Which UNC Player Will Be the Best Pro?

North Carolina is losing four starters to the NBA this year. Barring injury we decided we would put our two cents into who will have the best pro career.  A lot will determine this based on which team drafts each player and what system they will play in.  For example Tyler Zeller may thrive in a up tempo style offense where he use his ability to run the floor to get easy buckets in transition.  On the other hand if he gets bogged down in a slow paced half court style he may take longer to experience success.  Here we will take a look at each player and discuss how we believe they will fit in at the next level.

Tyler Zeller
The academic all-American and A.C.C. player of the year has the tools needed to be successful in the NBA. He has developed an ability to hit the mid range shot need to pull centers away from the basket, and his hook shot has improved this past season.  Combine that with an ability to run the floor as well as anyone Zeller could average 10-14 points per game if given the right situation.  He will need to develop a counter to his hook shot because when he turns over his right shoulder many times he is shooting across his body.  He could get away with in college, but not over experienced NBA veterans.

John Henson
If John Henson focuses on blocking shots the way Dikembe Mutombo did in the nineties he will play in the league for a long time.  With an improved offensive game Henson should see valuable minutes as a rookie.  His weight has always been an issue, but he gets around it with being long and athletic around the basket.  Henson has the ability to change games on the defensive end, but will he be able to do it against the power forwards in the NBA. We project Henson to be a role player in the NBA who may be more valuable at playoff time because the focus on defense changes.

Harrison Barnes
Barnes has every tool a successful NBA player needs, but his consitency shooting was a big question mark this year.  He struggled down the stretch with good defenders on him and even more so when his point guard was out of the line up. From Barne's work ethic he will improve in the NBA, but at this time we cannot project him as a future all star.  when you watch Barnes at his best you see superstar, but the up and down roller coaster makes us project another teammate to be the best of the group.

Kendall Marshall
Kendall has some deficiencies in his game that have to be addressed, but in the NBA a pass first point guard is the key to championships.  Players will want to play with him and he can be a combination between Jason Kidd, John Stockton and Kevin Johnson.  He has a little bit of their game in him that makes him special.  If he can improve his shot to just keep NBA guards honest the sky is the limit.  As far as him needing to a shut down defender he just has to hold his own as he did in many games this year.  Marshall is our pick to have the longest most successful career , and the Cousy award winner has all the tools to do it.                
    
If you disagree feel free to leave your comment below.  We are interested in hearing your thoughts on Carolina's future pros.

Please follow us on twitter @MandMsportshow and you can also find Haley on Keepingitheel.com

Former Prosser Assistant: Next Mid-Major Coach To Be Coveted?

Unless you follow college basketball religiously you probably know little about new Winthrop basketball coach Pat Kelsey.  Kelsey was tabbed to lead the Winthrop program after firing Randy Peele earlier this month.  You may not know who Pat Kelsey is, but in just a few years I believe you will hear his name mentioned in the same manner that the media discusses Shaka Smart and John Groce this past year.  College basketball is about preparedness, being disciplined, and being passionate about the game.  Pat Kelsey's team will exhibit all of those characteristics and Winthrop fans better hold on because the ride is about to begin.

In my travels through coaching I have been blessed to work with several people over the years who started off as Roy Williams did, a little known coach who has won two titles at UNC.  As a high school assistant coach I began working basketball camps, and fortunately i was hooked up with Wake Forest basketball when Coach Odom was there, and continued as Coach Prosser led the Demon Deacons.  While working at Wake Forest I had the privilege to work with Coach Kelsey as he was the director of basketball operations.  I saw some of the same things about Chris Mack, and he has been pretty successful at Xavier where both he and Kelsey played.

Kelsey was a energetic positive person who everyone wanted to be around. With that energy though he has an attention to detail great coaches need.  Rarely do you find a coach that has the passion of say Dick Vitale and the attention to detail like Dean Smith.  Do not allow yourself to become carried away. i am not saying Kelsey is the next Dean Smith, but merely giving you a glimpse into the man behind the scenes.

You may be saying to yourself that I am biased toward Coach Kelsey, and that may be a little true, but he is a winner.  Look at every place he has coached and you will see they experienced success.  Without giving away recruit secrets I know first of innovative things he created at Wake Forest that helped lure some of the great players while Skip Prosser was at the helm. 

