AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > March > 09 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTar Heels have winning look
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Tampa — The starting lineup includes three freshmen and a sophomore. The center has a broken nose. The coach is prone to momentary lapses on geography, and conference, and sport, because that’s the only logical explanation for Roy Williams referring to the ACC tournament Friday as “the world’s largest cocktail party.”
None of this might seem like the backdrop for a national champion. But North Carolina is making the case for being more than just a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
“They have talent to win the whole thing, and I don’t think it matters if they’re a 1 seed, 2 seed, 3 seed or 4 seed,” said Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton, who, of course, would settle for any seed.
The Tar Heels made their ACC tournament debut Friday, and they did something rather unusual for a favorite. They won. Easily. Despite the masked and freakish-looking Tyler Hansbrough recording nearly as many fouls (five) as points (six), Carolina slapped Florida State 73-58.
Too young?
Too soft?
Too flawed?
Not worthy of a top seed?
Was this the Carolina team everybody’s questioning?
The Tar Heels led Florida State by as many as 25 points. They would’ve won by more but started laughing and nearly hyperventilated.
Don’t wonder about this team any more. Carolina went 5-4 down the stretch, leading some to wonder about its previous lofty status. But Friday, even with their best player, Hansbrough, looking insignificant, the Heels rolled. They have matured. They have gotten smarter and tougher, mentally and physically.
If Carolina slips up while trying to win its first ACC title since 1998, it shouldn’t be overanalyzed, because there’s clearly something in the water down here.
In January, Florida State lost to North Carolina by 26. But Hamilton says there is no comparison between that team and this one. This one’s way better.
“They demonstrated a lot more patience,” he said. “They executed better. They seem to be in sync. It’s very difficult when you play that many players, especially when you have that much youth. Roy has overcome some of [those] development [problems].
“Personally I think the losses they’ve had will probably make them a better team in the tournament. Sometimes when you’re young and growing and having success, you don’t have a chance to look at yourself critically. But when you make mistakes along the way, that’s the time of learning and teaching. With a young team, that’s not at all bad.”
Carolina couldn’t get much from Hansbrough, who was whacked across the schnozzola by Duke’s Gerald Henderson. Hansbrough wore a clear protective mask for protection, prompting teammate Marcus Ginyard to say, “He’s got that ‘Psycho T’ persona, and the mask just makes him look more like an animal.”
Other teammates called him “Jason,” but Hansbrough really wasn’t that intimidating. He said having to wear the mask was frustrating. “I’m not even a guy who gets taped, so putting on a mask really is something new,” he said
He had trouble seeing the ball, which can be a problem when the game you play involves a ball. “It affects my peripheral vision,” he said. “The mask comes down from my nose and sticks out so I can’t see things straight in front of me sometimes.”
Doctors have told him he might have to wear it for two more weeks. What he couldn’t figure out Friday was why he got called for a foul every time he so much as breathed on an FSU player. It’s not like a guy with a broken nose is going to look for somebody to punch. Besides, Duke already left town.
But the Tar Heels should be able to survive with a diminished Hansbrough for a while. The three freshmen — Wayne Ellington, Ty Lawson and Brandan Wright — combined for 43 points against the Seminoles.
Carolina also is motivated to win this tournament for the first time in nine years.
“I haven’t won it since I came back,” Williams said. “Everybody acts like I pooh-pooh the ACC tournament because there’s that thought process that you play for nine weeks, why do you have to play them again in three days? But since we’re here, I want to win this sucker.”
They may also win that other sucker.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Tech / ACC
Comments
By Haggis
March 10, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this
Over-rated
By ben
March 10, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this
Bold prediction, Jeff.
By Sniff, sniff
March 10, 2007 2:20 PM | Link to this
Headline: Schultz has losing smell
By Tar Heel Bred bleeds Tar Heel Blue
March 10, 2007 4:27 PM | Link to this
Right on the money, Jeff. A prediction that I fully agree with and endorse 100%.