UNC wins well against Gardner-Webb
In a post that is way late (I know, I know) here are my thoughts about the game between Gardner-Webb and North Carolina (which is now ranked 11th in the AP poll and 12th in the ESPN one) which ended by the final of 93 to 72 for the Heels. Carolina (5-1) looked a lot better today than they did against Syracuse a couple of days prior. Yes, the competition had something to do with that, but so did the less sloppy play by the UNC squad. Yes, the Tar Heels were also way taller than their opponents, but that is going to be the case in a lot of games, so you can’t blame head coach Roy Williams and his players for that.
I think this win means a lot more to this team than it will mean to the overall program. Yes, it was Gardner-Webb (3-1), but it was also the first team to play Carolina since they got demolished in the second half by SU. With a team that has a lot of talent but not that much on the court maturity, this game was needed to see the Heels come back up after being put down. On the inside the core of Thompson, Davis and Zeller all did well, with the first two having double doubles and the third scoing 16. And this coming with none of them playing more than 29 minutes. In all coach Williams had ten Heels get at least 11 minutes of playing time, and only Marcus Ginyard (8 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals) going above 30 minutes.
What does all of this mean? Mainly that this year there is yet to be anyone, besides Ginyard and Thompson, that has stepped up and said “I want the ball coach” or “you need me in there coach”. I am sure down the line that will change, especially as Ed Davis and John Henson both settle into what they can be, but for now I keep seeing this team as one that the coach staff will keep tinkering until they find that “it” factor so many people talk about and so few know what it is.
Having even more time in between this game and their next one, against Nevada at the Dean Dome, I am sure that this squad will keep on getting better and maybe someone will finally step it up, and if not, look for more mix and match while Carolina plays against its opponents. For most of us it’s holiday time, as we celebrate Thanksgiving, for the student body it’s time to see their loved ones, maybe for the first time since going back to classes, for the football team it’s a time of preparing for the Wolfpack and then see where they end up in the bowl picture. For the basketball team it’s time to get themselves focused from being in the beginning part of the season, to going into the middle part of the non conference schedule, which will see them face many top notch programs, including MSU in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
Yes, this is the team that the fair weathered fans might like to jump off the bandwagon from. I seen plenty of posts around the net not going after the team, but just hinting how this is wrong and that could be better. I say this is the best time to be a Tar Heel, as you see the beginning of what could be once again a group of players that develop into a title contender. But we have to give it time, nothing good is done quickly. Do not compare this team with another one, cause they are them, no one else. Give them the time they need to become what coach Williams (and his coaches) want them to be.
Would we have won the game against SU if we had Lawson, Hansbrough, Ellington and Green? Heck yeah, but that is 4/5th of a national title team! Would the big men, good already, benefit from a guard like Lawson being on the roster? Again, yes, but we are talking about someone who went in the Top 20 of the NBA draft last year, not just any guard! Be thankful for the season UNC had last year, but put into your mind the following: this is now. This is the team that can become what last year’s team was, it just needs something you can not push: time! That is why this team beating Gardner-Webb is a lot more important than last year’s would have been. Because this team needs to learn how to win properly, and not just by luck or sheer skill or because of height. Baby steps are needed here and I think against G-W they were seen, with maybe the exception of a bit too many TO’s in the second 20 minutes and the fact that you can’t miss 15 free throws in a game.
I figured that after the game against Syracuse and the time off this team would be ready for this game. However I was still pleasently surprised on offense as they seemed to be playing with focus and more knowledge of their role. This team will make it’s move to become better and better, the game against G-W showed us that. How long will it take? Only time will tell!
Shortlink:
