Blog From State-UNC: Heels Beat State, 93-62

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Blog From State-UNC: Heels Beat State, 93-62

By Dane Huffman

Jan 12, 2008

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Chapel Hill, N.C. — 1:59 p.m.: Some quick scoring totals before heading to the postgame after UNC's 93-62 win.

Courtney Fells led State with 16 points, followed by J.J. Hickson (14), Gavin Grant (9), Ben McCauley (8), Dennis Horner (5) and Brandon Costner (4).

For UNC, Ty Lawson and Deon Thompson each had 16, Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green had 13 and Alex Stepheson had 8.

1:55: So this one is over. Carolina just prevailed 93-62 as the UNC pep band cranked up. Both teams are shaking hands now, somewhat without emotion, after what was a decisive win by UNC.

Roy Williams just jogged off the court and was handed a stat sheet. Have to figure he'll enjoy looking over this.

Much more coverage coming - full game story, quotes, column from Barry Jacobs, reaction from N.C. State from J. Mike Blake and of course tons of video highlights from Ken Medlin and Jason Jennings.

1:52 p.m.: Big question - will Carolina score 100? Right now, it's 91-59 with time running down.

Surry Wood just missed a basket and the Carolina fans groaned.

Doesn't look good - it's 91-59 with 30 seconds left.

1:31 p.m.: State has been much more effective this half, especially with its ball movement. But Carolina's lead remains huge and is now 69-39 with 9:46 to play.

State is moving and shooting the ball better, which obviously raises the question - why didn't the Pack do that in the first half?

But Carolina is still much stronger across the board. Even when State gets a few baskets and goes on a little run, the Heels are easily able to respond.

There are plenty of disturbing trends for the Wolfpack in this one. In particular, where has Brandon Costner been today? At this point, he has done almost nothing, generally floating outside and waiting for shots.

1:15 p.m.: The first half stats are in.

Carolina didn't shoot great, making 15 of 35 shots, but had balance across the lineup as Deon Thompson scored 10 points, Tyler Hansbrough nine and Wayne Ellington eight.

State's numbers were deplorable. The Wolfpack hit six of 34 shots and not a single of its 6 three-pointers. The Pack simply failed to move the ball on offense in the first half, often relying on one-on-one moves that were ineffective. State had only four assists in the first half and nine turnovers.

Gavin Grant couldn't find the net, missing all seven shots, and J.J. Hickson was 2 for 9.

Starting point guard Javier Gonzalez had one assist, one turnover and no points in 21 minutes of play.

12:52 p.m.: The first half just ended, and what a shock that was.

Carolina fans were up and cheering full-throttle while the Wolfpack fans scattered around the Smith Center slumped over and watched in horror.

State simply couldn't score. With the game tied at 9-all with 14:45 to play, the Wolfpack scored only two more times in the entire half.

J.J. Hickson scored with 11:32 to play in the half. And then, when Courtney Fells' three-pointer from the right wing dropped in at 1:18, even Carolina fans cheered.

By then, the Tar Heels led 43-13 and the fact that State had finally scored seemed merciful.

12:42 p.m.: This game has quickly turned into a blistering UNC run, and a disaster for N.C. State.

State's Ben McCauley scored with 14:45 in the first half to tie the score at 9-9.

The Wolfpack didn't score again until 11:32 remained in half, with Carolina ahead 16-11.

At that point, Ty Lawson came back into the game after turning his ankle with 10:47 left in the first half.

Since then, Carolina has scored 17 straight points as the noise in the Smith Center reached Carmichael Auditorium levels.

12:32 p.m.: The game's starting to get away from N.C. State. Carolina has found a rhythm against the Wolfpack defense, especially getting some transition baskets, and State is really struggling to score.

Carolina has been on a run since the score was tied at 9-all. State called time-out with the score 21-11 and Sidney Lowe called a play for J.J. Hickson to muscle inside against Tyler Hansbrough.

Hickson got off a good shot from close in but couldn't score. On two of State's next four possessions he tried to power inside but couldn't score as well.

State simply can't hit an outside shot and that's a big reason they have one basket over this long stretch.

12:27 p.m.: OK, Ty Lawson is back in the game. He'd been on the bench with a right ankle injury. He's defending Javier Gonzalez and looks like he is moving OK.

