University of North Carolina Athletics
Car-O-Lines: Balance, Defense Spark Win Over Tigers
January 18, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 18, 2001
By Rick Brewer, SID Emeritus
Previous Car-O-Lines By Rick Brewer
Balance and defense.
Those were the areas stressed by the two opposing head coaches in explaining North Carolina's 92-65 win over Clemson Wednesday night.
The Tigers came into this game with a 10-6 record and a 72-69 win over N.C. State in their last outing. But, a late scoring outburst in the first half and similar stretch in the opening minutes of the second period ended Clemson hopes for an upset here.
Leading 32-25 with 6:45 to go in the first 20 minutes, Carolina went on an 11-2 run for a 16-point edge with 3:38 left before intermission. The Tigers did trim that advantage to 44-31 at the half.
But, the Tar Heels outscored the Tigers 20-4 for a 29-point cushion in the first seven minutes of the second period.
The biggest problem for Clemson, according to Coach Larry Shyatt, was that the points were coming from all directions.
"When they started getting jump shots from four or five different guys, we were in big trouble," he said. "That's what makes them one of the best teams in the country--they can hurt you with so many people.
"If only one guy is scoring, you can do something about that. But, in those runs they were getting points from everybody. We just didn't have an answer for that."
Carolina Coach Matt Doherty talked more about his team's defensive play. He liked his entire team's defensive intensity, but particularly praised center Brendan Haywood.
"I know Clemson isn't the biggest team we're going to play, but I was still happy with the way Brendan worked on the defensive end. He had six blocked shots and he altered so many others.
"He's really worked hard to improve and I think he has. I don't know where he is now in terms of blocked shots, as opposed to last year. But, that doesn't matter. I know he's a better defensive player."
Early in the second half, Haywood went outside the free throw line to block a jump shot by Clemson's 7-1 center Adam Allenspach. Jason Capel grabbed the loose ball and pitched it ahead to Kris Lang for a layup and a 52-33 lead with 17:04 to play.
The Tigers made only 24 of 62 field goal attempts (38.7 percent) due, in great part, to the harassing Carolina defense. The Tar Heels finished with nine blocked shots and nine steals, while Clemson was forced into 20 turnovers.
The Tigers, of course, have never had any success in Chapel Hill. This victory pushed the Carolina record to 47-0 in games against Clemson here.
A sagging zone defense kept the ball away from Haywood and Lang early in the game. The first field goal by a Tar Heel inside player came on a spectacular tip-in by Julius Peppers with 10:51 to go in the first half. Seconds later, backup point guard Adam Boone fed Haywood for a dunk and Peppers followed that with a dunk on another offensive rebound.
Still, the Tar Heels took a season-high 27 three-point attempts.
"We need to work more on getting the ball inside to Brendan or Kris," said Doherty. "I know it's tough to pass up an open shot. But, that's what people want us to do. We have to do a better job of pounding it inside."
Finally, some of those outside shots started to drop and that's when Shyatt knew his team was in trouble.
The late scoring stretch in the first half included three-pointers by Max Owens and Ronald Curry, a jump hook by Lang, a steal and layup by Owens and a free throw by Curry.
Joseph Forte opened the scoring in the second half with three free throws before Clemson's Dwon Clifton scored with a sensational drive through the lane.
Then came the barrage. Forte drilled a three-pointer from the left of the key, Lang scored after Haywood's big blocked shot, Capel fed Haywood for another layup, Capel made a free throw after a technical foul on the Clemson bench, Curry drove the lane for a basket and Capel hit another three-pointer.
Will Solomon, the Tiger scoring leader, stopped the bleeding by driving the lane for a short jumper. But, Lang put in an offensive rebound and then took a great pass from Forte for a 64-35 lead.
Carolina eventually led by 39 with freshman Brian Morrison, Haywood, Lang and Owens supplying the points.
Only four Tar Heels finished in double figures, led by Forte's 14. But, Curry and Morrison had nine each and Owens added eight. Plus, six other players also scored.
That was the balance Shyatt felt killed his team's chances. Clemson got scoring from nine players, but only Solomon reached double figures with 17.
While Doherty wasn't overjoyed with so many three-point attempts by his team, he had to be pleased with the way Carolina passed the ball. The Tar Heels finished with 24 assists on 33 baskets.
Defensively, Carolina has clearly made great strides since the start of the season. Getting Curry and Peppers in basketball condition after a season of football has helped that, as has Owens recovering from an early-season ankle sprain.
Offensively, there will be nights when the outside shots aren't falling. That's why Doherty wants his team to look inside more.
"As a player, you know that's the thing to do, but then you face a sagging defense like we did tonight and it is tough to pass up shots," he said. "I understand that. But, we've got to find a way to get the ball into the hands of Brendan and Kris. Tonight they pitched it back out for open shots. But, we need to get them the ball so they can score on something other than an offensive rebound. That will set up even better shots for our perimeter people."
If Carolina can do that and continue to play defense as it did against Clemson, the Tar Heels could be an even more difficult team to play as the season progresses.
