Stats and stuff (ND game - NCAAT)...

[gary-7]

...and I posted in the Syracuse thread that UVA's inconsistent effort and especially lapses in help-D did them in --- and it should serve as an object lesson. And I'm gonna tell ya, there were times when I was worried about us, Fortunately we stepped it up enough when it counted on both ends to overcome.

First things:
- I'm gonna start with some special kudos to Kennedy Meeks. Big fella has had a rough time of it lately (rougher than most fans know --- more on that after the season). So... tonight his minutes were gonna be limited by the match-ups, but damned if he didn't make the most of them. Posted strong, used his width and finished thru contact. His contribution was HUGE, especially that opening salvo in the second half. In only 15 total minutes he finished 4/4 form the field, made both his FTs, made a key outlet for that big showtime fast break that ended in the alley-oop to Hicks. Speaking of Meeks, here's something a lotta fans won't notice. In the second half he was posting wide and deep --- absolutely pinning his defender, to the point that he enabled some key drives by Theo and JB down the stretch that resulted in baskets without doing anything illegal. Good on ya, Kennedy!

- Speaking of Theo: I'm sure I wasn't the only one imploring Roy thru the TV to "GO SMALL!"... and when we did Theo was a bundle of energy, especially in second half. The steal and timeout, the strong timely takes, the alley-oop to Hicks, and tap-outs on missed FTs. Roy said he could keep on crashing press conferences if he played like that . Hell, and as I write this there he is in the post-game presser!

- Speaking of takes. When our Guards drove the ball good things happened. Timely takes by JB, Marcus and Nate were important

- Nice early contribution from Big Joel

- The zebras were not our friends, and I'm not sure what Brice said to get that cheese-ball tech, but our guys played thru it... bitches.

- Geez almighty --- the ill-advised switches in the first half. ND was purposely pulling back after ball-screens to iso a shooter on a Big, and a little guy on their Big. Roy adjusted and flatted more in the second half to let the Guards get thru. We still got in each other's way sometimes on drives.

- Speaking of which, our help-D is always our key. Period. Tonight we had too many lapses there. When we did it right the results spoke for themselves. Credit ND for making some tough shots, and Jackson and Vestuvia certainly had stronger games this time, but make no mistake: a LOT of that success came against lapses in switches and lapses in help-D.

Stats:
I left my damned stat sheet at the bar, but from memory...
- Once again, all 5 starters in double figures. That works.

- On a night we didn't shoot the 3-ball well (4/13), howz about this? 28/39 on 2-pt FGs. That's 71.8%!!! Wowzers. That's finishing!... and we did it thru a lotta uncalled contact.

- Speaking of finishing: We blew 7 Assists without drawing fouls in the first half --- only 4 in the second. That's more like it.

- 20/24 from the line --- and 3 of the misses were Theo's. The offensive tip-outs and tip-ins were huge.

- They played small a lot, but still, we only allowed 5 offensive rebounds --- and we got 13 offensive boards, and many were big. BTW: Brice out-rebounded ND in the first half

- Another Brice gem --- 25 and 12 on 10/15 shooting and 5/5 FTs. Yessir.

- Speaking of FTs, our starters were 16/17. That'll win ya some games.

- On a night when ND was playing keep-away (bring back the damned 5-second rule!!!) so we couldn't turn them over as much, we did our part by only committing 6 TOs.

- We had 17 total Assists, including 8 by JB against 0 TOs and 4 by Theo.

- We didn't run as much as we like but got a lot out of the Secondary Break (24 pts) to go with 5 true Fast Break. The better news is that we were very efficient in our half court offense in the second half.

Anyway, staved off a game ND team and second-half run and momentum to come out with another double-digit NCAA Tourney win. Final Four, bitches!... BUT there's more work to do...

 

[ChiShankCity]

We fouled 3 times after Brice's T in the second half. Notre Dame played in the bonus for like 13 minutes and we fouled 3 times. I thought that was really key. Nothing easy defensively after Brice's T.

 

[gary-7]

We fouled 3 times after Brice's T in the second half. Notre Dame played in the bonus for like 13 minutes and we fouled 3 times. I thought that was really key. Nothing easy defensively after Brice's T.

