Heels run away for a change
Larry Drew moves the ball up court during UNC vs. Radford round one game of the NCAA tournament in Greensboro, Thursday, March 19, 2009. Photo by Todd Melet
Mar 19, 2009
Fans watching the UNC-Radford game didn’t have to wait long for Tyler Hansbrough’s record breaking shot. Appropriately, it was a free throw. Without any prompting from outside sources, the knowledgeable crowd rose to its feet to salute Hansbrough. This wasn’t a great game for Hansbrough by his standards. He hit just 5 of 16 shots and secured only five rebounds. But thanks to a perfect 12-12 at the free throw line, Hansbrough still scored 22 points. More importantly, he received great support from his teammates. The biggest story of all-the North Carolina team got its personality back-the Tar Heels ran. Here are some high spots:
Wayne Ellington continues to play the best basketball of his life. Ellington poured in 25 points on 11 of 16 shooting. Ellington also grabbed eight rebounds, including three big ones at the offensive end.
Danny Green shot the basketball better against the Highlanders. Green hit 6 of 14 from the floor, including 1 of 3 beyond the arc. Green pulled down ten boards and added three assists. North Carolina really pushed the pace today, which probably suits Green’s style of play more than the slower, halfcourt-oriented games the Tar Heels played in Atlanta. Also Green, who was just 3 of 25 in Atlanta (two tip-ins), probably found the shooting background in Greensboro more to his liking.
It was apparent that North Carolina wanted to force the tempo from the opening tap. Ellington beat the Highlanders for a layup. And Bobby Frasor, who played conservatively in his first two starts for the injured Ty Lawson against Virginia Tech and Florida State, took more risks today. Frasor’s signature moment came late in the first half when he gambled, stole the ball, and fed the breaking Ellington for an easy two. That helped the Heels take an insurmountable 53-34 halftime lead. Carolina was credited with 25 fast break points, and scored even more baskets and rebound baskets off the secondary break. Frasor also scored a couple of baskets, after hardly taking any shots in Atlanta. He picked up three assists against one turnover. Back up Larry Drew II also played well, getting five assists in just 19 minutes.
So for the first time, Carolina was able to rest Ty Lawson, and play the pace the Tar Heels usually play against their opponents when Lawson is in the game. They were unable to run against either Virginia Tech or Florida State. Second round opponent LSU will no doubt do a better job of getting back on defense than the overmatched Highlanders. So we’ll see then if Carolina has found the secret to pushing the ball up the court without Lawson. And of course it’s possible Lawson will play against LSU. But obviously if the Heels can win one more game without him, his swollen toe would get another seven days to rest.
Roy Williams should like the fact that his team held Radford to 27% shooting. The only negative-Carolina gave up 20 offensive rebounds and 18 second chance points. That can’t happen Saturday if the Heels are to beat LSU.
