Intense Effort Comes Up Short

Well, my Tar Heels fought a good fight.  I was/am really proud of their effort against Notre Dame.  This wasn’t a game where you saw a lack of intensity.  This wasn’t a game with a lot of errors (11 turnovers for UNC).  It was a battle.  It was an intense battle in the war called ACC basketball.  And that fact wasn’t lost on anyone of age in attendance last night.  This was five minutes in. 

 

I’ve said of my child that she is probably the most competitive non-athlete I have ever met.  I thought she was going to chew through her (brand new) UNC hoodie.  My other one.  Well, he’s there to keep everything balanced.  He just loves any chance he gets to see the team, especially Stephanie.  He’s looking for her even when the guys are playing.  Only 5 and already star struck.

 

We were the underdog last night and that doesn’t happen often and since we are down a starter, I knew this was going to be a tough one.  It was up and down and neither team put the other away at any point until the horn sounded.  Still, final Notre Dame 89, North Carolina 79.

So, what happened.  I’ve watched a ton of basketball and I went into this one with a list of five things that needed to happen for my Tar Heels to upset Notre Dame.  There’s more; but these were my top five, just not in any particular order.

1. Must defend the three point line
2. Must avoid foul trouble, but be aggressive
3. Must be patient in the half court sets
4. Must have significant contribution from the bench
5. Must shoot well

So how did we do?  I mean yeah, we didn't win last night; but there is a ton of basketball to be played.  Notre Dame hit 5 three pointers in the game out of 15 attempts.  Some of the attempts came at the end of the shot clock after 28 seconds of admirable Tar Heels defense; so I’d say we did fine there.  Probably would have been better defensively if certain things hadn’t happened.   That goes to number two. 

Brittany Rountree I believe came into this one poised to have a career night.  Her shot is looking better and better and she has always been a great defender.  The folks (can’t call them friends for this entry) in the striped shirts had a different view.  She was limited to 17 minutes in last night’s game and the Tar Heels already down a starter could ill afford to have one of its top defenders play less than half of the game.  So number 2 on my list…that one didn’t quite work out.  Rountree hit every shot she took while she was on the floor.  I can’t help but wonder what she could have done in this game offensively and defensively; especially when Lindsey Allen went for a career high with 24 points speaking loudly in place of the quiet night from All-American and leading scorer, Jewell Loyd, who had 8.

As to patience in the half court sets, I think they did an admirable job there.  I saw very few quick shots go up and don’t remember much happening outside the flow of the offense.  And generally impatience in the half court will generate a bunch of turnovers and North Carolina only had 11 for the game (Notre Dame had 17).  So I’d give that one a check.  I’d also give the bench contribution a check.  N’Dea Bryant, Jessica Washington and Jamie Cherry gave us 27 points,  9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. 

Shooting wasn’t quite where it needed to be.  I estimated we needed to shoot around 45% and we were around 37 or 38% depending on the source of your box score.  I think it dropped a couple of percentage points in the last minute or so when there were a lot of quick shots in the attempt at one more rally; but a couple of players had tough nights in that area though they contributed in other ways. The Tar Heels hit 39% from three point range and that is a good number.  It was inside the arc where difficulties arose. 

 

Difficulties name was Brianna Turner.  She had 7 blocks.  Now she is a phenomenal player.  She also had 29 points and 18 rebounds.  Still, here’s where the folks in the striped shirts had me confused.  I won’t say much about this; even though this is a fan blog and some bias is expected.  I will say though I did hear from a friend who was at the game sitting near an official with 30 years of experience.  She said he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. 

 

So what I’ll say is this.  All I ask is consistency from those folks.  If they are consistent with the whistles I believe the players will adjust whichever way they need to.  If not well…you get confusion, frustration and anger.  In 25 years of watching this team, I’ve always admired how Coach stuck by and stuck up for her players.  Still, this is something I had never seen before.  But hey, she warned us all prior to the season she had more fire in her.  And I’m sure the team is all the better for her sticking up for them. (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

So that covers my five things.  I would be remiss though if I didn’t mention the effort from the students in last night’s game.  As an alumnus of the university I was happy for how they showed up and stayed vocal through the game.  I especially love the guy with the big hair in the front row.  He seems to show up no matter who else does (or doesn’t).  He is up the entire time doing whatever he can to support the team. 

 

It was a good crowd overall; but I hope for better next Sunday. (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

As I always do though, here’s the player breakdown.

Danielle Butts: 8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

Challenged with playing taller than 5'10" night in and night out, I've seen Danielle develop and improve over every year she has been at UNC.  How she manages some of the shots she makes I don't know.  She's figured out how to combine an inside and an outside game to help the team.  Her athletic ability helps a lot; but I've seen over time how she's become more disciplined.  With the height Notre Dame had, this was essentially a mismatch game for her; but she contributed.

