Stats and stuff (Louisville game)...

[gary-7]

... and I'm gonna keep it short and to the point.

With 3:48 to go in the game, Louisville ironically got called for an illegal screen.
It was ironic because 1) it was the least egregious one of the night, and 2) approximately half their points (and pretty much every dribble-drive success) occurred because of their constant illegal screens. That is not an exaggeration. Their entire man-offense is built around them, in particular the constant "rolling screens" --- both out front and on the block as illegal escorts for drivers --- and the thing is, that particular type of screen was supposed to be a point of emphasis this season. SMDH.

Of course we pretty much knew that's what it was gonna be like up there, and bottom line is we couldn't overcome the mayhem... mostly because we shot like crap from outside. Even with all the uncalled hacks and grabs and gouges we had more than enough open looks and opportunities to win that game going away and we didn't. This should be a better perimeter shooting team than it has been and will need to be going forward.

- 3/17 from 3 ain't gonna get it done

- 22/29 FTs is pretty good --- trouble is we should have shot at least double that number --- but nothing you can do about that

- we weren't getting the calls so we have to be stronger thru contact. We were not tough enough in the trenches tonight, and there were countless blown Assists. To survive games like this you have to finish under duress.

- 10 FB pts, 13 SB pts --- not enough.

We were definitely sluggish tonight, and the loss is no big surprise given all the circumstances, but that was a fugly stinking game.

 

[Ozheelfan]

Thanks as always Gary.

I just posted on the game thread - Roy seems to still be tinkering with line-ups. James + Maye????

Also, JB wasn't his usual best but it seemed the half court set was very stagnant. Few ball screens for the Heels guards and the ones they got were half hearted.

Very little movement in the half court - Justin is camping in the left corner and when he doesn't get the ball he seems to watch for a bit (that said he was wide open a couple of times late in the second, screaming for the ball and didn't get it!)

Couple of others:
What's with Brice trying to be a point? Isaiah too?
Pretty good game from Nate - with few chances.
Theo also was effective when in.

 

[Heelicious]

... and I'm gonna keep it short and to the point.

With 3:48 to go in the game, Louisville ironically got called for an illegal screen.
It was ironic because 1) it was the least egregious one of the night, and 2) approximately half their points (and pretty much every dribble-drive success) occurred because of their constant illegal screens. That is not an exaggeration. Their entire man-offense is built around them, in particular the constant "rolling screens" --- both out front and on the block as illegal escorts for drivers --- and the thing is, that particular type of screen was supposed to be a point of emphasis this season. SMDH.

Of course we pretty much knew that's what it was gonna be like up there, and bottom line is we couldn't overcome the mayhem... mostly because we shot like crap from outside. Even with all the uncalled hacks and grabs and gouges we had more than enough open looks and opportunities to win that game going away and we didn't. This should be a better perimeter shooting team than it has been and will need to be going forward.

- 3/17 from 3 ain't gonna get it done

- 22/29 FTs is pretty good --- trouble is we should have shot at least double that number --- but nothing you can do about that

- we weren't getting the calls so we have to be stronger thru contact. We were not tough enough in the trenches tonight, and there were countless blown Assists. To survive games like this you have to finish under duress.

- 10 FB pts, 13 SB pts --- not enough.

We were definitely sluggish tonight, and the loss is no big surprise given all the circumstances, but that was a fugly stinking game.

Great recap as always. Makes me kinda glad I didn't see all of the game, just the last 8 minutes. And without seeing the illegal screen stuff, I can totally take your word on it. It is the single thing that drives me the most crazy regarding being underenforced in college. Second is drivers initiating contact on stationery good defensive position and getting the foul call.

Berry will be back. Looked from what little I saw he got mugged pretty bad a few times, no calls. Sure glad they called it the same both ways ;-) but like you said - we should've expected that up there.

As long as Marcus isn't hurt (and he sure doesn't seem to be)..... I just have to hope and believe he has a giant explosion game coming sometime soon (like a 5or 6 of 8 or 9 from 3).

