Experience + Leadership at UNC

There are four points of emphasis Coach Hatchell has given us for the team.  I know, I know, but here they are again for a lead in.  Experience, chemistry, leadership and depth (also known as balance).  In four games, counting the two exhibition games, we have seen these show up; but it was in the last game in particular that North Carolina needed all four.  So I’m going to take a couple of posts to look at them and how they exist on the team from where I sit.  In this installment: Experience and Leadership.

Since I already did a feature on the inside duo of Stephanie Mavunga and Xylina McDaniel, this post is going to focus on our senior guards from a fan’s perspective.  Last season UNC was a really young team.  This year, there are two seniors anchoring the backcourt.  These players are the engine of the team.  They call the plays, drive the pace, feed the post players and defend the perimeter.  And at North Carolina they also grab rebounds.  Matters not you are 5’7” tall everyone rebounds at UNC.  Presenting Latifah Coleman and Brittany Rountree. (photos from www.goheels.com)



 

            

Senior Guard: Latifah Coleman (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

I love watching this young lady play.  After suffering an ACL tear earlier in her career, she came back and just does whatever she can to help this team.  She has a lot of things you can’t teach like great work ethic and a lot of heart.  (photo from www.bigstory.ap)

 

She’s usually the one found doing the things that don’t always show up in the stat sheet.  It’s hard to find a way around her when she is on defense.  She gets low, uses her feet well and she’s very quick laterally despite the previous injury.  On offense she seems to be able to get to the rim almost at will.  There’s just some more consistency needed in the finish.  (photo from www.goheels.com)

But I have a tremendous amount of confidence in her because I have seen how she has grown over the years and I have seen her shine when the lights were the brightest.  In the 2013 ACC tournament semi-finals against Maryland, our starting point guard Tierra Ruffin-Pratt left the game due to illness.  UNC was mounting a comeback from a double digit deficit at the time and seeing Tierra on the sidelines having (to put it mildly) some tummy trouble would have normally brought everything to a halt.  Coleman came in and scored 17 points and lead UNC to victory while playing some stifling defense.  She's a crucial on defense for UNC.  (photo from chapelboro.com)

But that just had to be done.  And that is what Latifah does.  She does what has to be done.  She plays great defense and directs the offense when she is in the game.  As time has gone on scoring wasn’t needed as much.  With the addition of Jessica Washington last season and Jamie Cherry this season, there is more offensive fire power in the back court.  Coleman from where I sit, has a calming effect along with her tenacious defense and that is I believe two of the main things that will take UNC a long way.  No doubt she is a great teammate. (photo from www.espn.com)

 

Senior Guard Brittany Rountree

When Brittany first arrived, I thought, “Wow this kid can really shoot the rock!”  I still remember the record setting day in Greensboro where she hit 7 three-pointers.  Over the years she has developed, I have seen things added to her game.  I’ve seen her lock down defensively and rebound really well for a guard.  She played a bit of point guard for us too in her time at UNC as well and did a wonderful job leading the team. 

 

 

Like Latifah, Brittany does a lot of things that don’t show up  on the stat sheet at the end of the game.  They don’t get by the eyes of the UNC staff though.  She’s great at getting the ball inside to the post players, getting to the right spot on the floor.   She isn’t afraid of contact; so she’ll mix it up in the middle, take charges from bigger players and crash the boards.  (photo from www.dailytarheel.com)

 

 

 

She’ll have plenty of assists from the 2 guard spot.  One of the most memorable so far was in a game against the Miami Hurricanes.  With the score tied, Miami missed a shot.  Brittany got the rebound with just a few seconds left.  She dribbled the length of the floor and found Danielle Butts for the winning basket.  That ended a long home court winning streak for them.

 

So far this year, I already see her shooting a bit more and I love it.  She has so much range on that 3 pointer that it’s hard to guard it effectively.  She can also get to the rim and since the 3 ball is falling, that driving lane is going to open up for her.  If it closes, there are other shooters waiting and she’s quick enough and aware enough to get them the ball.  If not, she’ll hit the lay-up, get fouled or both.  (photos from www.goheels.com)

 

 

 

I have a lot of confidence in her.  I’ve seen her step up when the game is on the line whether it was a big shot like the one that gave us the lead after coming back from an 18 point deficit in the NCAA tournament last season (during which she played amazing defense) or stepping to the free throw line in the waning moments to protect a UNC victory. (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

 

 

I’m going to try not to think about how much we will miss these two.  I hope they enjoy their senior season.