University of North Carolina Athletics
BREWER: Carolina Spoils The Party
March 6, 2006 | Men's Basketball
March 6, 2006
By Rick Brewer, SID Emeritus
There was supposed to be a big party last Saturday night.
However, the celebration was on Franklin Street and not at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Only Reese Witherspoon not winning a best actress Oscar would have been more surprising than North Carolina's 83-76 victory at Duke. At least, most people probably felt that way before the Tar Heels upset the nation's top-ranked team on its home court.
ESPN elected to televise the game on three of its networks. That decision was based on the history of the rivalry more than this particular game. But, it left out the network that should have been there--ESPN Classic.
Carolina certainly did not have a whole lot going for it last week. It was the final home game for the Blue Devils' seniors. They had won 57 of their previous 59 games in Durham. Plus, Duke was trying to bounce back from a loss at Florida State earlier in the week.
None of that seemed to matter to Carolina. The Tar Heels didn't even seem phased when the Blue Devils jumped out to a quick 13-2 lead. Roy Williams knows games are rarely won or lost in the first five or six minutes. His attitude and encouragement on the sidelines had to have helped his young team stay calm in a frenzied environment. Carolina, after all, had won six of its previous seven ACC road games.
And the time has come for all of us to stop referring to Carolina as a "young team." David Noel is the only player on the roster who had ever seen meaningful playing time before this year. But, this current group of players now has 27 games of experience. That still isn't as much as anyone else in the league, but it's basically a full season.
Freshmen Tyler Hansbrough, Bobby Frasor, Marcus Ginyard and Danny Green certainly performed like veterans at Duke. The same is true for sophomore Quinton Thomas and junior Reyshawn Terry. All made big plays in clutch situations.
"We did some dumb things," said Williams. "But, we did plenty of good ones, too. I told our guys we could win if we played our best game of the season. We were able to do that."
Hansbrough was the biggest offensive star with 27 points, 19 of them in the second half. But, it may have been on the defensive end that Carolina got some of its best play.
Ginyard, Terry, Frasor and Green all took turns trying to keep up with Duke's J.J. Redick. Redick, the nation's second-leading scorer, had scorched the Tar Heels for 35 points in Duke's 87-83 win at Chapel Hill.
But, he struggled Saturday night. He still finished with 18 points, but hit just five of 21 field goal attempts. Ginyard seemed to do the best job.
"When J.J. hit four of his first five shots, I was afraid he was going to have one of those great games of his," said Noel. "But, Marcus was able to get through their screens and get to him before he could catch the ball. He's at his best when he can just get a quick look before the defense gets to him. Marcus tried to get to him even before the ball got there."
Thomas was the catalyst of an 11-0 Carolina run that pushed his team ahead to stay. Thomas came in with 8:33 left. A jumper by Terry had just given the Tar Heels a 61-59 lead. In less than three minutes, Thomas fed Byron Sanders for two layups and found Noel open for a jumper. When he left the game at the 5:44 mark, Carolina had a 70-59 lead.
Blue Devil Coach Mike Krzyzewski pointed to Ginyard and Thomas as the two players he felt "really came off the bench and gave Carolina a lift."
Considering the opposition, this was probably Hansbrough's best game. He scored with his usual inside moves and on offensive rebounds. He also slid out on the baseline for short jumpers and sometimes set up in the high post. That set him up for drives down the lane and also brought Shelden Williams away the basket, opening up things inside for his teammates.
He and Frasor hit the big free throws in the final 24 seconds to help hold off a late Duke rally.
Carolina has now won two its last three games against Duke and a key to both was great play in the pivot. Last year Sean May had 26 points and 24 rebounds in a 75-73 win at Chapel Hill.
The win at Duke sends the Tar Heels into the ACC Tournament this week with a 21-6 record. They have won 10 of their last 11 games. But, when the NCAA Tournament starts next week, none of that will matter. One loss then and the season is over.
Regardless of what happens in Greensboro this week or in NCAA play, this has been a remarkable season for Carolina. The Tar Heels were picked no better than sixth in the league and some felt it would be difficult for them to finish eighth or ninth.
Instead, Carolina ended the season second in the conference and is in the top 10 nationally. Williams is the frontrunner in all the national coach of the year races for the way he has reshaped his 2005 NCAA championship team. The Tar Heels suddenly appear capable of being a force in the title chase once again.