In three years I may have to eat my words, but if i am going to stick my reputation out for any young coach in the business I would for Pat Kelsey. 
  
Please follow us on twitter @MandMsportshow and you can also find Haley on Keepingitheel.com      

2013 UNC Team Will Be Similar to 2003

Tar Heel fans know that the chance of winning the NCAA tournament has been thrown out of the window for the 2012-2013 season, however when you get to March anything can happen.  Without Kendall Marshall, Harrison Barnes and John Henson North Carolina will have talented big man James Michael McAdoo, but he will be surrounded by a lot of question marks.  The question marks are in no way a slight to the players on the team because some have been contributors before, but the questions will still arise as the Tar heels prepare for next season.  here we take a look at some of the key questions heading into next season.

How will Leslie McDonald and Dexter Strickland respond to knee injuries? I am always weary anytime I hear reports of how well a guy is doing after knee surgery.  Until they get back in game play, and perform the way they are capable of they will have internal questions of themselves.  This will be more of a mental battle than a physical battle coach Williams will have work with as the season progresses.

Will PJ Hairston demonstrate the shooting ability he was touted over prior to signing with UNC?  You can see that Hairston has the tools to be a scorer, but at times his confidence looked low.  From taking shots at inopportune times, to seeing his minutes fluctuate down the stretch the freshman went through a typical freshman season.  With increased minutes he should be able to get into a shooting rhythm without the pressure of scoring quickly with limited minutes.

Can Reggie Bullock be a consistent scorer and will he develop the in between game to take his offense to the next level?  Toward the end of the season Reggie looked more confident playing defense and shooting that NBA declarer Harrison Barnes.  The question will be if Bullock can create his own shot with the other teams primary defender on him?  The player we saw against Creighton and Ohio is an all-ACC caliber performer, but will we see that on a nightly basis?

Will James McAdoo's production increase as his minutes increase?  Without point guard Kendall Marshall leading the break it will be critical for McAdoo to develop a counter move in the post to help him be efficient with the ball as well as get to the line more often.  When Deon Thompson was in a similar position the increased minutes did not correlate with increased production especially with field goal percentage.  This was also Larry Drew's first year at the point.  Marcus Paige will be a freshman, but in watching him play this week he is better than Larry Drew after three years at UNC.  McAdoo's production is a must for a successful season.

How quickly can the freshman play at a high level? Marcus Paige has the tools to be a very good point guard in Roy Williams system.  Some have compared the guard to Derrick Phelps, but watching him the other night he remind me a little more of a sweet left hander who played for Georgia Tech in the early nineties.  No i am not saying he is Kenny Anderson, but he has a little more offensive firepower than Tar heel fans saw out of Phelps.  Tyler Hansbrough is the last post player i saw come in and control the inside of a basketball game, and to expect any of the freshmen to do that is unreasonable.  Outside of McAdoo the post may have to be by committee until someone emerges as a consistent option.  Duke has shown you can win a lot of games without running the offense through the post, and UNC may need to alter their approach next year.

Can the Tar Heels add UCONN transfer Alex Oriakh to their roster?  If they can get a solid post player to just as they did with Justin Knox a couple of years ago it will provide depth in the front courts and will alleviate the issue of freshmen having to play a lot of minutes to start the year.

Many questions will face the 2013 Tar Heel basketball team, but if we think back to 2006 after we replacing five starters that team eventually was alright.     
      
Please follow us on twitter @MandMsportshow and you can also find Haley on Keepingitheel.com 

 

Pros and Cons of Kendall Marshall's Decision to Stay or Go

When Kendall Marshall ultimately decides on whether to stay in Chapel Hill or put his name name in the NBA draft you can believe this young man will have weighed both options and carefully make a decision.  The lure of the NBA and how fickle the draft can be based on if a player is the hot topic of the moment rather than if they are truly the best player makes this decision even harder on the young kids who have the ability to be in this situation.  Make no mistake Kendall Marshall is blessed to be able to play basketball at a level where he should be able to play a game to set himself up financially forever.

Kendall Marshall also understands legacy and tradition as well as any player.  The University of North Carolina has been blessed with many great basketball players, and some of them stand out a little more than their peers for some obvious reasons.  Tyler Hansbrough, Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Phil Ford and many more are Tar Heel legends that all UNC fans can discuss without thinking when discussing who is the greatest.  However there are some Tar Heels that were very good players, but when it comes to UNC tradition fans will not have them roll off their tongue as the players who stuck around Chapel Hill for three or more years and played at a high level.  Marvin Williams, Brandon Wright and Ed Davis are all in the NBA, but even now I have a hard time remembering their play except Williams put back to beat Duke at home in 2005.  These players will make a lot of money, but when they return to Chapel Hill the fan fare they could have received will be given to Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington, Antwan Jamison, Rick Fox, Kenny Smith, and the list goes on.

Kendall Marshall's legacy and fan fare boomed with his injury against Creighton. He was poised and handled the moment as well as any young leader could be asked to.  That is why his teammates play for him, and believe in what they are doing when he is on the floor.  I believe he can be a great pro one day, but I also saw a player against Virginia  and Florida state who sometimes struggled to blow by a defender, and his shot although improve needs work to be that consistent threat from the outside needed in the NBA.

Ty Lawson and Raymond Felton improved their shot when they returned for their last year in college and that confidence can be a foundation that allows for long term success.  Kendall can go pro this year, but there is a chance he will struggle.  Remember he did take 17 games to crack the starting line up as a freshman, and even halfway into this year many UNC fans were questioning his offense and defensive ability on fast point guards. 

Kendall can come back and try to lead his team to a title or he can fore go his college eligibility and enter the draft.  Whatever decision he makes I will support him, but I cannot promise he will be remembered with the all time greats when I am asked about UNC basketball.  I hope this time next year I am discussing Kendall Marshall , his jersey to be honored and the assist record instead of how he could have help this team.

Please follow us on twitter @MandMsportshow and you can also find Haley on Keepingitheel.com          

Contender to Pretender: The Impact of NBA Defections

For a moment take yourself back to the1995 season where the ACC was loaded that year as Maryland had Joe Smith, Junior Burroughs and Harold Dean led Virginia, Tim Duncan and Randolph Childress were at Wake forest, and Georgia tech had Travis Best along with James Forrest.  There was a four way tie for first place and the ACC was by far the best league in the country even with Duke finishing last at 2-14.  The rosters were loaded at the top with dominant players that could control college basketball for a couple of years.



UNC had signed Vince Carter, Ademola Okulaja and Antwan Jamison to provide depth to the star powered UNC team that was led by Jerry Stackhouse, Rasheed Wallace and Jeff McGinnis.  UNC finished the year tied for the regular season title and lost to Wake Forest and Randolph Childress' all world performance in the A.C.C. tournament.  The Tar Heels would make it all the way to the final four before losing to Arkansas in the semi-final game.  The future was bright for the Tar Heels as they would have their back court returning along with adding superb depth they would surely be the favorite to cut down the nets the following year.

Then the news broke two stories declaring Rasheed Wallace and Jerry Stackhouse would both declare for the NBA draft leaving the Tar heels inexperienced up front and in place of excitement came trepidation in based on the decision of two underclassmen who chose to leave tempting their hand at the next level.  Joe Smith from Maryland also followed suit leaving Wake Forest as the lone team at the top not affected by graduation or early departures to the league.

The ACC is in a similar situation this year as UNC will probably lose three if not four underclassmen to the NBA. That is assuming Kendall Marshall and James McAdoo join Harrison Barnes and John Henson.  There is no official word, but in this moment it is easier to expect the worse and hope that it is not as bad as you think.  UNC is not the only team to face these issues.  Duke has already lost ALL-ACC performer Austin Rivers and Mason Plumlee it appears will test the NBA waters this spring.  NC State will good next year, but they could be a favorite to win the ACC if C.J. Leslie returns to Raleigh.

At least in football and baseball fans know they can watch these players for at least three years before they go pro.  Earlier this week I wrote a piece on the three year rule and how it could help college basketball.  I do not begrudge Kendall Marshall or any player for getting paid to play a game, but I would be lying if i did not say I was not disappointed when thinking the last time I saw him at UNC was wearing a suit watching the Tar Heels be eliminated in the elite 8.

