University of North Carolina Athletics
Luke Maye set a career rebounding high against Boston College.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
GoHeels Exclusive: Rebounding Key To Smaller Lineup
January 12, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers
by Pat James, GoHeels.com
CHAPEL HILL—Whenever the topic of using a smaller lineup has been discussed with Roy Williams this season, he's been quick to share his concerns, none greater than a potential rebounding disadvantage.
But after consecutive defeats at Florida State and Virginia, Williams made a change ahead of North Carolina's 96-66 win over Boston College on Tuesday. He removed freshman forward Garrison Brooks from the lineup. In Brooks' place, he started Cameron Johnson along with Joel Berry II, Luke Maye, Theo Pinson and Kenny Williams.
That group outrebounded the Eagles, 8-2, through the first four minutes. And by the end of the game, UNC had posted a season-high plus-35 rebounding margin.
During his press conference on Friday, Williams was asked if that performance eased his worries about the smaller lineup's rebounding ability.
"I don't know," Williams answered. "I'm not that confident about it, but that's the reason why we keep emphasizing it to make sure they emphasize it enough themselves."
Pinson said the smaller lineup created more space for the Tar Heels to attack the basket. And he knows a concentrated effort on the glass – specifically by himself, Johnson and Kenny Williams – is what it will take for Williams to keep playing small.
"We don't have a choice …" Pinson said. "He told us that multiple times yesterday. He was like, 'I was terrified playing the smaller lineup because of the rebounding. But y'all did a good job. If y'all don't keep doing it, I'm going back to the two bigs again.'"
Here are five other notes from Friday's press conference, leading up to Saturday's 6 p.m. game at Notre Dame:
Brooks adjusts
With Williams deploying the smaller lineup to open Tuesday's game, Brooks didn't start for the first time in his 17-game UNC career.
Justin Jackson, who started 37 of 38 games during the 2014-15 campaign, is the only other Tar Heel freshman who has started their first 16 games over the last four seasons. But Williams said Brooks handled coming off the bench "fantastically."
"I didn't see any problem with him whatsoever," Williams said. "I talked to him about it and told him he was still going to play and he'd still be important to us. He really accepted that."
'A look-in-the-mirror moment'
In UNC's losses at Florida State and Virginia, Pinson combined for nine points on 2-of-9 shooting. He also tallied just five rebounds.
Pinson knows the energy and effort he usually plays with make him a talented player. But he said Friday that he was disappointed that he didn't display much of those traits against the Seminoles or Cavaliers.
"I played bad last week in both games," he said, "and I just wanted to come out (against Boston College) and step up for my teammates and for us to play better … It was just a look-in-the-mirror moment for me."
Pinson returned to form against the Eagles, registering eight points, eight rebounds and five assists. Williams also said Pinson made more good defensive plays in that game than he had across the previous three.
"He needed to play better," Williams said. "I think he had the energy right from the start in the Boston College game … He was just more involved, and that's what we need him to be."
Woods updateÂ
Sidelined with a stress fracture in his foot, Seventh Woods hasn't played since the 86-71 victory over Michigan on Nov. 29. He averaged 10.9 minutes, 2.4 points, and 1.7 assists in seven games before the injury.
Williams said Woods will undergo another MRI "sometime soon." But he remains unsure about when Woods will return.Â
"He's not walking with crutches, he's not walking with a boot," Williams said. "He's walking normally, and he doesn't appear to be having any pain. He stands there and does a lot of dribbling around during practice."
Johnson meshes well
Through his first six games as a Tar Heel, Johnson – who shot 41.5 percent on 3-pointers with Pittsburgh last season – is shooting 33.3 percent (8-for-24) from behind the arc.
But Johnson continues to contribute in a variety of ways. He's averaging 5.8 rebounds, the second-best mark on the team. And since Johnson returned from a torn meniscus in his left knee, Williams said the team has flashed some its best ball movement.Â
"They trust him and he's completely unselfish, too," Williams said. "He gives it up, and it's amazing; they're boom, boom, boom and somebody ends up with the good shot. It may be Cam, it may be Joel, it may be Kenny.Â
"I think he's really done a nice job trying to blend in, and I think everybody has really accepted him."
A missing piece
When preparing to face Notre Dame over the last few years, Williams said the first course of action has been figuring out how to game plan for do-everything forward Bonzie Colson.
But that hasn't been the case this week. Colson, the ACC Preseason Player of the Year, fractured a bone in his foot on Dec. 29 and is expected to miss eight weeks. He averaged 21.4 points and 10.4 rebounds in 14 games before his injury.
"Just the challenge of him being out there would be fun," Pinson said. "You never want to see somebody that good go down in ACC play because that's when it's fun. But at the same time, Notre Dame is still a good team and it's still going to be a tough challenge going up there."
