GoHeels Exclusive: Theo Being Theo

by Pat James, GoHeels.com

When Theo Pinson is playing at his best, the phrase that he and his teammates typically toss around when asked about his performance is "being Theo."

Being Theo, the versatile forward, encompasses a lot. But in Saturday's 95-91 overtime loss against N.C. State, it meant staying aggressive and assuming a majority of the scoring load for a UNC offense that occasionally struggled.

That ultimately yielded one of the best statistical games of his four-year career.

After setting a previous career high of 19 points against Bucknell and Ohio State earlier this season, Pinson scored 22 on 10-for-16 shooting against the Wolfpack. He also recorded a career-high 15 rebounds for his second double-double over the last three games.

"(He brought) everything," Kenny Williams said. "Aggression, rebounding, just being Theo. That's what he's been trying to work on lately. He's just been himself. Some games he'll have a game like this where the lanes are open and he can take advantage of that."

And he's been doing so for most of January.

Pinson totaled nine points, five rebounds, five assists and three turnovers in the Tar Heels' first two games of the month, losses at Florida State and Virginia. But over the team's ensuing four-game winning streak, he averaged 11.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.3 turnovers.

Then came Monday's 80-69 loss at Virginia Tech. He matched his career high with eight assists and added six rebounds, but he only had four points and two field goal attempts.

"Last game, I wasn't aggressive at all and was just looking to pass all the time and not being a threat on the court," Pinson said. "And I wanted to be a threat."

He scored four of UNC's first six points against N.C. State. Listed at 6-foot-6, he entered halftime with nine of his 15 rebounds, the most by a Tar Heel his height or shorter since Joseph Forte, listed at 6-foot-4, finished with 16 against Duke on Feb. 1, 2001.

Yet most of Pinson's damage came during a six-minute stretch in the second half.

With UNC leading 51-50 with just under 14 minutes left in regulation, he scored 14 of the team's next 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting. Jalek Felton made the Tar Heels' only other field goal during Pinson's run. It came on a layup that followed Pinson's only block.

"At times, I thought he was sensational …" Roy Williams said. "If he hadn't been in foul trouble, he probably would have done even more. Yet those one or two plays at the end always stand out."

After picking up his fourth foul and not scoring for the final 7:54 of regulation, Pinson opened overtime with two made free throws. He attempted two more about two minutes later. This time, he missed both.

Finally, with 1:43 remaining and UNC down one, he committed his fourth turnover on a transition opportunity.

"We just didn't make the plays in overtime," Pinson said. "I had one transition, a one-on-one, and blew it."

Still, his performance didn't go unnoticed.

"We need Theo to play like that every day," Luke Maye said. "(It was) an unbelievable game. Fifteen rebounds is sensational for him. I've always known he could play like that, and just to see him play like that was huge for us."

Players Mentioned

Jalek Felton

Luke Maye

Theo Pinson

Kenny Williams

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