Roy Williams Tar Heels Streaking Towards March Madness

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

Coming into the season, with heralded freshman Harrison Barnes, the North Carolina Tar Heels (22-6, 12-2) were hit with the No. 9 preseason ranking.

Two games in, frosh Barnes started to hear mumbles over uncertainty after going 0-12 from the field against Minnesota, and followed up with a 4-12 shooting performance against Vandy.

Many suspected this Tar Heels squad to turn in another effort similar to a season before where they missed on the big dance.

That notion was soon threw out and North Carolina is now in position to win the ACC regular season title after Virginia Tech defeated Duke and the 'Heels took care of business against Maryland 87-76.

If won, North Carolina would have four of the last five ACC regular season championships.

"I've just preached the whole year, let's just try to do everything we can do to get better," said head coach Roy Williams.

It's time to give credit where credit is due. Coach Williams has turned this young North Carolina team into a contender mid-season when some much turmoil surrounded the program.

Earlier this season, if I would have told some North Carolina would be tied with the Duke Blue Devils (26-3, 12-2) to potentially win the ACC regular season title they wouldn't buy it. But, North Carolina has done a good job of proving its doubters wrong.

Every since Kendall Marshall took over the duties in the backcourt, North Carolina has been on a roll losing one game on the road to rival Duke.

"We have a chance to win the ACC's," Marshall said after a good win against Maryland. "We've got to take it one game at a time. I think we did a good job today coming out playing."

The finishing push might be the most difficult in the conference, however. North Carolina will travel to take on the Florida State Seminoles (20-8, 10-4), who will be without their superstar Chris Singleton.

Three days later, the 'Heels will return home to take on Duke for a possible first-place showdown in one of the best rivalries in college basketball.

Coach Williams said that he likes his players to have big goals and dreams but the only way to accomplish them is stay extremely focused. But in the words of freshman guard Marshall, the 'Heels have to take it "one game at a time."

If the 'Heels hope to win the ACC title many things have to go right in the last two games.

With a lot of size in the frontcourt with both Tyler Zeller and John Henson, North Carolina is the number one rebounding team in the nation.

"That's a pretty good combination when it's seven foot and 6'10''," said Maryland head coach Gary Williams following their loss to North Carolina. "And you know, there's some NBA teams who would like to have that size up front."

Henson pulls down 9.3 boards to go along with 7.3 by Zeller. Their contribution has helped the 'Heels become the nations best rebounding team pulling in 42.6 per game. Additionally, North Carolina also pulls in a nations best 28.7 rebounds on the defensive end of the ball.
 
The 'Heels should take care of business at Florida State and set up a huge matchup against rivals Duke. In the first game against Duke, North Carolina led early due to it's ability to crash the boards and get east points inside.

That is something that North Carolina will certainly utilize as well as their home court advantage. The 'Heels haven't lost a game at home this whole season.

The 'Heels certainly control their own destiny. If North Carolina wants to win another ACC regular season title it's up to the 'Heels to win games.

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Still Plenty to Prove for Young Tar Heels

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

The North Carolina Tar Heels (19-6, 9-2) have went from NCAA laughing stock to potential contenders in the tournament.

Coach Roy Williams made a decision to start freshman Kendall Marshall in the backcourt opposed to Larry Drew II, which has lead the 'Heels to a 7-1 record with Marshall as the starter.

Highly-touted freshman Harrison Barnes has resurfaced as one of the top newcomers in the game. Barnes is averaging 17.5 points and 5.7 rebounds with Marshall as the starter.

The 'Heels have moved from un-ranked to continue to claw at the top 25 polls.

Will this be good enough to beat the Ohio State's, Texas', Kansas' and many other College Basketball powerhouses?

This is the question looming as the season progresses for North Carolina.

The 'Heels have faced formidable competition all season has shown the ability to compete with the best. North Carolina played both Duke, and Texas and dropped both games by a combined total of eight points. Minded, both are top five teams in the polls.

North Carolina just finished their tough stretch of 4-games in 10 days, 3-1 with the only loss coming at Duke. "Everyone has talked so much about that four game stretch [in 10 days.]," said coach Williams following their win against Wake Forest.

"I believe out guys  thought that was a mountain they could not climb because we were so happy about trying to climb that mountain that we forgot to have our intelligence and intensity level as much as we needed it tonight."

The way North Carolina has played thus far in ACC play, their isn't a reason to believe the 'Heels cannot compete against the elite in the NCAA tournament.

North Carolina has one of the best coaches in the game, along with an improving roster that gets better by the game, and an improving superstar in Tyler Zeller.

Their core of players featuring Barnes, Zeller, Marshall and John Henson should take them along way in the tournament.

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Kendall Marshall Has North Carolina on the Right Track

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

Earlier this season, all the talk surrounding the North Carolina Tar Heels (17-5, 7-1) was Harrison Barnes inability to live up to his AP Pre-Season All-American tag.

