No. 1 NORTH CAROLINA 102, No. 8 Notre Dame (Fighting Irish, 8,352 students, South Bend, ID) 87
Some people will say that thanks to Dean Smith, Michael Jordan, and four NCAA Championships, North Carolina is overrated.
Those very same folks claim that a talented and deep Final Four team of last year won’t look like Secretariat—running away from their competition—when they play a ranked team from a top conference as opposed to the typical pre-ACC season mixed bag of non-conference cannon fodder.
Some other people say UNC isn’t as good as advertised.
All of those people are wrong.
Last night, in final of the EA Sports Maui Invitational, No. 1 North Carolina (6-0,0-0) looked every bit the part of the best team in the land as they demolished Notre Dame (4-1) 102-87. The game wasn’t as close as the final score might indicate.
Reigning player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough returned to form in an impressive 30-minute performance that netted 34 points, five rebounds, and two blocked shots. Hansbrough, who spent a big part of last season developing a mid- to long-range jump shot, utilized those skills against the Irish, making a series of midrange jumpers and his fourth career three-pointer.
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Point guard Ty Lawson, another big-game player, simply decided to see how fast Notre Dame’s frontcourt was with a slash, flash, and dash game that ginsued the Irish for 22 points and 11 assists. His performance, besides terrifying future opposing point guards, earned him the tournament MVP after totaling 22 assists against two turnovers in the three games.
As good as Hansbrough was, head coach Roy Williams said his star player is still not 100 percent recovered from various leg injuries.
“He’s about 75 percent, but he played better than that tonight. He was really fired up,” Ol’ Roy said. “It’s been tearing at him not to be able to play.”
Notre Dame’s preseason All-American Luke Harangody was slowed by the flu and the arduous task of defending Hansbrough, but
teammate Kyle McAlarney kept it reasonably competitive with a 39-point effort. McAlarney was 10-18 from behind the arc, breaking his own school record of nine three-pointers.The Domers might have been a bit battle weary from the previous night’s nail-biting one-point victory over the No. 7 Texas Longhorns.
Deon Thompson had 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Tar Heels, who had a 44-36 rebound advantage and shot 55.7 percent from the field.
“They really come at you with a lot of guys. It’s a heck of a basketball team,” Irish coach Mike Brey said. “Lawson did a great job in transition and then we were digging out of a hole the whole game.”
No. 10 Purdue (Boilermakers, 40,040 students, West Lafayette, IN) 71, BOSTON COLLEGE 64—Purdue’s E’Twaun Moore scored 19 points and No. 10 Purdue withstood a late rally to beat BC in the NIT.VIRGINIA TECH 76, Elon 67 (Phoenix, 4,939 students, Elon, NC)—A.D. Vassallo and Victor Davilo scored 16 points apiece, and Malcolm Delaney hit 12 free throws in the final 2:12 to help Virginia Tech defeat Elon in Blacksburg.
(AP Photos/Chris Carlson and Nick Laham/Getty Images)
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about 1 month ago
What a game! McAlarney is better than advertised. He had defenders in his face and was moved out to 28 feet and was still hitting three's. He is also a very good ballhandler and is quicker than I thought. Drew, Ellington, Green and Frasor played some great defense on him and yet he hits 10 three's. Ouch!
UNC is so deep and they play so much better defense this year than last year. This in itself is what can carry them to a championship. Can't wait until Ginyard is back and in game shape. Is Frasor a quiet leader or what? He doesn't shoot much (but his shot looked better last night) but is a scrappy defender, great decision maker and ultimately unselfish. Drew II is going to become the perfect compliment to Lawson at the point with more experience. He moves laterally very well, is a very good on the ball defender, pushes at the right tempo allowing the other players to get down court and has a decent outside game. Davis is also going to be very good but just needs to be more aggressive on the offensive end going to the hoop more aggressively as he tends to passively go up for shots which have been getting blocked. Graves has been steady off the bench and should go to the hoop more as he is strong and solid and can move people out. He is also very quick for his size and should take advantage of that.
Hansbrough, Green, Lawson,Thompson and Ellington ... what more can be said (but I will anyway)? Those five have definitely stepped up their games offensively and defensively this year and Hansbrough is only 75% according to Williams?!? Thompson and Green have impressed me the most. Green did not have a big scoring night like the previous two games but he played great defense, rebounded and handled the ball well making good decisions. Thompson has impressed me the most as he has been the most consistent player on both ends so far this season. Lawson, the blur, has played smarter while looking even quicker and faster. His 22-3 assist to turnover ratio for the tournament speaks volumes about the improvement in his game. He has also become a more consistent outside shooter and on the ball defender. As Jay Bilas said, Lawson's improved play and decision making is what will carry UNC to a championship. Ellington is making better shooting decisions and playing very good defense. All he needs to start doing more to open up his outside shot is take the ball to the rim more. He will more than likely get fouled and is an excellent free throw shooter.
Finally, let's give credit to Roy Williams for getting this team to play as a team. His intensity on the sidelines and substituting decisions have been awesome and he is never satisfied thus pushing his players to compete at a higher level. Come on, he has a double digit lead at half-time last night and still felt that the players could have done better. Even the scout team has ran the offense, played tough defense and rebounded the time they got to play. UNC is looking very good yet still needs to grow each game but not peak too soon. I have tickets to the Nevada-Reno game as it has been one of my lifelong dreams to see UNC play in person (not too many games played near Idaho). I couldn't have picked a better year to see them play in person. GO HEELS!!!!
about 1 month ago
The Big East may send nine or 10 teams to the Big Dance, but they won't have bragging rights when it's all said and done.
about 1 month ago
ND could have had six players on the court and they would have lost by ten last night. Hansbrough is the most complete player in the country. He can't jump, block shots or defend in the post...not this year! This team will lose twice (Duke and Maryland), but it won't be in March. They just have to stay healthy.
Nice read...
about 1 month ago
I dont think UNC will lose to Duke this year. I agree there is a loss coming sometime and I do believe it will be in the conference but I dont think theyll lose to Duke. Its going to take a special team to do it as well since Carolina is so deep.
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