Stephanie Mavunga: 13 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, 2 steals (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

Stephanie was pretty much double teamed the entire night.  It takes that much effort to defend her.  I had hoped we could get single coverage on her in this game though it wasn't one of the five things I listed.  Some other players hit some big shots; but Notre Dame still continue to double.  Stephanie got 4 assists out of the double team; since shooting was tough.  One of the people she loves to pass to out of the double though is Brittany Rountree.

 

Brittany Rountree: 8 points, 3 rebounds (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

I've already talked about how Brittany was limited in this one.  The 8 points was on two three pointers and a midrange jumper.   She was perfect from the floor and great on defense while she was in the game.

 

N'Dea Bryant: 8 points, 6 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

I sometimes call N'Dea my sleeping giant.  I can't call her that anymore.  I've remarked how she has one of the smoothest jumpers I've seen and she hit some big baskets in this game.  What I love is her confidence.  She's defending well, crashing the boards and showing more intensity.

 

N'Dea Bryant (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

Latifah Coleman: 3 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

It was a tough night shooting for Latifah.  Not sure how the shoulder is feeling.  I know it's been bothering her all year; but she made good decisions with her passing and ball handling.  Not one turnover in the game to 6 assists.

 

Jamie Cherry: 10 points, 2 assists (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

Many freshmen might be intimidated in a game like this; but we found out early on not much could do that with Jamie Cherry.  There wasn't one shot in this game that wasn't a big one and she hit some of those including a couple of three pointers, one of which came when UNC was mounting a comeback late. 

 



 

Jessica  Washington: 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

Jessica hit some big shots as a part of the effort from our bench.  But oh my! Somebody needs to get an extra of one of those massage certificates they give away at these games and give it to Jessica after last night.  She's never been one to shy away from contact or risking her body on a play.  You can't let her size fool you.  There's a lot of strength packed in there.  I don't know how many loose balls she went after.  You certainly can't fault the effort.

 

Allisha Gray: 20 points, 1 rebound, 1 block, 2 steals (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

As seen in this photo, Allisha was really too quick for whoever was guarding her on the perimeter.  Notre Dame really depended on Turner for clean-up when this kind of thing happened.  I remember at the end thinking "how did she manage 20 points?".  She was having a tough night from the field.  She was guarded heavily and had some type of calf issue.  But, she stayed aggressive.  Despite how certain plays went, despite "no calls" like this. 

 

(photo from www.goheels.com)

 

Oh, I said I wasn't going to mention that again.  Other than this play, she did get some trips to the line, where she was a perfect 10 for 10.  I'm not one to blame officials for a loss and anyone who knows me will tell you that.  A few shots bounce one way and not the other who knows.  We did have some opportunities we missed on both ends. 

 

Just saying I noticed those folks more on some nights than others.  Last night was one of those nights.  Even my daughter reacted and she hates when I yell at the refs.  I think for her it's 100% because she's protective of the team.  When you go to as many games as we do, it starts to feel like they're family.  On the walk back to the van she told me "I had to ask Jesus to help me keep my butt in the seat on some of those plays mom."

 

Moving Forward

 

So what's to take forward from this one?  Despite the outcome, I could see that the Tar Heels have arrived at a level of intensity they need to maintain through the rest of the season.  I mentioned intensity at the top of this post, and it's vital in a league like the ACC where any team can get you on any night.  In some games, you could see a lack there.  That wasn't the case here. 

 

Finally, in truth, though the polls don't show it, Notre Dame is likely the 2nd best team in the country based on how everyone is playing now.  Their faces as they left the court after the alma mater let me know the North Carolina players believe they were every bit capable of taking this one.  There were times in past seasons I worried for how a loss like this might shake their confidence.  I don't have that worry. I need to be right.  Another battle in this long war down in Clemson, South Carolina on Sunday.

 

As always,

Go Heels

 

Note: I'm pulling out my Nikon 820 more at games now.  I'm still learning its capabilities.  Any photo not noted from another source, I snapped with my own device.



















Tar Heels Swat the Yellow Jackets

There are always questions after a loss; but the main question on everyone's mind after a loss is "How will the team bounce back?"  I gathered the three kids after church (my two plus my daughter's friend) and we made our way to Chapel Hill.  Much more relaxed than usual with the 3:00 start.  My daughter asked me how I thought they'd play.  I told her I figured it would be fine.  That 6am running was probably pretty motivating.  Her face when I said 6am.  Only thing she wants to be out and about that early for is a plane to Orlando.  But there weren't any questions left after today's game against Georgia Tech.  Final North Carolina 96, Georgia Tech 81.