Yep. The help-D stepped up then and we played smarter on drives.

 

[ChiShankCity]

Also, after ND took the lead 52-51, we scored on 13 straight possessions. Big time response.

 

[gary-7]

Also, after ND took the lead 52-51, we scored on 13 straight possessions. Big time response.

HUGE. Brey pointed to that in his presser.
Killer instinct from a team on a mission.

 

[Heelicious]

Brice now in the record books for most double - doubles IN A SEASON at Chapel Hill. Think of all the GREAT big men who have played at UNC from Worthy to Jamison, Montross, Hansbrough Daugherty Sean May and on and on and on.... that is one HUGE accomplishment.

And Marcus is going to finish in top 5-10 in about every UNC stat it seems.

May be a long time before we see two seniors this good on a team - stay all four years and accomplish as much as these two ....

 

[Ozheelfan]

Great post Gary, especially if you really left your stats sheet at the bar!
I can't help marvel at what a great team this Heels squad is. Yeah, sure Brice is Mr double-double, but there's always someone to step in.
He spent a long time on the bench following the Tech and players just stepped up. Theo was Mr energy, Kennedy brought his lunch pail, Isaiah didn't foul out, Justin tipped in shots, Joel and Nate drove when they needed to etc, etc. Oh yeah, and Marcus was Marcus.
If this group go on to win the Natty you couldn't find a more stark contrast to the '15 champs - led by 3 OAD's and a trainee punk.

 

[TarHeelTroy]

This game makes 3 straight double doubles for Brice at the most important time of the season.

25 and 12
20 and 10
21 and 10

22-35 (62.86%) from the field and 22-24 (91.67%) from the FT line during the last 3 games

He is absolutely killing it! As a whole, one of the best overall tournament performances ever.

 

[BillyL]

Official box score :

http://www.goheels.com//ViewContent...=C&SITE=UNC&DB_OEM_ID=3350&CONTENT_ID=1765162

 

[JovialMuse]

Always enjoy your game recaps, Gary, thanks.

 

[Mistercvr4]

I'm sure the GM's of the Spurs and Warriors are hoping like hell that Brice falls late in the draft.

 

[gary-7]

I'm sure the GM's of the Spurs and Warriors are hoping like hell that Brice falls late in the draft.

Would love to see him on a team like that, but alas Brice is playing himself outta that possibility

 

[DSouthr]

And yet there are still so called experts that do not have Brice in the NBA lotto? How Brice is not at very least a top 5 pick amazes me. He is simply the best big man in the college game and there is a huge gap between him and any other big man in college. There may be guys that have more potential but there is no higher producing big man in the college game today. What more can Brice do to prove he belongs in the lotto, does he need to shoot treys out to mid court before folks realize? I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see Brice somehow end up with the Spurs, that w0ould be an amazing fit of player to coach/team!

Tell ya what I see that is really special with this team, all that talk of our being soft, but look what has happened since Roy began going with our version of going small ball. Our version is Theo with Justin in together along with either Brice or Issiah and Joel & Marcus. And to me the key, the stat sheet will not show it but the key has been the play of Theo Pinson.

I mean look, we already have the tuff as nails Joel berry bringing it EVERY GAME, Marcus is as well a tuff lil nut, and Brice at times can be really tuff and at other times can focus more on offense and forget defense a lil. Justin is a it on the laid back side, he seems to me to feed off the emotions of others a it. Theo comes in and all the sudden you have the grit he plays with combined with Joel and Marcus, Brice seems to really engage on the defensive end, and Justin really seems to lock in. It is our defense feeding our offense and that defense has real teeth in it.

I started calling for this line up about mid-season, yeah when Theo was struggling a little bit, I did because I am sold on Theo as a defender. Even last season, in the limited PT he got, he seemed to bring that extra bit of spark with his all out hustle. Notice as of late, the real difference in Theo is he is passing up those open shots, when he was taking them he struggled. It is not offense, it isn't all the sudden hitting treys, it is defense that is leading the way folks, the shots are dropping because we have the opposing teams on their heels, we are getting clean looks and we have good shooters, we slipped in to settling for harder jump shots in our lil swoon, we have gotten back to taking good shots and good shooters drop good shots.

