"Who Do the Tar Heels Miss the Most?" by Frank Sports Talk (F.W. Manning II)

Who Do the Tar Heels Miss the Most?

February 12, 2010

After watching the Tar Heels fade away down the stretch the other night to Dook, at the Dean E Smith Center, I started asking myself a question:

If there was some magical wand I could wave that would bring one Heel back from last years' team to put on this squad, which one would be the most helpful?

My choice was easily narrowed down to Tyler H. and Ty Lawson. Yes, I know Tyler was a senior so he had to go...and I took that into consideration when deciding...

However even if I could have him back, I would still go with Tywan. The Heels are in dire straights of solid and consistent backcourt distribution, ball security, points and effective speed in transition.

Lawson brings all that and more. He became a real perimeter threat last season, and I know he could be scoring over 17 points a game if needed to this year for Carolina.

He is a superior on-ball defender, he has supreme court vision and his assist to turnover ratio is off the charts. Had he stayed, I sincerly believe the Heels would be more like 19-4 instead of 13-10, and would be 7-2 in the ACC instead of 2-7.

Hansbrough would help too, but without a pair of capable hands to steer the wheel and press the gas for the UNC Machine, it really doesn't matter how much horsepower, or should I say hansbroughpower you have under the hood.

Don't get me wrong, Tyler would make a HUGE difference...but I think overall, teams would be better prepared come game time with a plan to defeat the Heels with him down-low...along with the current guards, then they would if Lawson was the floor general...pushing the ball so that Henson could play more minutes at the three spot while Ginyard, and Strickland took turns playing the off guard, along with mixing in Graves (at both the 2 and 3 spot) and benefiting from open looks for three outside....

(Yes Graves can play some shooting guard if the heels ever decided to play some zone defense for extended stretches...but that might be too novel for Ole Roy....So then... Lawson, Ginyard, Henson, Thompson and Davis would be the starters...with Strickland backing up Lawson and Ginyard, Graves backing up Henson and Ginyard, while McDonald would be my spot swingman sub and Drew...well Drew would be left out...)

In essence, what I am saying is Carolina would be more dynamic, dangerous, and much harder to defend if Tywan was in the sky blue...

Now tell me what you think

HeelsHoopFan 3 years, 3 months ago

Come on man.......Heels are product of poor recruiting! There is no way that the beloved DrewII , just because he's wearing Carolina blue is a true point guard. Heels were lucky to get Lawson for his junior year considering his off the court behavior. Ty is in the rotation at Denver....he ain't never coming back and by the way Lawson why don't you and Rondo lose the head bands, I love you both, but the bands are lame.

You honestly going to tell me that ole Roy couldn't come up with a point guard for this team. Get real, the Heels coaching staff are mailing this one in and as a result they have brought some discredit to the Heels legacy. Nobody expected back to back champs, but Dude.... it's been a long time (Lang and Capel)since a Heel team has looked this bad. Just a solid point guard could have made a huge difference to this year' Heels.

The part that gets me is that Roy continues with this lineup. Now that Ed Davis is hurt for the rest of this season, Roy can start playing the Frosh more because they have earned the right to play because they chose UNC and the upper class men just ain't getting it done. Go Heels!!!!!!

CSmithson 3 years, 3 months ago

Peppers!!!

He still has at least a year of basketball eligibility left. Get a little rule changed and bring him back. Nobody will mess with Peppers near the basket. Just what we need.

debsalomon 3 years, 3 months ago

Girly fan here again. I am disturbed to see the look on Roy's face, when cameras pan in. Of course he is upset but he looks almost disgusted or resigned some of the time. The team needs his enthusiasm and a more encouraging expresion during this dark season. I watch other coaches...how can you not? They get fiery, even angry, but I sense something different with Williams. And, although still a rabid Dookie, I sincerely wanted the Heels to win last week on their home court, especially with Hansbrough in attendance.

fwm2 3 years, 3 months ago

HHF: Come on man, leave the headbands alone...esp Rondo's he looks smooth with his, upside logo and all...and who cares so long if he keeps playing like he is. I don't think Roy is phoning this year in....I think a few injuries and no upperclassman leadership caught him off guard and he is floundering as is the team....the whole point of my blog was to say....WE HAVE NO POINT GUARD..not even one....NADA

CSmithson...THAT is what I am talking about...lol

Deb: I totally agree with you... something is amiss with ole Roy, can't quite put my finger on it but you summed up my feelings pretty well...This is when coaches should most embrace their jobs, as father figures and molders of young men with character, when the chips are down...

anybody can look good when they are sailing with the wind...but wind the still winds conspire against you: that is a true test of one's courage

HeelsHoopFan 3 years, 3 months ago

It's all about trust dude. Take today's game, slowly the Frosh are being inserted into the lineup, but not because of Roy's brilliance rather out necessity. Strick, Wear, Mac and especially Henson all showed what they can do with quality minutes. Albeit it was against State, the positive play from the Frosh inspired Deon, DrewII, Graves and Marcus.

Hope ole Roy learned something today and can put Heels back into the conversation. I agree with CSmithson lets waive that little rule regarding JPeppers and start getting some respect in the post. Remember most Heel point guards usually had scorers down low and that makes a big difference.

