University of North Carolina Athletics
Virginia Tech Game Guide
January 9, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 9, 2010
By Lauren Brownlow
The Basics
No. 9 North Carolina (11-4) will host Virginia Tech (12-1) in the ACC opener for both teams. Carolina is 10-0 in the Smith Center and 1-4 away from home. The Tar Heels get three of their first four ACC games at home before they hit the road in three of the next four. Carolina is coming off of an 82-79 loss at College of Charleston on Monday. Virginia Tech last played on January 2nd in Cancun when it beat Seton hall 103-94 in overtime. The Hokies have won nine straight games. Carolina is 47-9 in ACC openers and has won eight of its last ten. It leads the series with Virginia Tech 59-12 and has won 22 of the last 24 meetings. Virginia Tech is one of just four ACC teams that have beaten Carolina in the Smith Center since 2007.
Game Time: Virginia Tech at North Carolina, 7:45 PM.
Last Time: Carolina edged Virginia Tech in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament last season, 79-76. Tyler Hansbrough hit the go-ahead basket with 36.1 seconds left and tied up J.T. Thompson to give Carolina possession back on a jump ball. Carolina shot just 44.6 percent and Virginia Tech shot 44.8 percent. Carolina out-rebounded the Hokies 44-33. Hansbrough led Carolina with 28 points on 9-of-17 shooting and eight rebounds. Wayne Ellington had 16 points and made 4-of-7 three's. Deon Thompson had 12 points and seven rebounds. Ed Davis added ten points and six rebounds. Virginia Tech was led by A.D. Vassallo with 26 points on 10-of-22 shooting; he added a game-high ten rebounds. Malcolm Delaney had 17 points and ten assists.
Radio Coverage: Tar Heel Sports Network coverage will begin at 6:45 PM.
Injury Report: Marcus Ginyard will miss the game with an ankle injury while both Will Graves and Leslie McDonald are questionable. Malcolm Delany for Virginia Tech is day-to-day with an ankle injury.
Storylines
Making the most of a second chance: Carolina has been in six "close" games that got down to seven or fewer points with five or fewer minutes remaining. Of those, it has been outscored 84-66. In the earlier minutes of each second half, the score was much more even at 167-161. Carolina had outscored College of Charleston 36-24 in the first 15:58 of the second half, then Charleston outscored Carolina 21-7 in the final five minutes of regulation and all of overtime. In that final 9:02 (including overtime), Charleston scored nine of its 21 points off of either offensive rebounds (three) or Carolina turnovers (three). Carolina forced just two turnovers in that span, hitting a three-pointer and missing both free throws on another. Carolina got just one offensive rebound after pulling down nine in the first 15:58 and missed a three. Charleston turned its three offensive boards into five points.
Though Charleston is the worst example, this is not a new problem. And perhaps the reason Coach Williams was so "ticked" after Rutgers was in the final 5:11 with a ten-point lead, Carolina outscored the Scarlet Knights just 13-9. But it was also because Carolina continuously wasted opportunities with carelessness. In the last three games, Carolina has scored on 42.3% of its offensive rebounds compared to 55.4% scoring in the first 12. The Tar Heels have missed 20 two-pointers and two three-pointers (missing on 42.3% of its second chances) while turning it over seven times. In the first 12 games, Carolina missed 59 baskets on 175 offensive rebounds (33.7%) while turning it over 17 times (9.7% of the time). Deon Thompson was asked why Carolina seemed to miss so many two-pointers against College of Charleston. "Coach (Williams) has been talking about just getting the ball back out. Off a rebound if a guy comes up with it, you don't have to be so rushed to just shoot it right back right then and there, "Thompson said. "Get it back out, set something up and make them actually pay for giving us another offensive rebound, another chance to score. If you don't need to shoot it, don't shoot it and just concentrate and make sure you finish the play."
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.
Fox Sports Net coverage: The game will be available on Fox Sports Net.
