Post Game Blackboard: College of Charleston

The Heels got back on track with a win over Bobby Cremins, who I swear wears a toupee.

All five starters scored in double figures, and the Heels shot nearly 60 percent in a 108-70 rout over the Cougars.

The thing that continues to bother me is the lack of defense, which at this point is just plain embarrassing. Defense is extremely effort and discipline based, and I don't understand why this Heels team cannot lock bad teams down. Is it the weak interior defense of Tyler Hansbrough and Deon Thompson or is it Wayne Ellington's inability to slide his feet in front of anyone?

I'm not an expert, but I have a feeling the interior defense is the big problem this season.

I'm also feeling exceptionally negative after Boston College lost to Harvard mostly because I tend to think mathematically. If Harvard> Boston College and Boston College> UNC, then Harvard> UNC.

Not cool. Tomorrow or Friday I plan to write an article on why UNC won't win the title this year. I'm not saying they won't, but I want to discuss the tragic flaws of this team that were exposed against Boston College.

On to this game...

I like (Yes, this is the Borat edition)

• Deon Thompson's reemergence in the scoring department kept the Heels from getting in trouble in the first half. Hansbrough and Thompson combined for 22 points in the first half, taking advantage of the small Charleston team.
  
• Will Graves showed a lot of promise in this game. Graves has the size to play down low, but possesses the skill set of a shooting guard who can handle the rock on the break. I'd like to see him cut down on turnovers, but his improvement on defense is considerable.
  
• The play designed for Wayne Ellington starting the half was nice, and the announcers are right -- Roy is really trying to get Ellington going. I would like to see Ellington take more shots with his teammates helping him get open. Too often Ellington has to create room for his shot off his own dribble.
  
• The killer instinct the team came out with in the second half was desperately needed. Why can't Carolina start the game like that -- the way that Duke does every single game?
  

I no likey

• Charleston shot 47 percent in the first half, including eight made three's, which just so happens to be a recurring problem for the Heels. The Cougars cooled off in the second half, which seemed to be more of a depth issue than UNC's overall defense. Charleston is certainly a perimeter oriented team, but so is Duke. UNC cannot continue to lose their men on switches. Perhaps Roy should try not switching on ball screens again as it worked against Duke last season.
  
• Where's Marcus Ginyard? After a much anticipated return from a stress fracture, Ginyard has yet to contribute significant minutes. The Heels will need his defense, especially with Jeff Teague and the Deacons coming to town.
  
• I think it's time to give Ed Davis more minutes. The guy plays great defense, which might be the spark the Heels need. Thompson averages about five more minutes a game, so there's not much that can be taken from there, but why not see how Davis plays at small forward? Lawson, Ellington, Davis, Thompson and Hansbrough would be a very interesting -- and potentially dangerous -- combination.
  

What to fix for Wake

• Shot selection and overall decision making from certain players. I've started counting how many bad decisions Bobby Frasor, Wayne Ellington and others make during the games. If the Heels could cut out the useless shots that Frasor takes -- he's shooting under 30 percent from the field this season -- and Wayne Ellington's ball handling issues, then UNC would gain five or six extra possessions a game. Last year, Green's decision making was the big issue the Heels had to face on offense, but that's not the case at all this season. It's time to have the players that can shoot take the shots.
  
• This is just a side note really, but Hansbrough's reactions after hard fouls concerns me. Lately he reacts aggressively after plays, and against Charleston he committed a unnecessary foul after he was intentionally fouled. That's not the Hansbrough that I recall -- the kid who had a cool head on his shoulders the past few years.