CB3 Media Heel Prints

Off the cuff: In watching this game in person, it strikes me how so many people leave the game with six or eight minutes to play, and how some didn't show up until midway through the first half. If you can't get there in time, sell or give your tickets to someone who can. If you are only interested in watching the game until you know the Heels are going to win, I can save you a lot of time by telling you that UNC is going to win most all of 'em. So just stay home. Some of the most exciting stuff comes late in the game - plus, you get to see guys that don't get to play often.

As I was watching the game, I thought Deon Thompson was the player of the game (17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals) but after studying the box score, I overlooked Ty Lawson's contribution a bit. Lawson scored 16 points, had 10 assists and committed no turnovers. Maybe they were co-players of the game.

My high school English teacher was also Phil Ford's English teacher. As someone from Rocky Mount and a Tar Heel fan, I was always so proud of how pleasant, articulate and respectful of his elders Ford was - a real yes-sir and yes-ma'am kind of guy. I imagine my former teacher would roll over in her grave if she heard one of Carolina's current players after the game as he said "Yeah, man" and "We wasn't guardin' nobody." Jeez.

Heels 91, Eagles 69
Carolina plays "pretty doggone good" after layoff

Following an eight-day layoff and following a 91-69 trouncing of Boston College, Coach Roy Williams conceded that Carolina played "pretty doggone good." (1/31)

The Tar Heels got out to a quick 10-point lead at 14-4 but Boston College came back to take a 26-25 lead on a three-ball by John Oates with 9:10 left in the half.

During the Eagles' run, they got two easy fast-break buckets and two open three-pointers. Coach Williams did a wholesale substitution and chastised the starters for failing to get back quickly enough on defense.

Was that what changed the tide? "I don't know," Coach Williams said, "but I was ready to choke someone. I don't care who you are or how good you played or whatever. Your butt is going to come out if you don't hustle."

The starters returned and turned it back around. A crowd-pleasing Deon Thompson dunk put the Tar Heels up 29-26 to start a 20-5 run to end the half with the Heels up 47-31.

Carolina actually scored the last 11 points of the first half and the first 10 points of the second half to blow it open. A dunk by Tyler Hansbrough and a three by Marcus Ginyard highlighted the late first-half run while a Ty Lawson fast break bucket followed quickly by a steal and a Thompson basket highlighted the early second-half run.

The lead grew as large as 30 at 81-51. During that stretch, Lawson, falling down, tapped the ball ahead to Hansbrough who went in for a 360-dunk.

The second team, followed by the third team, finished off the action over the last four minutes.

Five Tar Heels scored in double figures with Hansbrough leading the way with 18. Thompson had a career-high 17 points while Lawson tallied 16 and Ellington 14. Ginyard finished with 10. Alex Stepheson, while only scoring six, wound up with 11 rebounds.

Tyrese Rice, a preseason All-ACC pick, led Boston College with 20 points. One Eagle fouled out and three others had four fouls. Carolina could only manage 17 of 25 from the foul line however. The only other negative on an otherwise stellar night for the Heels was a poor shooting performance from the three-point line where they were only four of 16.

The win improved Carolina to 20-1 and 5-1 in conference play while Boston College fell to 13-7 and 3-3 in the ACC.

The Tar Heels play at Florida State before hosting Duke next week.

Check out the game box score and a game photo gallery.
Take a look at other game articles.
Read my Tar Heels' season preview on WRAL.com by clicking here.