 

This was a big one.  To come back and score nearly 100 points in a game after failing to break 60 in the game in Pittsburgh.  It's another game to continue to adjust to not having Xylina McDaniel on the court; but fortunately it was a home game.  So she was present today and I know that means a lot.  I sit in section 214 and I could hear her giving some encouragement from my seat.  Further, the game with Georgia Tech is and has always been probably the most physical game in conference play.  Their style usually turns it into a different type of game.  You can't survive in a game against them if you're not tough, able to absorb contact, able to handle a full court press and aren't careful with the ball.  Finally, they beat us last year in Atlanta.

 

Biggest thing in this game was the production North Carolina got from the bench.  Everyone knows they have to step up with Xylina out.  13 points per game and nearly 9 rebounds per game, not to mention the physical and mental toughness and experience that is missing is a lot to make up.  I believe the team overall has responded well; but particularly in this game I was really excited about what I saw from the players that came in off the bench.

 

 

N'Dea Bryant: 6 points, 5 rebounds (photo from www.heraldsun.com)

 

That midrange jumper was popping today.  I love watching N'Dea play.  Such a smooth player and while the midrange jumper is a rather low percentage shot, hers is a thing of beauty.  She used her length to play well on the defensive end today and to crash the boards.

 

Hillary Fuller: 9 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

YES! What an effort from Hillary (Fuller) today.  Talk about tough.  She managed these numbers in just 10 minutes on the floor.  She had a variety of post moves, played really smart, didn't force anything, crashed the boards and played well on the defensive end.  She made 4 of her 5 field goal attempts.  That's exactly what you want.

 

 

Jessica Washington: 16 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

Loved the way Jessica played today.  She made great decisions with the ball, took her shots in the flow of the offense, and made baskets from a variety of spots on the floor.  She's another player who has a nice midrange jumper...and a nice floater...and a great 3 point shot.  Well, you get the idea.  She's a great shooter.

 

 

Jamie Cherry: 7 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

Other than a couple of rough plays, a good outing for our freshman.  Still learning of course.  What I really appreciated today from her was the defensive effort.  She kept the Georgia Tech guards in front of her and in that vein drew offensive fouls on the Yellow Jackets. 

 

The starters were really aggressive today.  They shot relatively well; but some close shots went half way down and came out on them; but, the way the Tar Heels crashed the boards today was inspiring.  They won the rebounding battle 49 to 38 and the Tar Heels had 24 offensive rebounds.

 



 





Stephanie Mavunga: 20 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 2 steals (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

Whatever they do with the players post game to deal with any soreness, I hope Stephanie gets plenty of it this evening.  She's bound to be feeling it after her afternoon battle with Georgia Tech's post players.  It was a little bit of a tough shooting day for her as a result; but still a very nice double double for the sophomore and she earned every one of those points for sure.

 

 

Brittany Rountree: 11 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

It was a terrific all around effort for the senior today.  No fear taking on the bigger Yellow Jackets, she didn't just take perimeter shots.  Her success behind the three point line is a known.  So defensive players would run out on her and she used her quickness to go by them.  Her passing and defense were excellent today.  She's never been afraid of contact and that was to her advantage today taking the ball from post players inside.

 















Danielle Butts: 6 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block (photo from www.goheels.com)
 

 Terrific effort from Danielle today.  I'm willing to bet that 6 assists is a career high.  She's showing a lot of ability in a lot of different areas in her increased time on the floor.  She's playing in longer stretches and as she always does, she's playing a lot taller than 5'10" frame suggests she could.  Eight rebounds ties for 2nd on the team on a day when the Tar Heels were on the boards like their lives depended upon it.

 

 

Latifah Coleman: 6 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

A bit of a rough shooting day for Latifah; but she pretty much got to the basket at will.  She was key in handling the press Georgia Tech began to implement once they got behind by double digits.  Her speed and ball handling were what kept UNC going and able to keep the lead double digits.  Georgia Tech got no closer than 12 in the second half.

 



 



Allisha Gray: 15 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

A little tough out on the perimeter lately for our resident sharp shooter; but she hasn't let it stop her from contributing.   She was 1 of 7 from deep; but, she was 6 of 10 from inside the three point line.  You'll never catch her just hanging around the perimeter only taking threes.  She's going to do whatever it takes to help the team.  That's what makes her a great player.

 

What Do We Take Away From This One?

 

This is good to build on with Notre Dame coming in this week.  This was a good offensive performance.  Plus, they did a good job of taking Georgia Tech star Kaela Davis out of the action.  They were aggressive defending her and attacking her on offense and she dealt with foul touble most of the game. 

 

The adjustment continues.  Life on the court without Xylina McDaniel isn't something you just move through without skipping a beat.  It is very promising to see how Hillary Fuller played today against the physicality Georgia Tech brings. 

