes!

 

[toophly1124]

Maybe 1 in a 100 should Joel James EVER get "more" minutes .. Realistically he has a sweet jump shot but that's IT .. From tackling people to dribbling off his foot .. To "catching" passes off his chest .. Oh! And scoring for the other team ... He shouldn't be getting 10 minutes in an NCAA tournament game unless there is significant foul trouble ... I wish the big guy could come around be he just isn't

 

[Littlejon]

The problem with James is he is so inconsistent you never know which James will show up. He has had flashes of "good", but his "bad" is just plain bad. I think a lot of that is due to his lack of experience, but at this point that won't change in time for him to really be a factor for us.

Brice had a bad game. He has played well lately but just looked off tonight. Heck, until the end so did Marcus. Kennedy overall had a pretty good game and I know people are dogging him about the free throw miss at the end, but to his credit he was 2-3 before then. He did about as good as he has all year but with a few more mistakes.

The biggest issue with JP is he won't shoot the dang ball. He seems to want to be more like Kendall Marshall than Michael Jordan. With his athleticism if he EVER gets a consistent outside shot and a touch of a killer instinct he will be dangerous. Until then no one will play him to do anything but drive and pass or just pass.

Hicks had a dang good game and seemed to have that dose of attitude some of our best players from the past had. If he can build on that he will be a beast. About the only issue I have with Roy tonight is not playing him more, especially when he started getting hot.

Look, this was flat out ugly. Being up 16 we should have stepped on the gas and put it away, but Roy has said for as long as I can remember that this team has some serious focus issues and sometimes they can't or won't maintain the intensity needed to play at the level they are capable. I just don't see how that is coaching. I have coached enough to know sometimes no matter what you do kids just don't do what you want them to. I had a kid on my sons football team years ago like that. Had a ton of talent and when he wa on, he was ON. He could run over or around anyone and had the talent to take over a game whenever he wanted to. Problem was he lacked focus and urgency and when he was in a funk it didn't matter what you did, he wouldn't respond. He could turn it on in a flash but could turn it off just as fast. We did everything but get on our knees and beg him sometimes and to this day I don't know how we could've made him play to his capabilities all the time.

Anyway, I expect the next game will be better for us win or lose. I expect this game may have opened their eyes. At least I hope so.

 

[Heelicious]

Who was asking for more minutes for Joel James? Of anyone ever asks for that they are high or drunk. That is the nicest thing I can say about them. Joel James is not a legit heels basketball player worthy of more than a couple minutes a half and never will be

 

[ROYANDDEAN]

Crazy bunch we are.

I've seen the following statements over the past month.

James doesn't deserve to play for UNC
James is playing better than Meeks.
Meeks needs to come off the bench.
Hicks needs to start
Hicks isn't a starter
Johnson will leave for NBA
Johnson has checked out

 

[Ozheelfan]

You're right R&D, I should have just asked for opinions of why Isaiah didn't get more time in the second half.

Instead some just used the opportunity to pile $h1t on a player.

sigh.

 

[Bur-Heel]

best lineup..Paige,jb,j.Jackson,Brice,hicks!!..only problem is..hicks and Brice pick up too many stupid fouls!!