University of North Carolina Athletics
Kenny Williams unofficially led all scorers with 19 points in Friday's scrimmage.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
GoHeels Exclusive: Late Night Highlights
October 13, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
Several times throughout the year, the North Carolina men's basketball team participates in the same four-minute, 15-second shooting drill. And more often than not, Sterling Manley said, the Tar Heels exceed the 125 shots Roy Williams challenged them to make Friday evening.
This time, though, they needed to accomplish the feat in front of the thousands of fans who filled the Smith Center for Late Night with Roy. Unsurprisingly, there might've been some anxiousness.
"It's just what happens the arena fills up a little bit more," Cameron Johnson said. "Things are a little bit different in general and feel a little bit different. I think it showed up in the 125 shots, some jitters. Some people hadn't touched a basketball all day, so I think that kind of worked against us a little bit."
Still, Carolina made 117 baskets before time expired. For each one, the men's basketball program and Roy Williams donated $100 for Hurricane Florence relief efforts. That money will be drawn from proceeds from the team's sale of autographed basketballs.Â
Williams said he'd match that donation if his team made 125 shots or more. Although UNC fell short of that mark, he and his wife, Wanda, still made a $11,700 gift of their own, bringing the final total to $23,400.
"It's always great to help people out when people need it," Johnson said. "Just to be in a position where we're able to donate money and to help people, we're just making jump shots, but it shows that what we do sometimes is a little bit deeper than just throwing a round thing into a circle."
Here are a few notes from Friday's festivities, hosted by former men's basketball player Antawn Jamison (UNC '99) and swimmer Molly Sullivan (UNC '02).
Scrimmage stats
Unofficially, Kenny Williams led all players with 19 points, helping the Blue team to a 36-34 win. His 3-pointer with about 30 seconds left proved to be the game-winner. On the White team, Manley and Nassir Little scored nine points each.
Seventh Woods – who registered a few impressive plays, including a one-handed transition dunk – was fouled on a layup attempt at the buzzer. Looking to tie the game with two made free throws, he missed his first attempt.
"Hopefully, we can get that matchup again sometime in the future," Johnson said. "I know how that will go. We don't even need to discuss that. But it was fun to go out there. This is our last Late Night for me, Kenny and Luke (Maye). So it was fun to go out there and compete a little bit."
Gaining experience
Friday's event allowed fans to get their first look at Little, Coby White and Rechon
"The freshmen always ask us questions, like, 'What can we expect? What can it be?'" Manley said. "You can only tell them so much. They just have to experience it. That didn't even compare to an exhibition or game."
A scary moment
White and Woods collided during the basketball skills challenge. Both seemed a little shaken up at first, but they finished the drill and showed no signs of being injured during the scrimmage.
"I saw it coming, and when they get going, nobody is stopping them …" Johnson said. "You saw Coby's hair going 800,000 different directions and flopping all over the place. I'm glad they're OK, though."
Other notes
Several times throughout the year, the North Carolina men's basketball team participates in the same four-minute, 15-second shooting drill. And more often than not, Sterling Manley said, the Tar Heels exceed the 125 shots Roy Williams challenged them to make Friday evening.
This time, though, they needed to accomplish the feat in front of the thousands of fans who filled the Smith Center for Late Night with Roy. Unsurprisingly, there might've been some anxiousness.
"It's just what happens the arena fills up a little bit more," Cameron Johnson said. "Things are a little bit different in general and feel a little bit different. I think it showed up in the 125 shots, some jitters. Some people hadn't touched a basketball all day, so I think that kind of worked against us a little bit."
Still, Carolina made 117 baskets before time expired. For each one, the men's basketball program and Roy Williams donated $100 for Hurricane Florence relief efforts. That money will be drawn from proceeds from the team's sale of autographed basketballs.Â
Williams said he'd match that donation if his team made 125 shots or more. Although UNC fell short of that mark, he and his wife, Wanda, still made a $11,700 gift of their own, bringing the final total to $23,400.
"It's always great to help people out when people need it," Johnson said. "Just to be in a position where we're able to donate money and to help people, we're just making jump shots, but it shows that what we do sometimes is a little bit deeper than just throwing a round thing into a circle."
Here are a few notes from Friday's festivities, hosted by former men's basketball player Antawn Jamison (UNC '99) and swimmer Molly Sullivan (UNC '02).
Scrimmage stats
Unofficially, Kenny Williams led all players with 19 points, helping the Blue team to a 36-34 win. His 3-pointer with about 30 seconds left proved to be the game-winner. On the White team, Manley and Nassir Little scored nine points each.
Seventh Woods – who registered a few impressive plays, including a one-handed transition dunk – was fouled on a layup attempt at the buzzer. Looking to tie the game with two made free throws, he missed his first attempt.
"Hopefully, we can get that matchup again sometime in the future," Johnson said. "I know how that will go. We don't even need to discuss that. But it was fun to go out there. This is our last Late Night for me, Kenny and Luke (Maye). So it was fun to go out there and compete a little bit."
Gaining experience
Friday's event allowed fans to get their first look at Little, Coby White and Rechon
LeakyBlack. It also helped give the freshmen a small sense of what the Smith Center will be like when the Tar Heels hold their home opener against Stanford on Nov. 12.
"The freshmen always ask us questions, like, 'What can we expect? What can it be?'" Manley said. "You can only tell them so much. They just have to experience it. That didn't even compare to an exhibition or game."
A scary moment
White and Woods collided during the basketball skills challenge. Both seemed a little shaken up at first, but they finished the drill and showed no signs of being injured during the scrimmage.
"I saw it coming, and when they get going, nobody is stopping them …" Johnson said. "You saw Coby's hair going 800,000 different directions and flopping all over the place. I'm glad they're OK, though."
Other notes
- During the 3-point competition, each team had three players attempt five shots from three different spots –the top of the key and the left and right elbow. Andrew Platek and Luke Maye made the most 3-pointers (9), including two bonus balls.
- Friday marked the first time fans saw the four new video boards that were installed at the Smith Center during the offseason. The building's combined video board size is almost five times larger than the previous ones, and they provide better picture clarity. "I need to get one of these in my bedroom at home," said Jamison at one point.
- The best part of the women's basketball scrimmage was seeing Destinee Walker and Stephanie Watts on the court again. Injuries sidelined both players all last season, but they appear fully healthy now. Watts made the best play of the scrimmage when she blocked a shot, corralled the ball, went behind her back as she dribbled down the court and made a stepback 3-pointer.
- The volleyball team kicked off the evening with a straight-set loss against sixth-ranked Pittsburgh. The defeat was UNC's first in eight matches played before Late Night with Roy.Â
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