 

What We Hope to See Going Forward

 

UNC's shooting percentage was much better today, more like what it needs to be and everyone who roots for them I'm sure wants that consistently as we continue.  Sharing the ball is going to be essential.  The balanced effort we saw today is what we'll need every night.  The Tar Heels had 22 assists today.  We have a really big game this week when Notre Dame makes their first visit to Carmichael Auditorium as a member of the ACC.  They've had some upheaval this week; but was back on course today scoring over 100 points at Boston College.  Until then and as always...

 

Go Heels!

 







Trouble Up North: Panthers Mawl the Tar Heels

This will be a tough one.  Last night was a weird night in NCAA Women's Basketball.  Not only did Notre Dame (the team that ran undefeated through the ACC last season) lose to Miami by double digits; but my beloved Tar Heels ran into a buzz saw up north in Pittsburgh.  Final, Pittsburgh 84, North Carolina 59. 

I watched this game online on my phone while preparing goodie bags for my son's birthday party so since I did see it, I'm going to do this entry.  (I didn't see the Oregon State game).  So what went wrong?

Shooting

The Tar Heels shot just under 31% for the game.  That's the second time that has happened this year and our second loss.

Pittsburgh shot relatively well in spurts whether it was an open shot or a contested one, a well balanced shot or a crazy prayer thrown up at the end of the shot clock after 28 seconds of admirable Tar Heel defense.

Rebounding

The Panthers outrebounded the Tar Heels 52 to 44 including 20 offensive rebounds that translated into 18 second chance points for them.  Allisha Gray had 14 rebounds and Danielle Butts 8.  No one else had more than 4.

Turnovers

North Carolina had 17 turnovers which Pittsburgh turned into 15 points.  North Carolina on the other hand could only capitalize on Pittsburgh's 13 miscues for 7 points.

Fouls

Our friends in the black shirts got involved early and often and I could see there was some tentative play on the defensive end as a result of that.  Pittsburgh is...at least they were last night, excellent from the free throw line.  Free throws were not a huge factor in this one.  Though the Panthers had 8 fewer fouls, more of their fouls were committed while North Carolina players were in the act of shooting so the attempts were close to even.

Star Power

Our guiding light and leader Stephanie Mavunga was significantly limited in this game.  I know she missed her POC more than ever.  Xylina not only wasn't going to play; she couldn't travel with the team. She and Stephanie have some pregame routine even with Xylina on crutches.  On that note, I can't imagine the difficulty for McDaniel watching this one.   Allisha Gray while she did make 2 three point baskets in the game (had not had one in the last two contests) was limited to 5 field goals. 

So what went right?

In a game where you get beat by 25, the immediate answer that comes to mind is not much.  I can say one thing.  They fought.  Bless them they fought.  Down 27 points at one point, they clawed their way back to within 11 points, and a lot of that run was made with at least two bench players in the game.  Unfortunately at that point, I believe Pittsburgh began to remember what happened when they had Louisville on the ropes in their previous game.  They went on another run that put the game out of reach.  But I can appreciate the fight the team showed.

Hillary Fuller got 13 minutes of playing time in this game.  Since I believe she is a key to life without Xylina McDaniel, it was a good thing.  She needs to gain confidence.  Another key to adjusting without Xylina, Danielle Butts nearly had a double double and played well on defense.  Just had a tough shooting night.  Jessica Washington made 2 of her 3 shots, part of a 14 point effort from the Tar Heel reserves.

Allisha Gray got her third double double this season with 19 points and 14 rebounds.  At her size that is quite a feat.  She is deceptively strong.

North Carolina did come out on top in fast break points and bench points, and were even with Pittsburgh in paint points, steals.

The Breakdown

 

Stephanie Mavunga: 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 blocks (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

 

 

Danielle Butts: 8 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals (Associated press photo)

 

 

Brittany Rountree: 6 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal (Associated Press photo)

 

 

Allisha Gray: 19 points, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 1 steal (photo www.nj.com)

 

 

Latifah Coleman: 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block (Associated press photo)

 

 

What to take away from this one?

 

Well, we really can't afford to shoot below 35%, particularly from the outside.  It makes it more difficult for Stephanie inside when that happens because outside shooting spaces the floor and keeps the defense honest so to speak.  They can't cheat by packing in on Mavunga.  They can't clamp down with a zone.

 

But there is really no time to dwell on it.  Just a couple of hours after the plane touched down, the team and staff were back together for a film session and some running.  There was also an afternoon practice after the players were done with class.  As I'm typing we are less than 48 hours from the next game.  The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are in Chapel Hill on Sunday.  Have to bounce back quickly.

 

Go Heels!