The lack of solid point guard play didn't aid the Tar Heels well knocking them out the top 25 rather earlier than expected.

Nonetheless, the 'Heels have returned to both polls and are re-emerging as a basketball power.

Before the season started, Larry Drew II was the starter for North Carolina with Kendall Marshall playing the backup role.

After the 'Heels loss to Georgia Tech, coach Roy Williams inserted Marshall in the starting lineup and since then the 'Heels haven't loss anything besides their backup Drew II.

Drew II opted to transfer after losing his starting role to Marshall.

Despite losing a formidable guard, Marshall has North Carolina fans saying, "Drew who?"

As a starter, Marshall has averaged 6.2 points and 6.6 assist per game, including a 16 assist effort in the 'Heels most recent win over Florida State.

"I saw it on the board--I mean, they said freshman assist record so I thought that was big for him confidence-wise," said John Henson on Marshall's freshman record for assist.

"It's a good feeling," said Marshall. "Harrison told me that after the game. He looked up at the scoreboard and looked at me and told me I just set the record," said Marshall about knowing about his record setting performance.

His stats do not do him any justice. His progression since joining the starting lineup has allowed North Carolina to be a lot more productive.

Barnes has seen his stats skyrocket with Marshall as the starter averaging 18.8 points, and 6.2 rebounds on 59 percent shooting.

Henson has averaged 13.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks per game. The list could go on.

Marshall stepped up big time for the 'Heels. His contributions and leadership is the main reason this North Carolina team is able to breath fresh air again.

It was just last month when the 'Heels were blew away by 20 on the road against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (10-12, 3-6). Now the 'Heels have the chance to overtake Duke as the No. 1 team in the ACC conference on Wednesday at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

The 'Heels are back on track and frosh Barnes seems to be energized with the emergence of Marshall. If one thing is worth noting, it's that the North Carolina Tar Heels are back!

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Harrison Barnes: Will He Ever Live Up to the Hype?

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

I've seen unusual slumps watching College Basketball but none more interesting than the one in Raleigh.

Harrison Barnes, a 6-foot-7 freshman, at the age of 18 was the only kid his age to every be dubbed an AP Preseason All-American.

He was also rated the No. 1 recruit in the 2010 recruiting class that produced players such as Kyrie Irving, Brandon Knight, Jared Sullinger, and Terrence Jones.

Many people were prepping for a Carmelo Anthony-like run, and compared Barnes to the most clutch player in the game, Kobe Bryant.

Thus far, Barnes hasn't surpassed the 20-point mark and has one double-double on the season.

Many tend to point the finger at the lack of veteran leader. Similar to football, the chances of you winning without a veteran quarterback are slim.

Early-on in the season, critics hit Barnes hard with overrated tags, and even heard the chant as he shot free-throws against Illinois.

Coach Roy Williams often defended his highly-touted freshmen saying "If you've got enough [gumption] to make somebody a big hero like that, admit that you were wrong, and stop picking on the kid," referring to ESPN's hypocritical analysis on the freshman.

"It's silly if you're going to anoint the guy and three weeks later crucify him, that's ridiculous. He didn't ask to be voted first-team pre-season All-American."

Throughout this whole process, impressively, Barnes has ignored the critics, steadily improved and could be on the road to redemption.

In the North Carolina Tar Heels (13-5, 3-1 ACC) most recent game, Barnes nailed a three to put the 'Heels up late, and also nailed the game winner to keep North Carolina a perfect 55-0 at home against Clemson.

During ACC play, Barnes has stepped up in key situations in all games. More impressively, Barnes scored 10 of his 12 points with 10-minutes left to play to help the 'Heels rally back and hand the Hokies their second loss of ACC play.

Lately, Kendall Marshall has stepped up and continues to improve. He currently averaged 5.5 assist per game during conference play in 20-minutes of action.

Not to mention, Marshall has improved his assist-to-turnover ratio to 3.23 during conference play. With Marshall taking over the starting role, I expect Barnes to be more productive on both ends of the floor.

Going back to what I said earlier, the chances of you winning without a veteran leader are slim. Barnes is a gifted player, by all means, but you can't expect him to be spectacular when the point guard doesn't play his role.

Marshall isn't a veteran leader, just yet, but he's a nice compliment to a five-star forward like Barnes.

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The Rebirth: Five Freshman Who Can Counter Disappointing Start

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

College Basketball recruiting is as misleading as the hype that surrounds it. Many players are highly-touted coming out of high school, and are proclaimed as super freshman, but not many have stepped up to the plate.

There are many freshman that have already made their mark on the College Basketball world.

Take Duke's Kyrie Irving for example. Irving currently is tied for first in scoring for the No. 1 team in the nation at 16.8 points, as well as 5.5 assist per game.

Kentucky freshman Brandon Knight, and Terrence Jones have also made major noise as the top players in the game.

However, some players aren't as fortunate, and isn't currently in the right situation coming in.