Â
CHAPEL HILL—Whenever the topic of using a smaller lineup has been discussed with Roy Williams this season, he's been quick to share his concerns, none greater than a potential rebounding disadvantage.
But after consecutive defeats at Florida State and Virginia, Williams made a change ahead of North Carolina's 96-66 win over Boston College on Tuesday. He removed freshman forward Garrison Brooks from the lineup. In Brooks' place, he started Cameron Johnson along with Joel Berry II, Luke Maye, Theo Pinson and Kenny Williams.
That group outrebounded the Eagles, 8-2, through the first four minutes. And by the end of the game, UNC had posted a season-high plus-35 rebounding margin.
During his press conference on Friday, Williams was asked if that performance eased his worries about the smaller lineup's rebounding ability.
"I don't know," Williams answered. "I'm not that confident about it, but that's the reason why we keep emphasizing it to make sure they emphasize it enough themselves."
Pinson said the smaller lineup created more space for the Tar Heels to attack the basket. And he knows a concentrated effort on the glass – specifically by himself, Johnson and Kenny Williams – is what it will take for Williams to keep playing small.
"We don't have a choice …" Pinson said. "He told us that multiple times yesterday. He was like, 'I was terrified playing the smaller lineup because of the rebounding. But y'all did a good job. If y'all don't keep doing it, I'm going back to the two bigs again.'"
Here are five other notes from Friday's press conference, leading up to Saturday's 6 p.m. game at Notre Dame:
Brooks adjusts
With Williams deploying the smaller lineup to open Tuesday's game, Brooks didn't start for the first time in his 17-game UNC career.
Justin Jackson, who started 37 of 38 games during the 2014-15 campaign, is the only other Tar Heel freshman who has started their first 16 games over the last four seasons. But Williams said Brooks handled coming off the bench "fantastically."
"I didn't see any problem with him whatsoever," Williams said. "I talked to him about it and told him he was still going to play and he'd still be important to us. He really accepted that."
'A look-in-the-mirror moment'
In UNC's losses at Florida State and Virginia, Pinson combined for nine points on 2-of-9 shooting. He also tallied just five rebounds.
Pinson knows the energy and effort he usually plays with make him a talented player. But he said Friday that he was disappointed that he didn't display much of those traits against the Seminoles or Cavaliers.
"I played bad last week in both games," he said, "and I just wanted to come out (against Boston College) and step up for my teammates and for us to play better … It was just a look-in-the-mirror moment for me."
Pinson returned to form against the Eagles, registering eight points, eight rebounds and five assists. Williams also said Pinson made more good defensive plays in that game than he had across the previous three.
"He needed to play better," Williams said. "I think he had the energy right from the start in the Boston College game … He was just more involved, and that's what we need him to be."
Woods updateÂ
Sidelined with a stress fracture in his foot, Seventh Woods hasn't played since the 86-71 victory over Michigan on Nov. 29. He averaged 10.9 minutes, 2.4 points, and 1.7 assists in seven games before the injury.
Williams said Woods will undergo another MRI "sometime soon." But he remains unsure about when Woods will return.Â
"He's not walking with crutches, he's not walking with a boot," Williams said. "He's walking normally, and he doesn't appear to be having any pain. He stands there and does a lot of dribbling around during practice."
Johnson meshes well
Through his first six games as a Tar Heel, Johnson – who shot 41.5 percent on 3-pointers with Pittsburgh last season – is shooting 33.3 percent (8-for-24) from behind the arc.
But Johnson continues to contribute in a variety of ways. He's averaging 5.8 rebounds, the second-best mark on the team. And since Johnson returned from a torn meniscus in his left knee, Williams said the team has flashed some its best ball movement.Â
"They trust him and he's completely unselfish, too," Williams said. "He gives it up, and it's amazing; they're boom, boom, boom and somebody ends up with the good shot. It may be Cam, it may be Joel, it may be Kenny.Â
"I think he's really done a nice job trying to blend in, and I think everybody has really accepted him."
A missing piece
When preparing to face Notre Dame over the last few years, Williams said the first course of action has been figuring out how to game plan for do-everything forward Bonzie Colson.
But that hasn't been the case this week. Colson, the ACC Preseason Player of the Year, fractured a bone in his foot on Dec. 29 and is expected to miss eight weeks. He averaged 21.4 points and 10.4 rebounds in 14 games before his injury.
"Just the challenge of him being out there would be fun," Pinson said. "You never want to see somebody that good go down in ACC play because that's when it's fun. But at the same time, Notre Dame is still a good team and it's still going to be a tough challenge going up there."
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