Tar Heels Take Round One Against NCSU

The ACC season has officially begun for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels Women's Basketball team.  Rival North Carolina State came over from Raleigh.  Generally no matter who is on each roster, no matter what the rankings, this is a tough game.  Today, North Carolina came in ranked #9 in the AP poll, NCSU was unranked.  It wouldn't be the first time these two met under those circumstances and played a tight game.  The Tar Heels' defensive effort though was incredible.  The energy in it, the communication, the rotations...I loved it.  NCSU was held nearly 20 points below their average for the season.  Final, North Carolina 72, NCSU 56.  And it wasn't really as close as the final score indicates.

When we arrived, that wasn't what I was expecting.  We settled in about 20 minutes before game time ready for a battle.  The teams spent the first few minutes feeling each other out; but I could tell the team was ready to defend.  They were relentless, especially on the perimeter.  That was big because State has several players that can light it up from deep.  I was anxious to see how we would start out defending their shooters since East Tennessee State had hit five three pointers in the first half on Friday.  I was happy with our defensive effort and grateful because we had a little trouble putting the ball in the hoop at times.  Still UNC built a 14 point lead at one point and lead by 9 at half-time.  11 of 29 at that point; but what I loved was that most of the baskets had been assisted.  NCSU had 1 assist for the half.

 



Gaining Separation

As the 2nd half started I hoped for a bit of a run.  I love my team.  They came with it.  North Carolina went on a 20-3 run and took complete control of the game.  Stephanie Mavunga was again just a force in the middle.  Brittany Rountree was hitting long balls.  Everyone was into it.  I was about to send a Tweet; but then I caught my son's face after one of Rountree's shots.  Got to love this little boy.  I guess everyone was set on getting the win against State.

 

 

So how did this one shake out.  I think I'm going to start with the woman in the middle.  She had her 2nd straight 20 plus point game.  She was just a force down low.  There wasn't anything she didn't add to this game.

 



 

Stephanie Mavunga: 4 blocks, 1 steal (photo from www.goheels.com)

 



Stephanie Mavunga: 23 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

The 23 points was just 3 shy of a career high of 26, which is what she scored on Friday.  The 5 assists was a career high and that is exciting because I'm sure teams will try to double her on occasion.  There just wasn't anything NCSU could do with her today.  Her footwork around the hoop, her length, her soft touch.  It was all just too much.  I believe she had 2 blocks on the same NCSU possession. 

 

 

Allisha Gray: 13 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

Last year when we took the trip over to NCSU, Allisha Gray did lots of damage.  I think they remembered.  They were all over her for a while.  She only took 3 long shots and they were further back than normal.  But Allisha does what she does.  She used her strength inside driving to the basket and crashing the boards.  She used her length to defend shooters on the perimeter to contribute to UNC's defensive effort.  That 12 rebounds is a career high.

 

 

Brittany Rountree: 14 points, 2 assists, 1 steal (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

Brittany had a great stat line today.  She hit four of the six three pointers she took today and that is huge for the senior and great for creating space for the Tar Heels on offense.  But I remarked previously about what a great defender she is and where you look in the stat sheet to see that is the 18% North Carolina State shot from three today.  They usually shoot more twice that percentage and she was a big part of that result.  Just an elite level defensive player.

 

 

Jessica Washington: 8 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

Yes, a block folks.  And it was a beauty.  I can't really say enough about how I appreciated the Tar Heels' defense in this game.  More than that I can see Jessica gaining more and more confidence in her shot.  She staying in it past the follow through and she's holding on to the ball.

 

 

Danielle Butts: 5 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

Someone is going to sleep really well tonight.  Are you ready for this?  Up to 33 minutes in the game today.  That was more than any other player on the team.  Next was Brittany Rountree with 32, then Stephanie Mavunga with 30.  Her field goals were worthy of a spot on a highlight reel; but like Brittany, the energy on the defensive end, particularly on the perimeter guarding NCSU's shooters was just amazing. 

 

 

Latifah Coleman: 2 points, 4 assists, 1 steal (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

I was just relieved to see Latifah out there today.  I guess limiting her to 3 minutes against East Tennessee State was some kind of precaution, which I can certainly understand.  I attribute some of the perimeter shots ETSU hit on Friday to her not being out there.  27 minutes today and the defensive pressure was huge.  She's just so great at staying low and keeping her player in front of her and is really the leader of that perimeter defensive effort and I think her presence lifted the team on that end of the floor.

 

Significance of this Win

 

I'm so happy to have this win.  It's great to start off conference play this way, especially considering how well the team played on both ends of the floor.  Every win you can get in conference play is vital and it's super important to protect the home floor.  We're halfway to the sweep of the Wolf Pack and that's great against the in state rival.  The ACC though is a tough conference so the confidence boost that comes from starting out with a victory as they continue to adjust to playing without Xylina McDaniel will hopefully carry them as they move forward. 