The announcers said it pretty well late in that game last night, UNC is getting easy shots and ND has to work really hard for anything they get. That has IMO been the difference since dropping that game to UVa and it is what we all watched play out in that ACCT run, it is what we have so far seen in this NCAAT by winning every game by double digits. For this UNC team to lose to any of the schools still in this final 4 it will be because we let down on the defensive end and so far that has not happened.

 

[Heelicious]

And yet there are still so called experts that do not have Brice in the NBA lotto? How Brice is not at very least a top 5 pick amazes me. He is simply the best big man in the college game and there is a huge gap between him and any other big man in college. There may be guys that have more potential but there is no higher producing big man in the college game today. What more can Brice do to prove he belongs in the lotto, does he need to shoot treys out to mid court before folks realize? I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see Brice somehow end up with the Spurs, that w0ould be an amazing fit of player to coach/team!

Tell ya what I see that is really special with this team, all that talk of our being soft, but look what has happened since Roy began going with our version of going small ball. Our version is Theo with Justin in together along with either Brice or Issiah and Joel & Marcus. And to me the key, the stat sheet will not show it but the key has been the play of Theo Pinson.

I mean look, we already have the tuff as nails Joel berry bringing it EVERY GAME, Marcus is as well a tuff lil nut, and Brice at times can be really tuff and at other times can focus more on offense and forget defense a lil. Justin is a it on the laid back side, he seems to me to feed off the emotions of others a it. Theo comes in and all the sudden you have the grit he plays with combined with Joel and Marcus, Brice seems to really engage on the defensive end, and Justin really seems to lock in. It is our defense feeding our offense and that defense has real teeth in it.

I started calling for this line up about mid-season, yeah when Theo was struggling a little bit, I did because I am sold on Theo as a defender. Even last season, in the limited PT he got, he seemed to bring that extra bit of spark with his all out hustle. Notice as of late, the real difference in Theo is he is passing up those open shots, when he was taking them he struggled. It is not offense, it isn't all the sudden hitting treys, it is defense that is leading the way folks, the shots are dropping because we have the opposing teams on their heels, we are getting clean looks and we have good shooters, we slipped in to settling for harder jump shots in our lil swoon, we have gotten back to taking good shots and good shooters drop good shots.

The announcers said it pretty well late in that game last night, UNC is getting easy shots and ND has to work really hard for anything they get. That has IMO been the difference since dropping that game to UVa and it is what we all watched play out in that ACCT run, it is what we have so far seen in this NCAAT by winning every game by double digits. For this UNC team to lose to any of the schools still in this final 4 it will be because we let down on the defensive end and so far that has not happened.

Spot on post Dave. Every word of it rings true.

I guess the one guy left that REALLY worries me is Buddy Hield. Maybe OU won't advance but I think they will

I had unc over OU for the title game on the one bracket I filled out. I also had Kansas and UVA in the final four. Oh well.

But when Buddy gets on, he has near Curry like shooting skills like he can't miss no matter where he is shooting from and how closely he is guarded.

If that matchup does occur if a couple of our guys could somewhat contain him even if that meant those guys gave us little on the offensive end that would be fine with me.

I know - we have to beat Syracise first. As you said, defense will be the key.

Something we've become really good st, that we exploited last night against ND and our two wins against Cuse that UVA just couldn't do... And lots of teams struggle with. Is passing into the heart of the zone. Hitting Brice usually or hicks or Meeks with a nice entry pass just below the FT line. From there nothing good happens for the defense. Nearly automatic sweet short jumpers or an interior pass for a layup or dunk. Beats the heck out of settling for some long jacked up 3. That's exactly what Syracuse wants you to shoot

We've played against and been effective enough against zone that it doesn't even worry me any more. In years past it was our kryptonite for sure.

We can even have Marcus and Jpel and Justin hitting well enough from deep that they can't totally pack the paint tight against us

 

[gary-7]

Something we've become really good st, that we exploited last night against ND and our two wins against Cuse that UVA just couldn't do... And lots of teams struggle with. Is passing into the heart of the zone. Hitting Brice usually or hicks or Meeks with a nice entry pass just below the FT line. From there nothing good happens for the defense. Nearly automatic sweet short jumpers or an interior pass for a layup or dunk. Beats the heck out of settling for some long jacked up 3. That's exactly what Syracuse wants you to shoot

This is key. UVA just killed them when they worked inside-out, and/or inside-to-the-short-corners. I respect Bennett but I think he coached a lousy second half. They totally went away from that on key possessions late.

