Good defensive second half propels Heels to 108-70 win over Cougars

North Carolina

Good defensive second half propels Heels to 108-70 win over Cougars

By David Reynolds

Jan 8, 2009

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It wasn’t as easy as the final score indicated, but the North Carolina men’s basketball team managed to string together a run early in the second half to pull away from College of Charleston and close out its non-conference season with a 108-70 blowout.

And all the Tar Heels needed to do was to get into the right defense.

After the Cougars tested UNC early with a barrage of eight first-half three-pointers, the Tar Heels shifted their strategy from pressuring the ball-handler with double teams to simple man-to-man defense.

“In the first half for some reason we went away from what we practiced yesterday and they got open threes and they made them,” UNC coach Roy Williams said. “The second half we did a better job of doing what we practiced yesterday, staying with our man and not over-helping because they’re a penetrate-and-pitch team.”

Every time the Tar Heels stretched their lead to near double digits in the first half, the Cougars answered North Carolina’s buckets with a three to put quash UNC’s momentum and keep the game close.

Most of College of Charleston’s three-point attempts were open looks due to Tar Heel defenders leaving their man to help double team or defend against a drive.

But at the half, Williams said he stressed to his team to be responsible for just one player on the other team.

“We adjusted to not doubling anymore to not double down in the post, and everybody just sticking with their man, and not supporting as much on the drive because we knew they just wanted to kick it,” Danny Green said.

The change in defensive philosophy forced some difficult shots for College of Charleston and sparked a 12-0 UNC run to start the second half, ballooning a tenuous 53-41 halftime lead to an insurmountable 24-point cushion.

After the quick run to start the half, the only drama left in the Smith Center was whether the Tar Heels would reach triple digits on the scoreboard.

“Once they got up twenty, then we really had our backs to the wall and we just didn’t have enough time to come back,” College of Charleston coach Bobby Cremins said.

The defensive shift showed up on the stat-sheet, as College of Charleston shot a dismal 8-37 from the field and 2-15 from three after its hot shooting from behind the arc in the first half.

Of course, there was plenty of extra motivation for the Tar Heels to step up their effort not only defensively, but on both ends of the floor. The Cougars were their first opponent since Sunday night’s upset loss to Boston College, and were UNC’s only chance to get back on track before its ACC showdown against No.4 Wake Forest.

“It was good because we haven’t done that in a couple games now, pull away from a team and end up winning by 30 or something like that,” Ty Lawson said. “Mentally it’s going to be good for us, and hopefully going into Wake we can do the same thing.”

UNC improved Wednesday in the main areas it had struggled in its previous game, most notably in field-goal percentage, rebounding and free-throw percentage.

Green said the team had some extra motivation to prove something tonight and he and his teammates still had a bad taste in their mouths from the Boston College game. Their focus on College of Charleston was clear in the 38-point romping.

“One thing about college basketball is that you have to be prepared each and every night you come out because on any given night you can either win or lose,” he said. “But if you come out prepared you have a better chance of winning, especially with the talent and potential we have.”

Lawson said the team can build on this bounce-back victory for the conference season if the Tar Heels continue to use that bad taste in their mouths to continue working hard every day practice. He said the next few days in the gym will be pivotal to his team’s success against the Demon Deacons.

“If you practice well you play well. These next few days, practice is going to be fierce so that’s what we need.”

Most Recent Comments

RE: Good defensive second half propels Heels to 108-70 win over Cougars

Wake Forest will be the test!

RE: Good defensive second half propels Heels to 108-70 win over Cougars

OBD is an idiot. He's the one with numerous aliases. You seriously need to stop pointing fingers and look in the mirror, man. I am not Mad Buc. I think that blakesandy guy is though. Look at his use of CAPS and bad grammar.

RE: Good defensive second half propels Heels to 108-70 win over Cougars

This game was only close due to CoC hitting 8 first half threes! Thats some Duke Status. Wake, however is struggling to find their 3 point shooting besides Teague. Should be a good game Sunday.

RE: Good defensive second half propels Heels to 108-70 win over Cougars

What is there to be afraid of? I'm not afraid of Wake, Duke, State or any team. All I care about are my Tar Heels. They will be prepared for the game Sunday and for their games the rest of the season. One bad game does not mean it's time to throw in the towel. It just means you need to bring it everynight regardless of the competition. I thank BC for waking the Sleeping Giant.

GO HEELS!!!

RE: Good defensive second half propels Heels to 108-70 win over Cougars

Actual rankings dont matter to me, your right. And yes I am a Holes Fan.....I love Holes. Put the number aside that Duke is pesented with and they're record is no better than Wake Forset, UConn and many others. Some computer generated # given with no concept of a good or bad night thats what i call it. Hey, Duke had a terrible shooting game against Michigan (an unranked team). As UNC did against BC. Its all good .....lets talk RPI and SOS when it really matters TIZU

WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina