University of North Carolina Athletics
Garrison Brooks
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
GoHeels Exclusive: Stepping Up
January 6, 2020 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
Four minutes into his postgame interview Saturday night, Garrison Brooks was finally asked the question he didn't want to answer.
Until then, he hadn't held back while discussing the myriad of reasons why North Carolina fell 96-83 to Georgia Tech, ranging from the Tar Heels missing their first 15 shots to a general lack of effort on defense. But when the topic of his performance came up, he refused to address it.
"Nah," he said, before the reporter could finish the question, "I don't want to talk about that."
And understandably so. The lone bright spot for UNC, Brooks couldn't do enough to lift Carolina (8-6, 1-2 ACC) in a winnable game against the Yellow Jackets (7-7, 2-2). That, however, doesn't make his effort any less impressive.
Known more for his defensive prowess than his offensive game, Brooks erupted for a career-high 35 points and 11 rebounds en route to his fourth double-double of the season and his career. The junior's 35 points were the most by a Tar Heel in exactly four years; Brice Johnson recorded 39 against Florida State on Jan. 4, 2016. They were also the most by a UNC player at the Smith Center since Tyler Hansbrough had 39 against Clemson on Feb. 10, 2008.
Brooks made nine field goals, tying his career high set against Wofford last season. The rest of his damage came at the free-throw line, where he made a career-best 17 of 18. His percentage of .944 is the second-best in Carolina history for 18 or more attempts. Only York Larese has posted a better percentage, going 21 for 21 against Duke on Dec. 29, 1959.
Still, as good as Brooks was, even he fell victim to the Tar Heels' early struggles.
No player missed more shots (5) than Brooks during UNC's 0-for-15 start from the field, and he admitted he hung his head after a few of those misses. He suggested that created a trickle-down effect that partially hindered Carolina offensively. Defensively, things weren't much better.
Georgia Tech entered Saturday ranked 210th nationally in field goal percentage (43.2) and 309th in scoring offense (65.4 points per game). But the Yellow Jackets made 13 of their first 26 shots to pull ahead 30-6, and Brooks took responsibility for that, as well.
"I didn't do a great job of that (setting the tone) at first," he said. "I think I had a couple of plays where I lost focus, lost my man and gave up a basket, and I think that set the tone early that we weren't focused. I kind of tried to fix that myself."
With 6:49 left in the first half, Brooks made the Tar Heels' first field goal when he backed his defender into the post and connected on a right hook shot. That came on just his third shot attempt in the paint – and proved to be a sign of what was to come.
All but one of Brooks' final 12 shots were in the paint. He made seven. His more concerted effort to attack the basket also led to him attempting all his free throws in the final 27:33.
"He was the only guy who was trying to be aggressive inside," Roy Williams said. "I don't know what he shot. You know, 9-for-18 is not a great percentage, but you understand also that (Georgia Tech forward) James (Banks III) was first team All-ACC defensive team last year. … So, he's good. It's hard to score over him. But (Brooks) was the only one who was taking the ball to the basket aggressively. When you shoot 18 free throws, you should get credit for that."
Williams credited Brooks for that and more.
During a postgame press conference in which he apologized to fans and former players because UNC "stunk it up," Williams questioned his players' effort. He estimated, though, that Brooks fought "more than the rest of the team put together." Brooks contested that claim. But Williams cited one play to back it up.
At one point, the Hall of Fame coach said Brooks went across the lane to double-team a Georgia Tech player in the post, which goes against how Williams teaches double-teaming. Williams said that led to a layup, but he also understood why Brooks did it.
"Garrison, to his credit, was trying to do something," Williams said. "I've never coached not one play – not one play my entire freakin' life – to double the low post from the other post. But Garrison was trying to fight, so I can live with that."
As noticeable as that fight was to Williams, it was also apparent to the crowd, which gave a standing ovation when Brooks fouled out with 2:21 left. Justin Pierce picked up on it, too.
"When I was out there, I felt comfortable and confident with Garrison out there because I knew he was going to play his heart out no matter what, no matter if shots went in or not," Pierce said. "That's just something that's important of a leader and of a teammate. I appreciate the effort he gave tonight, and hopefully he can continue it moving forward."
Similar comments were made about Brooks after he registered 17 points against Wofford on Dec. 15, the first of five straight games in which Carolina has been without Cole Anthony.
With Anthony, the team's leading scorer at 19.1 points per game, sidelined due to a partially torn meniscus in his right knee, the Tar Heels needed one or more players to step up and shoulder the offensive burden. So far, Brooks – a fourth or fifth scoring option much of his career – has.
In Anthony's absence, Brooks has averaged a team-best 18.2 points on 55.7 percent from the field. For the most part, he'd done so rather quietly. But Saturday's outburst turned heads.
In the aftermath of it, though, that was the last thing on Brooks' mind. Instead, he focused on the team and its struggles – and where it goes from here.
"We've got to keep working," he said. "We've got to come in (Sunday) and work. It's nothing to hang our heads about. Of course it's tough. It's something that you never want to happen – to get down by that much and have none of your shots going in and you can't get a stop. We've just got to come in and work, work like you never have before."
