University of North Carolina Athletics
THB.com Spotlight: Strickland: "I Could Have Done More"
December 29, 2009 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 29, 2009
by Helen Buchanan, UNC Athletic Communications
CHAPEL HILL - There were a lot of things head coach Roy Williams wanted to see happen in Monday night's 81-67 victory over Rutgers: better passes, better shot selection, better defense coming up the court -- the mental aspects of the game just weren't quite there. Or were they?
"I know Coach is upset for a couple of plays," says freshman Dexter Strickland, "I could have played better, just making better decisions."
Strickland realized in his postgame comments what was missing from his play just minutes earlier. He said that it was really "just simple stuff" to work on. Like his three-pointer with less than two minutes in the game to pull the Tar Heels' lead out of reach. Strickland saw after he released the ball that Deon Thompson was open in the paint. Fortunately for him, the shot fell, but he gave up a safer and better opportunity in the process.
Strickland realizes the need to do more, the need to push harder and make better decisions. Yet even with the attitude to strive for better performance, he managed a career-high 18 points, a tie to his career-high four assists and two steals. The Rahway, N.J., native even took the point with four near-7-footers, a line-up Coach Williams had never really forced on him in practice.
"Coach had been doing more of me running it at the two, running it with Larry [Drew II] and helping him push the ball up the court," says Strickland, "It felt weird, it felt like I was 5'2''."
But all the experiences Strickland has been subjected to, both in practice and in games, are what he credits his growing confidence on the hardwood, particularly as a young guard. The three turnovers Strickland gave up will be a focus in his workouts. The quick decisions he will have to make in game situations will be assessed on tape.
All those things and more are in the back of Strickland's mind, trying to come to the front to better his performance. But he does know they're there. After all, it echoed through the lockerroom: "I could have done more."
