Tar Heels Look to Upset Miami

CHAPEL HILL -- Most teams call it the red zone. Some label it the green zone, and fewer refer to it as the gold zone.

Regardless of what color glasses coaches and players look through, the area inside the 20-yard line on a football field is important. That's where scoring opportunities become points -- or turn into missed opportunities.

For North Carolina in 2005, red has meant stop. The Tar Heels (3-3, 2-1 ACC) have the ACC's worst red zone offense through six games, having scored on just 61.1 percent (11 of 18) of their trips inside an opponent's 20-yard line.

"We work on it every single week," UNC coach John Bunting said. "It's always an emphasis. It's very, very important. Red zone offense and red zone defense, it never stops. We do it as much as we possibly can."

Success in the red zone takes on new importance today for the Tar Heels. UNC plays at No. 6 Miami (noon, ESPN2), a team with a defense so strong that reaching the 20-yard line can be as tough as scoring against other opposition.

The Hurricanes have allowed just six touchdowns all season, ranking No. 2 nationally in scoring defense (10 points per game) and No. 1 in total defense (227.2 yards per game). Plus, Miami has a score to settle after losing 31-28 at UNC last season and falling out of contention for the national championship.

"They're really athletic, and they're going to be at home, and they're going to be thinking about last year," junior tailback Ronnie McGill said. "We've just got to go in there and basically play our best game of the year."

For the Tar Heels, that means playing better in the red zone. UNC, which tallied on 88.6 percent (39 of 44) of its possessions in the red zone last season, has failed to score in almost every way imaginable inside the 20 this year.

Connor Barth has missed three field goals, two of which came after untimely penalties pushed back the Tar Heels. Quarterback Matt Baker has thrown two interceptions. Once, UNC turned over the ball on downs because it needed a touchdown and couldn't afford to take the chip-shot field-goal attempt. On another occasion, tailback Barrington Edwards lost a fumble inside the 5.
"It's all about execution, whether it's us blocking it up right or the running back hitting the hole or Matt making the pass and the wide receivers catching it," senior offensive tackle Brian Chacos said. "It's all about execution. The play-calling has been great down in the red zone. We as players just have to execute better."

Some of UNC's troubles close to the goal line stemmed from the team's lack of an effective running game. The Tar Heels averaged just 2.1 yards per carry in the red zone through their first four games en route to rushing for three touchdowns. Since the return of McGill against Louisville, however, UNC has averaged 3.2 yards per carry in the red zone and rushed for two touchdowns in two games.

Not surprisingly, UNC's productivity in the red zone has been higher during that span. The Tar Heels have found the end zone on three consecutive trips inside the opponent's 20. And Baker, whose last interception in the red zone came in the third game of the season, has taken better care of the ball when in scoring range.

"When you get down there, you've got to be a little more cautious because you want to put points on the board," said Baker, who has completed 6 of 18 passes in the red zone for 42 yards and four touchdowns in addition to the two interceptions. "You don't want to force anything. You don't want to take any big chances because you've got to get points one way or another."
That's especially true today. The Hurricanes don't allow many opportunities and undoubtedly remember the 545 yards UNC racked up in last year's meeting, so the Tar Heels need to take advantage of whatever chances they get.

They must turn the red zone into the red-hot zone, or go in the green zone, or strike it rich in the gold zone. Whatever the color, the goal is the same.

"It's just finishing," Chacos said. "When we get an opportunity to score, we've got to finish. We've got to score. Last year we were really good in the red zone, and this year we've struggled a little bit.

"But this week, we're going to do better."

Source-HeraldSun

Ira Newble-What a Guy

Quality!

Future Tar Heel Lawson Erupts--Again

For the 16th time in the history of the scrimmage, Hargrave and Oak Hill waged a friendly battle this week. While the teams split two 20-minute halves, Tywon Lawson was more consistent with 26 and 25 points in each stanza.

The book on Tywon Lawson now contains another chapter: The Hargrave Scrimmage.