Take care of the ball Heels.....Go Heels!!!!

fwm2 3 years, 3 months ago

So u are the one telling me about trust, yet you have been all over MG's case this entire season...whats up with that dude??

faith 3 years, 3 months ago

I miss Ellington and his hot 3-pointer streaks.

Tom_Embrey 3 years, 3 months ago

just remember last year's team was one of the most talented, deep and balanced college has seen in many a year. They had playmakers at the point and in the post, and shooters on the wing. And they had a ton of experience. This team doesn't. That said, I think we see what a mediocre to poor coach Roy is when he has less than top talent.

fwm2 3 years, 3 months ago

Tom:

I agree with u 100 %

I have been criticizing Ole Roy for years now much to the chagrin of my fellow Tar Heel brethren.

Yes he won 2 championships in 5 years....but one was with a team he inherited, another that was possibly the most talented from 1-8 or 9 ever to play at UNC....I think u me, Hunter & Charlie could have been the coaching staff and they still would have brought home that title....of course we all would have had to abandon our posts at the Pilot, become immune to the need for sleep and all agree on what the rotation would have been...so maybe it was best we turned down that call UNC (never) made to us two years ago..lol

I said a year or so back on our old blog that I rate Roy like this....A+ recruiter, A- day to day practice coach, C in preparing for big games, C as a game time coach as he fails to make proper adjustments when needed, and D+ in terms of a week to week Coach in how he handles his rotations and seems unwilling to tinker to make changes when things seem to be going wrong....

Oh boy I am in for it now....but wait... no worries there...hardly anybody reads my ramblings anyhow.

Still ... and I know it was an exercise in futility to propose that hypothetical speculation... but they need a point guard so so bad was my point; thus the whole Ty over Tyler thing....

Heck Frazier or QT would be a huge help as a starter over Drew...I like the kid but in my opinion he is not ready for prime time and is not capable of consistently running the team the way Roy wants...(which may not be the best way really...when u get down to brass tacks...one system can not work year in year out...I know u know, I am talking to Roy...some times you have to play the system that best suits your strengths while also hiding your vulnerabilities as much as possible)

With this team I think more half-court zone (2-3 and 2-3 trap) defense and a slower pace at times would play to the heel's advantage (esp since Zeller went down and MG is still no where near the defender he once was and Davis, who is also out now stayed in foul trouble)... then Henson could actually play some big minutes at three without being exploited down low because of his super svelte build...but man what a blocker he is....think of how good an off the ball blocker he could be at a wing spot in a 2-3...

I cannot remember for sure what game it was... I am thinking it was the VA Tech road loss...but Henson got the heels player of the game second in scoring behind Davis' 15 in 31 minutes. That night he had 14 points, went 5-6 from the field, 4-4 from the line and played 14 MINUTES..

While he was watching the last 6-plus minutes from the bench, the graphic came up down the stretch showing him as the broadcasts' pick for the Heels Player of the Game and he...well he was already beginning to dry off over beside Roy watching the Heels falter late.

I think Roy is a stubborn cuss, and awful Prideful to boot --are you with me?

HeelsHoopFan 3 years, 3 months ago

Tell like it is Tommy!!!! And fwm2 I have been all over MG's case because he is a fifth year player and he has lost a step because of injuries....let the young guys play Roy. You got a three ring circus coming to town next year and if you think expectations are big this year.... November is really not that far away. Quit crying and get a Tarheel alum on that coaching bench. How bout that?

debsalomon 3 years, 3 months ago

Last night's game at GT was like a wake. Pretty bad when you have to click over to "19 Kids and Counting," or men's figure skating. I'm no sports analyist, just your resident Girly Fan and Dookie/Heels lover, but when the commmentators start sounding funereal have to be concerned. As for Ole Roy, he just looked like he wanted outta there. Can you imagine the ride home? Again, you can mock the Cameron Crazies to kingdom come, but their organized and constant roar makes a huge difference in most spectators' enjoyment of the game...and the team's spirit, I would imagine. Haven't seen anything like it...anywhere.

fwm2 3 years, 2 months ago

I think now it might be Dean Smith UNC misses most....not sure how much he talks to Roy on a regular basis or visits practice....but I know Dean would have made some adjustments so that the Heels would have been more competitive in league play.... regardless of all the injuries UNC has had, Smith would not stand for being consistently beaten in blowout fashion, would have found a system and rotation suitable for the players he had available and would have guided this team to the dance

I think Roy needs to take more accountability for the way this year has gone instead of projecting it all to his players, injuries and "unrealistic" fan expectations due to the Tar Heels "unwarranted" pre-season rankings.

I thought the Heels were a top 15-17 team to start the year and no matter what has transpired over the course of this season, two rings or not, Roy has done an inadequate to poor job as a Coach.

I am going to conclude by copying something I posted on Patrick Loves Lone Gone Blog Entry: "Dogging Duke" back on FEB 4th

"...I know one thing...Carolina might be lucky to get past the sweet sixteen...sixteen win mark on the season that is...lol.... I mean how long can Roy stick with a starting point guard, (or back court for that matter) that turns the ball over so much, with such a weak scoring + assist avg...."