 

[HeelFan58]

I have just given up on ACC officials ability to even understand the rules much less enforce them. CB officiating is at an all time low and there is just no improvement in sight.

 

[gary-7]

Thanks as always Gary.

I just posted on the game thread - Roy seems to still be tinkering with line-ups. James + Maye????

Also, JB wasn't his usual best but it seemed the half court set was very stagnant. Few ball screens for the Heels guards and the ones they got were half hearted.

Very little movement in the half court - Justin is camping in the left corner and when he doesn't get the ball he seems to watch for a bit (that said he was wide open a couple of times late in the second, screaming for the ball and didn't get it!)

Couple of others:
What's with Brice trying to be a point? Isaiah too?
Pretty good game from Nate - with few chances.
Theo also was effective when in.

We were stagnant. Very poor movement off the ball. JB should have started driving to the rack earlier because guys weren't active enough.

 

[gary-7]

Great recap as always. Makes me kinda glad I didn't see all of the game, just the last 8 minutes. And without seeing the illegal screen stuff, I can totally take your word on it. It is the single thing that drives me the most crazy regarding being underenforced in college. Second is drivers initiating contact on stationery good defensive position and getting the foul call.

Berry will be back. Looked from what little I saw he got mugged pretty bad a few times, no calls. Sure glad they called it the same both ways ;-) but like you said - we should've expected that up there.

As long as Marcus isn't hurt (and he sure doesn't seem to be)..... I just have to hope and believe he has a giant explosion game coming sometime soon (like a 5or 6 of 8 or 9 from 3).

Funny, just started watching the replay as I type this. Their very first basket (a driving dunk enabled by Meeks getting in Jackson's way) was still only completed by their Big putting an illegal moving rumper-stumper on Brice to prevent help, and Lee committing an uncalled offensive foul by swatting JB in the head with his off arm. Utter mayhem.

 

[JimmyinVA]

except for a five minute stretch in the second half, i just don't think our guys gave 100%. louisville wanted it more.

 

[DSouthr]

... and I'm gonna keep it short and to the point.

With 3:48 to go in the game, Louisville ironically got called for an illegal screen.
It was ironic because 1) it was the least egregious one of the night, and 2) approximately half their points (and pretty much every dribble-drive success) occurred because of their constant illegal screens. That is not an exaggeration. Their entire man-offense is built around them, in particular the constant "rolling screens" --- both out front and on the block as illegal escorts for drivers --- and the thing is, that particular type of screen was supposed to be a point of emphasis this season. SMDH.

Of course we pretty much knew that's what it was gonna be like up there, and bottom line is we couldn't overcome the mayhem... mostly because we shot like crap from outside. Even with all the uncalled hacks and grabs and gouges we had more than enough open looks and opportunities to win that game going away and we didn't. This should be a better perimeter shooting team than it has been and will need to be going forward.

- 3/17 from 3 ain't gonna get it done

- 22/29 FTs is pretty good --- trouble is we should have shot at least double that number --- but nothing you can do about that

- we weren't getting the calls so we have to be stronger thru contact. We were not tough enough in the trenches tonight, and there were countless blown Assists. To survive games like this you have to finish under duress.

- 10 FB pts, 13 SB pts --- not enough.

We were definitely sluggish tonight, and the loss is no big surprise given all the circumstances, but that was a fugly stinking game.

Yeah, ugly is a great word for that game for sure, ugly in about every aspect. Every shot we took was contested, some of those contests were actually not fouls, far to many that went uncalled were. In the first couple minutes, Joel berry takes a trey attempt from just off top of the circle, is under cut, no foul is called, UT Oh, so that is how it is gonna be and it was.

Even with the manner the game was called, we didn't manufactor easy shots, we got some clean jump shots but I am talking about the lack of screening inside that sets up easy big man scores. There was a lot of standing around, a lot of one on one type of play but no crispness. Even when we got something inside we missed way to many of them and the offenisve rebounds just didn't happen for us.

