Stats and stuff (Wisky game)...

[gary-7]

...and we never trailed for a second in the entire tourney. And welcome to the Meeks and Berry show.

Can't say enough about our team defense, especially our Bigs who stayed grounded and moved their feet and absolutely shut down any offensive glass shenanigans (credit to perimeter guys for doing their parts boxing out too). Also can't say enough about this short-handed team's ability to play in the half court when the tempo bogs down. Of course it helps to have guys like JB, JJ and IH who can create their own shot when needed.

Stats
(and I'll start by saying some of the box score numbers are just flat wrong, which happens sometimes away from home)

- We only had 2 Fast Break pts (not 0) and 9 Secondary Break

- We didn't shoot great (except for our two aforementioned heroes), didn't get to the line enough (ahem), and blew too many Assists (12) for that few possessions, but a 36-26 Rebound advantage helps, as does holding them to only 4 Offensive. And a 36-16 Points in the Paint advantage is a killer.

- Kennedy was just a force to be reckoned with on both ends --- played superior D including 3 Steals (not 2), cleaned the glass, had a double-double in the first half and finished with 15 and 16. Big fella doin' work, and gave us 31 minutes (dunno if that's a career high, but I wouldn't doubt it.

- HIcks also did an excellent job of moving his feet on D and displayed his face-up game on his way to 14 pts.

- Lousy 3-pt shooting (except for JB) but when we did finally get to the line we cashed in --- a perfect 12/12 FTs as a team!

- JB did an absolute number on Koenig defensively, holding an excellent player to 1/13 shooting, and was just unstoppable on offense --- his real stat line was 22 pts on 9/12 FGs, incl 2/3 from 3, 2/2 FTs to go with 3 Rebounds, 5 Assists (not 3) with 7 Blown, and a Steal (he didn't get credit for). Dog played 34 minutes, and we needed every damned bit of it.

Stuff
- Bilas was effusive with praise for a good reason. We took apart a darned good and very experienced team... and playing at their pace, no less. The final score margin was not indicative as we gave too many back from our bench.

- Good on 7th for hustling and making that Sports Center block, after that gawdawful pass that created the TO.

- The final crowd chant of "MVP, MVP" was spot on, and if it wasn't JB, Kennedy would've been a solid choice.

I know it's just a holiday tournament but that win means something... and let's hope the history associated with that continues...

 

[Steat]

 

[HeelFan58]

Heels playing like a team on a mission.

 

[gary-7]

Heels playing like a team on a mission.

They really are... especially to be this early.
Hope they can sustain that and respond when they're challenged. The game in Indiana may provide that opportunity.

 

[DSouthr]

This was a big time statement game type of win, don't think we will be under estimated as least for a while now. WE didn't just beat Whisky, we owned them, no it was not a 30+ blow out but a 15pt win vs Whisky is like a 30pt win vs most teams in the way they slow down the pace.

You have heard the expression, cut off the head and the body will die, well that is what we did to Whisky, we cut off Bronson Koenig and Hayes and Whisky died. Some wins are better for your team than others and some losses are more devastating to your team than others. This is one of those losses that is going to be really hard for Whisky to over come because they kinda did most of what they wanted to do and still got owned.

I don't even need to talk about what Joel did, you saw it, Bilas and gary explained it, I don't need to. I would rather talk about 2 other guys and of course I have to start with Mr Meeks. I am going to say it right now, if Meeks had played like that in the national title game last season, we win and it would not have been all that close. Don't get that twisted, I am not blaming Meeks for that loss, what I am saying is this is the Meeks we have been waiting to emerge, this is 100% praise for Meeks! One of my big questions coming in to this season is how would our enigma named Meeks play, well he did start off a lil slow but he was the man last night. And what is the difference, it is how strong and solid he is going back up for rebounds. He is not a high riser but he is a strong solid rock in there and he just keeps going up. He will tip it once twice or as many times as he has to and just can not be moved out. If ya can't rise high, play strong, Meeks is playing strong, has he been hanging out with Sean May?

Justin Jackson, yeah, I know, didn't stuff the stats so much this game but I liked his defense last night, moved his feet, really took Hayes out of his game playing a lot of denial. He didn't shoot great but he found avenues to snake to the basket to finish when his jumper was not exactly on. You have to watch the game off the ball and not look at the stat sheet to get what I am talking about here but he, Kenny, Nate, and Hicks were quietly very effective as defenders.

One thing I keep finding puzzling is I watch these games and feel Hicks is playing really well and look at the stat sheet at the end and he is lite on rebounds? But he is doing a heck of a job blocking out for the guy that does get the rebound and it seems like every basket he makes is a key basket at an important time in the game. I also felt Tony played much better than his stat sheet shows, he and Hicks are efficiency experts, they don't take a lot of shots but are going to make at least 50% of what they do take.

Crazy thing is we will get Luke back, most likely for the IU game and I think he makes us even better and when Theo comes back I think we have an even higher level we can rise to.

 

[Butterbutt44]

It could've been a 30 point win though. 15 was not indicative of how bad it was. We were up by 25 when Roy put in all the subs and Wisconsin hit a couple ridiculous 3s there at the end.

 

[RP12]

Was the wrap up with Greenberg shot before the game? It was amazing to see that performance followed by a wrap up that only mentioned the Heels in a jab from Seth about a Jenkins three from Nova.

 

[Archer2]

Seth was a mediocre coach and is an even worse commentator.

 

[gary-7]

Was the wrap up with Greenberg shot before the game? It was amazing to see that performance followed by a wrap up that only mentioned the Heels in a jab from Seth about a Jenkins three from Nova.

Ol' Seth certainly seems to still have a thorn in his butt over UNC.

 

[Ozheelfan]

Let Seth talk his garbage talk all season. This team thrives on being underrated and unloved by the media....

...as Joel tweeted during the summer: "Keep Sleeping"

(to which Brice replied: "Prove them wrong, I know I did")

 

[Archer2]

Ol' Seth certainly seems to still have a thorn in his butt over UNC.

He does indeed. His dislike for UNC is very obvious. I don't like him any more than he likes UNC.

 

[gary-7]

He does indeed. His dislike for UNC is very obvious. I don't like him any more than he likes UNC.

Yeah, Seth was a decent coach and I honestly think he got hosed out of a couple of NCAA appearances that could have saved his job, but he always projected that "if I was at Carolina I'd be a hall-of-famer too" attitude. And on that I call horsesh**. Roy runs a superior system, and Seth reminds me of the Dean-bashers back in the day who couldn't carry the maestro's clipboard.

 

[UNC Blue Hup]

I wouldn't trade Berry for ANY PG in the country! JJ is looking better too..If Meeks can sustain this, look out!! Go Heels!