University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: UNC Basketball Mailbag November 30
November 30, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 30, 2004
By Adam Lucas
We're back on the mainland for week three of the Carolina Basketball Mailbag. With Carolina's rise in the polls has come an increase in questions, so please check previous mailbags (you can do so here) to make sure your question hasn't already been asked and to ensure it falls within the Mailbag jurisdiction.
One quick note to the legions of people wondering: Joseph Forte is not in the NBA. He played with the Pistons in the NBA summer league this summer but will probably have to work his way back up pro ball through either the NBDL or playing overseas in order to get another NBA chance.
By the way, if you're the type of fans who loves to throw out stats during games, make sure to check out our latest addition to the Tuesday Mailbag. Each week, we'll be providing a handful of interesting (well, we think they're interesting) stats in our Tuesday Talking Points.
On with the questions...
While I was impressed with the first halves that the Heels turned in against BYU, UT, and Iowa, I was concerned that we did not continue to pour it on in the second half. I was also concerned that our opponents' field goal percentages for the game weren't below the 44% of last year. Is this a sign of trouble for when we face tougher competition?
Marshall Benbow, Greensboro
It could be, or it could be a matter of different second-half rotations. All three games last week were out of hand in the second half, so Roy Williams was able to juggle his lineup and get some playing time for players who might not ordinarily see the floor. Both Tennessee and Iowa shot very well from three-point range in the second half (46.7% and 58.3%, respectively). That could have a variety of causes--shakier defense or a simple hot streak being two of them. From a shooter's perspective, there's also much less pressure to make the shot when you're significantly behind, which can lead to better results.
That being said, finishing off teams continues to be something Carolina could improve upon. It was a major sticking point last year, as the Heels allowed several opponents to stay in the game just long enough to cause problems. That's essentially what happened against Santa Clara, as the Broncos didn't play particularly well in the first half but were given a window by UNC's uninspired play. To their credit, they capitalized in the second half and hit one of those dreaded hot streaks.
When will Marvin Williams be included in the starting lineup? He is the most aggressive player when he is on the floor, and man does he hustle.
Chris, Asheville
Marvin Williams eliminated any questions about his aggressiveness when he responded to a Tennessee dunk by turning around and trying to slam home a dunk--he was fouled--on the other end during the second half of the Maui Invitational semifinals. But that doesn't mean he'll necessarily be starting any time soon.
The energy he brings off the bench is an extremely valuable asset. Think back to the spark Jackie Manuel provided off the bench last season--that's the same role Williams has filled so far. And just because he's not in the starting lineup doesn't mean he's not earning quality minutes. At 21.7 minutes per game, he's trailing Jawad Williams by just one minute per game so far this season.
"It's infectious, the enthusiasm and energy level he brings to going after the ball on the backboard," Roy Williams says of his prize freshman.
Last year Reyshawn Terry had the advantage of a shallow team, but this year we're much more well rounded and have more people to go to from the bench. Can we look for him to perform better this year and get a few more minutes? Or will it take at least another season to really see his game?
Jordan Albritton, Mt. Airy
In the opening week of the season, the Tar Heels have primarily used a nine-man rotation. There probably aren't enough minutes to go around to stretch it to ten. That doesn't mean that Terry will be inconsequential this season, however. In the event of an injury--and they always happen--he'd be the first candidate to fill that spot in the rotation. The biggest challenge for the Winston-Salem native remains thinking the game the way Roy Williams wants him to think it. Sometimes Terry looks a little overanxious. As he eliminates that, his minutes could rise.
When was the last time a player in the NCAA had a quadruple-double game? Has any Carolina player ever accomplished this feat?
Chris Harrington, Greensboro
Our crack research staff couldn't find an example of an NCAA men's player turning that feat (double figures in four different statistical categories).
Nate Thurmond was the first NBA player to do it. While playing for the Bulls, he scored 22 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, handed out 13 assists, and has 12 blocks against Atlanta on Oct. 8, 1974. Other players to accomplish the feat in the NBA include Alvin Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon, and David Robinson.
For the record, the only two Carolina triple-doubles were achieved by Brendan Haywood (18 points, 14 rebounds, 10 blocks against Miami on Dec. 4, 2000) and Jason Capel (16 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists against Buffalo on Dec. 17, 2000).
I was wondering if you could enlighten me on what in the world Rashad McCants is doing after the majority of his impressive field goals. Im referring to the two-handed triangle held above his head. It certainly doesn't bother me, I just feel out of the loop. If Roy is o.k. with it, I will be too.
