University of North Carolina Athletics
Florida State Game Guide
March 13, 2008 | Men's Basketball
March 13, 2008
By Lauren Brownlow
The Basics
The No. 1-seed North Carolina Tar Heels (29-2, 14-2) will face the No. 9-seed Florida State Seminoles (19-13, 8-9 ACC). Florida State defeated 8th-seeded Wake Forest 80-70 in the first game on Thursday. Florida State has won five of its last six games; the last meeting with Carolina was its only loss in that span. Carolina is coming off of a 76-68 win at Duke last Saturday night. Carolina has beaten Duke at Duke in the regular-season finale and followed that up by winning the ACC Tournament just three times (1957, 1975 and 1994). Carolina is on an eight-game winning streak and has won 11 of its last 12 games. Carolina's 29 regular-season wins this season are the most in school history.
The Tar Heels have won 16 ACC Tournament championships, appearing in the title game a record 28 times. Carolina's 80-37 record in the ACC Tournament (.684 winning percentage) is the best in ACC history. The Tar Heels will play as the one-seed in the ACC Tournament for the 21st time this year, including each of the last two years and three of the last four. The Tar Heels are 39-11 as the No. 1 seed. Carolina's win in 2007 was the first time Carolina won the Tournament as a No. 1 seed since 1982.
Game Time: North Carolina vs. Florida State, 12:00 PM.
Last Time: Carolina beat the Seminoles 90-77 on Senior Night, March 4, 2008. Carolina shot 54.4% for the game while Florida State shot 42.9%. Both teams combined to commit 46 fouls (25 by Florida State and 21 by Carolina) and shoot 54 free throws. The Tar Heels had 22 assists on 31 field goals compared to eight assists on 27 field goals for Florida State. Carolina had eight turnovers in the first half but turned it over just six times in the second half. The Seminoles had just one second-half turnover.
Tyler Hansbrough led Carolina with 20 points on 5-of-10 shooting (10-of-11 from the foul line) and added nine rebounds and two assists. Marcus Ginyard had 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting and added five rebounds and an assist. Danny Green had 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a block. Ty Lawson had 10 points, three assists and no turnovers in his second game back from his injury. Jason Rich led the Seminoles with 27 points on 9-of-17 shooting (8-of-9 from the free-throw line). Uche Echefu had 14 points. Toney Douglas added 11 points on just 3-of-12 shooting, but had a team-high three assists. Ralph Mims had 10 points on 3-of-14 shooting. Mims came into the game having made 21 straight free throws but made just 2-of-5.
Radio Coverage: Tar Heel Sports Network coverage begins at 11:00 AM.
Injury Report: Ty Lawson is still recovering from both a sprained ankle and a hip pointer. Marcus Ginyard is playing through a stress reaction in his left foot. Bobby Frasor tore his left ACL and is out for the season.
Storylines
Becoming a great defensive team: Carolina had arguably its best defensive game of the season against Duke on Saturday night. The Tar Heels switched on all screens for the first time in Roy Williams' coaching career and the strategy shut down the hot-shooting Blue Devils for most of the game. But this team has been quietly making strides towards becoming a consistently great defensive team. Despite playing at a high tempo, Carolina finished ACC play holding conference opponents to 75.9 points per game (seventh in the league). Carolina also held ACC opponents to 42.4% from the floor (second in the league) and 33.0% from beyond the arc (third in the league).
"If you practice something every day, you ought to be doing it better in March than you were in November. I do believe that this team probably halfway through the ACC season really started understanding it a little bit more, getting more excited about stops and those kinds of things," Williams said. "We've got a huge task. Wake Forest and Florida State are probably the two teams in the league when you think about it - I know Sean Singletary is probably the best - but probably those two teams have the most speed and quickness, putting the ball on the floor and penetrating it to the basket than anybody. That's the one thing that we've really tried to work on. So we'll be tested from Day 1, but I do think that we've gotten better."
What Carolina was able to prove against Duke was that it not only can be a great defensive team, but also that it can break through physical and mental barriers like fatigue and shut down a team down the stretch. Carolina held Duke to 0-of-11 shooting from the field (0-of-4 from beyond the arc) in the final 5:25 of the game. Prior to that point, Duke had shot 15-of-33 from the field and 5-of-11 from beyond the arc. Carolina had one steal and five blocks in that span as well. "That was it in a nutshell right there. The last 4-5 minutes of a game, that's when you get tired. That's when you're not necessarily thinking the way you need to defensively. But this team really did a great job of pushing through it, knocking that barrier and just getting tough and being focused," Marcus Ginyard said.