Lawson, the nation’s top-ranked point guard, asserted himself last October when he and Kevin Durant starred during the annual tussle. This year, Lawson watched as Durant skipped off the Montrose and Oak Hill surrounded him with junior studs Michael Beasley and Nolan Smith. Regardless of whom his running mates are, Lawson always plays well in the scrimmage.

However, his 51 points on Tuesday against Hargrave left his coach scrambling for superlatives.

“It’s probably the best I’ve seen him play to be honest,” Oak Hill’s Steve Smith said. “This wasn’t a real game but it was against great, great competition. He was double-teamed, they pressed him full court man and they tried to trap him and that might have been their downfall. He takes that as a challenge.”

Lawson erupted for 51 points (15-21 FG, 6-10 3s, 15-16 FTs) as Oak Hill and Hargrave traded wins in a pair of 20-minute halves. Lawson also had 5 boards, 7 dimes, 7 steals and 4 turnovers.

“Tywon Lawson was incredible,” Hargrave coach Kevin Keatts said.

While Lawson was outstanding, the event provided a pair of strong teams (one post graduate and one prep powerhouse) to measure themselves against big time players early in the season while upholding a tradition dating back to 1990.

“The best thing that could have ever happened to both teams (was a split),” Keatts said. “We scored 64 points in the first half and we’re on a high. In the second half they go and score 61 points and we’re on a low. It’s a good thing because it shows that if you don’t come out and play teams can score against you.

“This was the most productive Hargrave-Oak Hill scrimmage you could have had. I don’t that in any other year the game will prepare us any better than this one has.”

Smith was equally fired up about the scrimmage. “We usually win a half and they win a half; it’s usually a one or two-point game. It was intense and different than most scrimmages because there was a good crowd and a lot of college coaches. It felt like a big game. It was a lot of fun and it was good for us.”

Source-InsideCarolina

Newest Tar Heel-Brandon Wright

In his mind, he didn’t catch anyone by surprise, but to the rest of the recruiting world Brandan Wright pulled somewhat of a shocker. Wright discusses his commitment to UNC ...
Unless you had the Wright household bugged, the commitment of Brandan Wright to North Carolina probably caught you off guard in some fashion. Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Duke were thought to be in strong position.

Actually, the truth of the matter is that Wright played his cards so well, no one really knew what he was thinking. From start to finish, Wright was the perfect gentleman to the media and with the staffs recruiting him. Everyone felt good about their chances, but to a man, no one really thought UNC would land him.

“I’ve been thinking about them for a week or week and a half,” Wright said of the Tar Heels. “I started thinking about all the schools and the way they play. I pictured myself there. I think the way Carolina plays … running up and down the court 100 miles and hour, I think that was the best style for me.”

Wright, who maintained he had no leader throughout the process, said that he approached each visit with an open mind and wasn’t swayed until recently in favor of UNC.

“I never had numbers on anything (in terms of where teams stood)," he said. "I had each school and everything I liked and disliked about each school. I just went from there. The main deciding factor was the way Carolina plays and I want to play in that style.”

In that style, Wright said that he envisions spending most of his time at the power forward spot with a little moonlighting at small forward.

Even after the commitment, it’s going to take a while for this one to sink in. It truly caught most observers by surprise.

“Me and (Coach Williams) have a great relationship," Wright said. "The media thought they were fourth. All four of schools were very close. (Coach) came to every game he possibly could come this year. We talk on the phone and I connected with the assistants very well.”
Now with Wright in the fold and the likelihood of a No. 1 recruiting class secured, the forward knows that this current Tar Heel class will be expected to reach that final game on a Monday night in April.

“There’s one thing left to do,” Wright said. “I think it’ll be high expectations freshman year.”

Source-InsideCarolina

Tar Heels' Copeland injured

CHAPEL HILL -- With only 10 scholarship players on the roster, former North Carolina players Hubert Davis and King Rice served as reserves for the Tar Heels' first scrimmage of the season Friday during "Late Night With Roy Williams."

Which was a good thing, considering freshman Mike Copeland sat out the final minutes of the 10-minute game, an ice pack on his right knee.

