University of North Carolina Athletics
Virginia Game Guide
February 6, 2009 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 6, 2009
By Lauren Brownlow
The Basics
No. 3/4 North Carolina (20-2, 6-2) will host Virginia (7-11, 1-6) in the second meeting between the two teams this season. It will be Carolina's last home game before playing three of its final five league games on the road, including the next two straight. Carolina is coming off of an 108-91 win over Maryland at home on Tuesday night. Virginia lost at home to Boston College on Wednesday night, 80-70. Carolina's victory over Virginia on January 15th began a six-game winning streak. It's the longest active winning streak right now in the ACC, with Boston College (five) and Clemson (three) the next-closest. Virginia, on the other hand, had lost one game coming into the Carolina game and has now lost six straight.
At halftime, Carolina will honor the eight former Tar Heel players and coaches who are members of the Naismith hall of Fame. A banner in the Smith Center rafters will be formally dedicated to all eight members, six of which are still alive. Five of those six will be on hand - Roy Williams, Dean Smith, Bob McAdoo, James Worthy and Billy Cunningham. Larry Brown is unable to attend and Ben Carnevale and Frank McGuire, former Carolina head coaches, are both deceased but will also be honored.
Carolina leads the series between the two schools, 123-48. Carolina has won the last five in a row. The Tar Heels lead the series 62-5 in Chapel Hill and 20-2 in the Smith Center. Virginia last won in Chapel Hill on January 12, 2002. Roy Williams is 10-3 against Virginia, 8-2 at Carolina. This game will also mark the 100th ACC game Williams has coached at North Carolina. He has a 72-36 record in those games, including regular-season and ACC Tournament games.
Game Time: Virginia at North Carolina, 4:00 PM.
Last Time: Carolina beat Virginia 83-61 in Charlottesville on January 15, 2009 to earn its first ACC win of the season. The score was as close as 15-14 in the first half and Carolina responded with an 11-2 run. Carolina led 50-36 at the half and took command in the second half with a 19-7 run to take a 69-43 lead, its biggest of the game. Virginia out-rebounded Carolina 50-47 but the Tar Heels shot 50% in the second half and 42.2% for the game. Virginia shot 30.5% in the game. Carolina shot just 35.3% in the second half but held Virginia to 23.9 percent. Virginia hit just 4-of-27 three's (1-of-12 in the second half). Carolina had 21 assists on 21 field goals and committed just nine turnovers.
Tyler Hansbrough led Carolina with 28 points, making 15-of-17 free throws, and a game-high 12 rebounds. He also had three blocks. Ty Lawson had 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting (3-of-3 from beyond the arc), nine assists and one turnover. Wayne Ellington had 13 points, eight rebounds, five assists and no turnovers. Danny Green had 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and three blocks. Jamil Tucker led Virginia with 12 points on 5-of-13 shooting. Calvin Baker and Mike Scott each had 11 points; Scott had seven rebounds (all offensive). Assane Sene led the Cavaliers in rebounding with ten boards. Virginia leading scorer Sylven Landesberg was held to just two points on 1-of-9 shooting.
Radio Coverage: Tar Heel Sports Network coverage begins at 3:00 PM.
Injury Report: Marcus Ginyard and the Tar Heel medical staff have decided it is best for him to take a medical redshirt this season. He had surgery on October 8th, 2008 to repair a stress fracture in his left foot. He attempted to come back and still had pain. He has gone through nearly a month's worth of intensive rehab to try to get back into game shape, but he still has pain in the foot. Will Graves has been suspended for the remainder of this season. Tyler Zeller broke his wrist in the second game of the season against Kentucky. He was scheduled to visit the doctor on Wednesday and a decision on his status the rest of the season should come soon.
Storylines
Life after Marcus Ginyard: The odd thing about this year's version of the Tar Heels is that at times, they have played as if they all knew what they had to make up for defensively with Ginyard's absence. At other times, they have played like he was coming back to save them at any time. Now, it's official - he's not coming back and this team has got to decide what kind of defensive club it wants to be. While outsiders have lamented Carolina's lack of a "lockdown" defender, it hasn't had that person all season. In the Carolina system, team defense is just as important and plenty of things that Ginyard brought to the court - communicating, `seeing the big picture' and effort - are things that this team can duplicate.
"We don't have a lockdown guy, but we didn't have that and haven't had it for 22 games," Williams said. "We're trying to get better defensively and I think we have been better defensively. It didn't look that way tonight (against Maryland), but I really think we have gotten better defensively. At times this year, we've been better defensively than we were all last year."
Maryland shot 48 percent against Carolina, the highest percentage it has allowed any team to shoot all season. Williams' words do have some truth - looking back on last season, at this point Carolina had already allowed three teams to shoot a higher percentage than that. In fact, Carolina has allowed 45% shooting or higher in 22 games but just three games of 47.5% or higher and zero games of 50% or higher. Last year's team allowed 13 of 39 teams to shoot over 45%, 11 to shoot 47.5% or higher and five to shoot 50% or higher. Five ACC teams shot 47.5% or higher in 19 games last season; Carolina has allowed just three in eight ACC games and has held three to under 40 percent. Last year, only five ACC opponents shot under 40% in 19 ACC games.
