University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: MBB Asked & Answered
January 14, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 14, 2003
By Adam Lucas
I'm from just a few miles from Latta, SC, Raymond Felton's home town. As he came up, a good friend (from Dillon,SC) and I have watched his career in basketball progress. After all the hype the previous two years we expected much more effort from Raymond than we have seen. He is not the offensive weapon he was in High School, sometimes his defense is lacking and his assist to turnover ratio is a lot worse than we have expected. I know he was Mr. Basketball in SC for his last two years, but did anyone take into account Latta was just a 1A school and the competition wasn't all that much. I don't mean to be to critical but in our opinion Melvin Scott has really proved himself this year with his great improvement. Has coach Doherty thought about maybe starting Scott a few games and giving Raymond a reality check?
Mike Stone, Lumberton, NC
Of all the bizarre things about this season, none has been more perplexing than the undercurrent of criticism for Raymond Felton. As far as we can tell, there are exactly two things he has not done since arriving in Chapel Hill: cure cancer and create more parking spaces on Franklin Street. Other than that, he has played more effectively than anyone would ever expect of a freshman point guard in the ACC.
You're skeptical, aren't you? Well, take a look at these numbers, all of which represent the freshman year stats for the following point guards. Pay special attention to the assist-turnover ratio, which is the key for any point guard:
OK, so let's check out Felton's stats through 13 games.
In other words, his assist-turnover ratio is better than every other player listed and is approximately the same as Kenny Anderson's, who had one of the best freshman seasons in the history of the ACC. And yet Felton still has to deal with people who say "his assist to turnover ratio is a lot worse than we have expected." Keep in mind that every other player listed had the benefit of veterans on the floor with him at all times, which no less an authority than Phil Ford has said was key to his development. Felton doesn't have that luxury.
"So many people expected so much from Raymond," Matt Doherty said this week. "He has pleased me 100 percent. Just watch Raymond and watch him make a pass for a score and he'll jump up and down about three times before he gets back on defense. He's having a great time and loves to play...One thing I think he's really improved on is his decision making. He's really cut down on his turnovers. His defense has been very consistent."
Not trying to dwell on the past, but I used to love to see Dean Smith's teams traditionally work the ball inside for high percentage shots and fouls, even passing up open short jumpers to pass to teammates for layups. Now it seems there is not enough motion and interior passing to allow that to happen, and the team shoots itself into a hole with low-percentage three-pointers, as in the first half against Virginia. Is this from a change in philosophy, poor execution, or some combination?
Mike Swain, Charlotte, NC
Would "yes" be too short an answer? Philosophy-wise, you're simply going to have to get used to more three-pointers without Sean May. The catch-22 is that although the Heels may be shooting more trifectas without May, they're not necessarily getting more open looks at the basket, since defenses don't yet feel that they have to double down (and therefore create an open perimeter player) on Byron Sanders.
Execution-wise, keep in mind that this year's team, although you're getting tired of hearing it, has four freshmen and three sophomores making up the top seven of the rotation right now. Shot selection is something that is usually not learned at the high school level. Differentiating between a good shot and a bad shot is something you should see continual progress in throughout the next few weeks.
And, yes, sometimes it's a combination. The easy way to attack a 2-3 zone is by firing up perimeter jumpers. The hard way is to use players slashing through the holes in the zone. That's not something the Heels just discovered at halftime in Charlottesville, but they just didn't execute it in the first half. "We are not the best low-post scoring team without Sean, and they are one of the biggest teams in the country, so I didn't think it would be productive for us to attack the block area," Doherty said after the game. "I do think we should attack the foul line area with guys flashing there or with dribble penetration." Carolina did that more effectively in the second half and played a much better 20 minutes.
I have an unusual question. I was in Chapel Hill area last week and I was trying to find the Nike Jordan Team Edition sneaks that the basketball team is wearing. I was told the Nike is not selling these sneaks to the public. Do you know if this is true?
