Lucas: Rapid Reactions

By Adam Lucas

1. Carolina was, as Roy Williams would say, "more gifted and talented" than Western Carolina, and it showed in a 104-61 victory. But there was a lot to like in the win other than the talent disparity, including an amazing 31 assists on 37 baskets (led by Theo Pinson with seven assists) and 16-for-22 from the three-point line.

2. Realizing the game was likely to be well in hand, Roy Williams went to the bench a little earlier than usual. The Tar Heel starters got plenty of rest, with Joel Berry (22), Theo Pinson (23) and Luke Maye (26) playing minimal minutes.

3. Another wrinkle because of the big margin throughout the game--Carolina was able to work on several different defenses, including a couple different variations of the halfcourt trap and even a zone for a couple of possessions. Because of exams, actual practice time will be limited for the next week. The Tar Heels got their practice on the game court on Wednesday.

4. Williams is always coaching. He's been encouraging Theo Pinson to be more selective, which often leads to better shots for his teammates. That's what happened in the first half, when Pinson passed up an open look at a three-pointer at the top of the key and swung the ball to Kenny Williams, who knocked down a three. Roy Williams immediately bounded off the bench, took a step onto the court, and made sure Pinson heard him as he called out, "Thattaboy, Theo!"

5. The blind pass from Joel Berry to Pinson for a dunk in the first half that was wiped out by a foul was beautiful. But--old guy alert!--Ed Cota used to make that exact same pass while actually not looking. Berry took a little glance backward. Also, Ed ran uphill both ways to get to class after the game.

6. Remember on Sunday when it looked like those last few minutes from Jalek Felton might be the start of the freshman turning the corner? Now it looks even more that way, as Felton had a team-high 15 points and five assists, a couple of which were of the spectacular variety.

7. You felt for Western's Marc Gosselin early in the second half, when he found himself trying to protect the ball in a trap between Joel Berry and Kenny Williams. There are very few guards in the country who are going to emerge from that doubleteam intact--Gosselin didn't, as Berry and Williams forced a turnover, and then Gosselin fouled Berry to prevent a run-out.

8. Luke Maye's scoring (another double-double even without making a basket in the second half, as he had 12 points and 12 rebounds) has been well documented, and Maye now has more points than he did in his entire sophomore season. But as he gets more into the flow of the game, he has quietly become a much better passer. Maye had five assists against the Catamounts.

9. Great to see Jackson Simmons--now Western Carolina's director of operations--back at the Smith Center. Simmons, who got a nice hand during pregame introductions, is engaged to the daughter of former Tar Heel player Buzz Peterson.

University of North Carolina Athletics

Players Mentioned

Jalek Felton

Luke Maye

Theo Pinson

Kenny Williams

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