But with the Maryland game, Carolina has continued its odd trend of allowing teams ranked in the bottom of the league in field-goal percentage to shoot much higher than their averages. Virginia was the first team Carolina held to significantly below its average and it was also Carolina's first ACC win; the Cavaliers shot 30.5%, its lowest field-goal percentage in a game against any ACC opponent. Virginia remains last in the league, shooting 41.7 percent. But since that game, Carolina has played two teams in the top four in field-goal percentage and two in the bottom three. Florida State and Maryland, 10th and 11th respectively, shot a combined 47.4% against Carolina. NC State and Clemson, third and fourth respectively, shot a combined 38.5 percent.
Maryland was able to beat Carolina at its own game, so to speak - getting up and down the floor in transition before Carolina was able to set up. Those lapses were what caused Williams to call the infamous "silent" timeout during which he simply stared at his team. Carolina needs to be more disciplined on defense and work as a unit. That is how you make up for losing your best defender. Ginyard is not the best defender because he was faster, stronger or more agile than the rest of the Tar Heels. He was the best defender because he knew what to do out there. This team has showed that at times this season and needs to be consistently disruptive on that end, not giving up easy looks.
No more second chances: In a much-improved ACC, Carolina can't afford to be giving teams the second and third looks it has been giving up in the last few games. Maryland, not known as a great rebounding team and near the bottom of the league in rebounding margin, pulled down too many offensive rebounds to count, particularly in the second half. "It says they had 18 offensive rebounds. I thought they had 88," Williams said after the game.
Carolina has allowed four of its eight ACC opponents to rebound 40% or more of their missed field goals. Last season, Carolina only allowed an ACC team to rebound 40% or more of its missed shots twice in 19 games and not once after the Miami game on January 23. Last season, Carolina allowed opponents to average 12 offensive rebounds and 11.5 second-chance points. The Tar Heels this year are limiting second-chance points somewhat (12.0 per game) but are allowing 15.6 offensive rebounds per game.
Boston College and Virginia were tied for the highest percentage of shots rebounded (42.1%) until Maryland retrieved a ridiculous 46.2% of its misses. The Terrapins missed 39 shots and retrieved 18 of them, scoring 15 second-chance points (the most Carolina has allowed all season). In the first half, Carolina allowed just five offensive rebounds on 16 misses by Maryland and only four second-chance points, holding Maryland to 2-of-5 shooting on their second shot tries. But in the second half, Carolina still allowed 47 points even though Maryland's shooting percentage dropped from 55.6% to 41 percent. That's because Maryland missed 23 field goals and rebounded 13 of them (56.5%), scoring 11 second-chance points. If Maryland had not missed three free throws, it would have been 14 second-chance points in the second half.
The most points off of offensive rebounds Carolina had allowed before the Maryland game was to Virginia - 14. The Tar Heels nearly allowed that in the second half alone to Maryland. Virginia had 18 offensive rebounds in the second half alone and pulled down 24 for the game, but managed only 14 second-chance points. On the ACC season, Carolina's opponents rebounded 31.7% of their missed shots. After holding Florida State to just three offensive rebounds on 16 missed shots in the first half, Carolina has allowed opponents to rebound 41 of 94 misses (43.6%) in the last five halves of basketball. In the previous 11 halves against ACC teams, opponents had retrieved 84 of 226 misses (37.2%).
At The Game
Listening to the Tar Heel Sports Network at the game: The in-stadium frequency in the Smith Center will be FM 92.7. That station will have a non-delayed feed of WCHL 1360, the local affiliate.
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 coverage: The game will be available regionally on Raycom. Tim Brant and Don Bonner will have the call. For a list of Raycom affiliates, click here.
Names To Know
Wayne Ellington: After starting out ACC play making less than 43.8% of his shots in the first three games and just 4-of-16 three-pointers, Ellington has been on a tear in the last five games. He has shot 57.1% or higher in four of the last five games and has hit 19-of-36 three-pointers. Against Maryland, Ellington seemingly could not miss and proved that he can consistently be what Carolina has needed to counteract a common defensive strategy - the dreaded zone defense. He had 12-of-15 shots, 7-of-9 three-pointers and had 34 points. He also had nine rebounds (seven offensive). "Wayne Ellington, nine rebounds - I told him in the locker room, 34 points is fantastic, 9 rebounds is fantastic, 0 assists and 4 turnovers is not fantastic," Williams said.
For whatever reason, as his shooting percentages have gone up, so have his turnovers. Perhaps he's just trying to make more happen, but 12 of Ellington's 36 turnovers this season have come in the last four games alone and 20 of the 36 have come in seven ACC games. But Ellington has become so dominant on the offensive end that he is actually averaging more points in the Smith Center in ACC games than Tyler Hansbrough - 24.5 points. He is also the only Tar Heel to have shot better than 50 percent in ACC home games (60%) and 66.7% from two-point range, attempting only six more three-pointers than two-pointers. He also has averaged six rebounds and three assists.
