North Carolina coach Roy Williams has said repeatedly that the NIT is important to give seniors Marcus Ginyard and Deon Thompson a proper send-off.But in another way, this postseason is even more important for its role in the coming-of-age process of two key future assets.
As North Carolina ran out of the locker room to begin a tournament that no Tar Heel aspired to reach, Marcus Ginyard laughed.They were in a gym that hadn’t been used for men’s basketball in 24 years, coming off two straight losses and one loss from the second-most in program history.
When Deon Thompson made a mental error on the first play of the second half, the senior knew exactly where to go. He ran straight up to UNC coach Roy Williams and pleaded, “Don’t kill me.”Williams only said he’d think about it at the time, but after Thompson led UNC to an 80-72 win in the opening game of the NIT, he had nothing but compliments for his big man.
DURHAM – In Duke vs. North Carolina, there is seldom a sure thing. But Saturday’s regular season finale was never in doubt.Duke built a 20-point lead in just 11 minutes and a 30-point lead in 26. After four straight losses to UNC in their own building, the No. 4 Blue Devils took back Cameron Indoor Stadium. Emphatically.
Coming off of two consecutive wins, North Carolina will enter Cameron Indoor Stadium with as much momentum as it has had in months. What it’s short on is a healthy roster.
WINSTON-SALEM — Cierra Robertson-Warren was the first one down the court.The UNC freshman stood on the free-throw line with her hands on her knees and waited for the other nine players to take their places. And then she iced the game.Her defensive rebound and ensuing free throw gave the Tar Heels a four-point lead with nine seconds to go in overtime.
In front of what seemed like the entire history of the North Carolina basketball program, this year's Tar Heels did their part to complete a memorable weekend.UNC took care of visiting N.C. State by a 74-61 score to avoid falling to last place in the ACC. The Tar Heels (14-11, 3-7 ACC) snapped a four-game losing streak and completed the season sweep of their in-state foes.
Marcus Ginyard sat hunched forward, waiting for a trainer to wrap his sore ankle. His eyes were cast downward, and his chin rested in his hands.Members of the media had already questioned the fifth-year senior about his team’s sixth loss in eight games, as well as his removal from the starting lineup.
BLACKSBURG, Va. — With the clock winding down and North Carolina desperately needing a stop, Virginia Tech put the ball in the hands of its best guard and the ACC’s leading scorer, Malcolm Delaney.And once again, the Tar Heels failed to stop an opposing guard. Delaney’s two free throws in the final minute iced the VT win.
With a strong close to the first half, North Carolina leads Virginia Tech, 35-33 at the half.Point guard Larry Drew II sparked the Tar Heels' comeback, repeatedly slicing into the lane and dishing to teammates. Drew scored the go-ahead bucket in the closing seconds of the half. He has four points and five assists.
