No. 10 North Carolina (1-1) vs. American (1-2)
Chapel Hill, N.C. — Smith Center
Friday, Nov. 15 — 8 p.m.
TV: ACC Network (Kevin Brown, Jon Crispin)
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network (Jones Angell, Tyler Zeller)
UNC Tar Heels:
Cadeau #3 P = 0, E = 60, I = 40, X = 20,
Davis #4 P = 90, E = 25, I = 90, X = 90
Trimble #7 P = 15, E = 80, I = 95, X = 55
Withers #24 P = 20, E = 5, I = 25, X = 20
Washington #13 P = 100, E = 60, I = 55, X = 75
Tyson #5 P = 0 E = 80, I = 85, X = 40
Jackson #11 P = 10, E = 70, I = 20, X = 15
Powell #9 P = 0, E = 100, I = 70, X = 35
Lubin #22 P = 45, E = 50, I = 90, X = 65
Claude #0 P = 80, E = 90, I = 80, X = 80,
Brown #2 P = 0, E = 5, I = 100, X = 50
Coach Davis Wisdom = 65
American Eagles
33 Matt Mayock P = 95, E = 0, I = 90, X = 90
23 Greg Jones P = 0, E = 95, I = 55, X = 25
15 Matt Rogers P = 5, E = 0, I = 80, X = 40
12 Geoff Sprouse P = 100, E = 5, I = 25, X = 60
3 Colin Smalls P = 100, E = 20, I = 100, X = 100
1 Elijah Stephens P - 5, E = 100, I = 50, X = 25
4 Lincoln Ball P = 85, E = 10, I = 0, X = 40
7 Wyatt Nausadis
25 Eric Michaels
Coach Duane Simpkins Wisdom = 75
Look-In: The American Eagles are 1-2 with losses to Lasalle and Siena and a victory over Harvard. They play a pace that, while not as mind-numbingly and dishearteningly snailish as the Bennett-era Cavaliers, is one of the slowest in college basketball. That will be the test for Carolina tonight – overcome the slowdown. As for players…Number one on the chart is #15, 6-9 Matt Rogers. An inside-out threat, Rogers is averaging 13 ppg and coming off of a 26 point game vs the Saints. Also of interest is true senior and ball-handler, 5-9 (#1) Elijah Stephens (10 ppg, 5 apg). Forward Matt Mayock and guard Geoff Sprouse are bombers. Indeed the Eagles are Trey-Fixated averaging 23 shots from long distance per game (they hoisted 31 vs Lasalle). They are hitting at a 28% clip from beyond so far. Colin Smalls is scoring at 12 ppg and shoots over 90% from the line. Duane Simpkins (a one-time Terrapin and assistant to Wes Miller at UNCG) is the coach.
Frontcourt: Washington has the arcs to play well tonight – being especially athletic while Withers looks a bit weathered and biorhythmically down. Strongman Lubin has solid Physical and Emotional arcs but is high intellectually. Ty Claude has seen little actions but looks primed to have a memorable night. Freshman James Brown is downright cerebral.
Wings: Not a high-flying look for Ian Jackson nor Drake Powell though the latter young man is nigh onto Mensa level in intellect. Cade Tyson is also smart and motivated though down physically.
Guards: Cadeau looks middlin’ at best with a flat physical while Seth Trimble brings good ‘want-to’ and plenty of brains to the court. R.J. looks to slip out of his recent doldrums. Watch for it.
Overall: American will try to limit the times up and down the court and Carolina will attempt to run them out of the Dome. Key will be defense and rebounding for the Tar Heels. Pressure the Eagles into turnovers in the mid-court and quick bad and long-rebounding shots and it will be off-to-the-races for the Heels. Carolina has a great deal more talent than American and must avoid the trap they fell into versus a similarly overmatched Elon. Not playing down to the opponent but rather obliterating them from the get-go has to be the rule or this will not be an entertaining night but rather a frustrating, scream-at-the-screen one. R.J. Davis’ high arcs point to a liberating outing for the Graduate Student and Trimble ought to find the seam and bring at least a couple of high-flying slams. Watch for something along those lines from a wiley Drake Powell as well. Lubin looks like he’s also going to do some yeomen boardwork and if Ty Claude gets the minutes we’ll see why the Goldsboro Grad was picked up late in the recruiting process. Watch for some stellar play from Mr. Washington.
This ought to be a good evening for the Heels and plenty should play. Pressure might dictate a deep bench…we hope. Carolina by 22.