Our Zone O has been tremendous at times this season with our Bigs working the high post, or Justin or Theo when we go small. We need to shoot a bit better from 3 Saturday and again, clamp down on help-D. We cannot let Cuse get away with drives like they did in the second half vs UVA,

 

[DSouthr]

Hield is special for sure but if we contain his team mates, if we are quick to the long rebounds and kick them up to ignite our breaks then I don't see Hield hitting enough of those really long treys to beat us and frankly, I don't see him doing that vs Nova either. I think to beat Nova you really need to pound the ball in to the paint and take it right at Uchufor, get him to in foul trouble and nova does not have the size to contain really good opposing big men. But if you are going to heave long jump shots up all day nova is going to be quicker to those long rebounds and Uchie will not have foul trouble.

Nova likes to slash & drive on ya, tends to get bigs in to foul trouble and before you know it you do not have the size to keep them off the glass. Nova to me is very Indiana/ND like thou maybe they play under a bit more control.

 

[ChiShankCity]

And yet there are still so called experts that do not have Brice in the NBA lotto? How Brice is not at very least a top 5 pick amazes me. He is simply the best big man in the college game and there is a huge gap between him and any other big man in college. There may be guys that have more potential but there is no higher producing big man in the college game today. What more can Brice do to prove he belongs in the lotto, does he need to shoot treys out to mid court before folks realize? I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see Brice somehow end up with the Spurs, that w0ould be an amazing fit of player to coach/team!

Brice's age will hurt him. He'll be 22 at the time of the draft. It's rare that a non legit 7'0" center gets drafted top 5, top 10 at that age.

The only thing he can do is to get younger and that's not possible.

Now if he steamrolls through the final four, I think he'll get into the lottery.

 

[gary-7]

Brice's age will hurt him. He'll be 22 at the time of the draft. It's rare that a non legit 7'0" center gets drafted top 5, top 10 at that age.

The only thing he can do is to get younger and that's not possible.

Now if he steamrolls through the final four, I think he'll get into the lottery.

Despite the idiocy of the NBA mindset, Brice is a lottery pick right now.

 

[Heelicious]

Brice's age will hurt him. He'll be 22 at the time of the draft. It's rare that a non legit 7'0" center gets drafted top 5, top 10 at that age.

The only thing he can do is to get younger and that's not possible.

Now if he steamrolls through the final four, I think he'll get into the lottery.

Jung I've posted where I think you've made good posts but I think this one is way off base. Are you saying that at the old age of 22 people see Brice as old damaged goods because maybe he wasn't all world at 19? I just can't believe that is how shrewd gms think. That they just use statistical age and ranking, physical measures etc vs using the eye test. Example. Ill give you Anthony Davis was a can't miss freak one and done. But look at guys like okafor Parker Ingram Tyus jones and God forbid we even bring that snivelly POS Grayson Allen into this point. Have any or will any of those guys be better pro prospects than Brice? Not one of those guys has better overall offensive skill set : run the floor jump block shots and shoot with sweet touch from anywhere over anyone from 15 feet in

Which is fine if you and GMs follow this lazy form of assessment. I hope it means that Brice falls to a smart well run org like GSW or SAS. Not to some clown show like okafor at philly.

 

[ChiShankCity]

Jung I've posted where I think you've made good posts but I think this one is way off base. Are you saying that at the old age of 22 people see Brice as old damaged goods because maybe he wasn't all world at 19? I just can't believe that is how shrewd gms think. That they just use statistical age and ranking, physical measures etc vs using the eye test. Example. Ill give you Anthony Davis was a can't miss freak one and done. But look at guys like okafor Parker Ingram Tyus jones and God forbid we even bring that snivelly POS Grayson Allen into this point. Have any or will any of those guys be better pro prospects than Brice? Not one of those guys has better overall offensive skill set : run the floor jump block shots and shoot with sweet touch from anywhere over anyone from 15 feet in

Which is fine if you and GMs follow this lazy form of assessment. I hope it means that Brice falls to a smart well run org like GSW or SAS. Not to some clown show like okafor at philly.