The ACC will continue to be fun to watch, but the continuity in college basketball makes it frustrating for the every day fan.  If the predictions hold true who will leave and who will stay for UNC the story may be similar to 1996 and what would have been.  There is no guarantees in what that team would have done, but it surely would have been fun to watch.  

Please follow us on twitter @MandMsportshow and you can also find Haley on Keepingitheel.com

Great Equalizer: Part IV The Gridiron

“Great Equalizer: Part IV” The Gridiron

In the spring of 1990 I went to my parents with a request that would challenge everything they believed in raising me from a small child to a seventh grade student.  Kent and Brenda Haley had allowed me to participate in any activity I requested, and if it was appropriate for my age group.  This particular spring I wanted to play football.  Yes, after having six surgeries on my arms, and spending hours in therapy to recover from each operation I wanted to play a sport where kids literally crash into each other.  

When I came to them, to their credit they were calm, and simply asked if I was sure I would like to do this.  Of course I never even thought of the repercussions of being hit and injured by playing.  My parents never told me I should not play, but they did tell me they were concerned about me playing a contact sport.  I explained I would at least be wearing pads, where in the backyard where we played a tackle football game every day, was more dangerous than any practice I would participate in at Sumter Academy.  

         

With reservations my mom took me one afternoon to get a physical from my doctor.  As it turned out Dr. Eller was absent that day, but I met with a substitute doctor taking her place while she was away.  I went through the physical and just before it was concluded the doctor began discussing worries about possible injuries.  This man, who had never met me before, began a conversation by telling me that I could not participate in something.  I had been questioned whether or not I could play a sports before, but I would just perform, proving them wrong.  This man was making an assumption and concluded that he would not sign off on my physical telling me I could not play.  As a physician he had the right to do this, but now I was determined to play football just to prove this man wrong.  This action also brought my mother to my side, as she drove me to another doctor’s office, as my regular doctor would be away for a week.  Dr. Simpson saw me that afternoon and signed off on my physical so I could begin spring workouts.

Coach John “Bud” Murray was a great guy to play football for especially for a novice like myself.  He treated us all the same and put players in positions he felt they could succeed in or most likely in my case to ensure I would not get hurt.  For me, I was put on the offensive line at 93 pounds, but in practice I played outside linebacker.  Now after coaching football myself I understand what Coach Murray did every day in practice.  As a former middle school head coach for seven years I understand Coach was protecting me in practice on a daily basis.  We had a small number of players and to maximize practice he put his best players on the right half of the offense and left half of the defense to run our offense.  At the time I wondered why the ball was never run in my direction, but of course that was by clever design.  

I was not a starter or even a back up, but before our last game against Warrior Academy I was goofing off by snapping the ball to the quarterback in practice the day before the last game.  Bud saw me doing this, but I did not think anything of it.  Going into the fourth quarter our team scored a touchdown to lead by two scores.  Bud shocked me by telling me to warm up our back up QB by giving him some snaps.  He shocked me further when he told me to go replace my good friend Blaine McCorkle who went on to play for LSU after high school.  Four a couple of possessions I got to do what the doctor told me was not possible.  I was hiking the football to start each play and going against a kid twice my size.  Although I did not push him off the ball I did not get dominated and when our offense went off the field Bud made my day by letting me stay in at linebacker.  My parents watched as I made a couple tackles along with the help of my teammates, and a little piling on strategy I used to have my number called.  My football career as a player ended that day as I walked off the field, but the pride I felt in myself for accomplishing something a man, a doctor,  said I couldn’t do was even more satisfying.

 

Later in life I would be fortunate to be hired as a middle school head coach.  The life lesson Bud taught me about giving every kid a chance stayed with me, as my teams at times had close to seventy players and I kept every kid who tried out.  I hope that positively affected some of my players in the same way I was impacted by the wisdom Bud imparted to me. 

If you enjoyed this feature please check out Part I , Part II and Part III of the "Great Equalizer", as always comments are appreciated. 

Please follow us on twitter @MandMsportshow and you can also find Matt on Keepingitheel.com. 