Marcus, Justin, still not shooting but last night they both seemed to shrink away from making anything happen? IT was at times as if they were more involved with other things than the game itself. I felt we actually played pretty well for the most part defensively but on the offensive end we stunk the joint up. We have 3 starters that are not getting the job done right now, Brice & Joel can not it on their own, those 3 future NBA players need to step up and help Brice & Joel, they didn't do that last night.

There is no shame in losing to Lville at their place but they should be ashamed of how they played last night and the league should be ashamed at how that game was allowed to be called.

 

[Steat]

Need bounce back win at Notre dame on saturday to stay in top 5.

 

[mahncpa1]

No excuses. Backcourt did not get it done last night. Off game by JB and Marcus' struggles continue. I love Marcus, but maybe he needs to drive to the rim more to try and get going in games. The last 4-5 games, he flings up a long 3 as his first shot early in the clock. Can't do a thing about no calls, missed calls and the way the game is called in general. Keep playing hard Heels and hopefully the shots will start falling with more regularity. Go Heels!!

 

[coryfly]

I thought the officials were fine. There were missed calls both ways, which is always going to be the case. We have gone from being cold being the arc (ranked in the 300s in 3 pt%) to cold from everywhere. Guys are even missing layups. When you make shots things look better. When you miss them they don't.

 

[SeaHawk98]

The truth is UNC looked horrible last night. They have not been playing that great lately, helped by some bad opponents. BC kept it closer for most of the game and should have beaten State by 30. This team is a good team, but its going to take a lot of breaks for this team to win it all. Their is a lack of hustle, basketball IQ and just a sense of urgency from this team. Been like that for many years now. Can't just win because it says North Carolina on the jersey anymore. Hopefully, they get it together and Paige gets out of his funk. Still a very good team, but got a long ways to go.

 

[gary-7]

I thought the officials were fine. There were missed calls both ways, which is always going to be the case. We have gone from being cold being the arc (ranked in the 300s in 3 pt%) to cold from everywhere. Guys are even missing layups. When you make shots things look better. When you miss them they don't.

The officials were nowhere near fine... unless they thought they were working a damned hockey game.
As Dave said, Berry got undercut on that first 3 attempt and it went downhill from there. I counted 7 blatant uncalled hits before the Under-12. Hell, just JB alone should have made a dozen trips to the line. and there were often reasons we were missing those layups.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Some observations....

Berry has been very consistent for us for many games - nearly all year. Everybody has an off game from time to time. The shame was that this time neither Marcus, nor Nate, nor Theo was able to step up. Usually one of them will, but not this game.

Justin Jackson finally got some shots to drop. Despite some of the whining I've seen about him and his obvious shooting woes, he always seemed to me to be playing hard and smart. I sure hope this marks a return of his shooting prowess.

Theo's continuing struggles are baffling. In December he looked like he was 100% and ready to turn the corner. Since then, I hate to say it, but he's looked pretty awful. Some posters here have called for Roy to bench Justin because of his shooting woes, but how could he with Theo struggling even worse?

Remember last year how we used to notice that Marcus was often quiet in the first half but became "Second Half Marcus" when he needed to? We all thought how great it would be when Marcus was fully healthy and could score for us in both halves. About now, I'd settle for having Second Half Marcus back. Love the kid, and you just know this is killing him, but he's not having a good year. And by "year" I mean 2016 - because he looked good in the fall after getting back from his hand injury. And yet it's only been a month. Not panicking yet.

Let's all pray for a breakout-and-never-look-back finish to the season for Marcus. His last good game was a month ago against FSU. Since then (not counting his 109 ORtg against hapless BC), he has averaged an ORtg of 68. I didn't crunch everybody's numbers but I suspect only Theo has been worse on that measure over the same stretch (at 58). That simply won't continue.

