Game Blog: Game over. UNC 79 VT 76 Final
Virginia Tech's Jeff Allen and Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina go for the ball in the first half on March 13, 2009.
Mar 13, 2009
Update: 2:05 Game over. UNC 79 VT 76 Final.
A. D. Vassallo took a heavily contested three that missed the basket. UNC's defensive rebound seals a very hard fought win. Roy Williams did a great job in the closing minutes of using fouls to advantage. Carolina was three fouls under the limit headed into the final minute. UNC committed three fouls-none of which gave VT free throw opportunities-that really disrupted the Hokies' offensive rhythm. If Carolina can defend during the rest of March as it did in the final few possessions today, this team can go a long way-even if Lawson is ailing. You feel badly for Virginia Tech, which really played well today, hoping to get into the NCAA Tournament. If Tech had played this well more often, the Hokies would definitely be dancing. Very good basketball game and a really terrific win for Carolina without Lawson. Hansbrough and the UNC big men, plus great defense at the end spelled the difference.
Update: 2:02 UNC 79-76
Hansbrough hit two free throws and Roy Williams called a time out. VT has 4.6 seconds to get a shot. Look for Vassallo or Delany.
Update: 2:00 Uproar
Great defensive possession by UNC. The Heels were well under the foul limit. They used that to advantage, aggressively going for the ball and eventually forcing a jump ball. Carolina has the arrow. Heels inbounding now.. 4.6 seconds. It's about free throws for UNC now. Jeff Allen just fouled out which gives VT a defacto time out.
UUpdate: 1:58 UNC 77-76
Great double team by the Heels on Vassallo. Heels almost forced a turnover. Ellington called for loose ball foul. VT took its final to.
Update: 1:56 UNC 77 VT 76
A. D. Vassallo picked up a huge rebound basket for Tech on a day when the UNC big men have ruled the boards. UNC countered with a twisting turning basket by Hansbrough. UNC now leads. VT called its third time out to set up a play in the final 31 seconds. There is a lot riding on this for VT.
Update: VT 74 UNC 73
Great defensive possession by Carolina. The Heels got Malcolm Delany to take a tough shot and he missed. Hansbrough just hit two ft's to put the Heels on top. What a game!
Update; VT 74 UNC 71 Under 4:00 time out
Good time out by Seth Greenberg. The Hokies had been struggling on prior possessions, except for Malcolm Delany's huge three at the six minute mark. Following the VT time out, A. D. Vassallo got free for a ten footer. Carollina has really battled under the boards-Tyler Zyler picked up a huge rebound basket a few moments ago. Danny Green is really cold. He has missed four jumpers in a row. Shuold be a very interesting final 2:23. Roy Williams has all of his time outs.
Update: VT 72 UNC 71
Seth Greenberg just called his second time out, not wanting to wait for the under 4:00. 3:30 left. More in a moment.
Update: 1:37pm VT 68 UNC 67. Good UNC recovery.
A.D. Vassallo's three point shooting gave VT a nice cushion. But there's Danny Green. With UNC down 68-63 and VT fighting for a defensive rebound, Green made a critical tip in to get the Heels back to three. Vassallo then suffered a rare miss. Wayne Ellngton made a nice drive to get Carolina back within one. It looked like the Heels might take the lead before the under eight time out-UNC fans wanted a goal tending call on Hansbrough's shot. No call was made. But Ed Davis will be at the free throw line when play resumes. VT looks like an NCAA team today. I
Update: 1:30pm VT 60 UNC 57
Virginia Tech is notoriously a halfcourt team, but today the Hokies are really pushing the tempo against the Ty Lawsonless Tar Heels. VT has picked up three transition baskets in the last few minutes alone. VT is also setting screens to free Malcolm Delany. Carolina's been burned in its halfcourt defense a couple of times because of ball scrreens. At the other end, it is Hansbrough, Hansbrough. He now has 20 points and just got Jeff Allen to commit his fourth foul. Hokie fans were not pleased with the last two calls against Allen.
Update: 1:20pm UNC 51-50
Under 16 time out. VT beat the Heels downcourt again, with Malcolm Delany getting a dunk off the run out. UNC countered with a Tyler Hansbrough jumper. Roy Williams is getting ready to re-insert Ed Davis into the game. Davis scored eight points in eleven minutes during the first half. Deon Thompson has also played well. Danny Green has been quiet for Carolina. He has just three points and two turnovers.
Update: 1:14 UNC 47-46 VT takes quick time out
Seth Greenberg just took a time out barely two minutes into the second half. I can only assume he wants to review defensive adjustments Tech made at halftime to keep the Tar Heels from getting the ball inside. Both of UNC's second half baskets have come from pounding the ball in to the big men.