UNC Basketball Assistant Coaching Vacancy Wishlist

Congratulations is in order for Coach Jerod Haase as he has been hired to be the next coach for UAB Blazers.  Coach Roy Williams should be proud that another one of his former players and coach is now a head coach in college basketball.  Coach Haase has the qualities that will make him a successful head coach, and we wish him nothing but success.  The question now remains who will the Tar Heels choose to replace Coach Haase on their staff.  Most likely Coach Williams will promote from within, but for fun here is a list of candidates we think Coach Williams should target.

Phil Ford 
It is long past time to bring Coach Ford back to the UNC bench where he belongs.  The Tar Heel legend has battled personal demons, but his dedication and loyalty to the University is second to no one.  Had he not had the issues with alcoholism UNC would have avoided the disastrous period with Matt Doherty running the program.  I have a personal bias in this pick as Coach Ford may be the nicest most genuine Tar Heel great I have ever had a chance to work with.  Had I not known his accomplishments on the curt I would have thought he was just another coach who made their way through Chapel Hill.  Coach Ford has the pedigree that Coach Williams will be looking for and who better to tutor Marcus Paige, Kendall Marshall and Nate Britt than the best point guard to ever play in the A.C.C.?

Jacque Vaughn
Vaughn is a Kansas great point guard who like Tyler Zeller was a stellar student athlete.  Vaughn knows Roy's system inside and out and along with his experience in the NBA he would do well on the recruiting trail.  Vaughn has gained experience coaching with Spurs coach Greg Popovich and a defensive mindset would be a quality addition to this staff.  I know more coaches have experience on the college level, but so much of competing at the highest level is about recruiting, and what point guard would not want to talk to Jacque Vaughn?

Bobby Frasor 
Already on staff as the video coordinator Frasor knows Roy's system as a player and a Coach.  Coming from a family coaching background Frasor knows the grind of what it takes to be successful at this level.  Roy developed into the coach he is from a similar type position when he first joined Coach Smith's staff many years ago.  There are many viable candidates in the coaching ranks, but hiring people you can trust is a huge part of this business.  Fraser has played at a high level, and sacrificed for the betterment of his team when he took a backseat to Ty Lawson.  Frasor may be a long shot, but nonetheless he is worth considering.           

Coach Williams will pick a coach he fills will help the University of North Carolina win basketball games, but it is fun to speculate who he may choose.  Will he choose someone off the radar or a person who has Kansas/UNC ties to his programs?  That answer will come in time, but for now UNC fans will be more focused on which players will be back in Chapel Hill next season.   

As always you can follow the MandMsportshow on twitter @MandMSportshow and you can read more articles from Haley at Keepingitheel.com.  
     
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Remembering Augusta and the Masters Moment that Hooked Me

When I see a blooming Azalea I think back to 1986 when I was ten years old and a man they called the Golden Bear captivated my attention, and stole the show from my mom's favorite golfer and the Master's most famous runner up in Greg Norman.  Prior to that day I knew about golf, but the magic that happened on Sunday at Augusta would forever alter my sports life.

If you are not a praying man, then you have never experienced Amen corner as the difficulty of the holes along with the pressure of a packed crowd to make precision shots can quickly sway you into believing in divine intervention.  The approach shot on eleven, the club selection on twelve and the guts to go for it on thirteen make up everything that is a Master's champion. 

At age 46 Jack Nicklaus put on a display of perhaps the best three hole performance in Master's history.  Starting on my second favorite hole in golf, the 15th at Augusta, Nicklaus hit an approach shot that danced on the green as if the ball was listening to Jack himself.  The eagle putt he followed that shot with made you believe that on this day the golden Bear would not go quietly away.  The 16th hole's pin placement is one of the best in all of golf.  Truly a risk reward play if players are courageous enough to take a dangerous line toward the green their ball can land close enough for a gimme birdie. The slightest of error and a player stares double bogey straight in the face.  Nicklaus again made the ball land perfectly finishing the shot with a birdie.  The seventeenth hole is the moment that i remember most as Jack line up an 18 footer that I have seen many times over the last twenty-six years, and I believe the ball breaks differently every time it is hit.  The putt he made on seventeen is one I created over and over on the practice green at night honing my new found passion for golf.  As Nicklaus would later say he would be successful about two out of thirty times, but the one made when it counts is the putt that mattered and the one we will remember forever.  Nicklaus would finish the 86 Master's with another green jacket, and newcomer Greg Norman thought at the time he would soon have his day.     