Four minutes into his postgame interview Saturday night, Garrison Brooks was finally asked the question he didn't want to answer.
Until then, he hadn't held back while discussing the myriad of reasons why North Carolina fell 96-83 to Georgia Tech, ranging from the Tar Heels missing their first 15 shots to a general lack of effort on defense. But when the topic of his performance came up, he refused to address it.
"Nah," he said, before the reporter could finish the question, "I don't want to talk about that."
And understandably so. The lone bright spot for UNC, Brooks couldn't do enough to lift Carolina (8-6, 1-2 ACC) in a winnable game against the Yellow Jackets (7-7, 2-2). That, however, doesn't make his effort any less impressive.
Known more for his defensive prowess than his offensive game, Brooks erupted for a career-high 35 points and 11 rebounds en route to his fourth double-double of the season and his career. The junior's 35 points were the most by a Tar Heel in exactly four years; Brice Johnson recorded 39 against Florida State on Jan. 4, 2016. They were also the most by a UNC player at the Smith Center since Tyler Hansbrough had 39 against Clemson on Feb. 10, 2008.
Brooks made nine field goals, tying his career high set against Wofford last season. The rest of his damage came at the free-throw line, where he made a career-best 17 of 18. His percentage of .944 is the second-best in Carolina history for 18 or more attempts. Only York Larese has posted a better percentage, going 21 for 21 against Duke on Dec. 29, 1959.
Still, as good as Brooks was, even he fell victim to the Tar Heels' early struggles.
No player missed more shots (5) than Brooks during UNC's 0-for-15 start from the field, and he admitted he hung his head after a few of those misses. He suggested that created a trickle-down effect that partially hindered Carolina offensively. Defensively, things weren't much better.
Georgia Tech entered Saturday ranked 210th nationally in field goal percentage (43.2) and 309th in scoring offense (65.4 points per game). But the Yellow Jackets made 13 of their first 26 shots to pull ahead 30-6, and Brooks took responsibility for that, as well.
"I didn't do a great job of that (setting the tone) at first," he said. "I think I had a couple of plays where I lost focus, lost my man and gave up a basket, and I think that set the tone early that we weren't focused. I kind of tried to fix that myself."
With 6:49 left in the first half, Brooks made the Tar Heels' first field goal when he backed his defender into the post and connected on a right hook shot. That came on just his third shot attempt in the paint – and proved to be a sign of what was to come.
All but one of Brooks' final 12 shots were in the paint. He made seven. His more concerted effort to attack the basket also led to him attempting all his free throws in the final 27:33.
"He was the only guy who was trying to be aggressive inside," Roy Williams said. "I don't know what he shot. You know, 9-for-18 is not a great percentage, but you understand also that (Georgia Tech forward) James (Banks III) was first team All-ACC defensive team last year. … So, he's good. It's hard to score over him. But (Brooks) was the only one who was taking the ball to the basket aggressively. When you shoot 18 free throws, you should get credit for that."
Williams credited Brooks for that and more.
During a postgame press conference in which he apologized to fans and former players because UNC "stunk it up," Williams questioned his players' effort. He estimated, though, that Brooks fought "more than the rest of the team put together." Brooks contested that claim. But Williams cited one play to back it up.
At one point, the Hall of Fame coach said Brooks went across the lane to double-team a Georgia Tech player in the post, which goes against how Williams teaches double-teaming. Williams said that led to a layup, but he also understood why Brooks did it.
"Garrison, to his credit, was trying to do something," Williams said. "I've never coached not one play – not one play my entire freakin' life – to double the low post from the other post. But Garrison was trying to fight, so I can live with that."
As noticeable as that fight was to Williams, it was also apparent to the crowd, which gave a standing ovation when Brooks fouled out with 2:21 left. Justin Pierce picked up on it, too.
"When I was out there, I felt comfortable and confident with Garrison out there because I knew he was going to play his heart out no matter what, no matter if shots went in or not," Pierce said. "That's just something that's important of a leader and of a teammate. I appreciate the effort he gave tonight, and hopefully he can continue it moving forward."
Similar comments were made about Brooks after he registered 17 points against Wofford on Dec. 15, the first of five straight games in which Carolina has been without Cole Anthony.
With Anthony, the team's leading scorer at 19.1 points per game, sidelined due to a partially torn meniscus in his right knee, the Tar Heels needed one or more players to step up and shoulder the offensive burden. So far, Brooks – a fourth or fifth scoring option much of his career – has.
In Anthony's absence, Brooks has averaged a team-best 18.2 points on 55.7 percent from the field. For the most part, he'd done so rather quietly. But Saturday's outburst turned heads.
In the aftermath of it, though, that was the last thing on Brooks' mind. Instead, he focused on the team and its struggles – and where it goes from here.
"We've got to keep working," he said. "We've got to come in (Sunday) and work. It's nothing to hang our heads about. Of course it's tough. It's something that you never want to happen – to get down by that much and have none of your shots going in and you can't get a stop. We've just got to come in and work, work like you never have before."
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