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UNC Game Recap    

By Bob W. 

Overall:

Another great day.  As I sit here looking out the window at this snow storm that 12 hours ago was supposed to shut down the entire Mid Atlantic, but is now just a minor wet inconvenience, I again have to write up another game recap about Maryland losing.  I was lucky enough yesterday to score an extra ticket to witness the Maryland-UNC game up close and personal.  I met up with some friends at the “Fe” and grabbed a beer.  However, by the time I got to the Fe, I was already well behind the rest of the gang and did not feel like attempting to catch up.  As game time drew near it became more and more apparent that this was going to be a solo trip.  Luckily one of my friends from back home was equally as determined to make the tip.  Though he was a UNC fan, I mean traitor, he was kind enough to get me to the Comcast Center.  Armed with a lone ticket and a promise from a bunch of drunk friends that they would be along in 20 minutes, I sat down for this most pivotal match up.  Though it was going to be a tough game, it was still yet another chance for the Terps to control there own destiny, and after about 5 minutes of play, you knew they had a chance.   The Terps battled hard and when given opportunities to fold, they answered them with runs.  Though in the end the outcome was not unexpected (much like the outcome of the drunk friends showing), it was still a good game.   

These are the kind of loses I can live with.  Don’t get me wrong, it sucks, but you could tell the boys really competed out there yesterday.  North Carolina is a great team, with or without McCants.  I think the better team won, but we gave them a good show.  I also think that if Maryland plays like that against Tech, they WILL beat them and reach 8-8.  But again, who knows which Maryland team will make the trip to Blacksburg. 

[On another note, if you ever see someone sitting by himself at a Maryland basketball game, do not make fun of him or her.  I know, I know I was once like you myself.  Elbowing my friends and pointing, saying stuff like “who goes to a game by themselves, what a loser!” but maybe there is a reason they are alone.  Maybe they came to the game with people that enjoy drinking more than watching Maryland basketball and that deep down they are really a nice person who is fun to hang out with!!!!]

First Half:

As I said earlier Maryland came out tough.  Mike Grinnon got the token senior day start and played well.  Not much was asked of him, but he played well enough to stay in until the first TV timeout, and to everyone's surprise remained in as the action resumed.  At about the 15:31 mark Chris McCray made his first of many baskets.  He drilled a 3 to give Maryland a 2 point lead at 10-8, after a few traded baskets McCray hit another 3 to open up a 15-12 point lead.  Nik Caner Medley added another basket and all of a sudden the Terps were up 5.  Comcast was rocking, but UNC answered with a 3 to calm everyone down.  Maryland managed to hold of UNC for a while and had a 29-28 advantage up until the 6:22 mark when Carolina hit a 3 to take a two point lead.  Maryland failed to put any points up for the next 3 minutes and you could feel this one slipping away.  By the one minute mark the UNC lead had increased to 8 and Maryland definitely needed a basket going into half time.  In typical Maryland fashion, Gilchrist slowed things down and tried to settle for the last shot.  At least that was what I thought was going to happen, instead he pulled up with 7 seconds still remaining.  He then missed the 3, which was grabbed by McCray but immediately taken from him by Carolina who ran down the court for an uncontested dunk with 2 seconds on the clock (remember this play, those points turned out to be HUGE).  The UNC lead was 10 and Gary Williams was livid.  The first half ended, and the frustration was starting to show on the 17,500 in the Comcast Center.  

Second Half:

The second half started with Maryland getting the ball which was fortunate since they needed to make something happen in order to get back into the game.  A Gist layup cut the lead to 8, but UNC immediately answered.  A NCM 3 at the 17:49 mark again cut the lead to 8 and an Ibekwe layup after a May miss cut the lead to 6.  Again UNC was able to push the lead back to 10 and after 5 minutes of play in the second half, Maryland was unable to cut into the Tar Heels lead.  The Terps started their next run with a Gist layup, followed by a UNC missed 3, and another Gist layup.  The Comcast Center was again coming alive, but by the 13:45 mark UNC was again up by 10.  It seemed as if the Heels were constantly one step ahead of the Terps.  Solid free throw shooting from the line got Maryland within 8 and Mike Jones’s back to back 3’s made it 63-61.  UNC answered with a jumper from Jawad, but a McCray layup kept it close.  With 10 minutes left in the game Maryland was finally able to tie on a Sterling Ledbetter layup.  Five minutes later though, Maryland was again down 8.  With 3:33 left Maryland was down 80-72 when Gilchrist hit a HUGE 3.  A UNC turnover followed by a McCray 3 (with a nice bounce off the rim) cut the lead to 2 and the roof blew off the C-Center.  A Jawad turnover was followed by a Mike Jones 3 which gave the Terps a lead with 1:29 left.  UNC was forced to call a 30 second timeout and everyone was going nuts.  UNC came out of the TO and Jawad Williams hit a devastating 3 pointer to give the lead back to the heels. Ibekwe missed a layup but got his own rebound and followed it up with a basket to tie the game with 41 seconds left.  UNC spread things out and Felton managed to sneak through for an uncontested lay up.  Maryland still had 19 seconds to tie or take the lead as Gilchrist took the ball down the court.  Gilchrist lost the ball down low but UNC had the last touch so the Terps now had 6 seconds to work their magic.  Jones got the ball up top, drove down low and drew defenders but May who had a great game ended the Terps hopes with a solid block of the Jones effort.  Jackie Manuel grabbed the board and the Terps and all of the Comcast Center was stunned.  Maryland falls to 7-8 and now must focus their attention on a crucial match up with Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. 

Fact of the Game:

Sean May (who played excellent last night, a truly great Center) Had 22 points.  11 boards and shot 6-8 from the foul line.  Also only had 2 fouls. 

Our big men (Garrison, Ibekwe, Bowers):  Shot 3-14, 8 fouls, 7 boards, and 7 points.  We need a big man in a bad way. 

Report Card

Travis Garrison:  F

The Good:  3 blocks and a steal..   

The Bad:  More Fouls than Rebounds, 0-5 from the field, 2 turnovers.  Could not contain May.

Nik Caner Medley:  B

The Good:  16 points and a block, also 5 boards..

The Bad:  7-18 shooting. 

Ekene Ibekwe:  D-

The Good:  4 boards

The Bad:  2-6 from the field.  1 Turn over and also could not stop May.   

John Gilchrest:  B

The Good:  13 points, 5 assists and NO turnovers.  4-4 from the line.

The Bad:  Poor decision at the end of the half cost Maryland 2 points they desperately needed.   

Chris McCray:  A+

The Good:  7-12 shooting, 5-6 from 3 point land!!!  6-6 form the foul line6 boards, 1 foul, 25 points and 5 assists.   

The Bad:  When he goes to the line I mentally already add the two points onto the score.  That is going to burn me one of these days when he misses.

DJ Strawberry:  INC

The Good:  Nothing Good about his absence.

The Bad:  If you are like me you think DJ is at least a 2 point difference in a game with his D, his loss has now cost us 2 games and if he was available we could conceivably be 9-6 in the Conference (UNC and Miami)

Sterling Ledbetter:  C+

The Good:  Showed some good poise at times.

The Bad:  Also had some questionable minutes late, 2-2 assist/to’s.   

James Gist:  B

The Good:  4-8 from the field, 7 boards (as many as the 3 big men), 8 points

The Bad:  Didn’t get to the line and was too small to compete down low on some plays.   

Mike Jones:  A

The Good:  4-8 from the field, 4-5 from 3!!!  4 boards, and 12 points.  His 3’s weren’t just 3’s, everyone was clutch and game saving.

The Bad:  13 minutes, what is going on, this is a great injustice, give him some burn. 

Will Bowers:  F

The Good:  2 points in 4 minutes, that is like averaging 20 a game!

The Bad:  Did nothing to earn back his nickname, maybe next time Wilbo, uh… I mean Will Bowers. 

Mike Grinnon:  C

The Good:  Played 12 minutes and got the start, also grabbed a board.

The Bad:  Didn’t really do ANYTHING, whether it was good or bad.  

Gini Chukura: INC