Here is a look at some of the freshman that hasn't lived up to their high expectations.

C.J. Leslie (NCSU) - 8.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.6 blocks per game
C.J. Leslie was looked on to be the superstar of this young Wolfpack team that has just three seniors. Despite starting the season off with a 21 point, six rebound, six block campaign, Leslie has looked like a non-factor from there on. Leslie has scored in double-figures twice this whole season. Leslie has struggled from the field in his last three games nailing 6-of-21(28%) shots and NC State is (1-2) over that stretch. His jumpshot, and ability to work for his shot has to improve if he wants to live up to his lofty expectations.

Patric Young (FLA) - 4.2 points, 3.0 rebounds per game
When Patric Young committed to Florida nobody expected him to start, but most expected him to be a fearsome competitor off the bench. However, coach Billy Donavan hasn't seen much aggressiveness out of his 6-foot-9 freshman and it shows both on the court and on the stats sheet. Young, converts on a lot of his attempts but doesn't seem to take many shots. The Gators need Young to be aggressive off the bench, and ignite the second unit with great post play.

Fab Melo (SYR) - 2.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.0 blocks per game
Fab Melo was considered the No. 1 center in the 2010 recruiting class. However, he has yet to live up to the expectations of being a go to post threat down low. Melo has started all seven games for Syracuse, but only logging an average of 13.4 minutes per game. Melo has struggled getting into a groove, which really hurts his playing time. Syracuse needs Melo to attack the boards, and become what everyone pegged him as, which was the best low post scorer in the 2010 class.

Terrence Ross (WASH) - 5.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.0 assist per game
Ross was brought to Washington with the belief that he could ignite the wing. However, early he has done everything but that. Ross comes off the bench for the Huskies and rarely produces in his 13.7 minutes of play. Ross is on a cold streak hitting on 20 percent of his shots during this stretch. For Ross to bounce back, he needs to continue to work on his jumper, and build confidence in his jump shot.

Harrison Barnes (UNC) - 11.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.0 assist per game
Barnes had so much unbearable pressure placed on him before he touched a basketball. He was pegged as AP Preseason All American, and is the main reason the 'Heels were a top-10 team when the season started. Barnes hasn't necessarily played bad, more so, hasn't played good. Barnes has been off from the field, but that is definitely commendable and could be curbed in no time. I expect Barnes to shake his cold shooting and become the leader the 'Heels need.

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Lack of Leadership Evident With Young Tar Heels

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

When Harrison Barnes committed to the North Carolina Tar Heels (4-3), basketball guru's started to place them into the elite category.

The 'Heels were conceived to go along way with freshman sensation Barnes leading the way.

Barnes was pegged as an AP Preseason All-American, No. 1 overall player in the 2010 recruiting class, and the No. 1 pick in the upcoming 2011 NBA draft.

This is all before Barnes even touched the court in a college basketball jersey.

The 'Heels opened the season with a blowout win over Lipscomb, followed up by manhandling Hofstra, but was soon "upset" by the Minnesota Gophers.

Ensuing the loss to Minnesota, the 'Heels dropped another game against Vanderbilt.

North Carolina began to regain confidence with back-to-back wins over UNC-Asheville, and the College of Charleston.

However, tonight (11/30) the 'Heels picked up their third loss on the season against the No. 20 Illinois Fighting Illini (7-1).

It's a reoccurring theme for the 'Heels. Every since Ty Lawson left for the NBA, North Carolina has not filled his shoes. Larry Drew III has continued his poor decision-making turning the ball over on average three times in their losses.

He has also been absent in the scoring column. Right now, Drew isn't playing like he deserves to start for North Carolina.

Kendall Marshall has shown a lot of upside at the point guard position dishing out a team-high four assist per game. He turned the ball over four times against the Illini, and only one I can remember was actually where he played carelessly with the ball, other times was miscommunication.

Before the Illini game, Marshall possessed an assist-to-turnover ratio of nearly 3-to-1.

Tyler Zeller has blossomed into the most consistent player for North Carolina averaging 14.7 points, and 7.2 rebounds.

Barnes has yet to transition to the player he is capable of being. John Henson is a bright light for the 'Heels.

Henson is a very skilled post player with the ability to be something great. However, everybody knows the 'Heels have talent with a combined eight former McDonald's All-Americans resting on their roster.

After watching North Carolina drop their third game during their last five game stretch, it's clear that this young team could benefit from some leadership, and direction.

Barnes was conceived to be the leader for North Carolina, but hasn't stepped up to fill that role early in the season. Zeller has made strides, but teams realize how fragile North Carolina is in the paint and makes their bigs a non-factor.

The lack of leadership is tearing the 'Heels apart, slowly but surely. After a disappointing month of November, the 'Heels have yet to determine who will lead this young team.

Despite the heavy expectations, if Barnes is able to take charge of this team, North Carolina could reemerge as one of the more dangerous teams in the NCAA.

However, with hard work, dedication, and more experience, I expect this 'Heels team to find their leader and create a new identity once conference play begins.

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Kyrie Irving One of the Top Fresh Faces in the ACC

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

Last season, the ACC Conference was not the toughest but was one of the more interesting conferences in all of College Basketball.

The National Champion, and the most disappointing team from last season played in the ACC conference.

Not to mention, there was a two-way tie for the regular season title and the conference was the only one to have two team just under five-hundred overall.

With that said, the ACC attracted a lot of highly-touted recruits.

The No. 1 overall player in the 2010 class will play in the ACC next season, along with many McDonald's All-Americans.

Kyrie Irving is also among the talented newcomers. Irving will be joined by newcomer Seth Curry as well.

North Carolina State has a trio of freshman that should dominate, but which one are amongst the top newcomers in the ACC?

Here is a look at some of the top newcomers in the ACC:

Kyrie Irving (DUKE) - Kyrie Irving was regarded as the best point guard in the 2010 recruiting class by many. With his scoring ability, the Blue Devils will not miss Jon Scheyer too much on offense. Not to mention, he can lead a team with his high basketball I.Q. and true point guard feel. With Irving, the Blue Devils have one of the best backcourts in the nation. If there is one thing Irving has, it's the chance to lead a team back to the National Championship as a true freshman.

Harrison Barnes (UNC) - Harrison Barnes, is, no doubt, the best player in the 2010 class. Possibly the best player in all of College Basketball after it's all said and done. Barnes has a lot of upside, and the ability to make a huge impact at North Carolina. His ability to score at will, play tough defense, and make plays has the Tar Heels inside the top-10 of both polls after being runner-ups in the NIT tournament last season.

C.J. Leslie (NCSU) - C.J. Leslie is a freak of nature. With the ball in his hands you can always expect consistent contributions. His ability to handle the ball at 6-foot-9 allows him to be a favorable forward in one-on-one situations. Not to mention, he can score on the low block with his back towards the basket. He is also very good with blocking and altering shots. Leslie can hit jumpers, penetrate, play defense and should be the leader of a young NC State team.

Mychal Parker (MD) - Mychal Parker reminds me of a younger Grevis Vasquez. Parker is a solid two guard, but could pick up a few point guard skills under Gary Williams. Parker is a very explosive guard that has the ability to step right in and become the leader for the 'Terps. He is at his best when driving to the lane, where he finishes strong around the rim. But he does have a decent jump shot that should improve over the course of the season. 

Seth Curry (DUKE) - Seth Curry scored 20 points per game his freshman season at Liberty. He transferred to Duke, and will have to earn every minute on the court with such a loaded backcourt. But that is not going to stop Curry as he was looking for a starting spot. Curry doesn't do a lot of damage off-the-dribble, rather, behind the arc. Curry is a pure shooter, and should play the off-guard position where he can utilize his strengths.

Kendall Marshall (UNC) - Kendall Marshall, the lefty guard, was regarded as the best playmaking/passing guard in the 2010 recruiting class. He does damage on the inside, and out. He has great handle, and the feel for the guard position. He does all the right things to impact his team without scoring. Marshall is stepping into a backcourt in need of a leader, and he could crack the starting lineup.

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Freshman Tar Heel Kendall Marshall Could Retain the Starting Job

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

During his first year with the North Carolina Tar Heels, Larry Drew III was used lightly. He played behind Tar Heel great Ty Lawson, and watched North Carolina bring a National Championship to Chapel Hill.

Last season, Drew got his first crack at the starting lineup. He didn't disappoint, and came up with some stellar statistics. He ended the year with 8.5 points, 5.9 assist, 2.7 rebounds, and shot 35 percent from three.

However, Drew did turn the ball over 3.2 times a game, which contributed to the lack of success for the Tar Heels last season.

With the College Basketball season approaching the Tar Heels are ready to showcase their talented freshman acquired in the 2010 recruiting class.

Freshman Harrison Barnes is already conceived to be one of the best players in the nation, and help the Heels' right away. Not to mention, sure-handed Kendall Marshall could crack the starting lineup, and help right away as well.

Marshall was nabbed as a McDonald's All-American player out of his school. He was one of the better point guards in High School because he was a complete floor general. He controls the game, makes the right plays, and doesn't force the action.

Marshall is a point guard that could jump right in and impress Head Coach Roy Williams. He makes the right pass and sets his teammates up for success.

Not to mention, he penetrates the lane with the intention to dump it down as the defense collapses. He has a great lefty stroke and could set up and dominate the game with his jump shot.  

Marshall could be the player the Heels' need to lead their offense. He has the true feel for the guard position, a playmaker, utilizes the whole floor on offense, and has the mentality to win.

Drew's starting job could be in jeopardy with Marshall on the roster. Regardless who starts, the Heels' guard play will be a lot better than it was a season ago.

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Is Harrison Barnes The Next Kevin Durant?