Update: 1:08pm Halftime
The halftime stats pretty much tell the same story I've been telling. UNC has the edge in points in the paint and second chance points. Tech has committed just four turnovers and the Hokies are shooting 50%. UNC is actually shooting 55%. Carolina without Lawson has just one fast break basket. Virginia Tech has three. This game will be decided on defense. Whichever team can force the other into heavily contested shots will win the game.
Update: 12:55 Halftime: NC 43 VT 42
Tyler Zeller scored on a layup with four seconds left to give Carolina the halftime lead. VT is not the type team that applies great backcourt pressure, so this doesn't mean the Lawsonless Heels are press proof. But thus far this team looks much like it did last year when Quentin Thomas filled in for Lawson. It's not able to run quite as much, but it looks very solid in the halfcourt offense. Defense-that's another story. This is a good ballgame so far.
Update: 12:49pm Heels turning the tide: UNC 39-37
Considering Ty Lawson's not playing for the first time all season, I really like the way North Carolina is playing. Bobbhy Frasor and Larry Drew II are doing a good job of getting the ball inside. Carolina has a size advantage on VT. I loved the last possession where Drew fed Frasor on the break. Bobby dishes to Wayne Ellington for three.
Update: 12:40 Momentum shift VT 26-24
Bobby Frasor just hit a three pointer. His buddy Tyler Hansbrough followed that by taking a charge. The Heels followed that with another basket. This place is in an uproar.
Update: 12:36: Under 8 time out VT 23-17
Virginia Tech leads, but Carolina looks to be in solid shape so far considering Ty Lawson is out. The Heels are getting a nice mix of shots. Again, the big issue is there have been too many defensive breakdowns. Tech is very motivated. Also, the crowd here at the Georgia Dome now feels like an ACC Tournament crowd.
Update: 12:25 Drew II in game
Larry Drew II just took a stint at point guard. He took a questionable quick jumper on the first possession, but made a nice pass to Ed Davis for a bucket the next time down. Carolina's biggest problem is that Tech is shooting 50%.
Update: 12:14pm: Solid start for Heels
Bobby Frason has done a good job so far at the offensive end. The North Carolina offense is working through its progressions and the Heels are generally getting good shots. Carolina has given VT a couple of easy baskets at the other end. Deon Thompson has done a nice job so far in his matchup with Jeff Allen.
Update: 12:07 Frasor's responsibilities
Bobby Frasor has a lot on his shoulders today. Not only will he get most of the work running the UNC offense, but he will have major defensive responsibilities as well. Virginia Tech's backcourt tandem of Malcolm Delany and A. D. Vassallo is one of the ACC's best. OK here comes tip off.
Update: 12:01 Heels take the court
North Caroina has just taken the court. The two Tylers, Hansbrough and Zeller are standing together in the layup line. And now Virginia Tech has come back out as well. Some guy is waving this huge Hokie flag. Definitely a better atmosphere today than yesterday.
Update: Waiting for tip off
Here's a statistical nugget while we wait for the tip off. Since the NCAA expanded its field in 1975, allowing the ACC's best team during the regular season to advance without winning the ACC Tournament, the number one seed has won just 35% of the time.
Update: 11:55am: Frasor to start
We just got the official word. Bobby Frasor will start at point guard for North Carolina.
Update: 11:50 am History making
Our colleague Barry Jacobs just passed this along-Ty Lawson's absence is an ACC first. Lawson is the first ACC player of the year ever to sit out an ACC Tournament opening round game. Quite honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if Lawson is held out until the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Coach Roy Williams said on his radio show this week that he has not heard much from fans about UNC's ACC Championships the past two years, but he has heard a great deal from fans about the NCAA losses to Georgetown and Kansas. That comment may give some insight into the coach's priorities.
Update: 11:30am Psychological factors
I expect a good effort from North Carolina today, but let's face it, Virginia Tech has more to play for. A win over the Tar Heels might well put the Hokies into the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, Carolina probably has a number one seed locked up, after the carnage of Thursday that saw potential number ones Pitt, Connecticut, and Oklahoma all lose.
Update 11:20 am Frasor warming up.
I am watching Bobby Frasor warm up right now. He has the look of a guy who is preparing to do something he hasn't done in some years-start at point guard. Nothing official yet on whether Frasor or Larry Drew will get the start in Lawson's place, but all signs point to Frasor. He is a senior. The freshman Drew has struggled lately.
Update: 11:10am No Lawson
Ty Lawson will not play today against Virginia Tech. Lawson, who has been nursing an injured toe, has not practiced since playing Sunday in UNC's win against Duke. A UNC spokesman says no decision has been made yet about tomorrow.
