University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: Season Depends On Holmes-Like Toughness
January 24, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 24, 2002
By Adam Lucas
TarHeelBlue.com
Finish the drill.
That's what Jonathan Holmes did in practice to earn playing time Wednesday night against NC State, and it looks like the best possible outcome for the 2001-02 team would be if Holmes turned out to be their poster child.
Even while the Tar Heels went through rotating point guards in January, Holmes still wasn't getting much playing time. He played only four minutes in the blowout at Connecticut, a disappointing total for the high school coach's son who desperately wants to be on the court at all times.
One day, if he so chooses, Holmes is going to be a heck of a basketball coach. But this week, he did something different-he was a heck of a basketball player. At practice on Monday, the Tar Heels were working through what they call a "toughness drill," which focuses on boxing out. It's a physical part of practice, and it's the same drill that caused Jason Capel's lingering concussion problems. In the heat of battle, Holmes took a sharp elbow in the throat from Melvin Scott. The junior from Bloomington went to the sidelines, vomited into a courtside trash can, and returned to the drill.
Matt Doherty told Holmes to go get some water. Holmes refused. He stepped back into line and finished the drill. Then, and only then, did he get some water.
"Ever since I've played basketball that's the only way I knew how to play," Holmes said. "If nothing's broken there's no reason why you shouldn't come back and finish the drill...It's not like I was paralyzed or anything like that."
That's toughness. "Jon Holmes is one of the toughest kids around," Doherty said. "I thought it was time to reward him with some minutes."
At some point this season, the Tar Heels are going to have to realize that even though most of the precious streaks are vaporizing, they can still make a mark in North Carolina basketball history.
Rick Pitino's early teams at Kentucky were horrendous. There was minimal talent. But UK fans still talk about some of those teams because of their effort and heart.
At this point of the season, these Tar Heels have two choices. They can be, "That team that broke the streaks." Or, they can be, "That team that fought their guts out."
Holmes wants them to be the latter. Kris Lang wants them to be the latter, too, as evidenced by the fact that with under a minute left and NC State holding on to a comfortable lead, Lang was still instructing his teammates on box-out responsibilities.
Unfortunately, many Carolina fans didn't exhibit that same toughness. Many of those who attended left early, but that paled in comparison to the weak bandwagoners who chickened out on the University and the players by giving away their seats to Wolfpack fans, who proceeded to turn the pristine Dean Dome into ESA West.
You want to get tough? Sit among the banners and pictures of past teams and hear, "Wolf...Pack!" echo across the court at the Smith Center. It's inexcusable, and it's a good indication that more than just the players need to get tougher.
After colliding with Adam Boone in practice, Holmes took eight stitches in his chin the week before Carolina's pre-Christmas trip to Charlotte. He proudly showed off the scar Wednesday night, a badge of honor from a difficult season.
Like the backup point guard, there will be some scars from this season. The question is how much the rest of the team takes him to heart. They can choose to phone in the rest of the season, go through the motions and make half-hearted effort. Or they can finish the drill.
"It's almost like there's no excuse for not being tough," Holmes said. "Regardless of the playing time or how we're doing, one thing you can always do is play hard."
You can always do that. But first you have to choose to do that.
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.