Jim Lewis, Stratford, NJ
elieve it or not, your question isn't that unusual. We've gotten at least one shoe-related question each week. Our understanding is that while the exact shoes worn by the Tar Heels are available to the public, they are not available in the Carolina blue-and-white color scheme. It's possible that they could be released in that style later in the basketball season, and it's also possible that some of the Heels may be wearing a different shoe by March.
I'd like to have the adept maven of Carolina basketball, Adam Lucas, comment on the following thought. So maybe I'm just trying to find the silver lining in the big, black cloud that is Sean May's broken foot, but it seems to me that May's several-week absence could make our Heels a stronger team when March rolls around. Don't get me wrong, the Heels are definitely better with May healthy than hurt. However, Byron Sanders, David Noel and Damion Grant (if he's ever healthy enough to play) are promising players who are going to get lots more PT without May in the lineup. Even when May returns and the minutes lessen considerably for Sanders, Noel and Grant, the extra minutes they are playing now will make them potentially lethal bench players and provide some much needed depth for those games when May is tired, hurt, or just not having a good game. Byron Sanders already appears to be stepping up to the challenge based on his performance in the Davidson game. Does Lucas agree, or am I practicing self-delusion in trying to cope with disappointment?
Bryan L. Brown '95, Hanover, NH
Lucas agrees, and it's not just because you called me an "adept maven," which I have already added to my business cards.
As Bryan pointed out, it's crazy to believe Carolina is better without Sean May than with him. But if you absolutely have to find a silver lining in his broken foot, it's that Byron Sanders and Damion Grant will get much more on-the-job training than they otherwise might have. While Sanders, especially, was beginning to get some important minutes as early as the Florida State game, both players will probably see their playing time at least double during May's absence. Getting 25 minutes a game isn't going to add 25 pounds to Sanders' frame or cure Grant's knee problems. But it will give them the confidence to provide key spot minutes in late February and March, and give the coaching staff the confidence to insert them into the game when May needs a rest.
My question is not specific to Carolina basketball, just a general question about the college game. I have been watching college basketball for a long time, and it seems to me that the game has gotten much more physical (even just this year). Referees are allowing much more physical (rough) play than I can remember in the past, even compared to just last year. Can you explain any rules change or any point of emphasis that has led to this increase in physical play, or is it just a figment of my imagination?
Dean Williams, Goldsboro, NC
Dean, are you trying to get us into trouble?
There's no doubt that college basketball has gotten more physical over the past decade. All you have to do to confirm that theory is watch an ESPN Classic rebroadcast of some of the great Carolina games from the past and you'll see a completely different brand of basketball. Part of the physical nature of today's game is because today's players are bigger and more athletic than their predecessors. That means that the standard college-sized lane can't always contain that much bulk, which creates more contact than in the past. As you might remember, Carolina played with an experimental (wider) lane and longer three-point line during the Preseason NIT that seemed to help slightly with physical play.
ecause all referees are different, every game will be called differently. One thing that would undoubtedly help is if officials made an effort to call games tighter in the opening minutes, which tend to set the tone for the rest of the game. When a team discovers they're going to get away with something early, that only encourages them to push the boundaries for the rest of the game.
elieve it or not, rough play was yet again a point of emphasis for NCAA officials this year. Offensive players in the low post were supposed to receive special attention. But as long as teams are allowed to get away with clutching and grabbing on defense under the guise of "intensity," it's not something that will ever be fixed completely. When May returns to the Tar Heel lineup, take a few possessions to watch the way teams defend him under the basket. You'll be surprised at just how much hand-to-hand combat goes on in the lane.
Adam Lucas will answer your questions about the Carolina men's basketball program this season in an exclusive column published each Tuesday. Lucas, editor of the Tar Heel Monthly, will answer your questions on personnel, strategy, opponents and anything on your mind about the Tar Heels other than recruiting specifics. Please send your questions to Adam at alucas@tarheelmonthly.com, and include your first and last names and your hometown.
