University of North Carolina Athletics
Florida State Game Guide
March 2, 2011 | Men's Basketball
March 2, 2011
By Lauren Brownlow
The Basics
No. 13 Carolina (22-6, 12-2) will close out its road schedule at Florida State (20-8, 10-4) on Wednesday night. Carolina is tied with Duke atop the ACC standings and FSU is third at 10-4; Carolina has clinched a top-four finish and first-round ACC Tournament bye. The Tar Heels are 18-3 since starting out 4-3 this year. Carolina also started its road schedule 1-1 out of conference and is 5-2 in ACC road contests. Florida State is undefeated in league play at home. Carolina leads the series between the teams 41-10 and is 13-4 in the Tucker Center, winning four in a row there since 2005.
Game Time: North Carolina at Florida State, 7:00 PM, ESPN/ESPN2
Last Time: Carolina beat Florida State 89-69 on February 6, 2011, the first game without Larry Drew II. Kendall Marshall set a Carolina record for assists in an ACC game with 16 and the 55.7% the Tar Heels shot from the floor was the highest FSU had allowed since March 2010. Carolina led by nine at halftime and an 11-2 run stretched it out to 16 with 14 minutes left. FSU got within seven at the 11:03 mark, but a 14-5 Carolina run stretched it back out to 16 and FSU would get no closer than 14. Marshall had nine points to go with his 16 assists and all of the other starters reached double figures, led by Harrison Barnes' 17 points. John Henson added 16 points and ten rebounds while Tyler Zeller had 16 and Dexter Strickland added 15. FSU shot 46.7% for the game but just 19% from the three-point line. The Seminoles were led by Chris Singleton's 15 points while Derwin Kitchen had 12 and Okaro White and Bernard James each added ten.
Radio Coverage: Tar Heel Sports Network coverage will begin at 6:00 PM.
Watching At Home
Turn down the sound: If you're watching the game 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.
ESPN coverage: The game will be available on ESPN. Dan Shulman and Dick Vitale will have the call.
Storylines
"Junk" points: Obviously, points off offensive rebounds and points off turnovers count the same as normal points, and both are a product of effort plays. But they are plays that generally result from a missed assignment, a lack of sufficient effort or just a lapse in judgment. After the Maryland win on Sunday, Roy Williams talked about Tyler Zeller forgetting to box out on more than one occasion trying to slip out on the break and allowing second-chance buckets. When someone makes a bad pass and it's a live-ball turnover, it can result in an easy lay-up. Obviously, there are exceptions - teams can set up in the half-court after an offensive foul or traveling call, for instance - but it's a possession lost in the case of a turnover and an extra possession given in the case of an offensive rebound. Carolina's first meeting with FSU was a lot prettier than this one is likely to be. Teams that have played Carolina a second time this year have shown that they learn from experience - see Clemson, Boston College and even NC State, all of which adjusted to make something Carolina likes to do more difficult. FSU is a team that prides itself on its defense and they have likely been reminded all week by their head coach that they gave up the highest shooting percentage they had allowed in years to the Tar Heels - 55.7% - and 89 points. Carolina had just 25 of those 89 points off of turnovers or offensive rebounds, a lower percentage than normal for the Tar Heels. Carolina has averaged 30.1 "junk" points in ACC play (14.9 off turnovers, 15.2 second-chance) and started the ACC season averaging 33.4 such points in the first seven games. In the next five games - starting with the first FSU game and ending with BC - Carolina averaged just 23.8 such points, including an ACC-low 18 against BC. But in the last two games, Carolina has had 69 such points (34.5 per game) and has averaged 81 points over that span. It's such a vital part of Carolina's offense that it has to get that going, particularly against a good FSU defense against which Carolina is not likely to have the kind of shooting performance it did last time. Carolina has thrived on those sorts of points on the road in particular, though, averaging 32 in seven ACC road games and just 28.3 at home. FSU is allowing an average of 23 "junk" points, 24.7 in ACC play; in ACC losses, opponents have averaged 26.3 in FSU's ACC losses and 24.1 in FSU's wins.
