University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: Basketball's Haves And Have-Nots
November 21, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 21, 2001
By Adam Lucas
TarHeelBlue.com
The talk is about what Carolina basketball does not have. They don't have a win, don't have much confidence, and don't have a solid shooting game so far this season.
But let's talk about what the Heels do have.
Item 1: They have a substantially different defense. Most of the "What's different from last year" talk has centered on the loss of offensive threat Joseph Forte. But two games into the season, it looks like an even bigger loss may have been that of Brendan Haywood.
The big seven-footer was alternately loved and hated by fans, but he was a consistent presence on defense. He blocked almost four shots per game, a total the Tar Heels haven't even approached as a team so far this year. In fact, the leading shot-blocker so far is 6-foot-5 Jackie Manuel, who gets most of his blocks on swipes before the ball even approaches the rim.
For the past four seasons, any guard daring to venture into the lane had to consider the fact that his shot might well wind up in the third row. Now, the path to the basket is substantially clearer. All the talk about Carolina's perimeter defense would be significantly less urgent if Haywood was still looming under the basket cleaning up mistakes.
That's part of the reason why the Tar Heels have to turn up the pressure around the perimeter. They showed signs of it on Tuesday night, forcing 17 Davidson turnovers after getting only 10 turnovers against Hampton. The traps were quicker in coming, the rotations a step faster.
"We went with a shorter lineup," Matt Doherty said. "I wanted to reward the guys who played good defense versus Hampton."
Two of those guys were freshmen--Jackie Manuel and Melvin Scott again played solidly, if not spectacularly.
Item 2: They have confidence issues.
That's not a typical statement about a North Carolina basketball team. Usually, the Heels can always fall back on the name on the front of their jerseys to count for at least six points per game.
But the two non-conference opponents have shown absolutely no fear of the light blue juggernaut. Davidson coach Bob McKillop likened playing Carolina to performing on a Broadway stage. So far, the Heels look like they have a bad case of stage fright.
What confidence there was at the start of a season picked to end fourth in the ACC can't be helped by losses to two teams with some players who couldn't even get in a pickup game at Woollen Gym.
"It's got to be low," Doherty said. "After the game I was very positive with them...You're talking about young men who are very fragile at times."
Those young men now have a week to stew about their 0-2 start. How they handle these next seven days could very well determine the course of the rest of the season.
"I think we're all hungry to get out there and fix the mistakes and play some games," said Jonathan Holmes, who had three assists and no turnovers in his nine minutes of action. "But sometimes if you have a day or two off you get your legs back and get re-energized and work on things we've messed up in the first two games. A few more days of practice is always good, and it's good because we need to get our confidence back."
Item 3: They have a very unforgiving schedule that was not designed to cushion an 0-2 start. The next three games are home dates against Indiana and Georgia Tech, followed by a road trip to Kentucky.
What does this team have to do?
"We just have to get better, it's that simple," Jason Capel said. "We have to get better defensively, we have to shoot the ball better, and we have to come together as a team. When that happens, then we'll be happy."
At that point, they'll finally get to hear about what they have. Until then, it will be about the have-nots.
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Adam Lucas is the co-publisher of Basketball America. He is a lifelong observer of UNC sports and can be reached at JAdamLucas@aol.com.