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

Kevin Durant is currently one of the best players in the NBA at a young age. He played for Texas in 07' and lead them to the NCAA Tournament before being selected No. 2 overall by the Seattle Supersonics.

As a Longhorn, Kevin Durant scored 25.8 points, and grabbed 11.1 rebounds, while shooting 40 percent from three.

The Maryland native took Texas by storm, and even did enough to get his jersey retired after one year of College Basketball.

He was the National Player of the Year as a freshman, and almost every award you would want to receive--AP National Player of the Year, John R Wooden Award, Adolph Rupp Trophy, and Oscar Robertson Award Trophy.

This year, College Basketball will get a similar player in North Carolina Tarheel freshman Harrison Barnes.

Barnes comes out of high school as the 2010 Morgan Wooten Player of the Year, McDonald's All-American Team Selection, and Jordan Brand Classic Team Selection. He was also the No. 1 rated player overall by Scout.com, and ESPN but came second in the Yahoo Rivals rankings.

He shared an MVP selection in both the Jordan Brand Classic, and McDonald's All-American game. We also got a glimpse of Barnes ability during the NC Pro AM this summer.

Now with that said, Barnes is the closest thing I've seen to Durant. His ability to handle the ball at 6-foot-7 is amazing. Not to mention, he will be able to influence the game as Durant did in '07.

Many media outlets are considering Barnes a possible National Player of the Year as a true freshman. I believe he will recieve top honors in almost every category Durant did in 07' even more.

Regardless of if Barnes is the next Durant or not, the Tarheels posses a very special player. With Barnes, the Tarheels and Roy Williams will move on from the dreaded season they had before.

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Harrison Barnes Leads ACC's Top Players

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

The ACC Conference is home to the defending champion Duke Blue Devils. They are conceived to take the conference by storm next season with the freshman acquired and firepower contained.

However, the Duke Blue Devils will not embrace one of the best playmakers in the conference.


Harrison Barnes is considered one of the best players in all of College Basketball as a true freshman by many media outlets.

That is why he edges out everyone else as the top playmaker in the ACC Conference. Here are the top-10 athletes in the ACC Conference.

1. Harrison Barnes (Freshman) - North Carolina Tarheels


Harrison Barnes, a very skilled freshman from Ames, Iowa landed in the arms of Roy Williams and the North Carolina Tarheels. Words can't explain how easily Barnes puts the ball in the basket.

Barnes is equipped with an great jump shot that he let's off with confidence. With that comes ball-handling skills that allows him to get anywhere he wants on the court. Not to mention, he has the ability to play on the low block and dominate in the paint.

With Barnes, despite the lack of frontier force, the Tarheels will be one of the best teams in the ACC.

2. Nolan Smith (Senior) - Duke Blue Devils


This summer Duke's senior guard Nolan Smith put up 50-plus in a NC Pro Am game. He expands the defense, takes you inside, and utilizes his versatility.

Smith is one of those players that are tough to guard. If you want to take away his shot, he drives and finishes around the lane with floaters, and lay-ups. Same with if you want to take away his driving lane, you have to account for his shot.

Last year, Smith accounted for 17.4 points per game on a Blue Devils team that won the National Championship.

3. Durand Scott (Sophomore) - Miami (FL) Hurricanes

Durand Scott, along with Dwayne Collins had the 'Canes flying last season. He didn't exactly "wow" people with his scoring ability, but he did pose a threat every time he stepped foot on the court.

Scott is at his best when he is the main facilitator. He averaged just under four assist per outing. However, he was able to pull down four rebounds per game, acquire 1.2 steals and score 10.3 points per game.

His all around effort was a plus for the 'Canes and he is considered an NBA-prospect because of it.

4. Kyrie Irving (Freshman) - Duke Blue Devils

Kyrie Irving, a freshman guard for Duke is one of the better playmaking guards in the ACC. His ability to get anywhere on the court with his elite ball-handling skills is a plus for the Blue Devils.

Not to mention, he has great leaping ability, a jump shot, and his finishing ability is above-average.

Irving is a walking highlight reel. Every time Irving steps foot on the floor expect the crowd on their feet all 40-minutes of the contest. Yes, Irving is that good.

Malcolm Delaney/V-Tech Hokies

5. Malcolm Delaney (Senior) - Virginia Tech Hokies

Malcolm Delaney is one of the better athletes in the ACC. Delaney's is an complete lead guard that will excel with four starters healthy with the season right around the corner.

Delaney's ability to manage the game and get his team in prime position to win the game is a plus for the Hokies. Not to mention, his scoring ability is off the charts. He scored an outstanding 20.3 points per game last season.

With better scheduling of tougher opponents for the Hokies, I expect to see them dancing. Especially with Delaney at the helm.

6. Kyle Singler (Senior) - Duke Blue Devils


Singler was one of the main reasons the Blue Devils won the National Title. His leadership ability lifted the Blue Devils over both Duke and Butler.