Soon after this tournament my parents would give me my first set of Northwestern Junior golf clubs.  I found that hitting a golf ball came naturally to me as hitting a baseball although my two wood could only pound out 50 yard drives down the middle I surely believed I was the next Jack.  Luckily for me this made for TV moment sparked my interest in a sport that would bring me joy and a little financial aide later on in life.  Before every shot was shown there was just the back nine at Augusta where the magic happens, and our heroes are formed between a beautiful carved out track in Georgia.

As always you can follow the MandMsportshow on twitter @MandMSportshow and you can read more articles from Haley at Keepingitheel.com.      
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College Basketball: Should it adopt baseball and football rule?

Last summer the NBA under intense negotiations decided to lockout players until the players and owners could reach a deal to play basketball in 2011-2012.  This was the best thing to happen to college basketball as many of it's stars were wary of leaving early with a pending lockout.  As a result college basketball fans saw better basketball across the nation and the NCAA tournament has not disappointed.  With the lockout lifted and the final four next weekend I am afraid the NBA is going to raid college basketball once again on the promise that some of these guys have the "potential" to be great at the next level.

College Basketball is always going to be great because of the tradition and the rivalries that exist throughout the country.  The NBA is doing itself a disservice with every roll of the dice decision it's general managers make on an unproven "can't miss" target.  College Basketball and the NBA would both benefit from tweaking its rules to align more with college football and baseball.  If a player chooses to sign with a school he must wait until three years after his high school class has graduated to be eligible for the draft.  The second option would be for players who want to play basketball straight of high school they can be eligible for the draft or sign with a NBDL team to work on their skills.  Even if undrafted these players could sign as free agents.  To accommodate the number of players who may choose this NBA could add a couple rounds where teams could sign prospects at a lower cost.

This move would put the emphasis back on student athlete and coaches at the college level could have more control over how they run a program.  Coaches could build depth and not scramble at the end of the year because a player got hot in the tournament and decided to declare for the NBA after only one or two seasons.  On the other side it would take care of the kid who really is not interested in going to college.  They could develop in the NBDL, and the NBA could bring players up when they have injuries just as Major League baseball does with its farm system.

The NBA will never propose this idea because they have a perfect farm system in the NCAA that costs them nothing to operate.  It makes sense for college basketball and if they can set this rule up for baseball and football why can this not be added to basketball.  Over the next month you will see kids who have no business going pro declare for the NBA.  The three year rule not only is good for college basketball it is good for academics.  Kids who must stay eligible for three years will be a lot closer to graduating, and the purpose of a University is to educate.  Somehow that becomes lost in the Madness of March.     
 

 As always you can follow the MandMsportshow on twitter @MandMSportshow and you can read more articles from Haley at Keepingitheel.com.

UNC Stilman White: Was up for the Challenge

Stilman White may be on the losing end after playing point guard for UNC against Kansas, but if UNC fans were told he would have 13 assists and 0 turnovers they would most likely say the nets would be cut down with plane reservations made for New Orleans next week.

Unfortunately we all know how the game turned out, and Stilman will probably be down on himself as the game is still fresh on everyone's mind. When he gets back to Chapel Hill and finds time and the heart to re-watch this game he will see a confidant back up who gave everything to his team putting them in a position to move on past Kansas.  Stilman needed more help from his team, but a second half shooting slump along with strong defense from the Jayhawks put an end to Stilman White's dream scenario. He had hoped to steer the car long enough for Marshall to get behind the wheel again, but that will have to wait for another season.  Regardless if Marcus Paige steps on campus ready to play Stlman White has given confidance to Roy Williams and North Carolina fans that he can provide a few more minutes off the bench.   

Who he will be passing to is the next question on UNC fan's minds, but for now Stilman White can hold his head up high.  He played beyond expectations and the experience will only make him better.

As always you can follow the MandMsportshow on twitter @MandMSportshow and you can read more articles from Haley at Keepingitheel.com.
        