I think there's a theory... If a 22 year old prospect is perceived to be a great prospect, GM's wonder why those players didn't come out when they were younger.

Also, at 22, Brice is still pretty thin for the NBA. So if they look at 2 thinner prospects, my guess is the NBA will lean towards the 19 year old.

I think many NBA front office types feel a 22 year old is closer to his potential. More room to grow for the younger guys.

Also, UNC guys haven't had much success in the NBA lately. I'm not sure if that plays in, but it may. Most of the Kentucky guys can really play. Right now, there's 1 consistent Roy starter in the NBA that I can recall? Danny Green?

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

Brice is already a projected lottery pick as of now - with a title he might move up another couple spots, who knows. They have Rabb projected to go ahead of him. I get that Rabb is younger, but I really don't see how someone can justify taking him over Brice based on what we've seen from the two of them. Rabb may have a higher ceiling, which I guess is ultimately what the GMs draft on - but depending on the state of my program, I'd rather take the sure bet.

I'm hoping like heck that Brice will be there for the last pick in the lottery - the Dallas pick which is now owned by my favorite team, the Celtics - but I'm not holding my breath on that, I assume he'll be gone before that.

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

Right now, there's 1 consistent Roy starter in the NBA that I can recall? Danny Green?

Harrison Barnes and Marvin Williams off the top of my head as well. Plus - Lawson would be a starter if he didn't pick up DUI's like they were going out of style, which is no knock on Roy.

 

[ChiShankCity]

Harrison Barnes and Marvin Williams off the top of my head as well. Plus - Lawson would be a starter if he didn't pick up DUI's like they were going out of style, which is no knock on Roy.

You're right. But among that group.... Maybe 1 top 50 player in the NBA? Not a huge UNC brand right now in the NBA.

 

[r_u_worthy]

So in that way- Roy has overachieved while at UNC? I mean if he can bring home 2 NC's, and put himself in position to bring home a 3rd with less than stellar talent, doesn't that shine more light on his ability to get the most from the talent he does have? That kind of flies in the face of the standard media narrative that Roy can only win with great talent. Seems to me that he wins with Good (not great) talent that is disciplined and experienced... hmmm?

 

[gary-7]

I think there's a theory... If a 22 year old prospect is perceived to be a great prospect, GM's wonder why those players didn't come out when they were younger.

Also, at 22, Brice is still pretty thin for the NBA. So if they look at 2 thinner prospects, my guess is the NBA will lean towards the 19 year old.

I think many NBA front office types feel a 22 year old is closer to his potential. More room to grow for the younger guys.

Also, UNC guys haven't had much success in the NBA lately. I'm not sure if that plays in, but it may. Most of the Kentucky guys can really play. Right now, there's 1 consistent Roy starter in the NBA that I can recall? Danny Green?

You really need to take a lap brother.

 

[DSouthr]

I think there's a theory... If a 22 year old prospect is perceived to be a great prospect, GM's wonder why those players didn't come out when they were younger.

Also, at 22, Brice is still pretty thin for the NBA. So if they look at 2 thinner prospects, my guess is the NBA will lean towards the 19 year old.

I think many NBA front office types feel a 22 year old is closer to his potential. More room to grow for the younger guys.

Also, UNC guys haven't had much success in the NBA lately. I'm not sure if that plays in, but it may. Most of the Kentucky guys can really play. Right now, there's 1 consistent Roy starter in the NBA that I can recall? Danny Green?

UNC has not had the NBA success we have seen from our players in the past but we have not been getting the very top shelf talents either, we have been developing them in to top shelf talents and that just takes a while. Hansbourgh for example was never seen as a can't miss NBA guy, he was always seen as a guy coming off some NBA bench for a while and then going to Europe. Barnes, who is doing really well as a key member of the world champs was the highest rated talent we have had in a long while but was never seen as a guranteed NBA super star.

You give us Anthony Davis and he would be considered no less a player, give us Parker or Oakafor and they would have been considered no less a player. But I think a player that shows very high productivity at this level should be considered as being more ready to be productive at the next level than a kid that is just average as a college player.