Florida State is shooting 24 free throws a game (and making 17.6) in its eight wins against ACC teams and averaging 13.2 makes on 18.0 attempts in its nine league losses. The Seminoles are averaging nearly ten fewer field-goal attempts per game in their ACC wins, largely because they are drawing fouls (21.9 fouls in ACC wins by opponents compared to 18.4 in losses) and getting to the foul line. Carolina will need to play sound, solid defense and adjust to the way the game is being officiated in order to keep Florida State off of the line, where it gets 25.9% of its points in league wins compared to just 18.9 in losses.
The toughness factor: It's hard to show toughness because it's not something that shows up in a box score. A team's attitude, focus, desire and mean streak is not something that one can see without watching them play. But this Carolina team has `it' and that appears to be what sets this team apart from last year's Carolina team. Last year's Tar Heels also went on the late-season run after developing a bit of that mean streak. It takes those intangible qualities to win the ACC Tournament and to ultimately be successful in March. "I think everybody is a lot more mature. When I said a different mindset, it's no different as far as the goals that we wanted from last year to this year. But everybody is a lot more mature and knows what it takes to get to that goal. So I think everything that we've gone through this year as far as adversity and little aches and pains have definitely helped us," Quentin Thomas said.
This team is now tough enough to win any kind of game, even a game played largely in the halfcourt or a game like the Duke game in which few fouls are called. The knock on last year's Tar Heels was that they couldn't play a slowdown game. This year's team was forced to do just that when Ty Lawson went out and there is little that other teams can do to take Carolina out of a game in terms of style changes. The Tar Heels have proved that they can win in any style if they play their game.
Carolina was able to be successful against Duke because it came out with an attacking mentality, saddling Duke with its largest halftime deficit of the season (11 points). But there have been times this season when this team has had letdowns. While last year's team had issues with letting teams come back on them, this team has had the trouble of falling behind early and having to mount comebacks. In the ACC Tournament, every team will be coming out with a clean slate. Every team has a chance to make the NCAA Tournament no matter what its regular-season record was. Even though Carolina looks stronger than ever, just like any other team, if the Tar Heels don't play well, they will lose. Carolina has to maintain its focus and intensity throughout the ACC Tournament.
"I think this team has to have a little bit more of that attack mentality. I think that's one thing that does need to get a little bit stronger for this team. That comes along with having that intensity and that fire when we come out to play," Ginyard said. "But I think that is something that's very important to have late in March because a lot of other teams are going to have that and that's what they are going to be trying to use to get past a lot of teams that they might not be as talented as. I think that for a talented team to also have that mean streak is something that not a lot of teams can say they can do."
Florida State guard Toney Douglas said before the game last time that the Seminoles wanted to shock the world and defeat the No. 1 Tar Heels. The Seminoles have been close to getting into the Tournament for years and now would likely have to make a run in the ACC Tournament or win it to get in. It's not easy to beat any team three times in a season, much less a team that is certainly capable of beating Carolina. The Tar Heels will need to come out from the jump and impose its will on the Seminoles.
At The Game
Listening to the Tar Heel Sports Network at the game: The in-stadium feed in Charlotte Bobcats Arena will be on or around FM 87.9.
Watching At Home
Turn down the sound: If you're watching at home while listening to the radio or over the computer via Carolina All-Access, there will inevitably be some delay. For the reason - and a possible solution - click here.
A full list of THSN affiliates can be found here.
Raycom/ESPN2 coverage: The game will be available on Raycom and ESPN2.
Names To Know
Deon Thompson: Thompson has been struggling with injury lately, first hyper-extending his knee against Virginia and then tweaking his back not long after that. He played no more than 14 minutes in the next four games. He finally saw 21 minutes of action against Florida State and then 24 against Duke. One thing that has improved is his ability to get to the line; he has made 7-of-12 free throws in the last two games combined. He has also had seven blocks, five against Duke, and just three fouls.
Against Duke, Thompson had seven points and nine rebounds, marking the most rebounds he has had in a game since UNC-Asheville. Five of those nine rebounds were offensive rebounds, his most offensive boards since UNC-Asheville (six). Since and including the Virginia game when he hurt his knee, Thompson had just 11 total rebounds in six games (four offensive rebounds). Six of those rebounds came against Virginia. He also had zero turnovers, his first turnover-free game since a January 31st game against Boston College.
