Photo by: J.D. Lyon Jr.
Lucas: UNC Basketball Notebook
February 20, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
How the Tar Heel offense has changed, Kendall Marshall update, an amazing stat and more.
By Adam Lucas
One of the most reliable traits of a Roy Williams-coached team is an ability to get to the free throw line. With this year's move to the smaller starting lineup, however, that particular weapon has been weakened.
Carolina is averaging just 18.9 free throws per game, and that figure drops to just 14.9 in Atlantic Coast Conference games.
"It may be the fewest free throws we've taken in the 15 years we've been here," Williams said on his radio show with Jones Angell on Monday night. "But that's the makeup of our club. Let's play with the best we've got."
In fact, the current average would rank second-lowest. The only Williams-coached UNC team with a lower average would be the 2013 squad that averaged 18.2 charity tosses per game. That team also converted to a smaller starting lineup during the course of the season and relied more heavily on the three-point shot. But Williams is correct to note that even the 2013 club made it to the line more often in league play, as they averaged 17.6 free throws per game in ACC play.
The good news, however, is that the 2018 team is much more successful at the line than the 2013 iteration. That squad hit just 67.5 percent of its free throws in ACC play, whereas the current team is connecting (knocks feverishly on wood) at a 76.3% clip in ACC games.
Kendall's back: After remaining behind the scenes for most of the season, Kendall Marshall hit the road with the Tar Heels for the first time on Saturday. That sparked a question to Williams about the former Cousy Award winner's role with the program. "Right now, he is a full-time student at the University of North Carolina," Williams said. "He's taking five courses and he comes to practice every day and comes into the staff meetings when we grade film. He's there almost every day. He wants to be a coach and he'll be a fantastic one. He's one of the three or four smartest individuals I've coached here as a basketball player."
The other two Tar Heels Williams put in that category—Bobby Frasor and Sean May—are already in coaching. Frasor is the head coach at his prep alma mater, Brother Rice in Chicago, and May is on the Carolina staff. Theo Pinson, who has had occasional battles with Marshall about their relative passing ability, will be sorry to hear that Williams calls Marshall, "The best passer I've ever coached."
Pinson's offense: He might be running second to Marshall in the all-time Williams-coached passing category (side note: there's no shame in running second to Kendall Marshall in a passing contest), but Pinson's offense is blossoming. After scoring 19 points at Louisville on Saturday night, he's had three straight double-figure scoring outings for just the second time in his Carolina career.
After a conversation with assistant coach Hubert Davis recently, Pinson has been more willing to shoot his midrange 15-17 foot jumper, and has hit a couple in recent games. But he's also getting the ball in more comfortable position to score and utilizing the way the defense has to guard Luke Maye.
Pinson continues to lead the Tar Heels in assists by a wide margin and has proven especially adept at whipping the ball back to Maye for a quick three-pointer after Maye provides him with a ball screen. But that play is also developing into a reliable penetration opportunity for Pinson.
"I'm catching it mid-post more often," Pinson says. "That's what we've been doing the last couple games. Luke is such a good shooter, when he pops out he's hard to guard. That leaves the basket wide open. But if the defense focuses too much on him, then I've got my man one-on-one going to the basket."
Senior night: Carolina fans have a unique opportunity to catch Tar Heel senior night this week. Because of a relatively unique schedule, this year's event--which features the last home appearance for Pinson and Joel Berry--falls on a Tuesday night at 9 p.m. against Miami. The game, which should also be key for ACC Tournament seeding purposes, has limited tickets available, and fans are encouraged to buy early to sell out the final home appearance for two Carolina champions. Being in attendance in person guarantees fans the opportunity to see what should be tremendous postgame speeches from Pinson and Berry, who will address the crowd.
History lesson: It's more than just a perception that Roy Williams' teams get stronger as the season progresses. Counting this season, his Carolina teams are 87-39 in the front half of the ACC schedule (a schedule that used to include 16 league games and switched to 18 for the 2012-13 campaign) for a winning percentage of .690. In the back half, counting this year so far, his squads are 92-31, a winning percentage of .748.
But there is more to the numbers than just the wins and losses. Since he returned to Carolina and counting this season, Williams-led teams have faced 24 ranked ACC teams in the front half of the league schedule. In the back half, however, they've faced 44, with at least one more likely to come this season with the visit to Duke.
