... 51 ... 52 ... 53 ... Oh, Purnell isn't on the couch about it

North Carolina

... 51 ... 52 ... 53 ... Oh, Purnell isn't on the couch about it

By Dane Huffman

Jan 19, 2009

7

comments

POST VIEW

Reporters peppered Clemson basketball coach Oliver Purnell Monday with questions about the Tigers’ long losing streak at North Carolina, so much so that Purnell finally chuckled and said all the analysis had him “on the couch.”

Clemson is at UNC again Wednesday at 9 p.m. as it attempts to break a 53-game losing streak in Chapel Hill.

The Tigers came close last year, leading by 15 points before losing 103-93 in two overtimes.

Tyler Hansbrough led Carolina with 39 points and Wayne Ellington had 28 in a game the Heels played without injured point guard Ty Lawson.

Asked what he remembers about his mood after that game, Purnell said, “Just feeling disappointment, frustration. Yet at the same time you have to turn the page pretty quickly.”

The Tigers had another ACC game coming up, so he couldn’t dwell on it, but Purnell did say, “I was disappointed we didn’t close the deal there that night.”

But beyond that, Purnell isn’t worried about any “curses” involving the two teams and doesn’t plan to harp on that with his squad.

“When you’re mentally tough you develop even more of a desire to get something done,” he said. “So we’re not going address a curse because I don’t believe in it. So with this group its not abut 500-something losses, it’s about last year.”

And as for analyzing the streak, well, Purnell said,”When the game starts there won’t be a couch to be found anywhere.”

NOTING THE GAME: North Carolina coach Roy Williams said wing Marcus Ginyard will not play Wednesday night and will be evaluated Thursday.

Ginyard had surgery on a stress fracture in his left foot Oct. 8 and the injury has been slow to heal. UNC initially thought he would miss eight weeks.

Ginyard is one of Carolina’s best defensive players and was a starter before the injury. The lingering nature of the illness has raised questions as to whether UNC will decide to redshirt Ginyard. But Williams has remained hopeful that Ginyard will return this season.