Coach Roy Williams didn't know the extent of of the injury and it will be re-evaluated today, but it illustrates one of the problems the Tar Heels could face today, when they begin practice at 2 p.m., for real: A lack of experienced bodies to practice against.

The top seven players from last year's national title team either graduated or were drafted into the NBA. In addition, guard Jesse Holley opted to concentrate on football and center Damion Grant will be physically unable to play.

In their place are five freshmen.

"We're definitely worried about that,'' senior David Noel said of the lack of bodies in practice. "We might not be able to do some of the up-and-down stuff that we like to do. But we're going to find some bodies from the JV team, and maybe a couple of walk-ons, and they could help us out a lot."
Indeed, three junior varsity players -- Dewey Burke, John Putnam and Will Robinson -- will practice with the team today as part of a tryout. None of them participated in the season-opening festivities Friday night, which included the unveiling of last season's championship banner, skits and a scrimmage by the women's basketball team, and performances by the new men's squad.

Perhaps the most fitting skit of the night: a dance routine by Noel and Byron Sanders to the music of "I Will Survive."

Beginning today, no matter how many bodies they have practicing beside them, they have to.

Source-Raleigh News and Observer

Tar Heels Tar heels tar heels tar heels north carolina tar heels north carolina tar heels tarheels tarheels tarheels tar heels tar heels north carolina north carolina

Warriors Tickets

Let me know if you are interested in any of the following games--I have section 110 Row 18 for all of them. Lower bowl is sold out for almost all of these games:


Wednesday October 19, 2005, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Suns-$65 (below face)

Saturday October 22, 2005, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. SuperSonics-$65 (below face)

Wednesday November 2, 2005, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Hawks

Friday November 4, 2005, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Jazz

Friday November 11, 2005, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Knicks

Monday November 14, 2005, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Bulls

Wednesday November 16, 2005, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Bucks

Wednesday November 23, 2005, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Spurs

Saturday November 26, 2005, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Raptors

Monday November 28, 2005, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Hornets

Wednesday November 30, 2005, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Kings

Wednesday December 7, 2005, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Suns

Friday December 9, 2005, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Pistons

Wednesday December 14, 2005, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Rockets

Monday December 26, 2005, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Nuggets

Wednesday December 28, 2005, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Celtics

Thursday January 5, 2006, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Pacers

Saturday January 14, 2006, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Lakers SOLD

Monday January 16, 2006, 1:00 PM Warriors vs. SuperSonics

Friday January 20, 2006, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Cavaliers

Monday January 23, 2006, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Clippers

Saturday January 28, 2006, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Trail Blazers

Thursday February 2, 2006, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Spurs

Monday February 6, 2006, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Nuggets

Monday February 13, 2006, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Grizzlies

Wednesday February 15, 2006, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Clippers

Monday February 27, 2006, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Jazz

Wednesday March 1, 2006, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Magic

Friday March 3, 2006, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Lakers

Sunday March 19, 2006, 1:00 PM Warriors vs. 76ers
I have tickets to the following games, please let me know which you are interested and your offer--Lower Bowl is sold out for almost all of the games

Monday March 27, 2006, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Wizards

Wednesday March 29, 2006, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Hornets

Friday March 31, 2006, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Kings

Friday April 7, 2006, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Rockets

Wednesday April 12, 2006, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Mavericks

Friday April 14, 2006, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Suns

Monday April 17, 2006, 7:30 PM Warriors vs. Trail Blazers

New Tar Heel? Stepheson, It's Official

Alex Stepheson, a PF/C from North Hollywood (Calif.) Harvard-Westlake, has decided to attend North Carolina!

The 6-9, 220-pound post player chose the Tar Heels over UConn and UCLA. Georgia Tech, Washington, Arizona and Wake Forest were also considered earlier in the process.

Stepheson averaged 16.9 points, 14.2 rebounds a 3.9 blocks -- including four games in which he had 20 or more rebounds -- his junior season for Harvard-Westlake.

