CB3 Media Heel Prints

Check back prior to the 2008 season for a preview and a program outlook.

Click here for Carolina baseball analysis.

Off the cuff: The Tar Heels moved the ball well, got the ball inside, drove to the basket and got good looks from outside - and knocked them down.

This performance against Boston College in the second round of the ACC Tournament was what Carolina fans expected to see all year - even including contributions off the bench.

Now we've seen similar performance including recently against Clemson. So which team will show up against Virginia?

The Tar Heels handled the Cavaliers at home less than two weeks ago but lost at Virginia earlier in the year when Armando Bacot went out with an ankle injury.

Well, Bacot came out of the game against BC with an ankle injury - the same ankle. But he told Coach Hubert Davis that it wasn't as bad an injury as the one at Virginia.

Bacot's presence in the paint draws a crowd even if he isn't 100 percent. But it's hard to imagine the Tar Heels winning the ACC Tournament if he is hobbled for three games.

If Pete Nance plays as well as he did against Boston College and against Virginia in Chapel Hill, it could give Bacot some rest. Nance scored double figures in both those games and had four blocks in each.

"Virginia is a really good team but our team is up for any opportunity and challenge," Nance said. "I think we'll be ready to go."

Hopefully the bench, which scored 23 points in 55 total minutes, will come through after not seeing a lot of action this season.

D'Marco Dunn hit a pair of threes and Dontrez Styles hit his only three attempt which gave Carolina its biggest lead of the first half at 39-20. Puff Johnson, at 14 minutes, played more than any of the other subs but it wasn't a good game for him.

As an aside, the most fun play by a substitute was probably Justin McKoy's running power dunk follow with less than two seconds left in the game.

Carolina 85, Boston College 61
With backs to the wall, Heels hot again

North Carolina shot 55 percent, hit 10 three pointers and were able to play well without a hobbled Armando Bacot in blasting Boston College 85-61 in the ACC Tournament in Greensboro. (3/8)

With their NCAA Tournament hopes apparently resting on their play in the ACC Tournament, things might have looked bleak when Bacot went to the lockerroom in the first half with a turned ankle. But the Tar Heels had built a fairly comfortable 39-20 lead when the injury occurred.

BC cut the lead down to 14 points by halftime, 43-29, after Bacot went down.

Trainers were able to loosen the ankle enough to get Bacot back on the court to start the second half. Bacot scored the first points of the second half to start a 15-2 run that ended with an R.J. Davis three from the left side to put Carolina in control at 58-31 with 15:22 left in the game.

With the luxury of a big lead, UNC coach Hubert Davis was able to sit Bacot the rest of the way.

"When you play possibly four games in four days, you need depth and the guys off the bench were ready and did a really good job tonight," Coach Davis said.

The Tar Heels got 23 points from their bench including eight from D'Marco Dunn and five from Dontrez Styles.

"The guys coming off the bench did a really great job," said UNC's Pete Nance, who had 10 points and four blocked shots. "The scoring was great but I thought they played with a lot of energy and intensity."

The starting backcourt of Davis and Caleb Love played as well as they have in the same game all year. Love led the way with 22 points on nine of 20 shooting and three steals. Davis added 18 points, hitting four of six three pointers.

The team's seven three pointers in the first half set the tone for the game but Carolina also beat the Eagles 36-28 in the paint.

"We like to push the pace," Love said. "I thought we did that tonight... Our defense is our best offense. It allows us to get out on the run."

Coach Davis said that when his team plays inside out - that is letting someone touch it in the paint and possibly scoring before pushing it back outside for a good shot - helps the offense flow better. He said that balance will be important against Virginia in the quarterfinals. That makes a healthy Bacot even more important.

"Mondo is as tough as nails," Love said. "He wanted to be out there for this team. There's no doubt he'll be out there tomorrow."

Despite playing just 18 minutes, Bacot scored 10 points and dished out three assists.

Boston College, which ends the season 16-17, was led by Makai Ashton-Langford's 16 points.

The Tar Heels, now 20-12, tries to keep it going against Virginia at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Box score

Check out the other game articles.
Read my Tar Heels' season preview on by clicking here.