GoHeels Exclusive: Emotion Pays Off

by Pat James, GoHeels.com

For a few moments Saturday, Garrison Brooks finally looked like he was having fun. And that's much to the delight of North Carolina assistant coach Hubert Davis.

Throughout this season, Davis has asked Brooks to show more emotion, something the typically soft-spoken freshman referenced as a personal challenge after UNC's season-opening win against Northern Iowa.

Davis hasn't viewed Brooks' lack of emotion as an effort issue. He's just occasionally doubted whether or not Brooks enjoys playing.

But in the Tar Heels' 96-65 win over Pittsburgh, Brooks dispelled Davis' notion, at least for one night, displaying nearly as much emotion against the Panthers as he had through the first 23 games of the season. Davis took note.

"He said something in the locker room after the game," Brooks said. "He was like, 'I saw that. You've got to keep showing emotion.'"

Brooks finished Saturday's game with 10 points, his most since scoring 10 against Wofford on Dec. 20. His five made field goals also matched a career high.

But his most impactful play – and one of his most emotion-inducing – came on a loose ball late in the first half.

With UNC up 37-32 in a contest that neither team had led by more than five points, Joel Berry II deflected a pass near the top of the 3-point arc. The ball bounced off his foot and rolled toward the Tar Heels' basket. Only Brooks or Shamiel Stevenson could possibly track it down.

Approaching the ACC logo, Brooks, the same player who Roy Williams benched during an exhibition game against UNC Greensboro for not diving on the floor for a loose ball, remembered the lesson. He lunged for it this time. But Stevenson snatched it away.

As he rose to his feet, Brooks saw Cameron Johnson poke the ball away from Stevenson. Brooks dove again and corralled it before finding Johnson for a layup.

Pittsburgh subsequently called a timeout. And walking toward the UNC bench, Brooks screamed as he vigorously pumped his fist.

"Before the season, I'm not sure he would have dove on the floor for that," Kenny Williams said. To see that is big, and it shows the growth he's made this whole season."

"Garrison made a tremendous play diving on the floor and then passing it to me," Johnson said. "It was almost like I was little confused, like, 'Wow, I'm right under the hoop with no one around me.' The energy in the arena picked up a lot. I think that was the overwhelming emotion, the energy in the arena and Garrison making a tremendous play and building up a lead."

Brooks was credited with a steal, his third of the half. He entered Saturday with eight on the season. From that play until the 16:30 mark in the second half, the Tar Heels outscored the Panthers 19-5.

UNC led by 26 points when Brooks entered the second half for the first time with about 12 minutes left. Still, he strived to exhibit some emotion.

So when Berry missed a corner 3-pointer moments later, Brooks established inside position, grabbed an offensive rebound and made a one-handed jumper while being fouled. He then snarled and flexed and screamed "and-1."

"It's so cool to see a guy like that have so much energy and show so much fire as a freshman," Luke Maye said. "That's really important for us, and he's going to play big for us down the stretch."

But will he do so with the same amount of emotion?

"I think I'm going to stay stone-faced the rest of my career," said Brooks stoically before cracking a smile. "I'm joking."

Thankfully, he clarified.

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University of North Carolina Athletics

Players Mentioned

Joel Berry II

Garrison Brooks

Cameron Johnson

Luke Maye

Kenny Williams

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