 

Next

 

Next up is a road game against what appears to be a much improved Pittsburgh team.  Last place last season (or close to it) they have some good wins this season.  The Heels will need to build upon everything they learned during that tough non-conference schedule.  It's like a new season now.  But our team knows how important it is to stay focused.

 

Note

 

I would be remised if I didn't mentioned how saddened I am at the passing of fellow Tar Heel Stuart Scott.  The game started with a moment of silence.  I was alerted this morning when my phone let me know a significant number of people I follow had retweeted a photo.  I tapped the notification to find a photo of Scott with the notification.  I will miss him.  I can only ask that God's comfort surround his family, friends, colleagues and all Tar Heels now.  He was a great man.  His legacy will live on.  Rest in peace Stu.

 

As Always,

Go Heels!

 



 









Mavunga's Hot Shooting Contagious in UNC's Victory

It was the last game before the ACC season starts.  The visitors for the day were the East Tennessee State Buccaneers.  I haven't been feeling my best this week; but thankfully I felt well enough to keep my promise to the children.  We arrived well ahead of the start of this one.  The end was as expected.  Final UNC 95, East Tennessee State, 62

For the lion's share of the first half it didn't look like the game was going to end this way.  I always hope for a fast start no matter who we are playing; but for non-conference games where we are expected to win, I always want to see us jump out early.  It wasn't to be in this one.  In fact, after a few minutes Coach made wholesale substitutions one might see at a Carolina Hurricanes game.  The starters eventually returned; but the first half was pretty even until the last few minutes.  Offense wasn't the issue.  The Tar Heels were shooting over 50% and they were outrebounding the Buccaneers.  Stephanie Mavunga was pretty much dominating the game when she was on the court.  Energy on the defensive end seemed to be the issue.  East Tennessee State's shooters kept getting open for long shots.  They sank five three pointers in the first half.

The Tide Turned

Remember I mentioned the offense was working well.  With a couple minutes left in the half, the defense clamped down and you could see how well the offense was working.  A few stops on the defensive end and the Heels were up by 8 with the ball and a few seconds in the half.  They inbounded the ball to Jamie Cherry.  She took a few dribbles and dropped a half court bomb at the buzzer.  Just the way you draw it up.  Link: http://youtu.be/jLgE9mGDiTU So the Tar Heels were up 11 at the half.  With that lead, the children were relaxed enough to have a snack once they calmed down enough after Jamie's buzzer beater.  Well, my two talked about it until bedtime.

And Then It Happened

I looked at my daughter and said, "50 point 2nd half."  That's what I wanted.  We got 52.  I had to wait on it; but the Heels came out in the 2nd half with that fast start I'd hoped for in the beginning.  They scored the first 8 points of the 2nd half and never looked back.  Multiple players contributed to this effort.  UNC's bench actually accounted for over half the points scored today.  I was really happy to see this no matter the opponent; but, this was definitely a game for everyone to get some burn. 

Hillary Fuller: 7 points, 2 rebounds (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

One of the players we are going to need to step forward while Xylina McDaniel is out and she did really well today.  In 12 minutes on the floor, which is a real jump, she made a significant impact on the game.  She made 3 of her 4 field goal attempts and showed some really good moves around the basket plus some great leaping ability.  It's really good to see her healthy after being limited with foot issues for a couple of seasons.

 



 Hillary Summers: 6 points, 1 rebound, 1 block (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

On the depth chart, Hillary Summers is Stephanie Mavunga's backup; but, she's another player who will see increased minutes during this time.  She sank 3 of her 5 field goal attempts in the 10 minutes she was on the court.  She looked really strong and confident with the ball and I'm hoping that confidence continues to rise.

 

 

Jessica Washington: 10 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 2 steals (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

In double figures for the second consecutive game, Jessica actually played an even better all around game today even though she didn't shoot as well.  With just one turnover (5 against Albany) with 3 assists, she did a lot to make the team go in her 30 minutes.  She looked really good on defense today as well and just did those things that don't show up on the stat sheet.

 

 

Megan Buckland: 6 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

My comeback kid was great today.  None of those points were scored from the three point line where she's known to shoot from during games.  These were paint points she made after making post moves near the hoop and a midrange jumper.  She was so active on both ends of the court while she was out there.  She played defense inside and out and went after loose balls.  Got banged up on one play; so we have to hope she's good to go Sunday.

 





Jamie Cherry: 13 points, 1 rebound, 6 assists (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

Jamie had a great game today after a couple of rough ones.  This was the kind of game I love to see from the freshman (if I can still call her that 2nd semester).  She showed a lot of maturity today, taking what the defense gave her, avoided over penetrating the paint and stayed in her shot.  She took on the bulk of the point guard duties in this one as (for reasons unknown to me) Latifah Coleman played just 3 minutes.  She looked great for those three minutes though.  Jamie handled everything well.

