North Carolina
Life gets tough for the Tar Heels this week
By Tim Hall Nov 18, 2009
North Carolina head coach Roy Williams didn't seem so optimistic about his upcoming trip to the Big Apple after his team beat Valparaiso 88-77 in its third game of the season. Williams said his team has no chance in New York playing that kind of basketball.
The No. 4 ranked Tar Heels (ESPN/USA Today) young corps of players will be thrown to the wolves in the second week of the season with back-to-back games against ranked teams at Madison Square Garden. California is ranked 12th this week, Ohio State moved up to No. 15 and Syracuse entered the polls at No.24.
Williams was heard Tuesday on 99.9 The Fan when he joined ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike in the Morning.
"Our life is gonna get a little more difficult these next couple of games, we've eased past some guys that we're just flat out more gifted than but it'll get a little more challenging this week," Williams said.
Though talented the main concern with North Carolina going into this week's 2K Sports Classic semi-finals is the lack of pressure situation experience in big time games. Tyler Zeller, Will Graves, Larry Drew II, John Henson and the other freshmen are in for a test.
"Ginyard, Thompson and Davis are the only three guys we have that have ever been in a game at crunch time," Williams said. "There'll be a lot of crunch time up there and it'll give us the chance to see how our guys react under pressure."
Drew II will be one player the coach keeps a close eye on. Williams said he is looking forward to seeing how the point guard responds to playing a guy that is just as fast. Williams also wants to know how his frontcourt rebounds and reacts against a frontcourt just as big as they are.
But unlike college football, the good thing is that a season can't be ended in November with a couple losses to top teams. Preseason tournaments can be looked at as a chance to build towards March, when it counts.
"We're 3-0 but we've just been more gifted than the other teams we played so far but it's not gonna be that way up there, so we'll find out a lot about our team," Williams said. "All four teams are very gifted, very talentd and come Saturday morning I might know more than I wanna know."
The Heels play the Buckeyes at 9:15 p.m. on Thursday night. Not long after Williams will know even more about his squad as Michigan State, Kentucky and Texas all loom on the schedule.
Copyright 2012 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Most Recent Comments
RE: Life gets tough for the Tar Heels this week
well MS. carter3..
DUKE hasn't been predicted to win since JJ senior season. No we haven't had the team to win it for a little. But we had winning seasons! I guess DUKE is living in its owe bigger shadow. Its expected b/c its DUKE to be in Final Fours and favors to win it all. Had to settle with ACC Championships, but we don't disrespect it like the the ACC Championship doesn't matter to us. Unless you win it...it means nothing to girly blue fans then right?
pretty blue has been among the top teams predicted to win over and over but come up short. Roy does a good job restocking when he is losing a whole team. He got a great team and recruits coming into this job. He had it easy. From where Coach K started with and to where he has taken DUKE basketball.... Yeah it is a slap in the face to say Roy is better. Just had a better situation to start with. I think the next couple of years will show his true talents. He didnt do too much all those years at kansas. Hes been coaching for a while now. He has talent this year but their too young to predict anything this year..only talk. But I think the ACC is going to be really hard on them but if they survive to the tournament it will make them tougher to beat. He has the top recruit next year, but if ed davis doesn't stay, with the lost of thompson, ginyard...they may still be lacking. Question is can he keep the top recruit there more than one year.
DUKE- targirl 2 games this year is going to be great.. no favors. but im liking DUKE's chances against the youngs girlys....
By the way.....charlie goodnights migh not be a bad idea...i plan on having a whole lotta unc jokes this year.....
RE: Life gets tough for the Tar Heels this week
I wonder what you will say when Carolina doesn't win the ACC (regular season or tournament) -or- the NCAA tournament this year.
And doesn't beat Duke.
- Posted by TruthBKnown Returns
I'll say it right now. I do not think Carolina will win the NCAA tournament. The ACC (either one) is, at best, a 50-50 proposition. And, I think we'll split with Duke.
A logical assumption.
But where is tbu? He cant answer.
He's usually not on here this time at night.
Wow, there are people that know my hours on Golo. No big deal, but that's a little scary. I have a fanbase! LOL
RE: Life gets tough for the Tar Heels this week
Bartender , you should try am night at charlie goodnights cuz that was funny.
Fact is that the rat man is a has been and Roy owns the acc and college bball.
Oh and OWNS the rat.
- Posted by bbradford
I wonder what you will say when Carolina doesn't win the ACC (regular season or tournament) -or- the NCAA tournament this year.
And doesn't beat Duke.
I dont know what I'll say but I can sure as puke tell ya I wont do like you did before football season started and PREDICT what will happen.Talk all kinds a BS and then when the reality of the real (truth) hits , clam up like a state fan in March.
Mr. "I dont believe the Tarheels will win another football game this season".
I spit the real truth. Not wanna be truth.
What can I say? They fixed some problems on offense. I didn't think Shoop had it in him. Nor did many Carolina fans I know. Hat's off to him. Carolina had no business beating VT at VT or Miami anywhere on the planet. But they did, of course one of those was aided by a so-called fumble that was really nothing more than an illegal forward lateral against Miami. But they played well and might have won even without that.
And it's not my fault Duke went and got all injured before that game and choked once again.
I can't read the future. If I could, I sure wouldn't waste any time posting here. I'd be living like a KING out in Vegas!
BARTENDER!
"You girls have been predicted over and over ... and only won two"
-Correction, we've won Five. Go to the Dome and Count em'
"All the high recruits & can't win an ACC Championship"
-UNC has won four regular season ACC Championships and two ACC Tournament Championships since 2005. Count em'
"You will continue to be in Duke's shadow in the ACC"
-Over the last five seasons UNC has collected 157 wins, 2 national titles, and 3 final fours. Duke has collected 139 wins, 0 national titles, and 0 final fours. I think it's an understatement to say that Carolina is not in Duke's Shadow.
"Roy isn't pulling recruits, the history & UNC Name are pulling recruits"
-Ok, sure. The History and UNC name are pulling recruits, it's the consistent success and championship contention that Roy has going on that also helps. Just like Duke's lack of championship contention recently and inconsistent postseason play has helped Duke not land top recruits.
The Title lives in Chapel Hill. But maybe Duke will have a Cinderella Season and make it to the Elite 8 this year!
RE: Life gets tough for the Tar Heels this week
Bartender , you should try am night at charlie goodnights cuz that was funny.
Fact is that the rat man is a has been and Roy owns the acc and college bball.
Oh and OWNS the rat.
- Posted by bbradford
I wonder what you will say when Carolina doesn't win the ACC (regular season or tournament) -or- the NCAA tournament this year.
And doesn't beat Duke.
I'll say it right now. I do not think Carolina will win the NCAA tournament. The ACC (either one) is, at best, a 50-50 proposition. And, I think we'll split with Duke.
A logical assumption.
But where is tbu? He cant answer.
He's usually not on here this time at night.
Rank: 
Rank: 
