Marcus Paige

[imajericho]

Why not, we got one for everyone else.


Anyone else kind of excited since Marcus Paige only shows up when the pressure is on that his last season as a Tar Heel might be the pressure he needs to Show up all season, all game!

We need him at the 2 and with Berry to consistently get him open!

 

[mikeirbyusa]

Biggest thing we need from Marcus.......................................................................... STAY HEALTHY!

 

[babe7671]

Here's something about Marcus I've been wondering the past week or so. Where will he fall in everyone's opinion as an all time great Tar Heel? Top 20? Top 15? Top 10? He is well on track to break the all time 3 point record and he has some of the most remarkable 2nd half performances I can remember.

 

[Tru Blu Tar Heel]

Originally posted by mikeirbyusa:
Biggest thing we need from Marcus.......................................................................... STAY HEALTHY!

Amen to that one Mike!!!! I feel like Brice emerging, along with the development of Jackson & Berry will go a LONG way to taking pressure off of Marcus. With that said though, Marcus is still option #1 in the offense and he should show improved numbers because of the help. I wouldn't shock me to see him shooting 50% from 2 and 40+% from 3 this upcoming season.

 

[RP12]

Unless we go to a Final Four in his senior year I'm not sure how you could put him at the very top. His numbers will be there no doubt, but without a good run in the tourney he can't be top 10.

 

[dadika13]

Originally posted by RP12:
Unless we go to a Final Four in his senior year I'm not sure how you could put him at the very top. His numbers will be there no doubt, but without a good run in the tourney he can't be top 10.

1 - Berry
2- Paige
3- Justin
4- Brice
5- Kennedy

JP, Pinson, Britt off the bench.

I don't see how this isn't a top 3 team next year. I really don't.

 

[heels05champs]

Originally posted by dadika13:

Originally posted by RP12:
Unless we go to a Final Four in his senior year I'm not sure how you could put him at the very top. His numbers will be there no doubt, but without a good run in the tourney he can't be top 10.

1 - Berry
2- Paige
3- Justin
4- Brice
5- Kennedy

JP, Pinson, Britt off the bench.

I don't see how this isn't a top 3 team next year. I really don't.

That is my lineup as well but sadly I doubg Roy will do this. I see no way he benches JP. No doubt it would make our lineup stronger to bring him off the bench but Roy won't do it. The lineup you listed is absolutely the best 5 we could put on the court. That lineup can score from all 5 spots.

 

[babe7671]

For me, no matter what happens next year I think Marcus will be a top 10 all time Tar Heel for one major reason: everything he has done off the court for the program. Marcus was the face of UNC basketball during a very difficult time (that is still a pain in the butt while the NCAA is taking their sweet time and effectively running off recruits). He is well-spoken, smart, an academic all-american, and a leader. I don't think anyone could have even dreamed up someone better than Marcus to be the face of the program during the past few years. Then you add on his stats, and the fact that he was literally the only 3 point shooter on the team for most of the season 2 years ago when Bullock left and PJ was never reinstated and still put up huge numbers, and I think Marcus is up there with names like Hansborough, Jordan, Perkins, Worthy, Lawson etc. No matter what happens next year I think Marcus will always have a special place in the hearts of all Tar Heel fans. I think he may even be one of Roy's favorite players he has ever coached based on their relationship.

 

[gunslingerdick]

Originally posted by heels05champs:

Originally posted by dadika13:

Originally posted by RP12:
Unless we go to a Final Four in his senior year I'm not sure how you could put him at the very top. His numbers will be there no doubt, but without a good run in the tourney he can't be top 10.

1 - Berry
2- Paige
3- Justin
4- Brice
5- Kennedy

JP, Pinson, Britt off the bench.

I don't see how this isn't a top 3 team next year. I really don't.

That is my lineup as well but sadly I doubg Roy will do this. I see no way he benches JP. No doubt it would make our lineup stronger to bring him off the bench but Roy won't do it. The lineup you listed is absolutely the best 5 we could put on the court. That lineup can score from all 5 spots.

When we go to the bench, where's the scoring coming from?