He is ranked the No. 13 center in the class and No. 58 overall by Scout.com

For much more on Stepheson, including exclusive video highlights, an expert scouting report and much more, check out the Alex Stepheson Profile

Source-InsideCarolina

Tar Heel-Stepheson the Newest?

Just days after the Tar Heels received a verbal from one California post player, they are on the verge of lockin up another. Word on the street is the Kevin Stepheson will commit to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill within the next few days. You may be thinking WOW only if we could have gotten Spencer Hawes--I beg to differ; Tywon Lawson, Wayne "The Duke" Ellington, Deon Thompson, William Graves and the addition of Stepheson may be one of the best recruiting classes of all time...I agree, the addition of Spencer Hawes would have made it without a doubt one of the most amazing classes of all time, not just Tar Heels recruiting classes, but right up there with any class for any university.

It isn't over either because if Stepheson is in fact the latest addition to the Tar Heels roster, that adds another post player to go along with Thompson and Hansborough which in turn means that Thaddeous Young who is set to announce later this month may now be leaning towards the Tar Heels. Young wants to play the wing and this addition would allow him to do so and thus makes the Tar Heels the most attractive choice. Yes, not getting Spencer hurt, but the way Tywon and "The Duke" can get up and down the floor, I think Thadeous, a 6'7 plus swing man fits this mold a bit more and will make for an incredible perimeter--they just may average 90 points per game.

Just think, UW may have once again played a part in the success of the Tar Heel program!

McCants finds new niche

MINNEAPOLIS — Near the end of his first official practice with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, Rashad McCants faced a predicament.

His team for a half-court scrimmage had seven players, but only five could be on the floor at once. McCants decided to show off his humility and offered to sit out first in his group. He is no longer a star. He now has to defer, rather than be deferred to.

“It’s OK,” McCants said as he stepped off the court. “I’m the rookie.”

“That don’t mean shit,” shot back superstar forward Kevin Garnett, who was playing on the opposing team.

“Rookie wanna play a lot.”

Source-The Daily Tar Heel



Playing a lot has been a given for McCants since he first picked up a basketball. At Erwin High School, at New Hampton Prep, even at UNC, he was the center of attention.

In his first game as a Tar Heel he scored 28 points. How’s that for an entrance.
But you won’t see McCants scoring 28 points for the Timberwolves. That’s Garnett’s job. McCants is not expected, or needed, to be a significant contributor this year for a franchise that has been a perennial playoff contender.

Contrast that with his fellow Tar Heel National Champions: Raymond Felton and Sean May are the centerpiece of the Bobcats’ media blitz, and Marvin Williams is seen as the future of the Hawks.

That leaves McCants, the 14th pick and last of the four taken in the NBA Draft, in unfamiliar territory.

And he doesn’t seem to mind.

“It’s not really about battling for minutes, it’s about being part of another team,” McCants said. “I’m a rookie, so I’m going to have to earn my time.”

Hold on, isn’t this the kid who’s been labeled as a me-first egomaniac?

The knock on McCants during his sometimes tumultuous UNC career was a poor attitude, but Kevin McHale doesn’t buy it.

Minnesota’s vice president of basketball operations doesn’t believe that just because McCants has acted a little sullen and a little selfish means he will cause chemistry problems.
It’s the reason McHale was so excited on draft night when McCants slipped all the way to No. 14.

“All the stuff that guys call people malcontents now, I would have been a hell of a malcontent,” said McHale, a Hall of Fame forward and three-time NBA Champion with the Boston Celtics.
“I like to win, so I’d say, ‘Give me the ball, get the hell out of my way and I’ll get two (points).’ But I guess that’s politically incorrect now.”

The former North Carolina swingman hasn’t shaken his unsavory image just yet, however — thanks in part to his willingness to challenge the press.

Case in point: Monday’s media day. McCants was asked if he would have to adjust his play, considering that new coach Dwane Casey has a defense-first philosophy.

“We did play defense at North Carolina,” McCants sarcastically replied, staring down his inquisitor. “So it’s not like we didn’t.”