Phil McInnis, Boone
You can't say no one pays attention to Rashad McCants, that's for sure. A couple of years ago his "X" gesture got significant attention from fans, and now his diamond-type hand gesture is doing the same thing. It's an age-old sorority sign that has recently gained popularity in some of the music McCants enjoys. Maybe Rashad will spark the sign going mainstream. We've started throwing up the diamond after finishing each article. So far, we haven't noticed any tangible improvement, but if every Tar Heel fan will try to incorporate it into the workday at least once, there's no telling what kind of trend will develop.
Throughout the great tradition of Carolina basketball, it seems that the standards of the program have remained very high. With the arrival of Coach Williams, it seems that players are allowed more freedom to wear their hair any way that they wish to. Likewise, players are now growing facial hair. Make no mistake, it hasn't taken away from the quality of player that Carolina seems to keep recruiting. I have been following Carolina all of my life, and I can't recall ever seeing someone with corn rows in their hair (Q.Thomas). Can you enlighten me as to why this may be happening?
Scott Swicegood, Lexington, NC
We're curious as to what you might be able to tell about someone by the way they wear their hair. Quentin Thomas, for example, consistently says "sir" and "ma'am," always looks people in the eye, and generally has made an impression as one of the most respectful freshmen to come through the program in recent memory. What his hair looks like doesn't seem to impact the way he treats people, just as we're sure it doesn't impact the way Carolina fans think about him.
With that said, he is the first Tar Heel player to wear corn rows. Maybe that includes him in a decorated Tar Heel hair tradition--J.R. Reid with the first fade and Donald Williams with the most famous Final Four shaved head. Roy Williams did have a player with corn rows at Kansas, so Thomas isn't likely to be the last Heel with that particular hair style. You're right that Dean Smith did have certain personal appearance standards. But he was known to be flexible given the right set of persuasive logic (think James Worthy's beard) and it's questionable whether he'd have the same rules today. Roy Williams does still utilize many of Smith's standards, including requiring freshmen to sample Chapel Hill churches during their first semester on campus--Williams often attends with them.
What is a NCAA Certified League and why is it important for players to be limited to playing in them?
Ron Niebruegge, Florence, SC
The NCAA recently began stepping up their certification efforts to try and limit some of the unseemly outsiders who have a way of trying to squeeze their way into college basketball. Some AAU tournaments and college summer leagues were occasionally of questionable integrity, so the NCAA began requiring leagues to submit a package of facts and figures in order for the organization to certify it. With certification, the NCAA can be certain about how the event is being funded, where those funds go, and what benefits are provided to players. Those requirements extend to two areas of the game: leagues in which college players want to play and high school all-star camps at which Carolina coaches evaluate talent.
The Chavis League, which Raymond Felton played in this summer but was not certified, has always been certified in the past and was a major source of summer action for many players--Jawad Williams has played in it in years past.
I have always wondered about the travel arrangements for the team. By that I mean for example, the guys played in California on Friday at Santa Clara. When would they typically leave for a game and how much advance time does the NCAA require before the team should be in the game city? I would think that for a cross country flight to California they would leave the day before and have time to schedule a light workout at the facility the morning of the game etc. How about a game at say, Clemson or Virginia? Do they travel by bus and arrive the day before? Would they arrive 24 hours prior to any game?
Milton D. McClain, Wilson
The NCAA doesn't have any requirements for regular season games, so it's up to the discretion of the coaches. Typically, Roy Williams doesn't like his team to spend any longer than absolutely necessary away from Chapel Hill. For the Santa Clara game, they left Wednesday afternoon. For most road games that require a trip--for example, Indiana--the Heels will leave the day before the game in order to squeeze in a shootaround at the game site.
Both Clemson and Virginia are usually plane trips, although the Heels have occasionally bused to Charlottesville. The most lengthy bus trip in recent memory came in 2002, when bad weather snowed in most of the East Coast. The Carolina coaches and North Carolina native-players took a bus from Chapel Hill to New York City for the Iona game.
Carolina academic advisor Wayne Walden travels with the team whenever they have significant trips and organizes at least one one-hour study hall during the time away from campus. On the day before the Santa Clara game, the Heels had two one-hour study halls.
Adam Lucas will answer your questions about the Carolina men's basketball program this season in an exclusive column published each Tuesday on TarHeelBlue.com. Lucas, editor of Tar Heel Monthly and author of the new book on Roy Williams and the Tar Heels Going Home Again, will answer your questions on personnel, strategy, opponents and anything on your mind about the Tar Heels other than recruiting specifics. You can email your questions to Adam--please make sure to include your first and last names and hometown.