One might think that without defensive stopper Chris Singleton, FSU's steals would have decreased or its defense would have slipped. But the Seminoles have averaged 10.3 steals per game in the last three after averaging 6.7 in the three games before that. Not only are many of their opponents' turnovers caused by FSU steals - 31 of 49 - but the Seminoles have turned those 16.3 turnovers in the last three games 19.3 points, which is even more frightening. In a three-game stretch prior to Singleton's injury, FSU's opponents had averaged 11.3 turnovers (6.7 FSU steals) and FSU scored 10.3 points off of them. That stretch included the Carolina game, and a big reason the Tar Heels were able to be so successful in that game - and in the others before and since - is that they have cut way down on their turnovers. Carolina has averaged 11.5 since Kendall Marshall became the starter down from 14.2 in the first 17 games. Carolina's ACC opponents have averaged 22.6 "junk" points in the Smith Center and 23.4 on the road, but in Carolina's five road wins, opponents have averaged just 19.2 compared to 34.0 allowed in two road losses. Carolina has allowed 20 or more second-chance points twice in ACC play and is 1-1 in those games; the Tar Heels beat Maryland but lost to Duke. And Carolina went from allowing 8.8 second-chance points in its first eight ACC games to allowing 14.0 in the last six games. Florida State is more than capable of playing half-court defense, but they still thrive on getting those steals and turning them into quick points, harassing opponents to the point of turnovers with their length and quickness. Still, the Seminoles are going to try to balance that part of their game with a desire to slow it down. But that doesn't mean that they won't make Carolina pay for turning it over. FSU has averaged 25.5 "junk" points in ACC games and 28.4 on the whole season; Carolina held them to 18, tied for a season low. They will need to keep those at a minimum and get plenty of their own.
Names To Know
Harrison Barnes: The freshman has obviously found his shooting touch in the latter half of the season, which has been well-documented, but lately, he has been taking a lot of shots. He already averaged 13 attempts on the season but in the last four games, he has attempted 74 shots (18.5 per game), 40 in the last two. He has averaged 16 points in that span and just 0.86 per shot. To put that in perspective, he averaged 1.41 points per shot in a seven-game stretch that spanned both Clemson games. He is not getting to the foul line as much - he averaged 4.3 attempts during that aforementioned stretch and has averaged just 1.5 in the last four - and that contributes to the points per shot difference. But he has still been able to make big shots when it matters and he has also increased his rebounding, averaging 7.7 in the last three games (4.0 offensive) compared to 5.2 in the first 11 (1.5 offensive). And just because he's attempting more three's doesn't mean he has stopped attempting two's - in fact, he has averaged 11.3 two-point attempts in the last four games compared to 7.6 in the first ten. And his second-half work, something he struggled with initially, has been amazing as of late - he has seven double-figure second halves in the last nine games (four in the last five) and since the Miami game when he had some big shots late, he has shot nearly 50% in the second half and averaged 9.4 points in 14.4 minutes. In the first 19 games, he averaged 5.5 points in 13.7 minutes on 29.6% shooting. And despite his struggles in the last few games, he has shot 11-of-20 in the second half of the last two and averaged 12 points in 14 minutes. If there is a concern, it's that he's hit just 7-of-34 shots in the first half (4-of-17 three's) in the last four games. But Barnes has been excellent on the road in ACC play, averaging 14.9 points on 42% shooting, and he has attempted 3.9 foul shots on the road compared to 2.4 in ACC home games. Carolina needs him to rediscover that part of his game that managed to spark him earlier this year.
