University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: MBB Asked & Answered
February 25, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 25, 2003
First, a quick note to try and head off the flood of Sean May questions: he will not play tonight against NC State. He went back to the doctor last Friday and will return to see Dr. Taft again this week. Now, on to the reader questions.
What's the likelihood of the Heels dancing in March? Besides the loss in College Park, the Heels have been very competitive this season. With our quality wins and the fourth toughest strength of schedule, the Heels have fared decently. I know that at this point, it will take a sweep from here on out or an ACC tournament title for us to get to the big dance. I guess my question is, are there really 64 teams better than the Heels this season, especially 64 teams that have had to endure what the Heels have had to deal with this season?
Mark Templeton, Rocky Mount, NC
Are there 64 teams better than the Heels? Probably not. But the NCAA Tournament isn't really about getting the 64 best teams.
It's entirely possible, even probable, that a middle-of-the-pack ACC team could easily handle some of the teams that get automatic bids through winning their conference championships. 31 slots go to winners of conference tournaments, which actually creates a 65-team field. The winners of the two lowest-rated conference tournaments participate in a pre-NCAA play-in game to make it into the final field of 64. That leaves 34 at-large bids, and if Carolina doesn't win the ACC Tournament, they'll be competing for one of those 34 slots, not a more generous-sounding 64 openings.
The question then becomes whether or not they deserve an at-large bid. There is one very easy way to answer that question: the Heels need to win games. That starts tonight against NC State, and probably requires winning at least three of the closing four games in order to make a strong NCAA case. Points in Carolina's favor include a rigorous schedule that is among the toughest in the country and a strong RPI rating. Points against the Heels would include a potentially below-.500 ACC record and the uncertain status of Sean May. If May returns, that will be looked upon favorably by the selection committee, which has said that it does take injuries into account. If he doesn't return, then they will evaluate this team on their performance without him, since that would be the roster that Carolina would take into the postseason.
y the way, if you're looking at the ACC standings this morning and feeling gloomy, it may not last long. With a win tonight and some likely outcomes (Maryland over Clemson, Duke over Georgia Tech) in the next few days, the Heels could find themselves in a four-way tie for fifth place later this week.
It often seems that Jackie Manuel dribbles with no purpose and drives to the basket when there is clearly not an opening. He does make it to the goal in dramatic fashion but my impression is that his dribble drives are more often than not unproductive. Aware that he brings a great defensive game to the table, what are your thoughts on his offensive game?
Alphonso Saunders, Atlanta, GA
Taking the ball into the middle when there is no opening is something that has been mentioned to him by the coaching staff. "I'm pleased when Jackie penetrates when there is an opening," Matt Doherty says. "Jackie and I have talked about how he needs to pick his spots and be a little more patient. It's better to drive after the ball has been reversed and the middle is open. Sometimes, we have a tendency to drive into a crowd and create a bad shot or a turnover."
That being said, Manuel probably shoulders too much of the blame for Carolina's offensive woes. His turnovers are a convenient stat to focus on after a loss, but the fact remains that of his five highest-turnover games, the Tar Heels won four of them. He also is the only player on the roster to go to the free throw line in each of the past nine games, a stat that's indicative of his willingness to make something happen. Although the outcome isn't always optimal, you have to respect his desire to create offense instead of simply standing around the three-point line. There's a perception that any time he takes the ball into the lane it results in a turnover, but that's only because the forays don't usually result in a field goal. They do, however, quite frequently result in free throw attempts--his 53 free throw attempts in ACC play are easily the most on the team.
How many scholarships does Coach Doherty have to give out over the next couple of years and please elaborate on how a player transferring out of UNC works against the program...if at all.
Philip McCormick, High Point
While it would have been more fun to answer an easier question, such as reciting the full names of every basketball lettermen dating back to 1957 alphabetically, we'll give this one a shot.
The NCAA has in a place a much-discussed rule known as the "5-8 rule." That rule dictates that schools can issue only five scholarships in any given year, and a total of eight scholarships over two years. The first part of that rule, for example, is why David Noel is a walk-on this year. Carolina had already granted five scholarships, so he had to pay his own way this season to avoid going over the "5" portion of the "5-8 rule."
Noel will receive a scholarship next season. So will Reyshawn Terry, who has already signed his letter of intent to play for the Tar Heels. That puts Carolina at seven scholarships over the two-year period, so they could theoretically give out one more.
ut "5-8" isn't the only part of the problem, which ties into the second part of your question. NCAA rules restrict Division I teams to 13 men's basketball scholarships. Next season, assuming no more scholarships are granted, the Heels will have 10 players on scholarship (Williams, Scott, and Manuel in the junior class; Felton, May, McCants, Sanders, Grant, and Noel in the sophomore class; Terry in the freshman class). Usually, a team can count on a scholarship or two opening up every season as seniors graduate. But that's where the transfers of Adam Boone and Brian Morrison impact the Heels-the class that would be seniors next year is entirely empty, which means that no new scholarships open after next year.
The crunch, then, is not with next season's recruits, but with the season after that, especially given the current recruiting picture. The bottom line answer to your question (and this isn't going to make complete mathematical sense, so just be aware that there are other recruiting issues that we can't discuss here) is that the coaching staff has two more scholarships to give out over the next two seasons.
Although it wouldn't necessarily impact the Heels, who as shown above have a problem with the 13 total limit, not the 5-8 restriction, there is speculation that the NCAA may eventually get rid of the 5-8 rule, which has served very little of its purpose and is vehemently opposed by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. "At the time it was enacted [August 1, 2001), I don't think our coaches really understood the impact of this rule," says Reggie Minton, the current associate executive director of the NABC and former head coach at the Air Force Academy. "There just wasn't enough fuss being made about it. But once everyone got a feel for what it could do, our membership strongly opposes it.
"There's no other sport at the NCAA level that has limits on the amount of scholarships you can hand out in a two-year period. Basically, our membership just wants to be allowed to manage the 13 scholarships that we're given by the NCAA. A new guy taking a job is the one being hurt. You're almost being held hostage, because you can't make the numbers work."
I saw Phillip McLamb play for the first time against NC A&T in the last two minutes of the game. I have to say he caught my attention. Why has this guy been on the bench all this time? I was very impressed by his smooth style of play. This guy needs to be in the rotation. Do you have any more information on his history?
Tony Paschal
McLamb is a 6-foot-6, 215-pound forward who attended Charlotte Country Day and played one year with the Carolina JV team before joining the varsity last season. He is undoubtedly a hard worker and an asset to the Tar Heels in practice. But we think Phillip would probably be the first one to tell you that he's not going to displace any of the current members of the Carolina rotation.
Do still remember the Dean Smith Show that would always be aired on Sundays? What ever happened to those shows? I know that Smith is not the coach now, but do you think that they can bring the show back and just change the name to Matt Doherty Show? I enjoyed watching the show and listening to how each game of the previous week would be analyzed.
Daniel Morgan, Wingate, NC
Those shows already exist. Inside Carolina Basketball with Matt Doherty can be seen at the following times:
Any idea why Coach Doherty seems to always make sarcastic remarks regarding game stats from the Sports Info Department at the opening of his post game press conference? Did I miss something earlier this season?
Hank Stallings, Charlotte, NC
Those remarks are sarcasm and are part of his bantering with sports information director Steve Kirschner. Although it's not possible to tell this from the radio broadcast, they are not intended to be taken seriously and are usually said with a smile.
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.