12:23: For all that has been made of N.C. State this year, one thing that's obvious today is the Wolfpack is clearly a better team with J.J. Hickson on the floor.

That's not the "no duh" comment that it might sound like. State returned two post starters in Brandon Costner and Ben McCauley, and those players obviously want their minutes.

But Hickson gives State a bigger, tougher presence. He started the game matched up on Tyler Hansbrough and constantly seems like he's pushing to get rebounds and boards. Just watching State so far, it's hard to understand how this team has played so poorly against weak competition. The Wolfpack clearly has NCAA Tournament talent - whether it has NCAA Tournament production over the course of the season remains to be seen.

12:16 p.m.: Quentin Thomas just made two great passes to get Carolina baskets with the score 9-9, but there's an interesting development going on now.

UNC starting point guard Ty Lawson appears to have turned his ankle and was out of the game in those sequences. He was just on the bench getting his right ankle taped. He is not in the game right now and is sitting at the far end of the bench with the trainers watching.

If he doesn't return, that's a huge blow for UNC, which is without backup point guard Bobby Frasor.

Lawson is on the bench with his shoe off.

12:02: Guard Courtney Fells started for State, and hit the first shot of the game, too, with 19:37 to play.

By the way, J.J. Hickson is guarding Tyler Hansbrough in State's man to man defense. And Hickson just scored, was fouled by Hansbrough, and hit a free throw for a 5-2 N.C. State lead.

11:59 a.m.: "ROY! ROY!" The Carolina students erupted when Carolina coach Roy Williams came out for the start of the game. Williams took four rolled-up shirts and tossed them into the stands as students cheered.

11:52 a.m.: If you ever wanted to go back to college, then covering a college basketball game is your chance.

The press area at the Smith Center is three rows of risers in behind one of the baskets. The WRAL seats are in the third and final row.

The next row after that? A line of UNC students with light blue shirts and quite loud voices.

Hey, no problem. Hard to beat the atmosphere of college basketball.

By the way, the UNC students are eagerly awating the appearance of GoPack.com writer Tim Peeler, hwho is going to be sitting next to me.

11:18: Greetings from Chapel Hill. ... And if you had any doubts about whether Courtney Fells will play, he's dressed and moving well.

Fells, of course, hurt his ankle in the win over N.C. Central had been listed as questionable.

Most Recent Comments

"Most NC State fans selected their team because they went to school at NCSU or have some family legacy. We didn't take the easy position and just decide to root for the top ranked team.

Three in four Carolina fans have never seen the campus.

thats is good stuff too..you pack people have too many excuses lol"
What a novel idea - root for the team where you went to school - yea - that's the ticket. Did you root for UNC during the miserable Doherty years? Sounds like bandwagon fans to me. Heels are are without question the better team. Good win for you guys. Go Wolfpack! That is all I have to say.

Don't_Preach- "cml-sydney left his starters in so roy leaves his starters in."
Hmmm. Let's look at this picture a bit. UNC has a 30 point lead and you are complaining of State leaving in it's starters.

any player can and will have a bad game - it sux when it happens to 3 or 4 players on the same team during the same game. That's when a good coach turns it around. He seemed to be stunned, and really didn't do much coaching, in my opinion. I expected a close game, becaue even in the years when State couldn't beat anybody, they would find a way to beat Carolina, at least one game of the season. I hated seeing Carolina's starters in for so long - they could have come out at 10:00 minutes and given the bench more playing time...always scares me becaues it only takes on hit, or fall, to injuste a crucial team member and the season can go right down the tubes. Carolina should enjoy the victory, but other ACC teams will step up their play to make sure THEY don't get whopped like State did today. Gotta remember, those players are young; I felt bad for them. Now, if it had been Duke that lost like that, I'd STILL be dancing a jig!hehe

I have two brothers that are life-long friends of mine and they both graduated from NCSU. We have always looked forward to THIS game wheather it was being held in Chapel Hill or Raleigh. It is one of the best rivalries in the nation and today we got the better end of the stick. Go Heels!!!

Most NC State fans selected their team because they went to school at NCSU or have some family legacy. We didn't take the easy position and just decide to root for the top ranked team.

Three in four Carolina fans have never seen the campus.

thats is good stuff too..you pack people have too many excuses lol

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