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Off the cuff: Just inexcusable. A sports network (Fox Sports) chooses to show ACC teams on Sunday nights and then misses the beginning of games. It was especially inexcusable for this game because the Florida State-Georgia Tech game was over several minutes before the Carolina tip. Yet, we were subjected to interviews with Florida State players, a Chevy commercial, a commercial for a Jack Nicholson movie and a Samuel Adams commercial. Then, the game was picked up a minute and 23 seconds into the game. Inexcusable. In addition, for those who tape these games for posterity, the beginning of that game is lost forever. It's enough to make me complain to Chevy and Samuel Adams. Get ready to be annoyed again next Sunday as Cornell plays Duke at 5:30, followed by Carolina's game at 7:30.

Speaking of the FSN broadcasts: they're over-produced. Simply as that. They get cute with floor-level camera angles that's aren't particularly good to begin with and then they switch to the angle at inopportune moments. They put big graphics up while play is going on. They missed a steal by showing Bobby Frasor on the bench. (Use an inset if you have to show him while speaking about him). Then they missed a foul shot while showing an inconsequential replay.

Kudos to legendary radio announcer Woody Durham for refraining from using the "air ball" call. When he had the opportunity, he said, "it came up short." Nice.

Heels 90, Crusaders 58
It looked easy being Green as UNC breaks it open

Danny Green keyed a second-half run that broke open a 37-37 tie as the No. 1 Tar Heels rolled to a 90-58 victory over Valparaiso to move to 13-0 on the season. (12/30)

Green scored three of his four three-pointers during a 27-2 run that broke the game open at 64-39. Green also added five assists, three steals and four blocks in what was one of his best games as a Tar Heel, if not the best.

To start the game, Carolina ran out to a 13-0 lead on the strength of six points by Deon Thompson and then extended the advantage to 17 at 19-2 following four quick points by Marcus Ginyard. But Valpo coach Homer Drew called a timeout and his team slowly crept back in it on the strength of three-point baskets.

A late 11-1 Valpo run was highlighted by Jarryd Loyd's fourth triple of the frst half at the buzzer and put Valpo down by just five, 36-31, at the half.

The Tar Heels remained cold to start the second half as the Crusaders scored two buckets early and then tied it at 37 before the Green heroics. The whole team picked up its intensity and forced the tempo up a notch or two as the lead got up to as much as 39 points. Coach Roy Williams said the eight-to-10 minute stretch was probably the team's best play of the season.

"We got some stops on the defensive end, and we made shots," Williams said. "Everything looks a lot better when the ball goes in the hole. Danny [Green] made a couple threes, Ty [Lawson] made a three in that stretch and we were getting the ball inside to Tyler [Hansbrough]."

Will Graves came off the bench in the second half and drilled four three pointers finishing with 14 points in only eight minutes of play. Carolina was only one of seven from the arc in the first half but scored eight of 12 in the second. On the other hand, Valpo was seven of 20 from the three in the first half and zero of six in the second.

Tyler Hansbrough, who sat out the last five minutes, was aggressive inside, slamming down several dunks and getting to the foul line as he scored 23 points and hauled in 13 rebounds. Wayne Ellington had a bad shooting night as he started off one of nine and missed on four three-point attempts. "Wayne's been shooting great and Danny's been stinking it up lately but tonight it switched," Williams said.

With Bobby Frasor lost for the season, and Quentin Thomas bothered by a bad ankle, Marcus Ginyard got a lot of playing time at point guard backing up Ty Lawson.

The Crusaders, led by Loyd's 24 points, fell to 10-3.


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