But occasional displays of petulance are child’s play in a league that’s home to Allen “Practice?” Iverson and Ron Brawl-test.

McCants’ comments that compared playing at North Carolina to prison might have caused a stir last fall, but Garnett did him one better during the first round of the 2004 playoffs. Before Game Seven against the Denver Nuggets, Garnett told reporters that he was planning on bringing his M-16s and grenade launchers to the game.

Of course, you can get away with that when your career average is 20 points and 11 rebounds a game.

Garnett has served as mentor to McCants so far, and the rookie said the opportunity to play with the eight-time All-Star and 2004 MVP is a major advantage to playing for the Timberwolves.

“I felt like this was the best situation for me, as far as coming into a team that had been to the playoffs,” McCants said. “And playing with a veteran like Kevin Garnett, who’s the best player in the league, that can definitely show me a lot.”

The mentor-student relationship was clear Tuesday, as Garnett pulled McCants aside to demonstrate moves that could create space for his jumper.

McCants said the two have bonded off the court as well.

“We’ve had a lot of heart-to-heart discussions,” McCants said. “He’s been great about letting me know the little things I’m doing wrong.”

One big thing McCants needs to work on — even if he did do it at Carolina — is defense. Casey raved about McCants’ offensive prowess, but the coach’s main priority is transforming the Wolves into a defensive squad. And with veterans Wally Szczerbiak and Trenton Hassell ahead of him at shooting guard, McCants faces an uphill battle for minutes.

“McCants is going to be a great player in this league but he has a lot to learn,” Casey said. “Especially on the defensive end of the floor.”

Plus, McCants missed the Timberwolves’ summer league season — a key proving ground for young players — with myriad injuries, including a strained hamstring, a turned ankle and an ailing groin.

“Rashad’s been a little banged up, so we haven’t gotten a chance to see a lot of what he’s capable of doing,” Szczerbiak said. “But obviously he’s a real talent, a good skills player, and I think he’s going to help us a lot.”

McCants, who said he’s now 95-percent healthy, is ready for the challenge. Though he’s looking to defer to the team’s veterans, he still intends to average 10 points and six boards a game. No NBA player shorter than 6-foot-7 averaged that many rebounds last season.
McCants is listed at 6-foot-4.

In addition to those goals, McCants established himself Tuesday as the most vocal player on the team — besides Garnett, of course. During the scrimmage he was constantly picking up his teammates and trash-talking — even occasionally at Garnett’s expense.

But all that cockiness and swagger plays a lot better in the NBA than it did in college.

“I think Rashad can be a little moody and selfish — and that’s OK,” McHale said. “Some of the great thoroughbreds will bite your hand if you come in the stall.”
And you can bet McCants will be chomping on the bit all year.

After all, this rookie wanna play a lot.

Carolina prepares for another challenge

By Eddie Landreth

For the second consecutive week North Carolina will play a team that crushed it a year ago.
The Tar Heels (2-2) defeated Utah 31-17 this past Saturday, avenging a 46-16 loss to the Utes in 2004. Now UNC hits the road, traveling to Louisville to play the Cardinals (3-1) in a game scheduled to kick off at 4:30 p.m.

A year ago the Cardinals came to Chapel Hill and beat Carolina 34-0.

"That team took us apart last year," Carolina coach John Bunting said.

Said UNC wide receiver Jesse Holley: "We were embarrassed by them. We had a doughnut at home. That's horse(manure)."

Painful as it may have been, Carolina will use the memory of that loss as fuel to get ready this week, offensive guard Kyle Ralph said.
"Anytime you lose like that it burns," Ralph said. "It burns you up until you can fix it."
Fixing it will not be easy, however. The Cardinals lost some players to the National Football League, but they return plenty of talented people as well. Three of the five interior offensive linemen are seniors. A fourth is a junior.

Two of the three starting wide receivers are seniors. Three of the four starters on the defensive line are seniors, while the fourth is a junior. It's a similar story across the board.
The Cardinals' offense is explosive, and the defense is geared toward attacking and creating chaos in an opponents' backfield.

