University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: Rapid Reactions
February 21, 2015 | Men's Basketball
By Adam Lucas
1. That felt like exactly what a fatigued, battered, weary Carolina team needed. Georgia Tech offered very little resistance on the way to an 89-60 Tar Heel win, and even if the Yellow Jackets had played well, Carolina was clicking so efficiently that it probably wouldn't have mattered.
2. The game got so far out of hand late that Roy Williams was able to joke with Theo Pinson on the UNC bench. With the Tar Heel reserves severely depleted and a big lead, Williams looked down the bench to try and substitute, but had very few choices. That led him to look at Pinson and jokingly motion for the injured freshman to enter the game--and to Pinson's credit, he was ready to strip off the suit jacket and go for it.
3. Just a typical 10-assist, zero-turnover game for Marcus Paige, who was terrific in leading a Carolina offense that shot 62.3 percent for the game, largely because they took almost zero contested shots and worked the ball around the Georgia Tech defense until there was an unquestionably great shot.
4. Very cool touch by the Tar Heels running the Four Corners on the opening possession. And, in true Tar Heel fashion, Marcus Paige hit Brice Johnson for a layup for the game's first points. That was one of numerous examples of Smith's influence that permeated Saturday, from team huddles to the multiple defenses flashed by the Tar Heels (Georgia Tech uncharacteristically had some perimeter success when Roy Williams tried a 2-3 zone) to pointing at the passer.
5. Johnson showed some toughness by playing through a fairly serious illness that required him getting fluids on Saturday morning. Johnson was clearly fatigued, and was bent over grabbing his shorts even during team introductions. But he played through it, and finished with 16 points and five rebounds.
An even more severe strain of the same illness plagued Joel Berry II, who was unable to play.
6. Touching moment at the Smith Center on Saturday afternoon, as the crowd responded with a roar when Smith was shown on the video board during the "I'm a Tar Heel" and "This is Carolina Basketball" videos. The usual "I'm a Tar Heel" video was capped with a portrait of Smith and the words "Always a Tar Heel," which drew a standing ovation. The coach's family has requested that Saturday be Smith's last appearance on those two particular in-game videos.
