University of North Carolina Athletics
Garrison Brooks
Photo by: J.D. Lyon Jr.
GoHeels Exclusive: Be Silly
January 9, 2019 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
RALEIGH — When asked Tuesday night who he thought delivered the best performance in North Carolina's 90-82 win over N.C. State, Roy Williams could've named at least seven different players.
He could've chosen any of his seniors – Cameron Johnson, Luke Maye or Kenny Williams. They combined for 51 points and 32 rebounds, becoming the first three Tar Heels to post a double-double in the same game since Reggie Bullock, John Henson and Tyler Zeller against Ohio in the Sweet 16 in 2012. They also tallied 10 total assists.
If not them, Williams could've selected Coby White after he scored 19 points in his first game against the Wolfpack. Or he could've even considered Leaky Black or Brandon Robinson, who played key roles after Johnson exited the game with 12 minutes left because of cramping issues.
But Williams picked none of them.
Instead, he said he'd "be silly" and go with Garrison Brooks, largely because of Brooks' sensational defense. Brooks provided much more than that, though, to earn Williams' praise for the second time in as many ACC games.
Brooks finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, five assists and a block against N.C. State. After accounting for nine points, eight rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals in Saturday's win at Pittsburgh, Tuesday's game marked the second straight he led or tied for the team lead in assists. He'd previously never done that in his UNC career. In the two ACC games, he's recorded 10 assists and no turnovers after registering 10 assists and 17 turnovers in the first 13 games this season.
"I told Leaky and Seventh (Woods) and Coby they better watch out because Garrison the last two games has 10 assists and zero turnovers," Williams said. "I might play his butt at point guard."
But right now, Brooks is doing everything the Tar Heels need him to do at the five spot. And he's proving he can be dependable.
As a freshman, Brooks showed he can be relied upon for his defense, winning Carolina's defensive player of the game award eight times. He entered Tuesday having received that honor a team-high four times as a sophomore. His performance against the Wolfpack might garner him his fifth, based off Williams' postgame remarks.
Brooks might not have been one of three players with double-digit rebounds. But he played a key role in helping the Tar Heels win the rebounding battle, 51-33. His hedges on ball screens were also crucial, preventing N.C. State's guards from attacking at will. That subsequently led to the Wolfpack's Markell Johnson scoring only 11 points on 12 shots.
"I thought Garrison was really good defensively," Williams said. "We needed hard hedges on the screen on the ball and except for one of those last plays – (D.J.) Funderburk got his last bucket and it's Garrison's responsibility to go back in the lane from the ball to his man – other than that I don't remember many bad plays that Garrison had on the defensive end of the court."
Along with Brooks' offensive contributions, the importance of his play was further magnified with Sterling Manley missing his third straight game because of left knee soreness. No timetable is set for Manley's return. But Brooks is making the most of the additional minutes he's seeing.
"I feel like I've just got to play better now that it's ACC play," Brooks said. "My teammates give me confidence, and I just feel like I do what Coach expects me to do."
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That might not entail Brooks scoring in double figures each game. But after Tuesday, he's accomplished that feat five times this season, matching his total number of double-digit scoring efforts from his freshman campaign. He's also already finished with nine or more points in as many games against conference opponents as he did last season.
All 11 of Brooks' points against the Wolfpack came either in the paint or at the free-throw line, where he's shooting 88.9 percent (16-for-18) over the last six games. As the season's progressed, though, he's displayed more confidence with his jumper.
That's one of the reasons why Maye said he believes Brooks is starting to come into his own in his second season in Chapel Hill.
"I think he's getting better offensively and he's starting to shoot a little mid-range, which is great," Maye said. "Hopefully, down the road, he'll be able to step it out a little bit and continue to grow his game. Right now, we just need him to continue to do great defensively, offensive rebound, box out and make the plays inside. And I think he's doing that for us."
But how does Brooks feel about moving to point guard, as Williams jokingly suggested?