 



 

N'Dea Bryant: 7 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 steals (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

We got another taste from N'Dea today.  Just an incredible athlete.  I always feel like there's a giant in her and that giant popped in today.  She made all three of her field goal attempts today, crashed the boards and played an all around game stuffing the stat sheet in every way.  Parlayed that into 20 minutes of playing time today.

 



Danielle Butts: 6 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 steals (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

I love how Danielle is stepping up.  19 more minutes in today's game and a good all around performance for the senior.  And she's continuing to keep the fouls down with these increased minutes.  She's playing big inside at 5'10" tall.  Just the reach she is showing in this photo is indicative of the effort she puts in 100% of the time she is in the game.

 



Allisha Gray: 10 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

See that double team?  Yeah, that was today's game for Allisha Gray.  To get what she got we got to see her strength on display.  All four field goals were inside the arc today as the three point shot wasn't really falling for her.  But as she always does, she did what she needed to do for the team.  She crashed the boards, played defense and dished out some assists.  A valiant effort in the face of constant double teams especially when fellow starters Brittany Rountree and Latifah Coleman had quiet evenings.  Another player wasn't quiet. 

 



 

 Stephanie Mavunga: 26 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 steal (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

The word of the day?  It's DOMINATION.  That is the best way I can describe what I watched from Stephanie Mavunga today.  The Buccaneers were completely at her mercy and she didn't show them an ounce.  She scored the first four points for UNC and I looked at the kids and said, "I don't think they are going to be able to handle her."  That was an understatement.  No matter what they did short of fouling her (which they did once), she had her way in the paint.  It was mostly a combination of rebounds and put backs and touches within the half court offense.  She also had a run out on the fast break.  She did it all today.  She made 13 of her 14 field goal attempts.  The 26 points is a new career high.

 

What We Can Take Away from This One

 

Not So Good?

 

I really want a fast start out of them.  I realize I'm going to have to exercise some patience.  They are still adjusting to playing without Xylina.  She (Xylina) by the way was in attendance today just two days removed from the surgery to repair that lower leg injury.  It was good to see her smiling.  The other thing was the number of three point shots the Buccaneers had.  They did have a much harder time getting them off in the 2nd half.

 

The Good?

 

The second half was all Carolina Basketball.  The team shot well the entire game after shooting under 40% on Tuesday, they hit nearly 60% of their attempts today, no doubt a big help was Stephanie Mavunga hitting 93% on the day; but Danielle Butts, Megan Buckland, N'Dea Bryant, Jamie Cherry, Hillary Summers and Hillary Fuller all hit 50% or better on the day as far as players who had 3 or more attempts.  That will settle down as conference play begins; but the team has a lot of weapons.  Locking down on the defensive end, particularly the three point line was the big change from the first half to the second half and that is going to be crucial going forward beginning right away on Sunday when North Carolina State comes calling. 

 

But today, I will gladly take this victory.  The Tar Heels finished the non-conference schedule, which was likely their toughest in history with a 13-1 record.  That includes wins over four teams that were ranked in the top 25 on the day of the game (3 of which have remained) and that is something to be very proud of.  Some other teams that challenged themselves early on didn't come out as well.  That's what I thought about as I walked behind the children on our way back to the vehicle.

 

 

 

As always,

 

Go Heels

Tar Heels Step Up in Victory Over Albany

One of the last games before the ACC season starts and the Tar Heels had to face Albany.  Albany is a really good team picked to win the American East Conference again.  The Tar Heels were pushed to the brink when they last faced the Great Danes in the 2013 NCAA tournament.

My children are on winter break so we were able to make this midafternoon game even though I wasn't well early that morning.  We swung around to pick up my daughter's friend and were there in plenty of time for the start.

This was going to be an adjustment game.  As most know UNC lost a vital piece of their attack just nine days earlier when Xylina McDaniel was injured during the Elon game at Myrtle Beach.  She's had surgery to repair the injury and now we wait to see if she can come back this season.  In the meantime others can and will step up and if this game was any indication, McDaniel will do what she can for her teammates while she is sidelined.  She was really vocal with her team during the game.  I could hear her from where we sat (section 214).  At one point it appeared she had a notepad and pen likely documenting things she's seeing while she has this time to watch.  Whenever it is, I have no doubt she will be back stronger and more determined than ever.  The Tar Heels pushed through to a 71 to 56 victory.

So the first adjustment was to the starting lineup.  McDaniel has started from the time she arrived.  The Tar Heels went small starting a 4 guard lineup along with Stephanie Mavunga.  So it was four regulars (Mavunga, Gray, Coleman and Rountree) plus Danielle Butts.  This game started the way the last couple of games have started.  Brittany Rountree for 3!  I love how she's getting her shot off this year.  And she is just as steady a hand as usual dishing out assists as well.  She came out and drained another to start the second half.