He came through big time in both of those games, and with him returning the Blue Devils can compete for the National title once again.

7. C.J. Leslie (Freshman) - NC State Wolfpack

C.J. Leslie was considered one of the best forwards, better yet players, in the 2010 recruiting class. He is a 6-foot-9 forward with no designated position.

You can place Leslie on the wing, or in the post and expect the same intensity. Leslie has a high motor, and is determined to put his team in prime position to win it all.

8. John Henson (Sophomore) - North Carolina Tarheels

Last season, John Henson faced the learning curve until former-Tarheel Ed Davis was injured. Thereafter, Henson filled in for the injury star. He didn't do so well, but this season Henson is a completely different player.

Henson added bulk, enhanced his game, and is ready to show his doubter his progression.

9. Tracy Smith (Senior) - NC State Wolfpack 

Tracy Smith last season during an upset against the defending champion Duke Blue Devils, Smith scored 23 points. He had the Wolfpack fired up about the ACC conference race.

Smith headed into his senior year will start for a team surrounded by talented freshman. Smith will continue his scoring and rebounding dominance, in hopes to get the Wolfpack into the NCAA Tournament.

10. Jordan Williams (Sophomore) - Maryland Terrapins

Jordan Williams almost averaged a double-double during his first season with the 'Terps. Now without Grevis Vasquez, Williams will have the chance to impress more with his ability.

Last season, the sophomore averaged 9.8 points, and 8.6 rebounds. His scoring ability will be embraced by many Terp' fans this year. Williams is a sensational athlete and with his contributions Maryland could surprise in the ACC.

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The Loss of Will Graves Put The Tarheels a Step Back

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

The North Carolina Tarheels had one of the worst seasons in their storied history. They battled injuries, inconsistency, and lack of effort. However, the Tarheels did put enough effort into the recruiting trails, and grabbed some of the better players in the 2010 class.


McDonald All-Americans Harrison Barnes, Kendall Marshall, and Reggie Bullock collectively are one of the most dynamic freshman trio's in all of College Basketball. 


Nonetheless, since arriving the freshman have watched the Wear twins transfer, and Will Graves dismissed from the team.


The Wear twins put a lot of pressure on the frontcourt to produce consistently. Not to mention, they're frontcourt is resting solely on injury-prone Tyler Zeller.


Now, with Graves out of the lineup the Tarheels are missing their scoring off the bench, and three-point shooting. Last season, Graves was a completely different player than we had all seen before. He went from hitting 29 three-point field goals in his first two season to knocking down 73 last year.


"He worked extremely hard this summer to get himself physically in the best shape he's been in years," said North Carolina Head Coach Roy Williams. 


The Tarheels continue to lose depth on their current roster. Without Graves, the Tarheels are down to three forwards, and one plays on the wing.


Graves hurt the depth, bench production and rotation of the Tarheels. It's not a huge loss, but it does show its significance. As you can see, Coach Williams thought highly of the senior and wanted him on the team.


Nonetheless, without Graves the Tarheels will have a tough time and the rumor of Barnes playing in the post may look clearer now. 


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John Henson Will Be The Key To The Tarheels Success

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

Jim Isaac/Getty Images

Last season, the frontcourt of the Tar Heels faced a lot of problems. Ed Davis got injured and following that, teams had a field day in the post.

Without Davis there to intimidate teams just drove the ball inside.There was not much Deon Thompson or John Henson could do about that.

It also didn't help that the Tar Heels were playing the best teams in the nation with an under-achieving roster.

But next season, the Tar Heels will face bigger problems and will need big contributions from a sophomore player.

They lost Ed Davis but brought in the No. 1 rated recruit in the country. Harrison Barnes is considered to be one-and-done talent and draws Carmelo Anthony comparisons.

No question, he has the talent and the acquirement of Barnes is a huge step towards redemption. However, the last piece of the puzzle is Henson.

The 6-foot-10 product didn't have the best freshman year. It wasn't due to lack of skills, more so, the lack of playing time. Early on in the season, Henson looked like he was steered towards a learning curve.

He did come out of High School as one of the smaller power forwards and needed to add bulk to his frame. So a learning curve was well understood.

However, once Davis went down, you could tell Henson would do fine.

Henson's numbers started to pick up big time as more minutes opened. During a game against Duke, Henson came away with 14 points and eight rebounds. Henson was probably the only player that actually showed up to play.

Not to mention, in the NIT tournament, he showed how well he attacks the glass.

On defense, it almost felt like the Tar Heels hid Henson. His lack of strength allowed opposing teams to take a lot of shots at him.

His defense in the post is a huge question mark heading into next season.

Despite last season's under-achieving numbers, Henson will need to play a big role in the Tar Heels success next season.

His contributions in the post will set the tone. His weakness coming out of High School was his bulk. As evidence, watch North Carolina game film.

But this off-season, according to ESPN, Henson is doing his best to add-on pounds. In the NC Pro Am he looked fine. But adding more weight will not hurt.

