.png&width=36&height=36&type=webp)
University of North Carolina Athletics
Theo Pinson led Carolina with six assists.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
GoHeels Exclusive: Ball Movement Keys Win Over Michigan
November 30, 2017 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
CHAPEL HILL—It wasn't the North Carolina men's basketball team's primary emphasis.Â
But following Sunday's 63-45 loss against Michigan State, which left Roy Williams and his players questioning the team's energy and effort, they stressed better movement on offense.
Wednesday's game against Michigan at the Smith Center in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge marked UNC's first since the disappointing defeat. And in an 86-71 victory, the 13th-ranked Tar Heels put on an emphatic offensive display behind a season-high 24 assists on 34 hoops.
"Early on," Williams said, "we passed the ball really well and moved a heck of a lot better."
UNC (6-1) shot just 24.6 percent against Michigan State. It was the worst single-game shooting performance in school history and, in large part, the result of a stagnant offense that registered just nine assists. Those were the Tar Heels' fewest in a game since finishing with eight against Iowa on Dec. 3, 2014.
On Wednesday, though, it took just seven minutes, 48 seconds for UNC to match its Sunday total, as the Tar Heels recorded nine assists on their first 10 baskets.
Seven different players tallied an assist by halftime. And UNC entered the break with a 51-37 lead, having dished out 16 assists on 20 baskets and shot 64.5 percent. That marked the Tar Heels' best shooting percentage in a half since shooting 65.7 percent in the second half against Florida State on Jan. 4, 2016.
"We felt like in the Michigan State game we were just standing around once we passed the ball," Joel Berry II said. "So we were just trying to get guys moving and setting solid screens on the back side. We were able to get a couple of wide open 3s and get guys cutting to the basket. And that's what we want to do.
"The secondary (break) is for us to set up in something, and if we can't get in that, we want to be able to move and set screens."
Leading 70-41 with about 12 1/2 minutes remaining, UNC had assisted on 23 of its first 28 made shots. The Tar Heels added just one more assist the rest of the way. But the offense's execution through the first 28 minutes was enough to help the team shoot a season-high 54.8 percent and rebound from the Michigan State loss.
By the end of the game, eight different players had notched an assist. Four of them – Berry, Luke Maye, Theo Pinson and Seventh Woods – combined for 17 assists and just five turnovers.
"They were really moving the ball well," said Michigan coach John Beilein. "Luke Maye is a really tough matchup for us … When they play through Luke, got an incredibly talented point guard, everything else sort of flows. And (Kenny) Williams was hitting shots, so they were tough for us to play today."
Â
CHAPEL HILL—It wasn't the North Carolina men's basketball team's primary emphasis.Â
But following Sunday's 63-45 loss against Michigan State, which left Roy Williams and his players questioning the team's energy and effort, they stressed better movement on offense.
Wednesday's game against Michigan at the Smith Center in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge marked UNC's first since the disappointing defeat. And in an 86-71 victory, the 13th-ranked Tar Heels put on an emphatic offensive display behind a season-high 24 assists on 34 hoops.
"Early on," Williams said, "we passed the ball really well and moved a heck of a lot better."
UNC (6-1) shot just 24.6 percent against Michigan State. It was the worst single-game shooting performance in school history and, in large part, the result of a stagnant offense that registered just nine assists. Those were the Tar Heels' fewest in a game since finishing with eight against Iowa on Dec. 3, 2014.
On Wednesday, though, it took just seven minutes, 48 seconds for UNC to match its Sunday total, as the Tar Heels recorded nine assists on their first 10 baskets.
Seven different players tallied an assist by halftime. And UNC entered the break with a 51-37 lead, having dished out 16 assists on 20 baskets and shot 64.5 percent. That marked the Tar Heels' best shooting percentage in a half since shooting 65.7 percent in the second half against Florida State on Jan. 4, 2016.
"We felt like in the Michigan State game we were just standing around once we passed the ball," Joel Berry II said. "So we were just trying to get guys moving and setting solid screens on the back side. We were able to get a couple of wide open 3s and get guys cutting to the basket. And that's what we want to do.
"The secondary (break) is for us to set up in something, and if we can't get in that, we want to be able to move and set screens."
Leading 70-41 with about 12 1/2 minutes remaining, UNC had assisted on 23 of its first 28 made shots. The Tar Heels added just one more assist the rest of the way. But the offense's execution through the first 28 minutes was enough to help the team shoot a season-high 54.8 percent and rebound from the Michigan State loss.
By the end of the game, eight different players had notched an assist. Four of them – Berry, Luke Maye, Theo Pinson and Seventh Woods – combined for 17 assists and just five turnovers.
"They were really moving the ball well," said Michigan coach John Beilein. "Luke Maye is a really tough matchup for us … When they play through Luke, got an incredibly talented point guard, everything else sort of flows. And (Kenny) Williams was hitting shots, so they were tough for us to play today."
Â
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F/G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballMBB: Seth Trimble & Henri Veesaar On ACCN Set At ACC Tipoff
Tuesday, October 07
MBB: Hubert Davis On ACCN Set At ACC Tipoff
Tuesday, October 07
MBB: ACC Tipoff Press Conference
Tuesday, October 07
UNC Women's Basketball - ACC Tipoff Q&A - October 6, 2025
Monday, October 06