UNC: Twenty Second Half Points

When you have four potential lottery picks on your team, and one of them happens to be injured would you ever think that scoring the basketball would be the major concern for any team in this situation even if they had Dick Vitale running the point guard position? Throw in a couple more NBA caliber players and surely the team could hold its own and put enough points in the baskets to win even without your point guard.

This was the situation for North Carolina and although the Tar Heels kept it close down 68-67 with just over three minutes to go North Carolina could not muster any offense down the stretch as Kansas advanced to the final four winning going away 80-67.  Kendall Marshall was out, but three all-ACC selections remained and they combined for 35 points on 16-37 shots including 0-5 from Harrison Barnes behind the arc. What is even worse is three three players reached the foul line a total of five times.  Tyler Zeller had a great career, but today was hardly a game to write home about as he had 12 points and 5 rebounds.  James Michael McAdoo was excellent as hewas 6-8 from the floor to lead the team with 15 points.

Losing this game was a strong possibility without their point guard as Kansas was expected to overwhelm Stilman White (7 assists 0 turnovers), but this loss has to fall on the shoulders of the big three as UNC scored a total of 20 points in the second half.  You are not making any final four with an offensive performance like that   The point guard position was told you do not have to win the game. Apparently that assumption was false because the rest of starters did not receive the memo.

Harrison Barnes and John Henson may declare for the draft after today, but they are no where near ready for the league.  The NBA will as usual draft on potential, but potential just put up 20 in a half.  Barnes' jersey will be honored in the Smith Center, and he may turn out to be a great pro however for now he must live with back to back losses in the elite 8.  Some may call that an accomplishment, but at North Carolina you are remembered for final fours and championships.  Unless your team has not been there in 25 years an elite is no reason to form a parade.

As always you can follow the MandMsportshow on twitter @MandMSportshow and you can read more articles from Haley at Keepingitheel.com.

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Kendall Marshall Not Playing: Different View from a Ten Year Old

Last night I wrote about Kendall Marshall: and discussed the impact Marshall could have on the game with fellow followers on twitter, but this morning when I picked up our ten year old from a sleep over i receive a different view on Marshall's injury; one we all can learn from.  As adults we are so caught up in trying to experience joy through our favorite team that we forget that basic things in life we want for our own children.

On Friday a boy in her class was wearing a number five on his wrist, and the rest of his classmates including our daughter were sporting 5 on the inside of their wrist.  When I asked her what the fives were for she told me they were to support Kendall Martian (yes Kendall Martian, it was too funny to correct) in getting better from his injury.

Today when I picker her up I understood the injury in a different light that i should have been thinking all along.  I told her he had practiced yesterday, and who knows maybe he could play.  She vehemently said he cannot play, and if he did she would not watch it.  I was a little surprised by her response, and when asked why she felt this way I felt bad for not even thinking this way.  She said he shouldn't play because he could hurt his hand more or even worse hurt another.  She then said "it is just a game and that people should care more about his safety than beating those Jayhawks."

Sometimes the best wisdom is right in front of you and in this case from the mind of a fourth grader.  She is no less a fan than us adults who were clamoring for Kendall to play today.  In fact her way is more in line with the "Carolina Way" than much of the conversation from those who are supposed to be teaching her, myself included.

As always you can follow the MandMsportshow on twitter @MandMSportshow and you can read more articles from Haley at Keepingitheel.com. 

                

Inside Look at the #PassFir5t Movement

 

Kendall Marshall’s injury may in the long run could do more good than anyone could ever imagine.  His injury sparked an idea by one fan with Kendall’s assisting though the use of twitter the brains behind the #PassFir5t movement are helping raise money and awareness for a worthy cause.  The MandMsportshow caught up with the creator of #PassFir5t to give our readers an inside view behind the cause.  

 

MandMsportshow: Where did the idea of #Passfir5t originate and how did you get involved with the St. Baldrick's foundation?

#PassFir5t: The #PassFir5t movement really started while I was sitting in class And as we all know when Kendall went down with the injury every UNC fan was devastated, not only for the team but for him because he was playing the best basketball of his college career. So as I was venturing around Facebook I saw someone on the UNC meme page had decided to put the number 5 on their wrist. We then set up a twitter page that grabbed the attention of around 20 or so people at the start. Then Kendall re-tweeted some of our stuff and in under an hour we had over 1,000 followers and tons of pictures.