It's a stark contrast to his ACC road numbers: 34.9% shooting, higher only than Deon Thompson among starters. He has also averaged 14 points on the road in league play. But he has been on a tear and has absolutely dominated Carolina's ACC home games, shooting 65.9% from the floor, 61.5% from beyond the arc (16-of-26) and averaging 27.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in Carolina's last three ACC home games. Last time against Virginia, he had 13 points on 4-of-10 shooting and added eight rebounds, five assists and no turnovers.
Deon Thompson: The junior forward has quietly been rounding back into form in ACC play in all areas. After starting out his first six ACC games averaging 7.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and shooting 34% (50% from the foul line), he has shot 46.2% from the floor, 100% from the foul line and averaged 8.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in the last two ACC games. He shot 33.3% from the floor or below in five of Carolina's first six league contests and has shot 40% or higher in three of last four, 50% or higher in two of the last four.
Like Ellington, Thompson has been much better at home in ACC play. In Carolina's first two ACC home games, Thompson had just seven points combined on 3-of-9 shooting. He averaged 6.5 rebounds, one assist and 0.5 blocks in 49 minutes (24.5 per game). In the last two ACC home games, he has also played 49 total minutes but has 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting (57.1%), averaging six rebounds, 1.5 assists and one block. He has shown quite a bit more consistency in the rebounding department as well; he had 24 career games with five or more rebounds coming into this season and has grabbed five or more in 19 of 22 games this season. In ACC play, he has seven or more rebounds five of eight contests.
Still, he struggled at times against a shorter Maryland front line and looks like he is thinking more than playing. He has shown a tendency to get down on himself and while it's easy for the other Carolina post players to shrink a bit when Tyler Hansbrough is playing, Carolina desperately needs Thompson to play like he has played at the beginning of the season. "We didn't get the ball inside like I wanted to and didn't take the shot quicker inside like I wanted to," Williams said. "We still bounced around and pump-faked. Just get it inside and when you have a size advantage, shoot it."
Thompson at times has done all of those things, taking a few dribbles or trying to gather himself, making moves and faking before trying to score. He ends up farther from the basket at times or giving his opponent (or a double team) a chance to set up against him. All of those things are well-intentioned and do have a purpose, but Thompson at times just needs to catch the ball, keep it above his head and put it in the basket. It's not as easy as it sounds, particularly in ACC play, but he has shown he is capable of doing just that.
Sylven Landesberg: Carolina has often been criticizing for allowing opposing guards to go off against them this season. But freshman phenom Sylvan Landesberg struggled mightily against the Tar Heels, having his worst day against an ACC opponent. He shot 1-of-9 from the floor and did not attempt a foul shot; he has averaged 5.6 attempts per league contest and 7.0 attempts in the other six games besides the Carolina game. He was often trying to force up bad shots and draw contact before scoring, something Coach Dave Leitao mentioned after the game was a freshman mistake.
But Landesberg is still very talented. Despite his youth, he has had two bad games in ACC play, one against Carolina and one against Maryland. He had just two points against the Tar Heels and seven points against Maryland, averaging 4.5 points in those two games on 15.9 percent shooting. In the other five ACC games, he averaged 24.4 points on 57.5% shooting. Against Boston College, Landesberg had a career-high 32 points on 13-of-23 shooting (56.5%) and added six rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block in 40 minutes.
Mike Scott: One of Virginia's biggest issues this season has been finding Landesberg some scoring support. Every now and then, a Cavalier has a good game but none have been able to find any kind of consistency. Sophomore forward Mike Scott has come the closest. He is the only other Cavalier to average in double figures both overall (11.0) and in conference play (10.4). Against Carolina, he had 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting but added seven rebounds (all offensive boards). His seven offensive rebounds led to six of Virginia's 14 second-chance points, four by Scott himself.
He has hit double figures in 11 of 18 games this season bu5 in his last three games, he has shot 6-of-15 (40%) from the floor, 7-of-8 from the foul line and averaged just 6.3 points. Before that in ACC play, he had shot 52.9% from the floor, averaging 13.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and one block in 25 minutes per game. In the last three games, he has averaged 2.7 rebounds and has no blocked shots in 24.3 minutes per game. In the Boston College loss, he played an ACC-low 17 minutes and had just seven points on 1-of-3 shooting (5-of-5 from the foul line).
Quotables
"My mama told me sometimes if you can't think of good things to say then don't say anything. So I was trying to do what my mama told me." -Roy Williams on staring silently at his team during a timeout in the Maryland game
"Right now, it's me and that's the bad thing." -Roy Williams (in response to the question of who his best defender is)
"Tyler Zeller goes to the doctor tomorrow. Whatever happens with him is an absolute individual decision. It has nothing to do with Will. It has nothing to do with Marcus. It has nothing to do with Yogi Berra, Richard Petty, or anybody else. Whatever we do with Tyler Zeller will be because of what's best for Tyler Zeller." -Roy Williams
Lauren Brownlow is the managing editor of Tar Heel Monthly.
