I'm not saying we need to blow out teams by 50 every game but losing to FLORIDA STATE by 33, especially by pretty much one player is a wake up call. Its call for alarm, especially since all you homers talk about how good this team is supposedly. They're no better than last years squad and to me haven't done the things necessary that a CHAMPIONSHIP caliber team does to assure its place to cut down the nets. I'm not jumping ship but they shouldn't lose to ANY team by 33 if they're as good as some say.
I haven't given up hope. We have 2 big games against Duke, the ACC tourney, and NCAA tourney to look forward to. Several things need to come together for these kids. Barnes needs to revert back to where he was the latter half of last season. Henson needs to improve his FT's kind of like he did the second half of last season and quit settling from 17 footers. We've got to get McAdoo on board and get him to provide some punch of the bench. PJ and Reggie need to settle into their roles and not force the issue so much. Open 3's are great, but they are forcing shots up like never before. Kendall needs to be Kendall and really focus on moving his feet on the defensive end. Strick will need to be ready to take over the PG spot when Kendall has trouble defending.
Early on we were all hard on Zeller and his problems hanging onto the ball. He's remedied that problem pretty well and has strung together some good games. Our bread and butter is still our post players and we need to focus on getting them involved early and often. A steady dose of Reggie and PJ providing some perimeter punch, but not jacking up a shot everytime down the floor would be nice.
Barnes needs to step up big time. He's out most talented player and a guy capable of taking over games. The early season Barnes was a nice surprise with his new found ability to put the ball on the floor. He's again settling for 3's all too often. I'd like to see the kids make the opposing team really work on the defensive end. We've become too reliant on the outside shot in the halfcourt. I want to see the kids really work the ball around the perimeter and a steady dose of feeds to the paint.
These kids will be fine, but they need to pay attention to detail and focus.
RoyzBoyz. you are 100% correct. Look the title of the thread was a bold one, but it is the way, I love this team. Zeller is a great big man, he has played weak some, but he has stepped it up in recent weeks. Henson by far has play exceptional well. Barnes has been in a slump, but great players do not stay in a slump for long. The FSU game was the only game where we needed Barnes the most to step up his game and he did not. Barnes should be the leader on this team. When you talk about "The Best Player in the Country", you have to be a leader. He needs to the be the one to step up and say shut up and play. PJ and Reggie, you know they are good shooters, but good shooters have to find a rhythm and jacking up the first few shots when you get in the game WILL NOT establish that. And then there is Marshall. He is so good, but somethings are not meant to be his area. We have the pieces. We are talented. I still believe we are the best team, no matter what the negativity is with the supposedly "UNC" fans. You have to believe, even if it is unrealistic. This is by far from unrealistic. We have everything we need, it just has to click. They have to buy into the system, which at times I believe they have not. The last thing is everyone needs to bug off on McAdoo's back. He is a freshman. Now I don't know where Roy found this kid at, someone was sending him the wrong tapes, but remember Henson? He was awful. Sometimes it just takes time adjusting to the college game compared to high school. You are no longer the king of the floor like in high school.
