From: markham@brtph597.bnr.ca (Andrew Markham P205)
Subject: Re: UNC-OSU Game (Re: Tarheels--outside shooting?)
Organization: BNR Inc. RTP, NC
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 15:19:42 GMT

Steve Williams writes:
>
>This was the first time I got to watch UNC play on TV this season.
>I saw the typical UNC start; that is, UNC came out with some cylinders 
>misfiring and UNC spent all of the first half catching up with OSU.  
>UNC certainly didn't look like a #5 team in the first half with too 
>many turnovers, missed shots, and silly fouls.  I didn't see any point
>guard controlling the UNC offense -  several players seemed to alternate
>at this role.  Also, OSU was able to penetrate UNC's defense easily in
>the first half.

The first half looked like UNC was trying to play a lot of one-on-one.
I think a few players (Reese, Lynch, Montross) were getting caught up
in Funderburke's trash-talking.  The Heels have had little trouble
getting started so far (albeit against weaker competition -- though
I would argue that Texas and Houston belong in the company of Ohio 
State), so perhaps you should watch more games before passing judgement.

>UNC finally started playing like a #5 team in the second half (UNC was 
>a few points behind at halftime and won by 20 points).  Montross was 
>the BIG player for UNC.

BIG is right.  Here's his stat line:

Player     Min FGM FGA  FTM FTA   R   A  F Pts
Montross    34   8   8    4   8   9   0  1  20

Montross played excellent defense on Funderburke in the second half, 
holding him to 4 points.  Lynch was also active on the boards with
16 rebounds!!!

>I'm afraid that UNC has some other problems beside its outside shooting.

I'm not quite sure where this 'outside shooting woes' stuff is coming 
from.  At the beginning of the ESPN telecast they questioned who would 
replace Davis and said that Williams appears to be the heir apparent.  
Then at the end of the game, Valvano says they need to drain the long 
jumper if they want to keep winning.  Sure they were a little off last 
night (1-5 from 3pt range), but for the season they are shooting 38 of 
77 from 3pt range (49.4%) as a team.  All of Williams, Rodl, Reese, and 
Calabria are shooting over 46% and are a combined 31 of 53 from 3pt 
range (58.5%).

>Most important of all, UNC's lack of real point guard may prove to be 
>UNC's Achilles' heel this season.  

Again, I think you should watch more than one game before judging a
team.  If you think UNC has no real point guard then you haven't been
following Phelps.  He missed the beginning of the season with injuries,
which seems to have affected his outside shooting, but he has shown 
that he can not only lead the defense (arguably one of the best 
defensive point guards in the league -- did you see how he hounded the
OSU backcourt during the game?), but also direct the offense with poise 
and intelligence.  He is averaging 6.3 assists per game and had games 
with 12 (vs. Houston), 9 (vs. Butler), and 8 (vs. University of South 
Carolina) assists.

Rodl covered for Phelps early on and is averaging 5.1 assists per game.
IMHO, he is quite capable also.  Oh, and for 9th off the bench, 
Calabria ain't that bad either.

>Also, UNC needs to start playing full 40 minutes of solid basketball in 
>each game if UNC is going to stay in the Top 5.

Once again, watch more games.  One bad half doesn't mean they don't
usually play a full 40 minutes of solid basketball.  If the Heels 
played two halves againse Ohio State like the second one they would have 
beaten the Buckeyes by 46 points.  

Remember, the Buckeyes aren't a pack of slouches (28th in the CNN-USA 
Today poll) and they were on their home court.  Give the Heels some
credit.

-- 
Andrew W. Markham (markham@bnr.ca)
Bell Northern Research, Inc.
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.college