Overall, Henson will need to be dominant in the post. Last season, he was tossed around, boxed out, and sometimes just out-hustled by the other big man.

If that happens next season, even with Barnes, the Tar Heels are in for another bad season.

But, if Henson continues to work and improves his game all-around, the Tar Heels are looking at a magical run.

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Can North Carolina Recapture The Spotlight?

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

Chris Keane/Getty Images

The North Carolina Tar Heels grasped an unacceptable season last year. They commenced the season ranked No. 6 in the AP Poll and No. 4 according to the ESPN/USA Today Coaching Poll.

By the tenth week of College Basketball, the Tar Heels were No. 23 and 24 in the polls.

By the eleventh week they were dropped out of the top 25 and the Tar Heels continued to dissatisfy their fan base. Then when you figure things couldn't get any worse, Ed Davis breaks his hand.

The Tar Heels finally ended their forgetful season with a loss in the NIT Championship.

Although, they were the first team to reach the NCAA Final Four the year before; then turn around and make the NIT Final Four.

Last season, their disguise as contenders wore off pretty fast. However, next season, thing will be a lot different.

First off, Roy Williams delivered this roster a makeover. Three McDonald's All-Americans determined they wanted to attend the University of North Carolina. Now, with that, the Tar Heels are on their way to redemption.

That doesn't necessarily imply they will be procured right back into the nations spotlight either. 

They'll have to reclaim their spot as a National contender.

First, the Tar Heels need to play Harrison Barnes to his full ability.

Bringing in the No. 1 rated player in the nation was certainly tough on the Tar Heels. However, they were able to do it. Barnes is a one-and-done caliber player. He does just about anything he wants on the court.

The only thing I would say he needs to embellish, is his jump-shot range and add bulk to his frame.

Other than that, Barnes should be facilitated for almost everything. You can put him in the post, on the wing or in the backcourt.

Utilizing a player of his caliber is beneficial. Because, at the end of the season, he will be NBA bait.

Secondly, the 'Heels need to stay healthy in the frontcourt.

The Tar Heels frontcourt wouldn't be a problem if the Wear Twins didn't transferred. Now they're stuck in a situation that isn't favoring them.

They'll have John Henson and Tyler Zeller in the frontcourt. Who will be behind them? That's a question the Tar Heels will have to ignore for most of the season. They'll have to depend on Zeller and Henson to stay dominant in the frontcourt.

However, since acquiring Zeller back in 08' he has yet to close a season without injuring himself. So staying healthy in the frontcourt is imperative for the Tar Heels.

Thirdly, the 'Heels need John Henson to step up.

Last season, John Henson was considered to be one of the best frontier players in the 2009 recruiting class. However, you wouldn't be able to tell, because for most of the season, he was implemented very lightly.

Now, with Ed Davis and Deon Thompson gone, Henson will have his chance to be a dominant frontier force.

He has shown great promise in the NC Pro Am this past week but should use that as motivation to get on the court and prove to the fans that he is dominant down-low.

Lastly, the 'Heels will need Larry Drew III to lead the team.

So, I know you're probably wondering why the Tar Heels would need Drew to lead the team with three McDonald's All Americans. Not to mention, a guard like Kendall Marshall that could overtake his responsibilities in the backcourt.

However, Drew, a junior-to-be at UNC, had been there when the Tar Heels won the National Championship.

As a freshman on the title team, he contributed about ten minutes a game. While embracing a great learning experience behind the Tar Heel great Ty Lawson.

Last season, his assist total went up and he started to serve as an all-around guard.

That's exactly what the Tar Heels expect in the backcourt. Drew will have to use his experience and leadership skills to enlighten this young team.

Overall, I assume they can recapture the spotlight as a National contender. With such a young but talented squad, they'll demand extensive contributions from their experienced players.

I think the deed will be granted and the 'Heels will be dancing again in Chapel Hill. Not just dancing, but advancing through the NCAA tournament.

The Short Stint: Reviewing The Possible One-and-Done Players

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

Believe it or not, the one-and-done rule has gotten under a lot of people's skin.

The one-and-done players are usually the players that do not belong in the college game at all. These are the players that could have gone straight from high school to the NBA.

However, since the rule has incorporated, we have bad student-athletes, speculations, recruiting violations and more.

If you ask me, I think the one-and-done rule should be dead-and-gone. Forcing players to the college game is doing more bad than good. You have players that only pass their first semester classes then throw away the second semester.

That takes a toll on academics as well as the school’s reputation.

Is Harrison Barnes College Basketball's New Star?

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

Every year in college basketball a new star will be inserted into the nation’s spotlight.

Two years ago, it was Blake Griffin from Oklahoma University. He had a stellar freshman year but an outstanding sophomore year.

This past season was both Evan Turner and John Wall. But we all know the nation was behind the Player of the Year Evan Turner.

Now all three of those players are gone and a new star is emerging to college basketball stardom.

