CB3 Media Heel Prints

Off the cuff: Wayne Ellington was not in the starting lineup for the first time this season as he missed practive following Christmas holiday travel woes.

Bobby Frasor just seems like one of the nicest guys to come through the Carolina program. Plus, he's won defensive player of the game four times already this season and he was getting his three-point shooting eye back. Why oh why? He was too upset to even put coherent sentences together after the game teammates said so he chose not to speak with the media. We, as mere mortal humans, can't understand why injuries like this keep happening to him. I just pray there is some silver lining to all this for him.

It was interesting that "The Beast," who can drive a golf ball further than anyone on the planet is Tyler Hansbrough's uncle. I'm not sure that TV needed to focus on him more than many of the players on the court though.

I think Nevada coach Mark Fox spent more time on the court than two of his players that fouled out midway through the second half. If coaches being on the court is an emphasis for officials this year (supposedly an immediate technical without warning), you couldn't tell it by me.

One more Duke "air ball" call by radio announcer Woody Durham during this game. Of course the UNC students were jumping up and down, every other person, a la the Cameron Crazies. Come up with something different Carolina people. We should not have to be reminded of the Crazies and the Rich Yonakor missed shot in 1979 every game.

Heels 106, Wolf Pack 70
Carolina's up and down the court; Frasor just down

In what was one of its best all-around games - offensively and defensively - North Carolina whipped Nevada 106-70 but got some bad news after the game when it was learned that key reserve Bobby Frasor had been lost for the season with a knee injury. (12/27)

Frasor went down with less than 10 minutes to play a minute after drilling a three-pointer and seconds after making a steal. Frasor missed much of last season with a foot injury. Doctors say he should be fine next season. That doesn't help the No. 1 Tar Heels this year as they shoot for an ACC and an NCAA title.

Nevertheless, the Tar Heels advance to 12-0 after breaking the game open with a 20-0 run spanning the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half.

Ty Lawson, who's health and lack of foul trouble are even more important now that Frasor has gone down, keyed the run with six points in the last 45 seconds of the first half and a steal and layup near the start of the second half that prompted a quick timeout by Nevada. Lawson finished with 16 points and a career-high 10 assists.

Carolina's 9-0 run to complete the first half gave the Heels a 49-35 cushion at the break while the 11-0 run to start the second half break the game completely open at 60-35.

The Wolf Pack, as opposed to the Wolfpack, actually led UNC 16-13 six minutes into the game. A Deon Thompson dunk a couple of minutes later put the Heels up for good at 20-18. From there, Carolina upped the lead to 10 before Nevada cut it to three at 36-33 setting up the late UNC run.

The second half was fun for Carolina fans, until the Frasor injury silenced them, as Carolina was rebounding their own misses and scoring, and Wayne Ellington was on fire with four of his five three-pointers, most of them swishes. Ellington tallied a career-tying best 23 points.

The Tar Heels led by 35 at 95-60 when Coach Williams put in the subs, who proceeded to outscore Nevada 11-10 in the last three and a half minutes. Reserve J.B. Tanner got the joint jumpin' with a three pointer from the right corner and Marc Campbell swished a three from straight on to end the scoring.

Tyler Hansbrough had his normal consistent game with a game-high 26 points. The Heels shot 54 percent from the field while holding Nevada to 41 percent. Armon Johnson led the Wolf Pack with 23 points but he also committed six turnovers as the Tar Heels pressure and trapping defense bothered him.

Check out the game box score. See game action photos and even more game action photos. Read Coach Roy Williams quotes after the game regarding Frasor.
Check out the other game articles.
Read my Tar Heels' season preview on WRAL.com by clicking here.