Speed is a key ingredient in accomplishing these goals, and Bunting said that Louisville has the kind of team speed to rival what the Tar Heels will see throughout their ACC schedule.
"Their offensive line is one of the best we'll play," Bunting said. "They run multiple personnel groups, and it doesn't seem to make a difference. They throw it out there and you have to defend it.

"We'll have to play very, very well to stay in the game with them. Their defense is extremely active, as they were last year. They are very disruptive. They take some risks. They blitz frequently. They have two towering outside linebackers that just create havoc coming off the edges. So we'll be playing against a team that is very, very capable of blowing anybody out."
The biggest worry for the Tar Heels is the Cardinals shut them out last season when offense was the strength of that UNC team. This season offense has been a weak point for Carolina.
Nonetheless, there is good news, and it has nothing to do with car insurance. Tailback Ronnie McGill is scheduled to return after missing the first four games with a torn chest muscle. His presence could make a difference for a running game that has been non-existent in all but one game this year.

"Ronnie brings a lot excitement back to the offense," Ralph said. "He's an emotional guy, and he's a powerful runner. It's really important to get him back. It gives us a boost in personnel. Ronnie was a leader coming into the season. We expect him to be a step-up guy to lead the running game in the backfield.

"You can just see it in his eyes when he got ready to come back to practice. He's ready to come back. He's ready to explode."

The offensive line could use an experienced runner to help it. Barrington Edwards and Cooter Arnold have plenty of talent but not a lot of experience.

Arnold will burst into the line but often misses the hole. Edwards will hesitate rather than explode. So getting a runner like McGill, who can find the hole and get through it in a hurry, is exactly what the Tar Heels need.

"His experience makes a huge difference," Ralph said of McGill. "He's been there before, and he's seen a lot of things. He's played against some phenomenal teams. He's played against the best defensive players and blocked the best defensive players. That experience factor, understanding the concepts of the offense and what we're trying to do is really going to help us out.

"We've got to put that hole there for him to hit. Ronnie, ever since he's been here as a freshman, has an uncanny ability to find the smallest seam and smallest hole and punch it right through there. Ronnie just seems to have this unexplainable ability to find that hole and hit it."
Just as important to UNC's cause, or perhaps more so, will be stopping Louisville running back Michael Bush, who is 6 foot 3, 250 pounds and has amazing speed to go with his size. He's coming off a 204-yard rushing day.

"He's an old-fashioned clavicle buster," Bunting said. "He's going to bust you up. He's big. He's not only tall, but he's thick, particularly on the lower end. He's straight-line fast. When he gets an opening, he's going to take it a distance. He will take it to the ranch. He can run away from people."

Eddy Landreth is a freelance writer who lives outside Pittsboro.

Carolina's confidence game pays off

The Tar Heels have traveled more than 2,100 miles and 12 months since a humiliating loss last year at Utah.

The North Carolina football team is better than it has been in years, far superior to what most of us thought it could be before the season began.

The No. 1 question at this point is: "Why?" One underlying reason for the improvement is trust.

N.C. State coach Chuck Amato talked about trust as a buzzword for the Wolfpack this season. He worked to develop trust among his offensive and defensive units after some infighting between those guys.

UNC coach John Bunting hasn't made any public proclamations about trust, but he and his staff have nurtured the trait and watched it grow within the program. This is obvious from the way the players talk about the program and the manner in which they go about their business.

Trust took a beating in the transition that occurred in the early years of Bunting's tenure.

Players often doubted whether the man next to them would do his job. The offense doubted the defense, and the coaches and players, whether they admitted to it, doubted one another.

Overcoming this deficiency and building honest-to-goodness trust has required a Herculean effort on the part of everyone involved. The players had to believe the coaches knew what they were doing. Then the players had to learn what they were supposed to do and perform.

The coaching staff had to learn to trust the upperclassmen would lead the team and that the underclassmen would follow. They also had to trust that the players would do the right thing off the field.