Final observation. All 3 of our losses showed the same symptom we witnessed last season. In all 3 we lost the 4th quarter:

N.Iowa 13-17
Texas 20-27
Louisvl 15-19

So . . . we got this one out of our system. We knew it would be a tough road game. We've known that since before the season began. For a team that mostly couldn't hit the side of a barn and that got only one referee gift all game (that I noticed) compared to many presents for Louisville, this wasn't a terrible loss. I predicted that this game was likely to be our 2nd loss of the season. So it's only 1 worse than expected. We're still on track to enter the NCAA with no more than 5 or 6 losses. We just need to have a couple more of our guys show up on the scoring side.

Let's not forget that Louisville has a HOF coach, too - who I'm sure had a grudge building from last year. And some fine players. That kid Lee would definitely have a place on my team. And Theo could learn some tips on driving from that Mitchell kid. Their bigs are going to be very good with more experience, and aren't bad now. I mean it's not like we lost to a chump team - notwithstanding how UVa manhandled them on Saturday.

 

[notashelbyfan]

If Paige isn't killing it so teams have to pay extra attention to him the rest of the guard play is just average!

 

[CrazyHeel]

To me, JB looked to dish a few too many times, rather than finish, and like someone else mentioned, Marcus needs to drive into the lane more instead of launching long threes. It's still.not a bad loss, although I consider our other losses, bad losses. We'll get payback in a few weeks.

 

[Realfreedom]

To me the most disappointing thing was Paige and no I do not put the loss on his back. I was thinking at the 8 minute mark that this was his time to get out of this funk and put the Heels back on his back. He did not go into overdrive like we have seen him do his whole career. It was like he was stepping back and letting Berry do his thing. No offense to Berry, but we will only go as far as Paige and Brice take us.

I would have been ok had Paige taken over and the shots not fallen. I want him back to being aggressive and the results will follow.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I would have been ok had Paige taken over and the shots not fallen. I want him back to being aggressive and the results will follow.

Yep.

We need to work a little harder at getting him open looks, too.

 

[Archer2]

Note to Brice and Isaiah: you're not PG's, give the ball up on the break.

Note to Kennedy and Marcus: plz come back, we need you.

Note to entire team: you must be tougher when the game is a physical one.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

...like someone else mentioned, Marcus needs to drive into the lane more instead of launching long threes.

I'd like to see more drives, too. Not fewer treys, but more drives.

I'm a little surprised at his driving this season. Not just that he's doing it less, but that he seems less successful. After getting his feet and ankle healthy, I was expecting to see more of those nifty drives like we saw again and again in his duel with TJ Warren. But that just isn't happening.

Can anyone dissect that problem for us?

 

[HeelFan58]

The officials were nowhere near fine... unless they thought they were working a damned hockey game.
As Dave said, Berry got undercut on that first 3 attempt and it went downhill from there. I counted 7 blatant uncalled hits before the Under-12. Hell, just JB alone should have made a dozen trips to the line. and there were often reasons we were missing those layups.

Yeah the officials were fine by today's standards(if I could just figure out what they are) LMFAO. I'm tired of the crap spewed that they can't call every foul on teams Like dook and Louie , well I guarandamntee you that a few whistled fouls early will cut out the pushing , hacking and hockey game environment.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Note to Brice and Isaiah: you're not PG's, give the ball up on the break.

Seems like they start well and then take it a couple of steps beyond their level of competence if anyone is near them.

So, OK, if it's a breakaway, have fun. But if there's any traffic at all, take no more than a step or 2 and then pass or pull up.

Too many "what were you thinking?" moments.

To be fair, if they had gotten away with it, we'd all be cheering. But still....

 

[HeelFan58]

Seems like they start well and then take it a couple of steps beyond their level of competence if anyone is near them.

So, OK, if it's a breakaway, have fun. But if there's any traffic at all, take no more than a step or 2 and then pass or pull up.

Too many "what were you thinking?" moments.

To be fair, if they had gotten away with it, we'd all be cheering. But still....

it would have been cheers of relief

 

[gary-7]

To me, JB looked to dish a few too many times, rather than finish, and like someone else mentioned, Marcus needs to drive into the lane more instead of launching long threes. It's still.not a bad loss, although I consider our other losses, bad losses. We'll get payback in a few weeks.