Plus, is Jackson going to be as disruptive on defense as JP? I highly doubt that. There are two ends to a basketball court. I know Jackson will improve as a defender, but he's not on JP's level...or near it, on the defensive end. If you thought JP was torched by some of the better opponents, you'd hate to see what those same guys would have done to Justin. Also, Justin needs to rebound the ball much better than he showed this year. And he was at times a black hole on the offensive end. If he received the ball inside the arc, more times than not, he's making a move to the basket and shooting it. I like his aggressive scoring nature, but he needs to learn that he can draw defenses and then pass the ball for a better shot.

I don't have the answer to the line up next year. But with the line up that everyone is suggesting (Berry, Paige, Jackson, Brice and Meeks), we have 2 undersized guards, a marginal defender at best on the wing, a poor defender at PF and a spotty defender with limited athleticism in the post. That would concern me. And then like I already asked, where is the scoring punch off the bench?

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

Good point by GSD.

I see no reason to not start JP. If you're shading offense on the other 4 positions, why take Justin over JP at the 3?

It makes more sense to have JP start (because of his defense compared to the rest of the starters), and it makes more sense to have Justin come of the bench (because of his offense compared to the rest of the bench).

 

[GoNtheDistance]

I think statistically speaking, Marcus would be considered one of our 10 best players of all time. I think from an overall production perspective when considering wins and losses and tournament outcomes, he has to have a very solid senior year (ie: final four, no less) in order for a large portion of our fan base to be able to put him in the top 10 with the likes of Jordan, Hansbrough, Ford, Jamison, Rosenbluth, Worthy, etc.

 

[dadika13]

Originally posted by gunslingerdick:

Originally posted by heels05champs:

Originally posted by dadika13:

Originally posted by RP12:
Unless we go to a Final Four in his senior year I'm not sure how you could put him at the very top. His numbers will be there no doubt, but without a good run in the tourney he can't be top 10.

1 - Berry
2- Paige
3- Justin
4- Brice
5- Kennedy

JP, Pinson, Britt off the bench.

I don't see how this isn't a top 3 team next year. I really don't.

That is my lineup as well but sadly I doubg Roy will do this. I see no way he benches JP. No doubt it would make our lineup stronger to bring him off the bench but Roy won't do it. The lineup you listed is absolutely the best 5 we could put on the court. That lineup can score from all 5 spots.

When we go to the bench, where's the scoring coming from?

Plus, is Jackson going to be as disruptive on defense as JP? I highly doubt that. There are two ends to a basketball court. I know Jackson will improve as a defender, but he's not on JP's level...or near it, on the defensive end. If you thought JP was torched by some of the better opponents, you'd hate to see what those same guys would have done to Justin. Also, Justin needs to rebound the ball much better than he showed this year. And he was at times a black hole on the offensive end. If he received the ball inside the arc, more times than not, he's making a move to the basket and shooting it. I like his aggressive scoring nature, but he needs to learn that he can draw defenses and then pass the ball for a better shot.

I don't have the answer to the line up next year. But with the line up that everyone is suggesting (Berry, Paige, Jackson, Brice and Meeks), we have 2 undersized guards, a marginal defender at best on the wing, a poor defender at PF and a spotty defender with limited athleticism in the post. That would concern me. And then like I already asked, where is the scoring punch off the bench?

You want to put a 2016 lottery pick on the bench? Shocking you didn't go into coaching...

 

[gunslingerdick]

Originally posted by dadika13:

Originally posted by gunslingerdick:

Originally posted by heels05champs:

Originally posted by dadika13:

Originally posted by RP12:
Unless we go to a Final Four in his senior year I'm not sure how you could put him at the very top. His numbers will be there no doubt, but without a good run in the tourney he can't be top 10.

1 - Berry
2- Paige
3- Justin
4- Brice
5- Kennedy

JP, Pinson, Britt off the bench.

I don't see how this isn't a top 3 team next year. I really don't.

That is my lineup as well but sadly I doubg Roy will do this. I see no way he benches JP. No doubt it would make our lineup stronger to bring him off the bench but Roy won't do it. The lineup you listed is absolutely the best 5 we could put on the court. That lineup can score from all 5 spots.

When we go to the bench, where's the scoring coming from?

