Congratulations Deon Thompson

Congratulations to Deon Thompson. On a dunk last night against Gardner-Webb - he became the 63rd Tar Heel to score 1,000 points in his career.

He came to UNC overweight and slow - but since the departure of diaper dandy Brandon Wright, he's been a solid 2 (going on 3) year starter for a UNC team filled with stars that often stole the spotlight.

But his ability to average 10+ points and 5+ rebounds every game was essential to the Tar Heels national championship last year - and this year he will be counted on to take a central role in a rebuilding squad.

Congratulations Deon Thompson. Rarely do you see such consistent improvement in a player - don't rest on your laurels. We've got a championship to defend!

Excellent Billboards

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/18/11-awesomely-creative-bil_n_361796.html?slidenumber=tTWyMs47U%2Bg%3D

Ty Lawson Dunk

A lot of people have seen this already - but in case you haven't...




Why didn't he ever do this for the Heels?

UNC - Known for it's Kickers?

Former UNC Kicker Connor Barth was a fan favorite as he gave UNC a stellar kicking game for the past few years.








Crazy as it might sound - UNC had a great weekend for it's kickers. Wait - before you yawn and go to CMBlog, hear me out.

As we probably know, Casey Barth was 4-4 kicking field goals and 3-3 on extra points against Miami this weekend (accounting for 15 points). However, his brother, Connor Barth, hit three field goals, all over 50 yards, for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 25-23 loss to Miami. Also, former UNC kicker Jeff Reed scored all of the Steelers' points as he was 4-4 on field goals in their 18-12 loss to the Bengals this weekend.

UNC's Kickin' Ass! (Sorry)

Boston College Preview

Kendric Burney had a big game last year, picking off two passes in UNC's 45-24 spanking of Boston College. He also had a big game this past weekend against Miami, picking off three passes, one for a TD, and one for a lateral/fumble which went for a TD - totaling 170 INT return yards - a UNC and ACC single-game record!

Success has found UNC football! We're 7-3, and finally .500 in ACC play!

I can't believe we've beaten Virginia Tech, an impressive Duke team, and Miami in consecutive weeks!

But don't be fooled by the moderate hype surrounding this "reborn" UNC team. There's still plenty of flaws - and Boston College is not a football team to be trifled with. They're also 7-3, and they're undefeated at home (which is, of course, where we'll be playing them).

They might have the best offensive line in the ACC - luckily, UNC has one of the best defensive lines in the nation. Add an elite linebacker corps, and I expect UNC to put up a wall against Boston College's impressive running game.

They're freshman QB Dave Shinskie (who's 25 years old after a short career in the baseball minor leagues) is better than expected, but if UNC can force Boston College off schedule and into throwing - perhaps we can notch a few more interceptions (for BC's sake, I hope they don't throw it anywhere near Kendric Burney - that guy is a bawl hawk).

BC is favored by 3 in this game - expect them to carry some significant home field advantage. While I predict UNC wins this game, I wouldn't be surprised by a loss. They've got a solid defense, the loss of 3 of our starting 4 tailbacks is significant. Offensive coordinator John Shoop has done a good job installing some gimmicks to lighten the running load on Ryan Houston, giving Jerhanie Boyd, Johnny White, and Greg Little some carries on end-arounds and even conventional runs. But if Houston can't get some solid yardage on say, 30 or so carries, I'd be worried about the effectiveness of those gimmick runs as defenses get used to seeing them on tape and on the field.

However, don't discount the effectiveness of Casey Barth so far, who has hit 13 straight field goals - especially in a defensive struggle like this game will probably end up being.

My prediction: UNC wins, 24-14.

Go Heels!

UNC's Class of 2010

As most of you know, UNC just added the #1 overall recruit. I was just reading some interesting stuff about all three guys. It sounds like we're 2 years away from a dominate backcourt. Even if we only get Barnes for a year, these other two guys sound amazing! They're all five-star recruits!

This is copied from ESPN Insider recruiting - I did not write it.

PG - Kendall Marshall (#4 PG, #19 overall - according to ESPN)

August, 2009: Marshall is the best passer in all of high school basketball. In transition he handles the ball with his head up and eyes taking a picture of the court to see if the throw ahead pass is available to a teammate sprinting a lane. He is extremely efficient with his dribble as he uses it to push the ball in transition. Everything this young man does throughout the course of a game has a purpose. He is so adept at seeing the entire floor and making the assist on target and on time. He makes all kind of passes (penetration and kick, dump off from his drives, skip pass, post feed, open cutters) that lead to open looks. I love the way he supports and encourages his teammates if they drop one of his passes a sign of a true leader. A good mid range shooter who needs work on his jumper behind the arc. Headed to UNC where there will be plenty of assists to hand out in the future.

SG - Reggie Bullock (#2 SG, #13 overall - according to ESPN)

July, 2009: What makes Bullock stand out is his versatility and ability to score as a big shooting guard. He showed a patient game at the Super Showcase in Orlando, not forcing his offense, letting the game come to him by taking what the defense gave him and picking his spots to attack. The future Tar Heel will fit in well in Roy Williams' fast-break style as he is a versatile athlete that can consistently knock down open 3's, take contact and finish in transition, and is an effective passer off the dribble. He should be able to quickly adjust to the collegiate game defensively as he is sound on and off the ball and is able to defend multiple positions. He did a nice job on the offensive boards using his length to rebound over his opponents and get his team more possessions. Where Bullock separates himself from the pack is when he takes over the game offensively. He has the ability to score in bunches and wants the ball in tough situations. He is a mentally tough kid and at the end of games he is a consistent free-throw shooter. He is a worker that is very coachable and understands how to play.

SF - Harrison Barnes (#1 overall player according to everyone)

July, 2009: Barnes had some dominate possessions today (LeBron James Skills Academy). He displayed all around scoring ability. He knocked down open three's, attacked the lane and finished through contact and hit the mid range pull up. Barnes is a silky smooth player. He doesn't waste motion or energy. He never lets the defense speed him up. He simply takes his time and makes scoring plays repeatedly and competes on both ends of the floor. Not flashy just productive. Barnes length and smooth stroke allows him to knock down shots over smaller defenders with ease and he does a great job setting up his mid range jumper with a nice shot fake to raise the defender. He is a good rebounder on both ends and has the ability to lead the break and go coast to coast. Good ball handler and passer when he draws multiple defenders. Smart defender that uses a safe distance from live dribbles to keep the ball in front of him and does a great job of using his length and athletic ability to contest shots. Explosive above the rim finisher in transition with excellent hang time and concentration on the rim in the lane. Smooth skilled wing.

I'm Coming to you my pretty

Waiting for me at Blockbuster. This will probably be the last anyone here's from me for at least a month...