Agree with that. Down the stretch he started looking to score hinself, but yeah I would have liked to have seen him take their PG to the rack earlier.

 

[coryfly]

Like I said, officials were consistent. There were a number of times they went to the goal and we should have been whistled as well. There have been two games in all my time watching UNC where I thought we were screwed and one of them was Louisville last year. This year I thought they did a good job, especially considering it was a pretty tough game to call.

 

[ChapelHeeled]

Like I said, officials were consistent. There were a number of times they went to the goal and we should have been whistled as well. There have been two games in all my time watching UNC where I thought we were screwed and one of them was Louisville last year. This year I thought they did a good job, especially considering it was a pretty tough game to call.

mike eades says hello...

 

[GoNtheDistance]

statistically speaking, the most glaring thing is our continued inability to shoot the ball from 3. We are on a major slump in that dept and will need to shore that up much sooner than later if we want to make a run and reach our potential. All that aside, the KFC Yum center or whatever the hell it is called is a very tough place to win a college basketball game. Pair that with Louisville laying a few eggs recently and you knew they'd be hitting on all cylinders against the Heels last night. One thing that we must continue to work on is our toughness. Under Roy, we have traditionally struggled against "tough" teams and Louisville fits that mold most years. If you watched the game last night, it came down to toughness. We were more talented but apprehensive. They were tough and willing to do whatever it took to leave their with a W. If we play with the type of toughness we are capable of, we won't be beat. Until then, any tough road game is a toss up.

 

[HeelFan58]

Like I said, officials were consistent. There were a number of times they went to the goal and we should have been whistled as well. There have been two games in all my time watching UNC where I thought we were screwed and one of them was Louisville last year. This year I thought they did a good job, especially considering it was a pretty tough game to call.

I just don't buy that a game is tough to call , it is a basketball game or is it something else i.e a wrestling match You call it by the rules and if one team is hacking , pushing , and running moving screens you hit them with several fouls and I promise you it will change. There are several teams/leagues that have the rep for physical play(also known as fouling) but the eunuchs that call the games will not set the tone early by whistling fouls that would put a stop to that type of play.

 

[gary-7]

I just don't buy that a game is tough to call , it is a basketball game or is it something else i.e a wrestling match You call it by the rules and if one team is hacking , pushing , and running moving screens you hit them with several fouls and I promise you it will change. There are several teams/leagues that have the rep for physical play(also known as fouling) but the eunuchs that call the games will not set the tone early by whistling fouls that would put a stop to that type of play.

It's not that tough to call. I love our man Cory but he could not be further off-base on this one. Louisville is not just "physical", they are a dirty team, and they are coached that way. They want to play by their own set of rules and hope the refs will be numbed down to their fouling on both ends at a high rate. They hope to physically intimidate teams by pounding on them. These so-called "new rules" this season were SUPPOSED to put an end to that approach to the game. That crew last night didn't get the memo. It got out of hand early.

 

[Tru Blu Tar Heel]

Yeah the officials were fine by today's standards(if I could just figure out what they are) LMFAO. I'm tired of the crap spewed that they can't call every foul on teams Like dook and Louie , well I guarandamntee you that a few whistled fouls early will cut out the pushing , hacking and hockey game environment.

They most certainly CAN call every foul on a team. If they called the game like the rules dictate, teams like Louisville and Duke would not be able to finish games because the constant clutching and grabbing and bumping would be called like it should be. I'm in no way putting this loss on the refs because Carolina played like a dumpster fire, but I am about fed up with what today's "basketball" has become. Basically, more often than not, the more aggressive team is going to get more leniency with foul calls.

 

[Tru Blu Tar Heel]

It's not that tough to call. I love our man Cory but he could not be further off-base on this one. Louisville is not just "physical", they are a dirty team, and they are coached that way. They want to play by their own set of rules and hope the refs will be numbed down to their fouling on both ends at a high rate. They hope to physically intimidate teams by pounding on them. These so-called "new rules" this season were SUPPOSED to put an end to that approach to the game. That crew last night didn't get the memo. It got out of hand early.