Plus, is Jackson going to be as disruptive on defense as JP? I highly doubt that. There are two ends to a basketball court. I know Jackson will improve as a defender, but he's not on JP's level...or near it, on the defensive end. If you thought JP was torched by some of the better opponents, you'd hate to see what those same guys would have done to Justin. Also, Justin needs to rebound the ball much better than he showed this year. And he was at times a black hole on the offensive end. If he received the ball inside the arc, more times than not, he's making a move to the basket and shooting it. I like his aggressive scoring nature, but he needs to learn that he can draw defenses and then pass the ball for a better shot.

I don't have the answer to the line up next year. But with the line up that everyone is suggesting (Berry, Paige, Jackson, Brice and Meeks), we have 2 undersized guards, a marginal defender at best on the wing, a poor defender at PF and a spotty defender with limited athleticism in the post. That would concern me. And then like I already asked, where is the scoring punch off the bench?

You want to put a 2016 lottery pick on the bench? Shocking you didn't go into coaching...

As you can see from my post above...that you even quoted (and I've bolded and underlined so you don't miss it this time), I don't profess to have the answers. And to declare Justin Jackson a sure fire lottery pick next June is a bit of a stretch. If memory serves me right, Roy isn't scared to hide a lottery pick on the bench - Hello Marvin Williams. And it's not shocking that Roy went into coaching...and has made it to the HOF. Funny, I don't remember seeing your bust there.

 

[imajericho]

Berry
Paige
Jackson
Tokoto
Johnson

is our best lineup.

 

[RP12]

Agreed. This is probably the most likely scenario that Berry starts.

 

[Scoops Heels]

Don't forget Hicks!!! He will suprise you next year!!!

 

[GoNtheDistance]

if given the minutes, Hicks is more productive than Meeks

 

[babe7671]

I think if Hick's continues to grow this off season he can really push for starting at the 4, with Brice at the 5. That would create a more traditional UNC lineup that can run the floor 1-5. Only thing I don't like about it is losing Kennedy's outlet passing off a miss. He is one HECK of a passing big.

 

[EmJay14]

I love all Tar Heels, let me say that first and foremost.

But I have to say, I find it odd how shaded it seems to me that most UNC fans opinions are of Marcus Paige.

Paige is one of the tougher kids I've seen at UNC pound for pound. He's a very good shooter. He seems to be a very good kid off the court and very very well spoken. BUT... speaking as a REAL HEEL FAN, think he's sort of overrated.

My issues with him are fairly simple.

I don't think he's truly a first option for a final four team. I've stated this in other threads before and I was crucified for it. It's just hard for me to feel that way. I feel most UNC fans look at him in the eyes of a Steph Curry, but that's totally not true. I feel Paige has some work to do going right, not allowing defenses to take him away so easily, and he has to play for more than spurts. Look at the ND game, kid played all game and had 6 points until he hit 2 late 3's when we were down 9 in the last minute and a half of a game. If you're truly our best scorer, please score!

The talk about him being a top 10 UNC player comes from what again? If we're basing it on stats, its very very unfair. Paige has played in arguably one of our lowest eras in the last 40 years. To add to that, he's been by far the best scorer during this down era, therefore, his stats are going to be much better because the ball is in his hand WAY MORE than others. I can name 10 better UNC players without hesitation than Marcus. Yes statistically he looks great, but have a stone cold scorer like for instance, Wayne Ellington stay for 4 years and have no other scorers to share the ball with. Is Wayne now a top 10 UNC player as well?

I like Paige and he's vital to our success. But I do feel he is vastly overrated his career has benefited greatly due to being our best player in a bad stint of the program

This post was edited on 4/2 2:52 PM by EmJay14

This post was edited on 4/2 2:55 PM by EmJay14

 

[RP12]

I don't think of Paige as overrated in general, but I don't think he's a great PG, not in the mold of the great UNC PGs anyway. Maybe he could have developed into that had there been better scoring options around him during the last two years, but we'that's not the way it worked out.

 

[EmJay14]

I agree with that. A lot on that kid during his time here for sure. Sometimes I feel terrible even sitting at the TV desperately hoping that a 6'1 165 pound guy starts beasting opposing teams on a nightly basis, with little to no perimeter help, but I do feel like this year he had more help, but was thrusted into that role of being THE GUY so much, that it took us a while to realize we had other options.

