My Teams
Log in to WRALSportsfan with one click using your favorite social network:
OR
Log in using your WRALSportsfan account:



Wrong email/password combination.

Forgot password?

Register with WRALSportsfan using your favorite social network:
OR
Register for a WRALSportsfan account using our web form.
Get RSS
N.C. State at ACC Tournament practice

ACC Insider

Looking for insight on teams from around the ACC? We’ve got it here — all day, every day, from the staffs of 99.9 FM The Fan, WRAL-TV and WRAL.com.

Heels need Hansbrough tonight


Mar 27, 2009

Tags: ACC

comments
POST

The difference between UNC and Gonzaga is not as great as the separation of these schools geographically. Both teams have outstanding perimeter play, tough big men and talented wings that can shoot or take the ball to the tin.

Here are two keys for both teams tonight:

North Carolina:
1. Get Tyler Hansbrough involved early, if the big man in the middle commands a double team that will open up the outside for Wayne Ellington. Also Hansbrough has the motivation of the last time he was matched up against Josh Hytvelt, the Gonzaga big had the better day, so feed the beast and open up the offense.
2. Clean the glass. The Bulldogs have players that crash the boards and keep second chance and third chance scoring opportunities alive. This is where the height of the Heels will come into play. If Gonzaga only gets one crack at the basket this game could be over by the half. If the Heels do not come back and crash the boards the Bulldogs can make a living on second chance buckets.

Gonzaga:
1. Attack the interior, that doesn’t mean get the ball low to Hytvelt, that means take the ball to the rack. Jeremy Pargo needs to force Ty Lawson to play defense, this strategy is two fold. Forcing Lawson to move on that sore toe and try to get Hansbrough into foul trouble. The Bulldogs cannot settle for jump shots, it might have against Western Kentucky, but not against UNC.
2. Stop the transition of the Heels. Make UNC play in the half court and do not give up the easy baskets that Carolina loves on the break. If that mean leaking a defender back after a shot attempt then so be it, but the transition game is what the Heels count on for their scoring cut that number down and the Bulldogs have a chance.

Almost tip time.

Back To: ACC Insider

Talk Smack Forums

Most Popular Topics

  1. Oooooo My RiversView the latest post
    Updated 2 minutes ago
  2. Please Pack NationView the latest post
    Updated 4 minutes ago
  3. Just 22 daysView the latest post
    Updated 4 minutes ago
  4. How sad is it that Dook players stormed the court?View the latest post
    Updated 10 minutes ago
  5. Rub it in rub it in.View the latest post
    Updated 15 minutes ago
ALL FORUMS
Scoreboard
*
More FANkind…
Columnists
More Columnists