Tuesday, February 7, 2012

At ACC midpoint, what Tar Heels have taught us

Halfway through the ACC schedule, No. 5 North Carolina is 7-1 in the conference. Of course, each half of the league schedule isn’t exactly symmetrical. The Tar Heels have yet to play Duke, for instance, and will play the Blue Devils twice among the final eight conference games. The first of those meetings comes Wednesday night at the Smith Center.

Still, the midway point provides a natural opportunity to evaluate where UNC stands as it prepares for the stretch run of the regular season before postseason play begins in about a month. That said, after eight conference games, here are eight things we’ve learned about the Heels to this point:

--This team has responded well to adversity. The first half of the conference schedule provided North Carolina with two major tests: One, how would UNC bounce back from that 33-point loss at Florida State. And, two, how would the Tar Heels compensate for the loss of Dexter Strickland, who suffered a season-ending knee injury at Virginia Tech on Jan. 19. UNC hasn’t lost since that defeat at FSU, and the Heels collectively have raised their level of play – especially on defense – to make up for the loss of Strickland.

--This is a better defensive team than people realize. There’s this perception that UNC is an average – or even below average – of defensive team. That perception, though, is wrong. In ACC games, the Heels are holding opponents to 40.5 percent shooting, which leads the ACC. The Tar Heels are also averaging 7.1 blocks per game in ACC games, which also leads the conference. UNC plays excellent defense, particularly inside the 3-point line (more on this momentarily).

--Reggie Bullock has adequately filled in for Dexter Strickland at shooting guard. No, Bullock isn’t the on-the-ball defender that Strickland is, and he can’t guard opposing point guards the way Strickland did. But Bullock has improved tremendously as a defensive player, and one could argue his help defense – and his disruption in passing lanes – has improved UNC’s team defense. Plus, Bullock’s ability to shoot from the outside has helped open up the offense for some of his teammates.

--Production off the bench is a concern. The loss of Strickland still hurts, however, because Bullock no longer is able to come off the bench. And that leaves the bench especially thin. Especially with P.J. Hairston struggling with his shot the way he has (6-for-33 from 3-point range in ACC games). James Michael McAdoo has become a more confident, productive player, but UNC still lacks a go-to guy off the bench.

UNC does seem to be becoming a more intense, energetic team. Intensity still comes in spurts for the Heels, who are still learning to play with intensity all the time – instead of just some of the time. But since that loss at Florida State, there has been a noticeable difference in the Tar Heels’ attitude. That’s not unexpected, given the difficult practices that coach Roy Williams led in the aftermath of what happened in Tallahassee, Fla.

-- The Heels aren’t as soft on the interior as critics believe. Yes, there are heavier, meaner frontcourts out there (see the one at Florida State, for instance), but UNC has done a lot to shed its soft label during the first half of the league schedule. The Tar Heels have mostly dominated on the interior, and Tyler Zeller has been as aggressive as any player in the ACC. At the halfway point of the conference schedule, Zeller is an obvious first-team All-ACC player, and he’s in the discussion for ACC Player of the Year.

--Teams that shoot well from the outside, and play good defense, can cause UNC problems. Of course, teams that shoot well from the outside and that defend would cause problems for a lot of teams. As good as UNC has been defensively, though, the Heels remain susceptible to good 3-point shooting teams. UNC’s 3-point percentage defense ranks 9th in the ACC, and opposing teams are shooting 34.7 percent from 3-point range.

Free-throw shooting is a liability. UNC is shooting 68.1 percent in conference games from the free-throw line, which ranks 10th in the ACC. Overall, the Heels are shooting 65.1 percent from the line, which ranks last among ACC teams. UNC is bound to find itself in close games, especially in March, and poor free-throw shooting won’t  do the Heels any favors.

-- Andrew Carter

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

UNC 81 dook 65

Anonymous said...

I'm thinking the best idea is revoking the ACC's BCS status.

Sad thing is Syracuse and Pitt will make the ACC better in football. Other than Chapel Hill and Duke, basketball has sucked too. Here's some conference RPIs:

1 Big Ten 0.5896
2 Big East 0.5768
3 Big 12 0.5762
4 Southeastern 0.5737
5 Mountain West 0.5677
6 Atlantic Coast 0.5641
7 Atlantic 10 0.5468
8 Missouri Valley 0.5393
9 Conference USA 0.5309
10 Pacific-12 0.5270

Anonymous said...