Names To Know
Larry Drew II: It's always said that point guards are the difference between winning and losing, and with Larry Drew II, that has been partly the case so far. He has averaged 9.7 points on 55.4% shooting (57.1% from beyond the arc) with a 2.28 assist/turnover ratio in Carolina's 11 wins compared to 4.8 points on 28% shooting (18.2% from three) and a 1.4 assist/turnover ratio. He has also been in foul trouble in all but one of Carolina's losses, limited to 28 minutes against College of Charleston after picking up two quick fouls early in the second half. He had four fouls in the Texas loss and three against Syracuse. With the thinness of Carolina's backcourt rotation, Carolina simply can't afford to lose Drew to foul trouble. But he's been much better at home, as have the Tar Heels. Outside the Smith Center, Drew has averaged six points and shot 9-of-28 from the floor (32.1%, 25% from beyond the arc), adding 28 assists to 18 turnovers (a 1.56 ratio). In the comfortable confines of the Smith Center, Drew has averaged 9.6 points on 54.8% shooting (55% from beyond the arc), dishing out 65 assists to 28 turnovers (a 2.32 ratio).
John Henson: When Deon Thompson was being questioned about his young and teammate not living up to expectations, he pointed out that if Henson went off for 25 and 10 against Virginia Tech, all would be forgotten. That is not likely to happen, but he is showing signs that he is earning the trust of his coach. In the last two games, his minutes have gone from 10.9 to 16.5 and his points from 3.4 to 5.0. He also had five steals in the first 13 games and five in the last two and 15 assists to just 12 turnovers on the season. "For him, it was tough because he hasn't found his niche and what he can do right now on this level. He has so much ability and so much potential to do so many things well that he's so lost on what to do," Thompson said. "You see the flashes of how good he's going to be and how great he's going to be. ...As he continues to get stronger, he's going to be able to finish plays and he's going to be a great player."
Jeff Allen: The 6-7 junior forward, averaging 12.9 points, is eighth in the league in rebounding, fourth in steals and tenth in blocks. He has averaged 10.5 points and 9.3 rebounds in his career against Carolina in four games, though he has shot just 34% from the floor. He has been somewhat inconsistent this season, following back-to-back double-doubles against VMI and Penn State (36 points and 23 rebounds combined) with 11 points and 12 rebounds combined in the next two games against Charleston Southern and UMBC. But in the last two games, Allen has averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds on 54.2% shooting, adding four assists, two steals and two blocks. In the overtime win over Seton Hall, Allen got to the foul line 12 times and made nine; the previous 12 games, he had made 18-of-28. Particularly without Delaney in the lineup, it seems Allen understands how important he is to the Virginia Tech offense and has stepped up accordingly.
Malcolm Delaney/Dorenzo Hudson: Delaney is listed as questionable with an ankle injury and without him, Hudson will likely take up much of the perimeter scoring slack. Delaney is leading the ACC in scoring with 19.3 points per game and was really hitting his stride before missing most of the last two games. His double-figure scoring streak to start the season ended against VMI but he averaged 23.3 in his last three full games before his injury and shooting 13-of-23 from beyond the arc. Against Carolina, he has averaged 17.8 points, 5.3 assists, two steals and just 1.8 turnovers in four games but has shot just 38.3% from the floor. He has averaged eight free-throw attempts, making 6.5. Last season, Wayne Ellington did an admirable job on him twice and held him to 29% shooting in two games, though he did make 14-of-17 foul shots and dish out 15 assists to just three turnovers.
According to hokiesports.com, Hudson, a 6-5 junior, was "poised for a breakout season" and they must be psychic because that is exactly what has happened. He is averaging 12.2 points after averaging 4.6 last season and has increased his shooting percentage from 36.2% as a sophomore to 43.2% as a junior. His rebounds have gone from 1.9 to 3.8 and his assists from 1.1 to 2.6. Through 13 games, he has already made more free throws (47) than he attempted in his first two seasons combined (41). Since Delaney's absence, Hudson has averaged 26 points on 13-of-33 shooting, adding eight rebounds, eight assists and two steals. He had a ridiculous 41 points in overtime against Seton Hall, making 9-of-22 field goals but 20-of-21 free throws. Keeping Delaney off the foul line has been a problem for Carolina in the past and it can't be on Sunday with Hudson if Delaney does not play.
Lauren Brownlow is the executive editor of Tar Heel Monthly.
