University of North Carolina Athletics
The Tar Heels took more three-pointers than two-pointers against Clemson, a first under Roy Williams.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
GoHeels Exclusive: Seeking Offensive Balance, Press Conference Notes
January 20, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers
by Pat James, GoHeels.com
Throughout this season, Roy Williams has referenced the North Carolina men's basketball team's lack of balance in regards to an inside-out offense.
But that perhaps hasn't been more evident than in Tuesday's 87-79 win over Clemson.
The Tar Heels attempted 11 3-pointers within the first 10 minutes en route to taking 31 in the game. That total marked the second most in the Williams era and tied for the ninth most in school history. With just 20 field goal attempts from 2-point range, it was the first time UNC has launched more shots from behind the arc than from within it under Williams.
"It was kind of natural," said Joel Berry II during Friday's press conference. "I know that at the beginning of the game we took a lot of threes, but I was talking to (director of communications Steve Kirschner) and Coach out there in the hallway and I didn't know we took more threes than twos in the game.
"So Coach just told me that you guys can get ready to see me post up a little bit so we can get some more twos."
Williams said he doesn't believe teams can win consistently by shooting about 30 3-pointers per game. He'll always prefer getting the ball inside. But he could live with a shooting performance like the one the Tar Heels put on Tuesday, when they made 15.
"If they go in," Williams said, "I'm a lot more comfortable."
Here are four other notes from Friday's press conference, leading up to Saturday's 2 p.m. game against Georgia Tech:
Felton's reduced playing time
During 13 nonconference games, Williams gave Jalek Felton as many chances as possible to develop his game. And at times, Felton showed signs of promise, averaging 4.2 points and two assists in 12.2 minutes. He also shot 45.8 percent on 3-pointers.
But since the start of ACC play, Felton has averaged six minutes in as many games. Williams said Friday that two primary factors have resulted in Felton's decrease in minutes.
"If you stay in front of the ball on the defensive end and don't turn the ball over, you get more of a chance," Williams said. "And that's what I said the other day, I said, 'Seventh (Woods), tell him what I told you for an entire year last year.' That's all it is because he can do some things. But you've got to be able to do that."
Berry's minutes
With Felton attempting to grasp those principles and Woods still sidelined with a stress fracture in his right foot, Berry has seen an increase in minutes.
Berry averaged 29.7 minutes in 12 nonconference games. Through six ACC games, he's averaging 34. He stressed Friday that he'll do whatever it takes to help the team win. But the additional minutes can take a toll.
"Sometimes it's hard to play every single possession and give it my all," Berry said. "Like the other night (against Clemson), I played the whole second half. And even though I didn't realize it until the end of the game that I played the whole second half, it's still something that I felt the next day when I got out of bed. My legs were really heavy coming into practice yesterday."
Robinson capitalizes on chances
After making two field goals in the previous nine games, Brandon Robinson tied his career high with two 3-pointers against Clemson. He also added two assists, as many as he had in the previous seven games.
"He had some good minutes for us …" Williams said. "I trust B-Rob. I keep giving him chances. It's pretty simple; if I didn't trust him, I wouldn't give him chances. But the other night, he made two big 3-pointers for us."
Robinson averaged 13.6 minutes in his first nine games. Since Cameron Johnson returned from injury on Dec. 20, that average has dipped to six minutes. Still, Robinson has found multiple ways to contribute in fewer minutes.
"I think B-Rob, when he takes care of the basketball and stays under control, can really do some good things," Williams said. "Defensively, he helps you. His activity helps you. He can get to the backboard; that helps you. And when the ball is going in like it did the other night … you like that."
Attacking the zone
In the last meeting against Georgia Tech on Dec. 31, 2016 in Atlanta, the Yellow Jackets' zone defense forced UNC to commit a season-high 20 turnovers and shoot a season-low 33.3 percent from the floor.
Much of the Tar Heels' struggles came from behind the arc, as they were 5-for-26 on 3-pointers. But Berry noted Friday that they found success after they started getting the ball inside, which will be a focus on Saturday.
"Instead of starting from the outside," Berry said, "we need to do a good job of being able to attack right there in the middle, around the ACC (logo), and get the ball inside and not just settle for threes … Even though they're wide open, sometimes you can settle and you just shoot yourself out of games.