Players like Alex Stepheson and even Danny Green when Carolina is going small have stepped up to give Carolina a lift while Thompson was hobbled. But now that Thompson is back and close to 100%, Carolina could really use his rebounding and shot-blocking on a consistent basis.
Marcus Ginyard: Ginyard has normally played very well against Duke but this season, he has had two of his worst shooting days, combining to make just 4-of-16 shots (2-of-5 three-pointers). He did have 16 points in the first meeting against Duke on 8-of-8 free-throw shooting but he did not attempt a free throw in the second game and had just two points, his fewest in ACC play and fewest since the Kent State game on January 2nd. Ginyard has still shot well in ACC play overall, making 42-of-93 shots from the field (45.2%) and 10-of-19 three-pointers (52.6%). "I like exactly what he's doing. He's being selective. He's made some big ones. Marcus understands that we've got to get that basketball inside and getting fouled is extremely important. I've got Danny and Wayne shooting three's - I don't need a whole team full of guys just shooting three's. I need somebody to attack the basket and get offensive rebounds and get steals and be even a little bit more selective. I think he really has been doing a great job of that," Williams said.
Ginyard is playing a bit hobbled, suffering what he called a "stress reaction" in his left foot. He will play through it unless it worsens, but it won't get any better. Ginyard is as tough as they come and one could make the argument that without some of his injuries, he could have made a run at ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors. As it were, he made All-ACC Defensive First Team. His 12 first-half minutes against Duke were his fewest in the first half of an ACC game this season. His five turnovers were his most since the Wake Forest game when he had six turnovers. Prior to that, he had more than three turnovers in a game just twice this season. He has also gone two games without a steal, tying his longest stretch without a steal this season (Miami and Boston College). But it was his defense on Tyrese Rice that held the hot-shooting guard down in the second half. Carolina will need his defense against Florida State again to shut down the hot-shooting Jason Rich, who has played very well against Carolina.
Danny Green: Green has been on quite a tear as of late - his 63 points in the last four games are the most in any four-game stretch in his career. The knock on Green has always been that he has had trouble stringing together consistent performances. In the last four games, he has shot 59% from the field, 10-of-21 from beyond the arc (47.6%) and averaged 15.8 points, 7.8 rebounds (2.8 offensive boards), 1.5 assists, 2.3 blocks, and just 1.8 turnovers in 25.3 minutes. In his first 12 ACC games though, he was shooting 38.1% from the field, 11-of-40 from beyond the arc (27.5%) and averaging 9.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 blocks and 2.3 turnovers in 23.9 minutes.
"I told him he wasn't really playing that much better. It's just that he was playing so bad there for a while that it looks so much better. But if you go down and look at it, he really got off to a great start and then he looked like Sinbad the Sailor out there for a while, and now, he's really been playing well," Williams said. "But we need him to play like that and I think his play at Duke was big-time in a lot of areas. He made three's; he was our offense for a while in the first half. Offensive rebounds, he had two big tip-ins during the game. Blocking shots on the defensive end - I think he had three blocks in the last four minutes. So he was a big-time, big-time player there and we need him to continue being that."
Against Duke, Green had arguably the best game of his Carolina career. He had 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting and added eight rebounds, two steals, seven blocks and just two turnovers in 25 minutes. In the final 48 seconds of the game alone, Green had four points (a tip-in and a dunk) and three blocks. "He's not crazy explosive, he just has a great timing. His ability to see when the opponent jumps and his ability just to block it is pretty incredible," Tyler Hansbrough said. "I think Danny is the type of player that he's definitely not scared to make big shots or shoot them. When it goes in, I think he kind of feeds off of it and gets going more. He starts getting confidence and it really helps us."
Green has also won the defensive player of the game award in each of Carolina's last two games, marking the fifth time this season he has won the award. The last time Carolina played Florida State (just two games ago), Green won the award. He also won it against Duke and in the second meeting with Clemson. Carolina will need a good performance by Green again against Florida State, a team that has given Carolina problems at times.
Jason Rich: The Wake Forest-Florida State game on Thursday in the opening round of the ACC Tournament was still pretty close late in the second half. Then Jason Rich took the team on his back, scoring 15 of Florida State's 17 points (including ten straight) in a 4 ½ minute second-half stretch to put the game away, largely. He has 21 points in the game on 9-of-22 shooting.