"If that's what he feels like we've got to do to win," Brooks said, laughing, "we're going to do it."
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RALEIGH — When asked Tuesday night who he thought delivered the best performance in North Carolina's 90-82 win over N.C. State, Roy Williams could've named at least seven different players.
He could've chosen any of his seniors – Cameron Johnson, Luke Maye or Kenny Williams. They combined for 51 points and 32 rebounds, becoming the first three Tar Heels to post a double-double in the same game since Reggie Bullock, John Henson and Tyler Zeller against Ohio in the Sweet 16 in 2012. They also tallied 10 total assists.
If not them, Williams could've selected Coby White after he scored 19 points in his first game against the Wolfpack. Or he could've even considered Leaky Black or Brandon Robinson, who played key roles after Johnson exited the game with 12 minutes left because of cramping issues.
But Williams picked none of them.
Instead, he said he'd "be silly" and go with Garrison Brooks, largely because of Brooks' sensational defense. Brooks provided much more than that, though, to earn Williams' praise for the second time in as many ACC games.
Brooks finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, five assists and a block against N.C. State. After accounting for nine points, eight rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals in Saturday's win at Pittsburgh, Tuesday's game marked the second straight he led or tied for the team lead in assists. He'd previously never done that in his UNC career. In the two ACC games, he's recorded 10 assists and no turnovers after registering 10 assists and 17 turnovers in the first 13 games this season.
"I told Leaky and Seventh (Woods) and Coby they better watch out because Garrison the last two games has 10 assists and zero turnovers," Williams said. "I might play his butt at point guard."
But right now, Brooks is doing everything the Tar Heels need him to do at the five spot. And he's proving he can be dependable.
As a freshman, Brooks showed he can be relied upon for his defense, winning Carolina's defensive player of the game award eight times. He entered Tuesday having received that honor a team-high four times as a sophomore. His performance against the Wolfpack might garner him his fifth, based off Williams' postgame remarks.
Brooks might not have been one of three players with double-digit rebounds. But he played a key role in helping the Tar Heels win the rebounding battle, 51-33. His hedges on ball screens were also crucial, preventing N.C. State's guards from attacking at will. That subsequently led to the Wolfpack's Markell Johnson scoring only 11 points on 12 shots.
"I thought Garrison was really good defensively," Williams said. "We needed hard hedges on the screen on the ball and except for one of those last plays – (D.J.) Funderburk got his last bucket and it's Garrison's responsibility to go back in the lane from the ball to his man – other than that I don't remember many bad plays that Garrison had on the defensive end of the court."
Along with Brooks' offensive contributions, the importance of his play was further magnified with Sterling Manley missing his third straight game because of left knee soreness. No timetable is set for Manley's return. But Brooks is making the most of the additional minutes he's seeing.
"I feel like I've just got to play better now that it's ACC play," Brooks said. "My teammates give me confidence, and I just feel like I do what Coach expects me to do."
Â
That might not entail Brooks scoring in double figures each game. But after Tuesday, he's accomplished that feat five times this season, matching his total number of double-digit scoring efforts from his freshman campaign. He's also already finished with nine or more points in as many games against conference opponents as he did last season.
All 11 of Brooks' points against the Wolfpack came either in the paint or at the free-throw line, where he's shooting 88.9 percent (16-for-18) over the last six games. As the season's progressed, though, he's displayed more confidence with his jumper.
That's one of the reasons why Maye said he believes Brooks is starting to come into his own in his second season in Chapel Hill.
"I think he's getting better offensively and he's starting to shoot a little mid-range, which is great," Maye said. "Hopefully, down the road, he'll be able to step it out a little bit and continue to grow his game. Right now, we just need him to continue to do great defensively, offensive rebound, box out and make the plays inside. And I think he's doing that for us."
But how does Brooks feel about moving to point guard, as Williams jokingly suggested?
"If that's what he feels like we've got to do to win," Brooks said, laughing, "we're going to do it."
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