In other words, Tar Heel teams have been better against the back half of the slate while playing a schedule that's roughly twice as challenging.
One of the most reliable traits of a Roy Williams-coached team is an ability to get to the free throw line. With this year's move to the smaller starting lineup, however, that particular weapon has been weakened.
Carolina is averaging just 18.9 free throws per game, and that figure drops to just 14.9 in Atlantic Coast Conference games.
"It may be the fewest free throws we've taken in the 15 years we've been here," Williams said on his radio show with Jones Angell on Monday night. "But that's the makeup of our club. Let's play with the best we've got."
In fact, the current average would rank second-lowest. The only Williams-coached UNC team with a lower average would be the 2013 squad that averaged 18.2 charity tosses per game. That team also converted to a smaller starting lineup during the course of the season and relied more heavily on the three-point shot. But Williams is correct to note that even the 2013 club made it to the line more often in league play, as they averaged 17.6 free throws per game in ACC play.
The good news, however, is that the 2018 team is much more successful at the line than the 2013 iteration. That squad hit just 67.5 percent of its free throws in ACC play, whereas the current team is connecting (knocks feverishly on wood) at a 76.3% clip in ACC games.
Kendall's back: After remaining behind the scenes for most of the season, Kendall Marshall hit the road with the Tar Heels for the first time on Saturday. That sparked a question to Williams about the former Cousy Award winner's role with the program. "Right now, he is a full-time student at the University of North Carolina," Williams said. "He's taking five courses and he comes to practice every day and comes into the staff meetings when we grade film. He's there almost every day. He wants to be a coach and he'll be a fantastic one. He's one of the three or four smartest individuals I've coached here as a basketball player."
The other two Tar Heels Williams put in that category—Bobby Frasor and Sean May—are already in coaching. Frasor is the head coach at his prep alma mater, Brother Rice in Chicago, and May is on the Carolina staff. Theo Pinson, who has had occasional battles with Marshall about their relative passing ability, will be sorry to hear that Williams calls Marshall, "The best passer I've ever coached."
Pinson's offense: He might be running second to Marshall in the all-time Williams-coached passing category (side note: there's no shame in running second to Kendall Marshall in a passing contest), but Pinson's offense is blossoming. After scoring 19 points at Louisville on Saturday night, he's had three straight double-figure scoring outings for just the second time in his Carolina career.
After a conversation with assistant coach Hubert Davis recently, Pinson has been more willing to shoot his midrange 15-17 foot jumper, and has hit a couple in recent games. But he's also getting the ball in more comfortable position to score and utilizing the way the defense has to guard Luke Maye.
Pinson continues to lead the Tar Heels in assists by a wide margin and has proven especially adept at whipping the ball back to Maye for a quick three-pointer after Maye provides him with a ball screen. But that play is also developing into a reliable penetration opportunity for Pinson.
"I'm catching it mid-post more often," Pinson says. "That's what we've been doing the last couple games. Luke is such a good shooter, when he pops out he's hard to guard. That leaves the basket wide open. But if the defense focuses too much on him, then I've got my man one-on-one going to the basket."
Senior night: Carolina fans have a unique opportunity to catch Tar Heel senior night this week. Because of a relatively unique schedule, this year's event--which features the last home appearance for Pinson and Joel Berry--falls on a Tuesday night at 9 p.m. against Miami. The game, which should also be key for ACC Tournament seeding purposes, has limited tickets available, and fans are encouraged to buy early to sell out the final home appearance for two Carolina champions. Being in attendance in person guarantees fans the opportunity to see what should be tremendous postgame speeches from Pinson and Berry, who will address the crowd.
History lesson: It's more than just a perception that Roy Williams' teams get stronger as the season progresses. Counting this season, his Carolina teams are 87-39 in the front half of the ACC schedule (a schedule that used to include 16 league games and switched to 18 for the 2012-13 campaign) for a winning percentage of .690. In the back half, counting this year so far, his squads are 92-31, a winning percentage of .748.
But there is more to the numbers than just the wins and losses. Since he returned to Carolina and counting this season, Williams-led teams have faced 24 ranked ACC teams in the front half of the league schedule. In the back half, however, they've faced 44, with at least one more likely to come this season with the visit to Duke.
In other words, Tar Heel teams have been better against the back half of the slate while playing a schedule that's roughly twice as challenging.