Rich began ACC play shooting 8-of-20 from beyond the arc in the first seven ACC games. Starting with the first meeting with Carolina and stretching into the next meeting, Rich shot just 3-of-21 from the three-point line in eight games. But in the last two games, he has shot 3-of-5 from beyond the arc (60 percent). He has always shot well from two-point range this season, making 48.4% in ACC games only and averaging 10.9 two-point attempts per game (and 5.3 made two-pointers).
Rich is the only Seminole to have to great games against Carolina. In the first meeting, Rich had 22 points on 10-of-16 shooting (0-of-3 from beyond the arc) and added six rebounds (three offensive), two assists, one steal, two fouls and five turnovers in 42 minutes. In the second meeting, Rich had 27 points on 9-of-17 shooting (8-of-9 from the free-throw line) and added three rebounds, two assists, two steals, three fouls and three turnovers. Carolina will need to find a way to contain Rich, who is certainly feeling it lately. Four of his seven 20-point games in ACC play have come in the last six games and three in the last four games.
Toney Douglas: The senior guard for Florida State has had two rough outings against Carolina already this season, shooting a combined 6-of-32 from the field, 2-of-18 from the three-point line and 9-of-10 from the foul line, scoring 23 points and adding four rebounds, six assists, six steals (five in the first meeting), six fouls and three turnovers. He also shot 4-of-14 in two games against Carolina from two-point range.
Douglas has struggled shooting in the last three games, shooting 8-of-36 from the field (22.2%), 3-of-19 from the three-point line (15.8%) and 5-of-17 from two-point range (29.4%). He has made up for a bit by getting to the free-throw line, making 18-of-22 free throws in the last three games. He also has 16 rebounds in the last two games (8.0 per game) after pulling down 58 in the first 15 ACC games (3.9 per game). Against Wake Forest, Douglas had 10 points on 2-of-10 shooting (1-of-4 from beyond the arc), adding eight rebounds, four assists, one steal and two turnovers in 39 minutes.
Despite his struggles, Douglas runs this team and he is very important for them on both ends of the court. He is still a very effective penetrator and is still finding ways to score, despite struggling with his shot. Nearly half of his points (18 of 37) in the last three games have come from the free-throw line. He has shot ten free throws against Carolina and the Tar Heels have had trouble keeping the Seminoles off the foul line, especially in the last meeting.
Ralph Mims: Against Wake Forest, Mims had 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting (2-of-3 from beyond the arc) and added five rebounds, two assists, two steals and just two turnovers in 32 minutes. He is shooting the three-pointer a little bit better in Florida State's last two wins (4-of-11) but he is also shooting more two-point baskets, making 8-of-19 two-point attempts in the last two Florida State wins after making just 7-of-17 in the first six Seminole ACC wins.
In the last meeting with Carolina, Mims had just 10 points on 3-of-14 shooting (2-of-9 from beyond the arc). Since the Carolina game, he has had 41 points in two games (20.5 points per game) on 12-of-30 shooting and 13-of-16 shooting from the free-throw line. Against Carolina, he made just 2-of-5 free throws despite coming into the game having made 21 straight. His one rebound against Carolina in the last meeting was his fewest in ACC play. In the first meeting with Carolina, he had seven points on 3-of-5 shooting but played just 27 minutes. Since that game, he has played 30 or more minutes in every game and 32 or more minutes in the last eight games.
Quotables
"I've never been a drinker, and the reason is with coffee because it tasted awful, and beer, it tasted awful. Everybody said you've got to acquire a taste to it, so maybe my team just had to acquire a taste to playing defense. I don't know. I just knew I was never going to acquire a taste for those dadgum things because they taste so bad." -Roy Williams
"If you've got a 3-on-1 break, that means one guy is on defense. He's in the middle, and do you know what he had to do to take a charge on Danny? Nothing. I'm 57 years old, and I could have taken a charge on Danny. Luckily, he was a little bit farther away and the referee thought he could make the dunk without charging it, but probably half of the officials in the nation would have called that a charge." -Roy Williams on Danny Green's dunk over Greg Paulus
"I remember the first big championship I won. It was the Sacred Heart Hawks. I was at a private school and they had a city middle school tournament. We were the underdogs and we beat everybody. I played point guard back then, just to give you a heads-up. I was a little short guy. I was in second grade playing with fifth-graders. It was awesome because we beat my brother (Greg's) team to win it. So that made it better." -Tyler Hansbrough on his first championship
Lauren Brownlow is the managing editor of Tar Heel Monthly.