"More players are buying into what we do, yeah," Bunting said. "I think that is a big part of it. We have really good leadership on our team. I think that has a lot to do with it.

"These kids have worked harder this spring and summer than any other team we've had here. They know that and feel good about that."

Confidence is another intangible that has made this team so competitive in its first four games. Saturday the Tar Heels (2-2) defeated 3-2 Utah 31-17 in spite of playing poorly on offense throughout the first half and for parts of the second half.

It's been years since UNC could win a game after playing poorly in any aspect.

Just a year ago, Carolina went to Utah and got hammered 46-16. The Tar Heels were beaten down physically and mentally after that one. They came home humiliated (a self-description) and sporting a string of injuries.

There were so many injuries then that Bunting said it would have been hard to put a team on the field had they been required to do so in one week's time.

Instead the Tar Heels had an open date the Saturday after losing at Utah, and they spent much of that first week simply trying to get enough players well in order to practice again. When they did practice, it was in preparation for then-undefeated and fourth-ranked Miami.

If someone told me today they believed Carolina had any chance to win that game against Miami, I'd guess they would be lying. Few, if anyone, outside the football program thought it would be humanly possible for the Tar Heels to even compete with the Hurricanes, given the strength of Miami, the ugly loss to Utah and the string of injuries that haunted the team at the time.

As we know today, UNC beat Miami in a stunning turnaround. It was during that incredible victory that Carolina overcame its self-doubts. The players began to sincerely believe in one another and their coaches. The kids realized that if they could defeat Miami straight up, as they had, there was no reason to fear any opponent.

"These other players are no different from us," junior receiver Jesse Holley said after catching a touchdown pass to put Utah away on Saturday. "They put their helmets and uniforms on the same way as we do. ... We play the best week in and week out. That is only going to make us better. We don't have time to relax. We know every week we have to bring our A-plus-plus game. That is only going to help us in the long run."

By the end of the 2004 season, the question was whether Carolina could carry its newfound confidence and trust into a new season.

It has.

This team has not let up once in four games, regardless of score or circumstances. The Tar Heels have played with confidence even when they did not play well, and that is no small achievement.

When you talk to the players and watch them perform, it's apparent this team is following Bunting's lead. Instead of the grumbling we sometimes heard a couple of years ago, now the players mimic their coach's words and teachings, and we see them emulating his toughness for 60 minutes each Saturday.

"We're changing the culture here," Holley said. "That's what coach Bunting has been preaching to us. When I came here in '03, I was a part of the change-of-culture group. People say Carolina is a cup-cake school. Carolina is all about basketball. I'm a part of the basketball team, but we feel we've worked hard enough (in football) to get some respect around here.

"Sometimes you have to go get it," Holley said. "We prepared so hard in the spring. We prepared extra hard in the summer. We prepared hard in the training camp. Now you're starting to see the toughness in this team. We're just being tough. We're changing the culture -- bottom line."

This doesn't mean UNC is going to win the ACC title or even have a winning season. The schedule remains just as difficult today as it was two weeks ago. The offense is further behind today than it was after the victory against N.C. State.

What it does mean is that for the first time in years Carolina football has a strong foundation on which to build a program. How long it will take to return to the top 25 and winning eight games or more each year is hard to predict, but it's fair to say that the Tar Heels are once again headed in right direction.

Source-Chapel Hill News

Tar Heel(s)--Now that's a picture

All right, yesterday I displayed the non-tar heel Dunloser in a media day picture and today I thought I would display a Tar Heel (should have been two Tar Heels as Garnett was headed for UNC, but that's another article).

I am sure you have read plenty of bad about McCants and what a failure he will be--mostly from Duke fans and Carolina hating journalists, but that usually stems from the fact that they are tired of writing about all the Dookies that fail in the pros. I'll give them one thing, they sure can produce 4 year college players; there is definitely something to be said for that, the main thing being that they aren't good enough for the pros.

Prediction--J.J. Redick will be along side Wojo and Collins calling signals from the bench and making the wages of a grad student working in the University Library. That's okay because everyone will remember him as the best free throw shooter ever--now that is something to tell your grand kids.

