Tar Heel Times

Jacobs: Rivalry Reborn

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:11:00 -0400

A few more games like the one played last weekend between North Carolina and Duke, and folks must start paying stricter attention to what was once a premier college football rivalry. A Tar Heel victory was nothing new. But the Blue Devils' clear improvement on both sides of the ball raised the level of competitiveness a few notches.

Houston's role on offense expands for Tar Heels

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:10:00 -0400

For much of his career at UNC, running back Ryan Houston’s role was specialized. When the Tar Heels faced short-yardage situations, Houston was brought in with one clear objective. “Just get yards,” Houston said. This week, with the junior ascending into the starting role after the loss of featured back Shaun Draughn, Houston’s assignment will become much more complex.

UNC-FIU: Between The Lines

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:08:00 -0400

It certainly seemed a bit odd to see the new-look Tar Heels donning the ’57 team’s uniform look – red waist line and all – in an 88-72 season-opening victory over Florida International. And it also seemed a bit unusual to see a constantly changing lineup on the floor. It was just seven months ago when a veteran group of NBA talent in baby blue gobbled up most of the minutes in leading the Tar Heels to the program’s fifth NCAA title.

Glad to win, looking for improvement

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:05:00 -0400

Following UNC's 88-72 season-opening triumph over Florida International Monday night in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, UNC head coach Roy Williams spoke briefly with reporters. "Okay, we're glad to get a 'W.' It's fun to get that first game under your belt," said Williams. Despite shooting well for much of the game and out-rebounding Florida International 44-29, the Tar Heels committed a whopping 26 turnovers.

Introducing North Carolina sophomore Robert Quinn

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:04:00 -0400

A pass-rushing force off the edge, North Carolina DE Robert Quinn ranks among the nation's top 10 in sacks (10) and tackles for loss (15.5). And the sophomore's will matches his play—he has rebounded from 2007 surgery that removed a benign brain tumor. Quinn spoke with Sporting News' Dave Curtis on Monday about his play, his past, and a prediction for next spring.

Heels Coast in Season-Opening Victory

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:26:00 -0400

The defending national champion North Carolina Tar Heels opened the 2009-10 season on Monday night with a 88-72 victory over Isiah Thomas’ Florida International squad behind Deon Thompson’s 20-point, 10-rebound effort. The fourth-ranked Tar Heels jumped out to a quick 11-4 lead behind six of Thompson’s early points, but the Golden Panthers kept the ball game surprisingly competitive throughout.

UNC-FIU: Freshman Q&As (w/audio)

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:24:00 -0400

Leslie McDonald: How's your first month of college basketball been for you? "It's going great right now - practicing, working out, conditioning. It was a smack to the face at first, being a freshman, but I'm loving it ... We call it 'The Wall' - just the toughness of the college atmosphere, as far as conditioning-wise, learning the plays, so it's new to the freshmen, but as you get used to it, you just roll with it and it comes with you."

Houston helps Heels move forward

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:22:00 -0400

The most recent time North Carolina's Ryan Houston carried the ball 37 times in a game, he was 30 pounds lighter and in high school. But in Saturday's win over Duke, Houston was forced to carry the load for the Tar Heels when starter Shaun Draughn was lost on the first play of the game. Houston finished with a career-high 164 yards and carried the ball more times than any UNC player since 1990.

UNC football still shuffling

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:21:00 -0400

North Carolina's offense has gotten used to making adjustments after playing without six starters -- center, left tackle, left guard, tight end, fullback and wide receiver -- for some portion of the past two months. But with the news that leading rusher Shaun Draughn will miss the rest of the season after fracturing his left shoulder blade Saturday against Duke, UNC coach Butch Davis was looking for help again Monday.

Tar Heels have a lot of work to do

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:20:00 -0400

The inevitable soul-searching that this North Carolina team will go through, as is only natural given the sheer volume of the post-championship exodus, was always going to last longer than one game. What Monday's 88-72 win against Florida International showed was that this is a work in progress, and while there's plenty of raw material, there's also a lot of work to be done to mold it into coherence.