Just like the emphasis on cutting out the ball handoff screens were supposed to be on the radar. They were for the first two weeks, but since then, it's all gone to the wayside.

 

[Archer2]

I agree 58, it isn't rocket science. I have come to expect poor officiating, both ways. I'm rarely disappointed.

 

[gary-7]

Just like the emphasis on cutting out the ball handoff screens were supposed to be on the radar. They were for the first two weeks, but since then, it's all gone to the wayside.

That's one of their specialties --- as is a "rolling screen", where the screener rolls into the path of the other defender right after the initial screen.
Then there's the "block-out screen" (as seen on their first bucket and several others) where during a drive the Big under the basket puts his ass into our Big and spreads his elbows like a rebound block-out to shield him from helping on a drive. That has always been illegal. Go back and watch how often they got their layups that way.

 

[Steat]

True road games are not played in the Dance, but the Heels need to win some road games down the stretch to stay in Top 10. Must win against Notre Dame on Saturday folks.

 

[gary-7]

True road games are not played in the Dance, but the Heels need to win some road games down the stretch to stay in Top 10. Must win against Notre Dame on Saturday folks.

That is a big one --- psychologically and ranking-wise.

 

[toophly1124]

I'm honestly wondering do some of you guys think there's a conspiracy against us that we don't get as many foul calls as other teams? After every loss, and to some extent after some wins, there's complaining we got "hosed" ... I really don't see it ... Yes there were several fouls on Louisville that they didn't call but there were several on us they didn't call either

 

[HeelFan58]

It's not that tough to call. I love our man Cory but he could not be further off-base on this one. Louisville is not just "physical", they are a dirty team, and they are coached that way. They want to play by their own set of rules and hope the refs will be numbed down to their fouling on both ends at a high rate. They hope to physically intimidate teams by pounding on them. These so-called "new rules" this season were SUPPOSED to put an end to that approach to the game. That crew last night didn't get the memo. It got out of hand early.

we don't need "new rules" we need new refs.

 

[HeelFan58]

I'm honestly wondering do some of you guys think there's a conspiracy against us that we don't get as many foul calls as other teams? After every loss, and to some extent after some wins, there's complaining we got "hosed" ... I really don't see it ... Yes there were several fouls on Louisville that they didn't call but there were several on us they didn't call either

I never said all the calls were against us , just that the officiating is terrible period. These "physical" teams get away with it against everybody because when you get the reputation of playing tough defense (read fouling a lot) the idiot officials give them more leeway than a normally finesse team would get. Can you seriously tell me you don't see this? WVU and Arkansas both shouldn't have a player left after half time the way they foul. On the flip side we and OTHERS who aren't known as physical defense teams and we in turn get called for disproportionately more ticky-tacky fouls

 

[toophly1124]

I never said all the calls were against us , just that the officiating is terrible period. These "physical" teams get away with it against everybody because when you get the reputation of playing tough defense (read fouling a lot) the idiot officials give them more leeway than a normally finesse team would get. Can you seriously tell me you don't see this? WVU and Arkansas both shouldn't have a player left after half time the way they foul. On the flip side we and OTHERS who aren't known as physical defense teams and we in turn get called for disproportionately more ticky-tacky fouls

I wasn't referring to just you ... And I honestly can't even remember who has said it in the past ..I just remember reading it ... Also I never said anyone actually said "calls were against" us I was just wondering if some people think that way ...yes I can see that some games are called tight and others hardly no fouls are called ... I also can tell that officiating is different from conference to conference ... My point is I could nitpick every little thing that "should or not should be" a foul too but what's the point? I agree officiating needs to get better as a whole ..but I watched the exact same game as you guys and I have zero issues with the way the game was called ... Make more shots maybe we're not even discussing this

 

[TarHeelMark]

Note to Brice and Isaiah: you're not PG's, give the ball up on the break.

Yep... they both tried to lead a break in the last two games, which was not a wise decision. Let's hope they learn from that embarrassment.