Harrison Barnes is coming out of high school nabbed as the No. 1 overall freshmen in the 2010 recruiting class. 

If you ask around, some go as far to saying, Barnes will be the best overall player in the college game next season.

If everybody likes a playmaker on both ends of the floor, then you will fall in love with Barnes.

He has all the god-given talent in the world. He is blessed with the athleticism and ability to dominate in the college game as well as the pros. 

What makes him so exhilarating is his athleticism. He has the ability to play any position on the court thanks to his athleticism. 

He is a great ball-handler. If you watch mix tapes around the country, you will see Barnes making nifty moves to shake the defender—or maybe you will witness him beat a defender off the dribble.

He finishes strong around the lane, highlighted by facials, and acrobatic lay-ups.

He runs the floor well in both offensive and defensive transition. 

Similar to LeBron James, I think before the end of this year you will start seeing chase down blocks from Barnes.

Barnes goes hard on each end of the floor. He will develop into a weak-side shot blocker because of his determination and length.

Once he starts playing basketball for North Carolina everybody has high hopes for him. Some are prepping for a Carmelo Anthony type run with the Tar Heels.

But is he really that good?

With the way Barnes approaches the game, I believe he has a legit chance at becoming the next freshmen to lead his team to a National Championship.

However, Tar Heel fans do not get too happy.

This fate has only transpired four-total times in the past. Once in the last 20 years. 

But Barnes is a freakish athlete with a lot of upside. He will definitely help the Tar Heels get back on their feet.

North Carolina Tar Heels 2010-11 Season Preview

North Carolina Tar Heels

2009-10: 20-17

2009-10 ACC Record: 5-11

Well all had to witness the brutal season the Tar Heels had this season. They had a season nobody seen coming.

They had one of the worst records in the ACC, and the rivalry between Duke wasn't as great this year because of the lack of competition--lost by ten the first game, then 32 the second.

But it wasn't because the Tar Heels were terrible. Their star player Ed Davis faced a severe injury that sidelined him for most of the season.

If he was out there I doubt their record would have been the way it was. I also doubt the Heels would have gotten blown out by the Blue Devils.

It wasn't that disappointing. The Heels are the first team to make the NIT and NCAA tournament Final Fours in back-to-back years. 

Key Returnees

The Heels returned six players from their NIT runner-up team a year ago.

Those most important players are Tyler Zeller and John Henson. They are going to strengthen the frontcourt like no other.

Also, Larry Drew III is back on campus. He was the complete floor-general last season and will look to do the same this year. 

They also returned Will Graves, Dexter Strickland and Leslie McDonald.

With this group of role players, mixed with game-changers, the Heels are in a good position to improve its overall performance this season.

Key Departures

The Heels lost five total players from last season’s team. One to the NBA draft, two graduated and transferred. 

The NBA draft took away Ed Davis from the Heels. He was Mr. Versatile; A big-time defensive and offensive presence down on the low-block. 

Marcus Ginyard and Deon Thompson both reached their final years of eligibility. Ginyard was the all-around threat on the wing. He got into the defense and snatched down rebounds, shared the ball and scored.

Thompson led the team when Davis was out with injury. He was the leading scorer and snatched down almost seven boards a game.

Travis Wear and David Wear decided their Heels' career was over after one year. This is a huge blow to the frontcourt.

They were used lightly last year but were expected to be a big part during the upcoming season.

Each one of these players made strives to keep the program dominant in their stay at North Carolina. It will be tough without the post presence of Davis, the Wear Twins and Thompson.

Key Additions

The Heels have the best recruit in the 2010 class heading to North Carolina to play in the 2010-11 season. 

McDonald's All-American Harrison Barnes is 6-foot-8 versatile player. He can play any position on the court if he wanted to. He is long and athletic.

Everybody is prepping for a Carmelo Anthony like season from Barnes. Yes, he is that good.

Another McDonald's All-American is going to be wearing the powder blue next season. Reggie Bullock is a big-time scoring threat out of the backcourt.

He will most likely play on the wing, but he can do it all from wherever he plays.

The last McDonalds All-American is Kendall Marshall. He is a 6-foot-4 point guard. He has the ability to be a full-time starter for the Heels.

Do not be surprised if Marshall is starting over Drew next season.

Overall

The Heels lost very good players last season. However, I still think they will be better than they were last year.

With the No. 1 overall player in the 2010 recruiting class, followed by two more McDonald's All-Americans, the Heels have a great chance to compete with Duke in the ACC.

They have a decent starting-five and a few key bench players. 

The x-factor of this team will no doubt be health. 

If the Heels can stay healthy all season, they will be able to compete at a high level. With the transfer of the Wear twins they lack depth.

But keep this in mind; Zeller has yet to play a full season. He has been injured over the past two seasons and the Heels will need him to stay healthy all year.

The closest forward they have to play in the post is Barnes.

Written by DeAnte Mitchell