Tuesday Talking Points

Jan. 8, 2008

By Adam Lucas

Wayne Ellington's three-pointer at Clemson was Carolina's first buzzer-beater win (less than one second remaining after the shot) since Brendan Haywood scored on an offensive rebound against Charlotte on Dec. 12, 1998. Other memorable last-second shots left more time on the clock: Marvin Williams against Duke in 2005 (17 seconds), David Noel against Gardner-Webb (1.8), Rashad McCants against Connecticut in 2004 (6.2), Haywood against Wake Forest in 2001 (3.3), and Ademola Okulaja against Virginia in 1999 (1.4).

Tyler Hansbrough and Wayne Ellington have already won ACC Player of the Week awards this season. Since the award began during the 1969-70 season, the Tar Heels have had three different players win the award in just four seasons: 1977, 1986, 1987, 1989.

Hansbrough's four POW selections this season put him in an elite category of Carolina players. Prior to this year, only six Tar Heels had ever earned ACC POW more than twice in the same season: Robert McAdoo (3 in 1972), Phil Ford (3 in 1978), Michael Jordan (3 in 1983), Hubert Davis (3 in 1992), Antawn Jamison (4 in 1997 and 7 in 1998), and Joseph Forte (4 in 2001).

In the 24 seasons prior to Roy Williams's return to Carolina as head coach, the Tar Heels never had an ACC opener go into overtime. Since his return, two of his five ACC openers have gone into overtime (triple-OT against Wake Forest in 2003 and single-OT at Clemson last weekend). Prior to Williams's return, the last ACC opener to go into overtime? Also at Clemson, on Jan. 4, 1978.

Opponents have made 50 percent of their field goals in two of the last four halves against Carolina after reaching that mark just twice in the previous 19 halves.

If Carolina defeats UNC-Asheville, the Tar Heels would go undefeated in their nonconference schedule for just the fifth time in the last 50 years (the old Big Four games counted as nonconference games even though they were against league opponents). The other occurrences were in 1982, 1986, 1995, and 1998. Three of those four teams went to the Final Four.

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Players Mentioned

Wayne Ellington

Joseph Forte

Tyler Hansbrough

Brendan Haywood

Rashad McCants

David Noel

Marvin Williams

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