University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: Rapid Reactions
November 23, 2013 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
1. Before the game, Roy Williams said, "We've probably worked more on zone this year than ever before." He showed it early, as in the first half the Tar Heels played their first two meaningful possessions of zone this year. Interestingly, it wasn't what has been the standard zone during the Williams era, the point zone. Instead, it was a 3-2 look that featured the athleticism of J.P. Tokoto in the middle at the top contesting any wing-to-wing pass. That's the first time Williams has used that look in his Carolina coaching career.
The first zone possession ended in a Richmond turnover, but the second ended in a Spider three-pointer.
2. Live ball turnovers played a big role in Carolina's surge at the end of the first half. The Tar Heels picked off four steals and had five blocks in the first 20 minutes, including two ferocious Brice Johnson blocks in the final two minutes. Johnson, an emotional player, didn't just stand and admire them. After one block, he outran the Spiders to the other end and finished with a dunk.
With the Tar Heels' halfcourt offense still a work in progress, any defensive plays that create transition opportunities are especially valuable. Like, say, this one by J.P. Tokoto:
3. Carolina's depleted backcourt depth was tested when Nate Britt picked up two fouls in the first 2:42. Roy Williams juggled Luke Davis, Marcus Paige and an occasional dose of Britt for most of the first stanza, but Wade Moody made his first first-half appearance of the year. The Tar Heel walk-on acquitted himself well, as Carolina was +1 in his three minutes of action.
Carolina had to play J.P. Tokoto at the two guard late in the second half after Britt picked up his fourth foul. In a six-point game with under three minutes left, Tokoto played terrific defense on Cedrick Lindsay on a key late possession, stoning the talented Richmond guard and forcing him into an errant 30-foot heave. Tokoto later added a block on a Lindsay drive before making a mistake and fouling him on a three-pointer with 44.7 seconds left.
4. Brice Johnson's emotion is a weapon when things are going well, as it was when he keyed several Tar Heel surges during the three-game season-opening homestand. But he has to make sure it's also not a negative when things go poorly. The sophomore struggled in the closing minutes against Richmond, making a bad gamble for a steal in the post, being whistled for a foul off the ball, throwing a lazy pass with Carolina trying to protect a late lead, and then committing a silly foul that give Richmond the chance to get free throws with the clock stopped with 55 seconds remaining.
Johnson's offense is essential for Carolina this year, and his continued management of his emotions is part of the natural evolution of a young player. The fact that Williams left him in the game despite his struggles shows just how important he considers the South Carolina native to be, partially because of plays like this:
5. As much as Marcus Paige struggled late against Belmont, he was equally as good in the closing minutes against Richmond. Playing exclusively point guard (rather than two guard against the Bruins), Paige hit two big three-pointers in the final five minutes and had a big steal on the baseline with under 2:30 left. Paige finished with a career-high 26 points.
Carolina's execution over the final three minutes wasn't especially crisp, but they had just enough Paige to hold on to the lead and prevail.
Adam Lucas is the editor of CAROLINA.
