University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Lucas: Basketball Practice Notebook
October 2, 2019 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Notes and quotes from the first four Carolina basketball practices.
By Adam Lucas
The first four Carolina basketball practices of the season have been heavy on teaching, with Roy Williams trying to instruct a roster stocked with newcomers.
Sometimes, though, the most effective teacher hasn't been a coach.
Kenny Williams, a senior on last year's squad, is in Chapel Hill working out as he prepares for professional basketball. He practiced with the Tar Heels on Tuesday, showing the exact same veteran savvy that made him so popular as a player.
During a full-court drill, Williams drew a charge. As soon as play stopped, Roy Williams used the play to make his point. "I hope you young guys saw that," he said, pointing to Kenny Williams. "He took a charge. Everybody should be able to do that."
The lesson was hard to learn. Two possessions later, Williams was one of the only defenders back on a potential fast break opportunity. One of the Carolina newcomers lowered his shoulder and barreled into the player who somehow didn't make the ACC All-Defensive squad last season. Whistles blew—another charge.
"One guy," Roy Williams told his team. "One guy stopped that break."
Pierce fits in: One of the newcomers is William and Mary graduate transfer Justin Pierce. Not everything has been completely new for him, however. Pierce played three seasons under Carolina alum Tony Shaver.
"There are some little things that are similar," Pierce said. "Some of the terminology and drills we do are the same. We had a very strict practice plan at William and Mary, and that's also something Coach Williams does here."
Role definition: One of the preseason storylines will be Carolina's search for scoring on the perimeter. Senior Brandon Robinson has shot the ball well in practice, but the Tar Heels also added Charleston Southern graduate transfer Christian Keeling, who is a true scorer.
Robinson and Keeling, who are both Georgia natives, have known each other since the eighth grade. One of Keeling's first impressions of Carolina was admiration that even though Robinson knew Keeling would crowd the depth chart at his position, it was Robinson who was the primary host for him on his Carolina visit.
"I knew if Carolina wasn't a good fit or a great opportunity for me, he would tell me," Keeling said. "He has always been a friend to me before a basketball player. The fact that he showed me around was so impressive. That's a testimony to him and his character and the type of person they recruit at Carolina. B-Rob would sacrifice his minutes for the common goal if needed. But we also know we can play alongside each other and that will be deadly."
Notes:Garrison Brooks made a free throw for the white team at Tuesday's practice that eliminated one of the dreaded 33's from the post-practice running regimen…Freshman Armando Bacot's conditioning has been impressive for a young post player…Interesting quote from Pierce: "Every day at Carolina you're being pushed to your maximum ability. If you don't bring it, you'll be exposed that day. But the thing that has impressed me so far is that you have a lot of really talented individuals on this team and coaches who have won at the highest level. But everyone only wants to win. There are no egos or me first attitudes. That has been really impressive since this is a school where a lot of guys could have egos if they wanted to."
The first four Carolina basketball practices of the season have been heavy on teaching, with Roy Williams trying to instruct a roster stocked with newcomers.
Sometimes, though, the most effective teacher hasn't been a coach.
Kenny Williams, a senior on last year's squad, is in Chapel Hill working out as he prepares for professional basketball. He practiced with the Tar Heels on Tuesday, showing the exact same veteran savvy that made him so popular as a player.
During a full-court drill, Williams drew a charge. As soon as play stopped, Roy Williams used the play to make his point. "I hope you young guys saw that," he said, pointing to Kenny Williams. "He took a charge. Everybody should be able to do that."
The lesson was hard to learn. Two possessions later, Williams was one of the only defenders back on a potential fast break opportunity. One of the Carolina newcomers lowered his shoulder and barreled into the player who somehow didn't make the ACC All-Defensive squad last season. Whistles blew—another charge.
"One guy," Roy Williams told his team. "One guy stopped that break."
Pierce fits in: One of the newcomers is William and Mary graduate transfer Justin Pierce. Not everything has been completely new for him, however. Pierce played three seasons under Carolina alum Tony Shaver.
"There are some little things that are similar," Pierce said. "Some of the terminology and drills we do are the same. We had a very strict practice plan at William and Mary, and that's also something Coach Williams does here."
Role definition: One of the preseason storylines will be Carolina's search for scoring on the perimeter. Senior Brandon Robinson has shot the ball well in practice, but the Tar Heels also added Charleston Southern graduate transfer Christian Keeling, who is a true scorer.
Robinson and Keeling, who are both Georgia natives, have known each other since the eighth grade. One of Keeling's first impressions of Carolina was admiration that even though Robinson knew Keeling would crowd the depth chart at his position, it was Robinson who was the primary host for him on his Carolina visit.
"I knew if Carolina wasn't a good fit or a great opportunity for me, he would tell me," Keeling said. "He has always been a friend to me before a basketball player. The fact that he showed me around was so impressive. That's a testimony to him and his character and the type of person they recruit at Carolina. B-Rob would sacrifice his minutes for the common goal if needed. But we also know we can play alongside each other and that will be deadly."
Notes:Garrison Brooks made a free throw for the white team at Tuesday's practice that eliminated one of the dreaded 33's from the post-practice running regimen…Freshman Armando Bacot's conditioning has been impressive for a young post player…Interesting quote from Pierce: "Every day at Carolina you're being pushed to your maximum ability. If you don't bring it, you'll be exposed that day. But the thing that has impressed me so far is that you have a lot of really talented individuals on this team and coaches who have won at the highest level. But everyone only wants to win. There are no egos or me first attitudes. That has been really impressive since this is a school where a lot of guys could have egos if they wanted to."
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