Thompson-The Newest Tar Heel

Here's what they had to say about the Tar Heel's newest commitment.

"Thompson is a big bodied kid with very good feet and very good hands and a soft touch," said Rivals scout Jerry Meyer.

"Advanced and quick moves to either shoulder in the post. He can hit the face up jumper and can handle the ball. Skilled power forward who can really play with his back to the basket. Plays hard and competes. He's a nice prospect."

All Star Sports and Rivals regional analyst Rob Matera likes Thompson as well.

" I watched him at the ABCD Camp," said Matera from his cell phone in New Jersey traffic.

Deon's a big strong kid. He's a wide body, good rebounder, good scorer around the basket. Not very explosive athletically though. A good solid five man."

We asked if he felt Thompson was an elite type McDonalds All American kid...
Deon Thompson has verbally committed to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Here is what they are saying about the big man:


"I don't think he's a McDonalds All American type player, but he's the tier right below that. He'll be good at Carolina."

We e-mailed a anonymous college coach as well and got a quick response.

"Once a sluggish type, he's gotten himself into good playing shape, " he said.

"He lost some weight but he's still got some conditioning work to do, but Coach Williams will run the rest of that jiggle off of him. He's a train down there on the blocks. Stays in low, back to the basket. He showcased some scoring moves in there and hit some 15 footers when I saw him."

"I like the kid, he's got room to grow and he's got great hands. Should be a good one once he gets that body of his toned up."

Source-TarHeelRadar

Would a Tar Heel Do This

Okay, lets be honest; would anyone that is not affiliated with Duke or Stanford ever take such a picture? I think not; this could be worse than the Reggie Love pictures...if you don't know anything about those, well then I suggest doing a search for them, but it isn't something I am going to post here--at least not until basketball season.

What scares me most about this picture is what he could be looking at--his facial expression tells me that it could possibly have something to do with Chris Collins, Coach K, Wojo a can of whip cream and some leather chaps.

All I know is that this may be one of the most disturbing pictures, especially when it is trying to portray the success that is expected of the Warriors for this upcoming season.

My Advice to Dunloser--FIRE YOUR AGENT

Spencer Hawes-Not a Tar Heel

A year ago, North Carolina fans watched as Lorenzo Romar kept one of the nation’s top players away from the Tar Heels' arch rival.

This time they can only watch as the Washington head coach does the same thing to them.

Jon Brockman chose to remain home and play for Romar and the University of Washington last season despite heavy interest in Duke -- and this time around, it was another local star, Spencer Hawes (No. 3, Scout.com).

The 6-foot-11 ½, 220-pound senior big man at Seattle Prep (Wash.), according to sources close to the situation, chose the Huskies over North Carolina and Stanford after an official visit down the road at UW this weekend.

"It’s done,” the source said. "He's staying close to home."

A press conference is scheduled for Tuesday, 3 p.m. (PST) at Seattle Prep.

It’s not often that anyone beats out Duke and North Carolina in successive recruiting wars, but that’s exactly what Romar & Co. have done.

Hawes is ranked only behind Greg Oden and Kevin Durant. He averaged 16.7 points per game last season on a team led by Martell Webster and was also pursued by nearly everyone in the Pac-10.

Hawes father, Jeff, and his uncle, Steve, both played at Washington. Steve also played in the NBA with the Sonics.

However, Spencer, who played with Friends of Hoop in the spring and summer, is on track to be the most successful one of the family. He has terrific footwork, soft hands, he’s tough, plays hard and can be a force in the paint.

Hawes joins an impressive Huskies class that also includes Quincy Pondexter (No. 27), Phil Nelson (No. 66) and Adrian Oliver (No. 92).

The Tar Heels will now turn their efforts to landing a trio of frontcourt guys from a field that includes Thaddeus Young, Brandan Wright, Deon Thompson, Alex Stepheson, Darrell Arthur and Duke Crews.

Source-InsideCarolina.com