 

[babe7671]

This post was edited on 4/2 3:43 PM by babe7671

 

[RP12]

Originally posted by babe7671:
So people who don't agree with you about Marcus aren't "REAL TAR HEELS FANS"? Interesting perspective there.

I think the OP just wanted to clarify that he wasn't a non-fan trying to start trouble by saying Paige was overrated.

 

[ROYANDDEAN]

Originally posted by babe7671:
Here's something about Marcus I've been wondering the past week or so. Where will he fall in everyone's opinion as an all time great Tar Heel? Top 20? Top 15? Top 10? He is well on track to break the all time 3 point record and he has some of the most remarkable 2nd half performances I can remember.

After next year he will be top 3 in scoring. Pound for pound he has to be up there at the top.

 

[dadika13]

Originally posted by Scoops Heels:
Don't forget Hicks!!! He will suprise you next year!!!

So he will surprise me by NOT missing two huge free throws when down 3 points late against Wisconsin?

Will he surprise me by NOT fouling (hip-checking) a 85% free throw shooter 35 feet from the basket when they are in the double bonus?

Will he do all of that?

Hicks is a complete liability if you ask him to do more than play 5-8 minutes and defend a little bit. He literally cost us the Wisconsin game.

 

[Tru Blu Tar Heel]

Originally posted by ROYANDDEAN:

Originally posted by babe7671:
Here's something about Marcus I've been wondering the past week or so. Where will he fall in everyone's opinion as an all time great Tar Heel? Top 20? Top 15? Top 10? He is well on track to break the all time 3 point record and he has some of the most remarkable 2nd half performances I can remember.

After next year he will be top 3 in scoring. Pound for pound he has to be up there at the top.

ACTUALLY, for Marcus to be top 3 in scoring, he would have to score 750 points next season. While that's not impossible, only Rosebluth, Hansbrough, and Jamison have scored that many points in a season in Tar Heel History. It's doable though. He would have to average a tad under 19ppg and Carolina would have to make the Championship game. In all likelihood though, Marcus ends up somewhere between 5th and 8th all time.

And Marcus is going to SHATTER the career 3PM mark at Carolina. Barring injury and if he shoots for his career average, he will be somewhere around 305 makes for a career. Shammond Williams currently holds the record at 233. As a matter of fact, Marcus is only 8 makes away from that record.

Digressing though, I think Marcus is an awesome player and will be remembered for the era he played in, but without an ACC Championship, NCAA Championship, or National Player of the Year, I fear he will be somewhat forgotten. He's already earned the honored jersey distinction thanks to his All American place last season. Sadly, a LOT of what we remember are tied to achievements (championships). You ask a random Carolina fan who their top 5 players all time are and you will get a LOT of Jordan, Worthy, Rosenbluth, Montross, Felton, May, Hansbrough, Lawson. It's simple really. People make memories around milestones. Even the ones that didn't win championships (Jamison, Carter) made trips to the final weekend of action.

Now, not trying to be doom and gloom and say that Carolina fans are unappreciative of all the blood, sweat, and tears that he has put in. It's also not too late to make memories. The whole gang (hopefully) is coming back for one more shot!
This post was edited on 4/2 6:17 PM by Tru Blu Tar Heel

 

[DSouthr]

Actually, I can agree with a lot of that, I htink I would have maybe worded things differently. I can agree that IMNO marcus is not the level player that can or is able to put a team on his back and carry them for a string of games thru a NCAA tourney. He absolutely is a player that in any given game is subject to putting the team on his back and carry them but game after game I am not sold on that.

To me, i felt this years team tended to often to revolve to much around Marcus, to the extent that his mates at times waited for marcus to pull them out of trouble and thou that happened a couple times it isn't great that we seemed to need him to be the step up guy EVERY SINGLE TIME we needed a huge basket. Opposing coaches knew, stop Marcus and you may have stopped UNC and stopping Marcus proved this season to be doable more than not. I think for Marcus to be what most UNC fans feel he is that he needs a real can't leave this guy scoring threat at the 3 or 2 spots. Otherwise you throw junk defenses at Marcus and have the fans wonder why marcus is not playing great? LOL