Leslie McDonald: The respective shooting slumps of McDonald and freshman Reggie Bullock have been oft-discussed recently, but even before his 15-point performance against Maryland, McDonald has been quietly pulling himself out of it. That's a good sign for Carolina, as Bullock is now out for the year and McDonald is one of Carolina's few perimeter threats left. He started off ACC play in his first nine games (he missed the first Clemson game) shooting 17-of-60 (28.3%) and 10-of-38 from three (26.3%), averaging 5.6 points. In his last four games, he has averaged 9.0 points on 42.9% shooting (7-of-16 from three, 43.8%). And he has increased his rebounds from 2.0 to 3.0 in that span and his offensive boards have gone from 0.8 to 1.8; he also went from averaging 0.2 steals (he had just two) to 1.3 in the last four games. He's done all this in just slightly more minutes (15.5 to 15.0) and in the seven ACC games where he has played 15 or more minutes, he has averaged 9.0 points compared to 3.8 points in the six games when he has played less than that. What's been better is his second-half production, particularly in Carolina wins - he has averaged 3.1 points in 6.8 second-half minutes in those 21 wins he has played in compared to 2.3 points in 6.7 minutes in six losses; his shooting percentage in wins in the second half is 40.7% (38.7% from three) compared to 30.8% (16.7%) from three) in six losses. But FSU is not an easy team to get shots off against. He has shot 2-of-8 from the floor (2-of-5 from three) in his career against FSU (two games) and had just three points on 1-of-5 shooting (1-of-4 from three) in the first meeting this season. He played just seven minutes in that game, though, but that was because he picked up three fouls. In fact, he has averaged three fouls in the two games.
Derwin Kitchen: The senior will be playing in his final home game at FSU, and the 6-4 senior has quietly had a very good season. He is 19th in the league in ACC-only rebounding, one of just two true perimeter players on that list, averaging 5.7 per game. He is 2nd in ACC-only steals (1.9) and 6th in assists (3.9). He will say goodbye to a home venue that he has enjoyed playing in this year, particularly in ACC play - he is averaging 11.4 points there (7.3 on the road) and shooting 59.2% (42.5% on the raod). He has also made 8-of-11 three's there compared to 4-of-15 (26.7%) on the road and has 30 assists to just eight turnovers in home ACC games compared to 25 assists and 21 turnovers on the road. He has averaged 8.7 points in Chris Singleton's absence in the last three games but has done so on 10-of-17 shooting (58.8%) and has added 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals. In his four-game career against Carolina, he has averaged 10 points on 13-of-28 shooting (10-of-20 from two-point range) and 11-of-12 free throws. He has added 5.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.8 steals and 2.8 turnovers with just 1.5 fouls. In FSU's wins, he has averaged 12.0 points shot 7-of-14 (3-of-5 from three) and added 7-of-8 foul shots. He has also averaged six assists, three steals, eight rebounds and 2.5 turnovers. In the two losses, he has shot 6-of-14 (0-of-3 from three) and attempted just four foul shots, averaging 3.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.5 steals and 3.0 turnovers.
Deividas Dulkys: The 6-5 junior guard is averaging just 8.2 points per game, but he is FSU's three-point specialist and when he is hitting, they are dangerous. But he has really stepped up in the absence of Singleton. In his 24 games before Singleton's injury, he averaged 7.3 points on 36.9% shooting (34.4% from three) and shot just 4-of-12 from the foul line to go with one assist, 1.2 steals, 1.8 fouls and 24 minutes. In the last three games without Singleton, Dulkys has averaged 15 points on 51.9% shooting (42.1% from three), making 9-of-13 free throws (4.3 attempts per game) to go with two assists, 1.7 steals and 1.3 fouls in 31 minutes. He has made 11-of-25 three's in the last four games and 6-of-12 in the last two. And he seems to love the friendly confines of the Donald L. Tucker Center, particularly in ACC play. He has shot just 31.5% on the road and 7-of-32 in seven ACC road games from beyond the arc, averaging 7.4 points. But at home, he has averaged 10 points on 25-of-54 shooting (46.3% from three) and has made a ridiculous 17-of-35 three's (48.6%) at home in league play. Dulkys has played four games against Carolina and has a 2-2 record. In FSU's two wins, he has shot 9-of-20 from the floor (8-of-17 from three) and averaged 13.0 points. In two losses, he has shot 4-of-14 (3-of-12 from three) and averaged 5.5 points. He's exactly the type of player that can get hot from three and spark a run for the home team.
Lauren Brownlow is the executive editor of Tar Heel Monthly.
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