UNC, FSU, dook, VA are locks for the NCAA'S...Miami, and MD may as well....who knows...even NCSU has a chance...

Anonymous said...

Barnes still limping around on that "hurt ankle" ???

he's a puss, lacks the desire to win. was supposed to be the top player in the country this year and he isn't top 50.

Florida State will win the ACC, the blue crews are weak this year.

Anonymous said...

UNC will win the ACC/Duke will finish 2nd (as usual). FSU will be 3rd and get bounced in the Sweet 16 as they normally do...FSU will get beat by dook the next time they play, and they're lucky they don't see UNC again...

Anonymous said...

Barnes said he was playing against dook...he will will score 25-30 points and UNC will win by 15...

Anonymous said...

20-3 is so weak. except for that one blip on the screen (yes, it was a big one). Tar Heels are getting better and better. no question about the talent. they've just lacked intensity and poise on the road. That seems to be working itself out. I would expect FSU fans to be happy. You don't get this opportunity much. Won't last tho.

that's what she said...

butch davis's school vs the lacrosse all star academy

this is big baby!!!

nothing can be fin-ah than to be in caroline-ah.

I got my wal-mart t-shirt pressed and ready for this big game.

Anonymous said...

What has UNC taught us?

1. FSU 90, UNC 57.

2. UNCheat was overrated yet AGAIN in the preseason.

3. Not nearly the best, toughest, or most talented team in the country (despite the experience).

4. Harrison Barnes is at best the 43rd best player in the country.

5. Roy is officially off his rocker.

6. They can still have a good season, split with Duke, win ACC reg. season...but have no chance of winning it all.

7. FSU 90, UNC 57.

Anonymous said...

Wal-Mart sells UNC gear? Who knew?? Great business decision...they know what sells in the Tar Heel state. I guess you're jealous, b/c every time you step inside a Wal Mart...you see UNC gear everywhere. Get use to it! People buy what they see...loser

Anonymous said...

wow, this nailed it!!!!


hahahaha


1. FSU 90, UNC 57.

2. UNCheat was overrated yet AGAIN in the preseason.

3. Not nearly the best, toughest, or most talented team in the country (despite the experience).

4. Harrison Barnes is at best the 43rd best player in the country.

5. Roy is officially off his rocker.

6. They can still have a good season, split with Duke, win ACC reg. season...but have no chance of winning it all.

7. FSU 90, UNC 57.

Anonymous said...

UNC has not lost since the FSU loss...will win the ACC Regular season/ACC Championship and NCAA's...I can see why your jealous of UNC. You probably work at Wal-Mart loser. Ha HA!

Anonymous said...

UNC 131
Dook 101

The tale of the tape...who OWNS who? Come get some! Holla!!

Anonymous said...

Who have the tar holes played in non-conference action of any quality, much less beaten? Hmmmmm . . . . . That's what I thought -NOBODY!!!

Anonymous said...

Wisc/MSU/Texas....loser

Anonymous said...

Duke-UNC is the best rivalry going because it is not just basketball, but includes several sports, and most of them are at championship levels. Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Soccer, Lacrosse. The Yankees-Red Sox (really NY-Boston) is intense and does involve multiple sports, but a professional rivalry isn't the same as an amateur/college competition.

Anonymous said...

In ACC basketball.....It is UNC/Dook and nobody else. Every team in the ACC plays their "A" game when it comes to UNC and Dook...90% of the time those teams loose. FSU is the exception this year, and won't get past the Sweet 16 as they never do. UNC lead 131 to 101 versus games against the Dookies....Holla!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, UNC really owned Dook in the '40s.

Recent history: Dook's won 21 of the past 30, 4 of the past 5 vs UNC. K 4, Dean 2. Holla!

Anonymous said...

State football: 5 in a row
UNCheat: Who cares

Holla!

Anonymous said...

I know this is hard for a wolpfack fan to comprehend but it's BASKETBALL season.

With that being said, here's a little something for you:

Carolina - 11 wins in a row and 17 of the last 18 against the wolpfack...your school is irrelevant in this discussion...now go milk your cows