It’s kind of a funny story, of how we got linked up with St. Baldricks. However, just to clean things up we are actually teamed with a group called Basebald, The creator and founder of Basebald, is actually a really close friend of ours, and a cancer survivor and has been a really big inspiration for us here at PassFir5t.

Basebaldis a non-profit here on the campus of UNC, which works closely with the UNC baseball team and other college baseball teams throughout the area to raise money by shaving their heads for the kids of St.Baldricks.

In the beginning stages of #PassFir5t we gained a lot of followers, however, we also heard a lot of people that were questioning what if #PassFir5t could be something more, than just hoping our favorite point guard could play on Friday, or Sunday. So, that actually got us thinking, lets take the whole thing a step further. We felt that #PassFir5t could become an example of how one should live their life.

So now we use the name #PassFir5tin order to promote the idea of selflessness and putting others before one’s self, much like Kendall does every time he steps on the court.  We would like to leverage the energy and impact that #PassFir5t has gained from Twitter and Facebook to promote these ideals and encourage people to do things in their communities.

The first step to doing this, was setting up a quick meeting with Basebaldon Thursday, in which the owner of Basebald was shocked to find out who had started #PassFir5t.We told them we wanted to team up, we shook hands, and within 24hrs we had raised $2000 to go towards kids fighting cancer at the hospitals on the campus of UNC.

MandMsportshow: Is there anymore insight you can provide for why this is an important cause and our readers should most certainly research further?

#PassFir5t: Again, the St.Baldricks, foundation is one that raises money for kids fighting cancers all over the world. However we understand that the fans of #PassFir5t are fans of UNC which is why we teamed with Basebald. It allows our fans to actually #PassFir5t in affecting lives right here in the community and on the campus of the school in which they love. If people really want to embody what #PassFir5t is all about they should seek out the info on this cause, or find one that maybe even closer to their hearts and attempt to make a difference by putting others before themselves.

MandMsportshow: UNC fans are following you due to the injury of Kendall Marshall.  How can fans help support the Passfir5t movement?

#PassFir5t: Fans can support the #PassFir5t movement by simply going to www.PassFir5t.com and making a donation, or by purchasing a #PassFir5t T-shirt. However, the best way to support the movement is by simply embodying #PassFir5t I think Kendall said it best when he stated “#PassFir5t isn't about me. It’s an idea to put others before yourself. Embody the PassFir5t attitude and help someone today.”

MandMsportshow: Whether or not Kendall Marshall plays tomorrow he will recover from this injury.  What is the plan moving forward to continue to spread the Passfir5t movement and continued support of the Baldrick's foundation?

#PassFir5t: Moving forward with the #PassFir5t movement we hope to officially become a non-profit organization that will help promote non-profit efforts on the campus of UNC, in Chapel Hill, and in the surrounding area. We will also continue to create new campaigns on the likes of twitter and Facebook. We fully understand, that a lot of the motivation for our movement has been built around Kendall and the run the Tar Heels are making in the NCAA tournament. However, beyond those we truly believe that people have seen the potential that the movement has in making a difference in so many lives, we have spoken with Kendall, and he’s excited about keeping this movement going and has some creative ideas, and we hope the #PassFir5t community will continue to support us.

MandMsportshow: Finally how do you think the Tar Heels play tomorrow against Kansas with a chance to move on to the final four?

#PassFir5t: Obviously, we feel the Tar Heels will come out with something to prove tomorrow. Many people have continued to doubt this team from the beginning of the season until now. With or without Kendall we think the team has embraced the #PassFir5t movement and have seen what they can do if they pull together and play to their full potential. The Heels will come out bigger, faster, and tougher than ever and move on to the final four. #GoHeels #PassFir5t

To find out more information about the PASSFIR5T Movement you can visit the following places:

Donate at: www.PassFir5t.com

Order T-shirts:https://www.facebook.com/PassFir5tCarolina/app_129982580378550

Follow us on Twitter: @PassFir5t

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/PassFir5tCarolina

As always you can follow the MandMsportshow on twitter @MandMSportshow and you can read more articles from Haley at Keepingitheel.com.