University of North Carolina Athletics
Brownlow: UNC Basketball Notebook
February 22, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 22, 2011
By Lauren Brownlow
Roy Williams famously said he would rather beat State than eat, and he has done that quite a bit - he is 15-1 as Carolina's head coach against the Wolfpack, 20-1 overall. "Our guys have played better," he said when asked about the record. And he mentioned his less-stellar record against Georgia Tech, a team that has struggled in the ACC recently. "Georgia Tech has killed us. I joked with Paul (Hewitt) last summer, I said, `The reason you didn't go to St. John's is because I wasn't on your schedule.' They've whacked us about 48 games in a row. If I had an explanation for that, I would have changed that one, I guarantee you."
He said this NC State team is much better than the last time they played Carolina, and they seem more confident. That's all that his young team is thinking about, literally taking the season a game or two at a time. "I remember in '05, I told our guys, let's play the last six games. If we play our tails off, we don't care what everybody else was doing. That's basically what happened. But we haven't discussed even that much of an extended forecast for what's coming (this year). Perhaps it's because we're so young or perhaps because I just haven't decided to do it, but we're just talking about North Carolina State and not where we are or where we hope to be."
Stamina: At this time of year, freshmen typically hit a wall that is both mental and physical as they are not used to the demanding grind of the college season. Williams said he likes to shorten his practices to keep his players fresh. It's particularly a concern for Kendall Marshall, whose workload has increased significantly. "I'm definitely starting to get used to it," Marshall said. "Coach is doing a great job figuring out when I can get the most rest and when I'm out on the court, I'm figuring out things I can get away with and can't get away with. I think I'm using my stamina wisely." He said that he doesn't necessarily pace himself or take plays off, but he has to learn how to use the tired signal better. "Sometimes when you get tired, you can get lackadaisical. It's just a matter of utilizing the fist, getting that sub where I need it," Marshall said. Ever since the second half of the Duke game, teams are playing Marshall to defend against his driving and passing rather than shooting. "Basically, I just have to keep the defense honest, being able to attack the rim and finish at the basket as well as getting my teammates involved, just doing a variety of that." His defense was the most commonly critiqued element of his game, but he has held his own pretty well in that department. "I give myself a B-plus, C-minus. I've still got a long way I can go. There are still some things I need to learn - going all out every possession, I can get better with that. But I think I've made a lot of great strides," Marshall said.
Felton and Lawson: As a part of the trade that brought Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks, Raymond Felton - who was New York's point guard - will now join Ty Lawson in Denver, reuniting two former national champion point guards on the same team. Their head coach, NIT Champion and Final Four point guard George Karl, rounds out the trio. It's not yet known if Felton will remain with the Nuggets long-term, and Lawson will be the starter for now, but Williams talked to Karl about it last weekend when Karl was here for the 1971 NIT reunion. "I do believe that he can play both of those guys at the same time. They'd have the ability to really push. They'd have the ability to cover people. I'm looking forward to it. It makes me want to see Denver play even more with both of them out there," Williams said. Regardless of what happens, it has interrupted what was certainly an All-Star caliber season for Felton and Williams said that he wished he had actually made the All-Star team. Williams didn't want him to see the trade as a "slap in the face". "I've already talked to him today. He's handling it like a professional. He said he's not going to follow it on TV. He told his agent, `Tell me if I end up going somewhere other than Denver and that's where I'll go. But I'm hoping that he'll end up staying with Denver."
Briefly: Tyler Zeller said that he and John Henson are certainly being schemed against by opposing teams, but granted that they need to be more aggressive. He said he's seen double teams for the first time this season. "I think I've seen a double team come from every possible angle. The challenge is always figuring out where it's going to come from and how to react, who's going to be open," Zeller said. ... Zeller was named a First Team Academic All-American, and he called himself a "big nerd". Williams ended his press conference before Zeller came in by saying despite the selection, Zeller was still not smarter than him. When asked about it, he took a thoughtful pause and said: "It depends on what we're talking about." ... Williams said that Zeller's defense against BC resulted in "one of the best defensive grades in a game that we've had in a long, long time". ... Carolina's game Wednesday will be the first regular-season college basketball game broadcast in Shanghai, China. "I think it's neat. It's a long way to go, so I hope it gets there before next Friday," Williams said. Sunday's game against Maryland will also be shown in Shanghai.
Lauren Brownlow is the executive editor of Tar Heel Monthly.
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