GoHeels Exclusive: Basketball Notes & Bucknell Preview

by Pat James, GoHeels.com

CHAPEL HILL—Before the season, Roy Williams picked up a college basketball magazine and flipped through it, educating himself on North Carolina's opponents.

Among those he said stood out was Bucknell.

Williams read about the 10 returning letterwinners on last year's 26-win NCAA Tournament team. He learned about Nana Foulland, the reigning Patriot League Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, and Zach Thomas, who also earned a spot on the All-Patriot League First Team.

So, before watching any film ahead of Wednesday's game, Williams said he already knew the quality of Bucknell's team.

"They're experienced, they have depth and they have successful guys – not just guys who look good, but have been successful," Williams said. "They're the kind of team that when I looked at the schedule, I knew this was really going to be a heck of a game."

Here are five others things to note before the Tar Heels (1-0) face the Bison (0-2) at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Smith Center:

Defending the perimeter

Bucknell finished last season tied for 52nd nationally with a 37.9 3-point shooting percentage. And through two games this season, the Bison have continued their success from behind the arc, where they've attempted 48.4 percent of their shots and made 40 percent.

In UNC's 86-69 season-opening win, Northern Iowa shot 46.4 percent (13-for-28) on 3-pointers. Four of those makes came in the final five minutes, with the Tar Heel reserves on the floor.

"Two guys who shot (about) 20 percent last year from Northern Iowa made multiple 3s in the game," Williams said. "So, that doesn't bother me. Sometimes they go in. But I do think with Bucknell it's a huge part of their team, and we've got to do a good job of guarding the 3-point line."

Facing Foulland

After averaging 15 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks last season, Foulland was voted the Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year. He's also one of 21 watch list players for the Karl Malone Award, given to college basketball's top power forward.

Foulland is averaging 16 points on 59.1 percent shooting (13-for-22) this season. And he'll present a stiff test for the Tar Heels' young big men.

"I worry about our big guys on the defensive end of the floor right now," Williams said. "It's so early in the season, and we're not doing a successful job of guarding each other in practice. And we know each other. So, if you're going to have a hard time guarding each other, it's going to make it look like you don't know what you're doing out there on gameday."

'A complete player'

Although Foulland has garnered the most notoriety, Thomas, a 6-foot-7, 228-pound stretch four, has led the Bison through their first two games.

Thomas is averaging a team-best 27.5 points and 13 rebounds. In Friday's 79-78 loss at Monmouth, he registered a career-high 31 points and 16 rebounds, making him the first Bucknell player to record at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in a game since Nov. 26, 2001.

Much of Thomas' success has come from behind the 3-point line, where he's made 10-of-18 shots. His ability to stretch the floor could challenge UNC, which will likely assign Luke Maye to defend him.

"It's a little bit more comfortable for Luke than it would've been last year for Isaiah (Hicks) or Tony (Bradley) to get out of there …" said Williams of guarding Thomas. "(He's) not just a standstill shooter. He puts the ball on the floor and takes it to the basket. He's a complete player."

More freedom for Maye

Maye is coming off a 26-point, 10-rebound performance against Northern Iowa that earned him ACC Co-Player of the Week honors.

In that game, Maye made 11-of-16 field goal attempts. Both marks surpassed his previous career highs by five and came largely as a result of his improved ability to attack the rim.

"He's more aggressive because he's more confident," Williams said. "We do give him more freedom than we have any 4 man probably since Marvin Williams or Jawad Williams. Danny Green sometimes played the 4 for us. But strictly he's got more freedom than just about any 4 man we've had in eight or 10 years."

Potential milestones

A victory Wednesday would mark Williams' 400th at UNC. Williams, who won 418 games in 15 seasons at Kansas, would become the only coach to win 400 games at two different schools.

Adding to the significance of a win Wednesday is that it would mark Williams' 200th at the Smith Center.

"It was weird when I saw that stat because I think that's very unusual," Williams said. "It wasn't in terms of Roy Williams winning this or this. But it's a pretty neat deal if you win 400 and also your 200th one at home. That means you've also won 200 on the road, which I like that part too.

"It would be nice, but we haven't talked or said anything about it."

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Luke Maye

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