University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: Carolina Basketball Notebook
October 31, 2013 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Carolina's lone exhibition game of the preseason is Friday night at 7:30 p.m. against UNC Pembroke. General admission tickets are available for $10, or out of town fans can subscribe and watch the game live on GoHeelsTV.
The Braves have already faced an ACC opponent, as they dropped a relatively close decision to NC State last night.
History class: Hubert Davis recently taught a history class to sophomore center Joel James. The subject: the 1993 Tar Heels. The Tar Heel assistant obtained a copy of the entire Carolina-Michigan national championship game for James to watch.
"Coach Davis pointed out that they had three seven-footers on that team," James said of the squad that included Eric Montross, Matt Wenstrom, Kevin Salvadori and a redshirting Serge Zwikker. "They had the ability to play with two big men at the same time, with both of them co-existing and doing a good job of working together."
Get ready to feel old: James wasn't born yet when the memorable game was played. But he's developed a good rapport with Montross, who travels with the team as a member of the Tar Heel Sports Network. And the sophomore clearly feels there's some value in the game from 20 years ago, as instead of just watching it once, he's watched the full tape three times.
"We run the same plays today that they ran in 1993," James says. "I loved watching Eric Montross run the secondary break, because he does a great job running the plays and finishing them the way Coach Smith asked him to finish it. It helps me to see another big man doing things the way they're supposed to be done, and I'm trying to pick up on some of the little things that he did."
Cousy watch: Marcus Paige was named to the preseason Cousy Award list this month, but he's not ready to start clearing space on his shelf just yet. "It's an honor," Paige said. "I'm excited that people have high expectations for me, and I have high expectations, too. I'd rather be on that list at the end of the year, but it's a good start."
Carolina has a history with the Cousy Award. Three different Tar Heels--Raymond Felton (2005), Ty Lawson (2009) and Kendall Marshall (2012) have won the award.
Nonconference November notes: Carolina's opponent in the season opener, Oakland, picked up an exhibition win last night. Look for a fast-paced game next Friday, as the Golden Grizzlies, picked fourth in the Horizon League, play at one of the nation's fastest tempos. It's been a preseason of attrition for Oakland, as they've suffered a key injury and had a player leave the team...Holy Cross (Nov. 15) was picked seventh in the Patriot League...
Belmont (Nov. 17) is the sleeper game of the early home schedule. The Bruins are one of the most efficient teams in the nation and is looking to move into the upper echelon of mid-major teams. Tar Heel connection: Belmont head coach Rick Byrd is a good friend of Vanderbilt's Kevin Stallings, who is himself a good friend of Roy Williams...Another sleeper: everyone is talking about the possible matchup with Louisville, but don't overlook the first game at the Mohegan Sun against Richmond (Nov. 23). The Spiders lost just two seniors and have some experience. Head coach Chris Mooney is hoping to get a healthy full season from post presence Derrick Williams.
Adam Lucas is a GoHeels columnist and the editor of CAROLINA.
