University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: Noel, Heels Keep It Simple
February 18, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 18, 2003
By Adam Lucas
David Noel found himself on an uncontested breakaway Tuesday night. The athletic freshman came down the right side, approaching the basket and visibly slowing down and sifting through his options. It being the second half of a blowout against North Carolina A&T, he decided to just do something simple.
So he "only" did a 360 two-handed dunk.
"I was going to rock the cradle or double pump, or between my legs, something like that," Noel said with a shrug. And then he uttered the phrase that can only be said by a select few athletes. "I just did a 360 because it was something simple."
Maybe for you, David.
It was one of those nights when a 360 seemed simple, a night that ended in a 93-57 victory over an overmatched A&T team. If you're a big fan of Tar Heel highlight films, you could have seen almost anything you wanted to see Tuesday night.
Like alley-oops? Raymond Felton had it perfected, and then got one in return from Jawad Williams.
Like three-point shooting? Rashad McCants was four of five from beyond the arc.
Like good ball movement and crisp passing? The Tar Heels handed out 31 assists on 34 field goals, an almost absurd ratio.
The night was summed up for the unfortunate visitors three minutes into the second half. William Howard drove the baseline and had what appeared to be a clear path to a one-handed dunk. But the rim got in his way, blocking the attempt, and Carolina ran down the other way.
And what happened on the other end of the court? You guessed it--Noel showed Howard how it was supposed to be done, soaring in for a one-handed jam of his own. If you're an A&T fan, it can't be considered particularly good news when the other team's walk-on (Heel fans know Noel is far from an average walk-on) is out-leaping your scholarship players.
As the teams were waiting on the conclusion of a timeout, Noel and Howard met at the foul line and evaluated the exchange.
"He was like, 'Man, I thought I had that one,'" Noel said. "I told him I thought he had it too. And then he said, 'And then you go down and do what I was trying to do.' We were just out there having fun. That's the way it goes sometimes."
It definitely went that way for the Heels. They even got a once in a lifetime Halley's Comet moment--Will Johnson's first career dunk.
The senior from Hickory, presumably, did not decide between a 360, a between-the-legs, and a rock the cradle jam. Instead, he just went with a one-handed cram.
"We were talking about that earlier today," fellow senior Jonathan Holmes said. "I told him he had to put one down if he got a chance. That was great, I was glad he got it." Yeah, sure, it's great, but why no 360?
"I think David's version of simple is pretty different from Will's version of simple or my version of simple," Holmes said.
Johnson, who will henceforth be known as "Thunder" Will Johnson, was in good humor after the dunk. "That's a total of one," he said. "I worked with David in the preseason on his dunks from the foul line and his 360's, just showing him how to do them."
Yes, he's kidding.
We think.
Johnson's dunk was replayed on the Smith Center video boards during a timeout, drawing an "Ooohh" from the over 14,000 fans on hand. It was almost reminiscent of Julius Peppers' slam against Wake Forest two years ago that drew the same reaction from the crowd.
Well, reminiscent in that both counted for two points, at least.
It's easy to joke around after a nearly 40-point victory, but everyone in the Carolina locker room knew that the game Tuesday night bears almost no resemblance to what they will face on Saturday in College Park. This game was simple.
The Terps will be anything but.
Adam Lucas is the publisher of Tar Heel Monthly and can be reached at alucas@tarheelmonthly.com. To subscribe to Tar Heel Monthly, click here.