Reloading UNC ruins Isiah's debut

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:19:00 -0400

Isiah Thomas stood on the sideline and ordered his undersized Florida International team to spread the court against the defending national champions. That's when North Carolina's Deon Thompson walked over and teasingly asked why Thomas had to make the bigger Tar Heels defend so much on the perimeter. "He just started laughing and said, 'Man, that's the only thing I can do,'" Thomas said.

UNC beats FIU in opener

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:17:00 -0400

During least one point during Monday's first half, Roy Williams was heard yelling one of his seemingly favorite phrases at new backup point guard Dexter Strickland as the freshman was inbounded the ball: "Go, go, go!" Good thing for the Tar Heels they were also able to stop, stop, stop. The defending national champions recorded eight blocks and held Florida International to 36.8 percent shooting during their 88-72 season-opening win.

Young, talented Tar Heels look to veterans for leadership

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:15:00 -0400

Even amid the excitement of the season’s first game and the centennial celebration it tipped off, Marcus Ginyard refused to crack a smile. That is, until he reached the sideline after being taken out moments later. “I was just trying to be a tough guy for a little bit,” he said afterward. More likely, the fifth-year senior was trying to send a message to the rest of the young Tar Heels, five of whom were playing their first college game.

Lucas: Wow

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:07:00 -0400

If Roy Williams is still learning about his team, then the rest of us definitely are. That's where the "wow" can be useful. It's the perfect word for this team. It conveys surprise and it can be good, sure. But it can also be a wow of disbelief, as in, wow, the Tar Heels need to take a little better care of the basketball. Twenty-two of Carolina's 26 turnovers were made by players contending for the rotation.

UNC-Florida International Post-Game Quotes

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:06:00 -0400

"Well we had 26 turnovers. I had to chew the last five guys out for making four turnovers in the last two minutes of the game. I told them to work their tail off in practice. If you want to get in the game then don't turn the dagum ball over. I like the way we rebounded, particularly in the second half. The halftime stats for rebounding were 20-20. And they had 20 pts on offensive rebounds and so did we. And we ended up with a 44-29 advantage."

Miami football team focusing on North Carolina

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:02:00 -0400

No. 12 University of Miami, fresh off its 52-17 homecoming victory against Virginia, has one of its biggest ACC challenges less than a week away. UNC, in the Hurricanes' Coastal Division and led by former UM coach Butch Davis, has been a very unkind host to the Canes. "Go look up and see if Miami has ever beaten North Carolina at North Carolina,'' UM coach Randy Shannon said. "I don't think we've ever beaten them there.''

Marcus Lattimore still considering Auburn

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:00:00 -0400

The commitment of Little Rock running back Michael Dyer won't deter South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore. "Coach (Gus) Malzahn had two 1,000 yard rushers in the offense before," Lattimore told the Sporting News after last week's visit to Auburn. "Plus, I feed on competition." Lattimore was scheduled to visit Penn State this weekend and Oregon in January. Florida State and Georgia remain possibilities, and most recruiting analysts believe South Carolina is still a big part of the picture.

Sharrif Floyd sets his UNC visit

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:00:00 -0400

DL Sharrif Floyd (6-3 311) of Philadelphia has set his official visit with North Carolina for the weekend of December 11th. Floyd has taken official visits to Florida, Southern Cal and Ohio State. He's been to Penn State unofficially, and he plans to work in an official visit to USC after his season is over. Floyd has not identified a favorite and he plans to announce his decision at the US Army All American Game in January.

No. 6 North Carolina Beats Thomas, FIU 88-72

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:49:00 -0400

Deon Thompson scored 20 points to help No. 6 North Carolina spoil Isiah Thomas’ college coaching debut and beat Florida International 88-72 on Monday night in the 2K Sports Classic. Ed Davis added 13 points for the defending national champion Tar Heels (1-0), who had little trouble with the undersized Golden Panthers. North Carolina shot 56 percent and led by double digits much of the way.

Florida International Game Guide

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:10:00 -0400

Defending national champions North Carolina will begin the 2009-10 season against Florida International on Monday night. FIU was 13-20 last season and 7-11 in conference, and lost four starters from that team. Isiah Thomas, former Indiana guard and NBA head coach, is now the head coach at FIU. It is his first college coaching job. Game Time: FIU at North Carolina, 7:00 PM.