"So I think early on we'll put a lot of emphasis on just trying to get the ball right there in the middle."
Throughout this season, Roy Williams has referenced the North Carolina men's basketball team's lack of balance in regards to an inside-out offense.
But that perhaps hasn't been more evident than in Tuesday's 87-79 win over Clemson.
The Tar Heels attempted 11 3-pointers within the first 10 minutes en route to taking 31 in the game. That total marked the second most in the Williams era and tied for the ninth most in school history. With just 20 field goal attempts from 2-point range, it was the first time UNC has launched more shots from behind the arc than from within it under Williams.
"It was kind of natural," said Joel Berry II during Friday's press conference. "I know that at the beginning of the game we took a lot of threes, but I was talking to (director of communications Steve Kirschner) and Coach out there in the hallway and I didn't know we took more threes than twos in the game.
"So Coach just told me that you guys can get ready to see me post up a little bit so we can get some more twos."
Williams said he doesn't believe teams can win consistently by shooting about 30 3-pointers per game. He'll always prefer getting the ball inside. But he could live with a shooting performance like the one the Tar Heels put on Tuesday, when they made 15.
"If they go in," Williams said, "I'm a lot more comfortable."
Here are four other notes from Friday's press conference, leading up to Saturday's 2 p.m. game against Georgia Tech:
Felton's reduced playing time
During 13 nonconference games, Williams gave Jalek Felton as many chances as possible to develop his game. And at times, Felton showed signs of promise, averaging 4.2 points and two assists in 12.2 minutes. He also shot 45.8 percent on 3-pointers.
But since the start of ACC play, Felton has averaged six minutes in as many games. Williams said Friday that two primary factors have resulted in Felton's decrease in minutes.
"If you stay in front of the ball on the defensive end and don't turn the ball over, you get more of a chance," Williams said. "And that's what I said the other day, I said, 'Seventh (Woods), tell him what I told you for an entire year last year.' That's all it is because he can do some things. But you've got to be able to do that."
Berry's minutes
With Felton attempting to grasp those principles and Woods still sidelined with a stress fracture in his right foot, Berry has seen an increase in minutes.
Berry averaged 29.7 minutes in 12 nonconference games. Through six ACC games, he's averaging 34. He stressed Friday that he'll do whatever it takes to help the team win. But the additional minutes can take a toll.
"Sometimes it's hard to play every single possession and give it my all," Berry said. "Like the other night (against Clemson), I played the whole second half. And even though I didn't realize it until the end of the game that I played the whole second half, it's still something that I felt the next day when I got out of bed. My legs were really heavy coming into practice yesterday."
Robinson capitalizes on chances
After making two field goals in the previous nine games, Brandon Robinson tied his career high with two 3-pointers against Clemson. He also added two assists, as many as he had in the previous seven games.
"He had some good minutes for us …" Williams said. "I trust B-Rob. I keep giving him chances. It's pretty simple; if I didn't trust him, I wouldn't give him chances. But the other night, he made two big 3-pointers for us."
Robinson averaged 13.6 minutes in his first nine games. Since Cameron Johnson returned from injury on Dec. 20, that average has dipped to six minutes. Still, Robinson has found multiple ways to contribute in fewer minutes.
"I think B-Rob, when he takes care of the basketball and stays under control, can really do some good things," Williams said. "Defensively, he helps you. His activity helps you. He can get to the backboard; that helps you. And when the ball is going in like it did the other night … you like that."
Attacking the zone
In the last meeting against Georgia Tech on Dec. 31, 2016 in Atlanta, the Yellow Jackets' zone defense forced UNC to commit a season-high 20 turnovers and shoot a season-low 33.3 percent from the floor.
Much of the Tar Heels' struggles came from behind the arc, as they were 5-for-26 on 3-pointers. But Berry noted Friday that they found success after they started getting the ball inside, which will be a focus on Saturday.
"Instead of starting from the outside," Berry said, "we need to do a good job of being able to attack right there in the middle, around the ACC (logo), and get the ball inside and not just settle for threes … Even though they're wide open, sometimes you can settle and you just shoot yourself out of games.
"So I think early on we'll put a lot of emphasis on just trying to get the ball right there in the middle."
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