Brittany Rountree: 9 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

 

Latifah Coleman: 3 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 3 steals (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

Kind of a quiet one numbers wise for Latifah and she played 14 minutes, splitting time with Jamie Cherry who had a bit of a rough afternoon shooting the ball.  She expended a lot of energy on defense in this game pressuring Albany's ball handlers and was one of the players disrupting the Great Danes lob passes skying in the air to tip one away.  A whole lot in that little package.  Jamie as I mentioned had a rough shooting day; but she had fewer turnovers than in the last couple of games and that's saying a lot for this one.  Just probably needs to slow down just a bit once UNC is in the half court or quarter court set.

 

 

Jamie Cherry: 6 points, 1 assist (photo from www.goheels.com)









 

 



Allisha Gray: 15 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 3 steals (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

Allisha was all over this one, even though she didn't shoot quite as efficiently as we're used to.  Yeah, we're a bit spoiled seeing her shoot between 50 and 70% each game.  Something I don't usually say although she is quite capable at her size is she came up with 2 big blocks in this one.  One was a break away for Albany but she used her speed to close in and slap the ball against the blackboard.  It was a beautiful defensive play.

 



Danielle Butts: 4 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

The power pack came through in this one.  She had numbers in several positive categories.  The picture above is another highlight layup, where she caught it and got it into the basket without putting it on the floor and without traveling.  She got 25 minutes in this game, which is about two to two and a half times the normal minutes she generally plays.  She puts out a lot of energy when she is out there; so I know this was not as easy as she made it look.  Also only committed one foul and that is huge in a game where our friends in the striped shirts were way too involved for my taste.  Over 40 fouls were called in this contest.

 

 

Stephanie Mavunga: 14 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

Other than Danielle Butts, the player with the biggest adjustment to make was probably Stephanie Mavunga.  She and McDaniel are partners and have done a lot of damage this season.  They tend to take the pressure off each other.  Stephanie came through really well though, took advantage of her height advantage and whenever Albany didn't double team her, she made them pay for it.  Was a victim of some questionable calls in this fan's opinion or she could have easily had another 20/10 game.

 

 

Jessica Washington: 16 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

Danielle Butts gave us the rebounds and the steals.  Jessica Washington gave us the scoring.  Normally averaging about 5 points per game, Jessica hit shot after shot in this one for 16 points.  She hit a couple of three point baskets; but she was hitting a midrange jumper in this game and that is important.  I call her "Woman with wicked crossover" and when you combine that with a midrange jumper it is really hard to defend.  Jessica was hard to defend in this one as her six field goals came from different locations and she continued to crash the boards despite being one of the smaller players on the court.

 

What to Take Away From this One

 

The Not So Good

 

After several games holding the turnovers down there were 19 giveaways in this one for the Tar Heels.  Some were passes the Great Danes telegraphed and took for points on the other end.  Albany had 10 steals in all.  Even though UNC won the rebounding battle, Albany got 15 offensive rebounds and that is a number UNC tries to keep down for opponents because it gives them another chance to score.  Our shooting overall was still a few percentage points below normal; but I can't say I'm surprised by that given the circumstances.  One player Shereesha Richards, did score 34 points for Albany.  I always say, "One person can't win alone." but she sure tried. She was also a one woman parade to the free throw line with 15 of Albany's 27 attempts.

 

The Good

 

Well we won the first game after winter break and while that is known to be an up and down game due to the time off, considering it was combined with being the first game without Xylina, the Heels did well.  They had 15 assists on 23 baskets which shows great ball movement.  UNC outrebounded the Great Danes though overall they were taller.  The Heels hit 9 three point baskets and shot nearly 70% from the free throw line.  The Great Danes took advantage of their size inside combined with Xylina's absence for some lob passes over the top of the defense.  The Tar Heels adjusted using their athletic ability to disrupt that play enough times that the Great Danes stopped using it. 

 

You always want to see adjustments made to counter what's happening.  In game adjustments are crucial.  They also had to adjust to how the game was called and that was likely the most difficult adjustment of the day.  This crew was...let's just say, really active.  It's hard to get into a flow when there are more fouls than minutes in the game; so I give UNC all the credit for overcoming it.  Everyone played a part in that.  Hillary Fuller and Hillary Summers came in and gave us some minutes taking up space inside.  N'Dea Bryant came in and wreaked a bit of havoc on defense with her size and athleticism.

 

 

Next

 

The Tar Heels have two home games over the weekend.  Tomorrow afternoon is the final non-conference game.  East Tennessee State, a frequent opponent comes to visit and then conference play starts off with a bang when North Carolina State arrives on Sunday.