Daily Tar Heel ACC Tournament Preview by The Daily Tar Heel

The Daily Tar Heel March 6, 2009

ACC

Tournament Preview NOT-SO-SECRET WEAPON

NORTH CAROLINA POINT guard Ty Lawson has become the tar heels’ GO-TO GUY FOR A BASKET By Powell Latimer Senior Writer

So why is the dth doing this now? With the ACC Tournaments coinciding with the University’s Spring Break, The Daily Tar Heel is releasing this ACC Tournament Preview issue before the men’s regular season is complete. All records and conference standings are current as of Friday.

With three minutes to play in overtime at Maryland’s Comcast Center, No. 3 North Carolina was in need of a bucket. Down three with seconds ticking of the clock, everyone in the gym knew where the ball was headed, and it still didn’t m a t t e r. Ty L awson se t up from beyond the arc and fired as though there wasn’t a defender in the building. There might as well not have been one. One crowd-silencing swish later, and the Tar Heels had a tie game, courtesy of their junior point guard, who was already skipping back down the court and yelling to the crowd: “Yeeeaaahh!” Though Lawson’s three wasn’ t enough to carry North Carolina to a win in College Park, Md., his performance that night was just one of many times that No. 5 has taken over the game when the Tar Heels needed him most. In fact, in 2009, when the seconds are ticking off the clock and somebody needs to make a play, it won’t be Naismith award winner Tyler Hansbrough muscling up a shot from the post, nor will it be Danny Green or Wayne Ellington taking aim from deep. It’s going to be Lawson driving past everybody to the hoop. Lawson pulling up from deep. Lawson with the play. “He’s quick,” Maryland’s Grievis Vasquez couldn’t help but observe, even after his Terps handed UNC its third ACC loss. “And he’s good. It’s a great matchup.” In conference play, Lawson’s averages have jumped to 16 points per game, 1.64 steals per game, and he dishes out 6.3 assists per game to just 2.4 turnovers. He is shooting 52 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the arc (a figure that would lead the ACC in 3-point shooting had he taken enough 3-balls to be eligible). Those are numbers that are just plain astronomical for a guard. After scoring only 19 combined points as the Tar Heels dropped their opening two conference games, Lawson is averaging 17.1 points per game and has led UNC in scoring four times — heck, he even pulled down a team-high nine boards against Florida State. But his contribution goes even beyond those numbers. In close games, Lawson simply takes over. At Miami, he dropped UNC’s last 11 points in a 69-65 win. At Florida State, he dropped 12 points in the last 10 minutes of the game, including the winning three-pointer as

dth File

time expired, on a play where coach Roy Williams instructed Hansbrough to “give it to Ty and see how far he can take it.” T he secre t? L awson’s speed, as always. Anyone who can go 65 feet and hit a game-winning runner in three seconds has to have some serious jets. “We’ve had games before where the other team would score and he lays it up on the other end with it never getting to five.” Williams said. But Lawson has always had the speed. What he hasn’t had — until this year — is a jump shot. Just like a baseball pitcher adding new throws, Lawson has added first an accurate deep ball — his 49 percent from behind the arc is a huge jump from his .361 shooting clip last year — and a midrange floater that allows him to pull up in the lane. And Lawson is aware of just how good of a shooter he has become this year. “I’m shooting what, 48 percent from 3?” Lawson said after nailing five treys at Miami. “So I think I’m a great shooter. I mean, that’s one of my strengths.” This year, when teams slack off from Lawson to account for his blow-by ability, the junior from Clinton, Md., just pulls up — and half the time, buries the shot. “I guess the scouting report on him is that he drives and he’s quick, but he’s not much of a shooter on the outside,” said Green at Miami. “But when we needed him to hit shots, he hit shots. I think teams are going to start to respect him more than they did before.” And for the postseason, the Tar Heels will have a simple formula for success — give it to Ty, and see how far he can go with it. Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.

ACC Preview

Clemson stayed undefeated through 16 games before a 2-3 match-up against Wake Forest and a 96-70 rout by North Carolina. The Tigers have done their best since then, dropping only one by more than four points, and should get an NCAA bid for their efforts. A second game against Wake Forest in Winston-Salem will decide their fate in ACC tournament seeding.

(7-8, 18-11)

ON THE BRINK

Your classic bubble team, the Terps have their defining win against North Carolina and early in the season a 80-62 rout of then-No. 5 Michigan State. But the Terrapins have been scarily inconsistent, beating Georgia Tech by only one and getting absolutely owned at Clemson last month. Maryland will need a strong showing in the ACC Tournament to make a case.

No. 10

Despite last month’s rout against Wake Forest, Florida State kept it close in a loss to Duke on Tuesday. Both Florida State’s wins against Clemson help the Seminoles, who might have proved to the committee they’re a force to be reckoned with. Toney Douglas’ 18 straight games of double-figure scoring don’t hurt their chances, either.

Wake Forest

No. 3

(7-8, 17-12)

The Hokies desperately needed Wednesday night’s game against the Tar Heels to make a case for a tournament bid. A win against Wake Forest when the Deacons were still No. 1 seemed to be a prod for the Hokies, but then three straight ACC losses — two of which came by double-figures — and a below-.500 ACC record killed their hopes. Hello, NIT.

Wake Forest started the season strong, even reaching the AP No. 1 spot and beating Duke before falling to bottom-dweller Georgia Tech only three days later. Since then the Demon Deacons have lost four more ACC match-ups, but a three-game win streak going into their finale against Clemson could save Wake Forest and keep them in the third spot.

No. 6

(8-7, 20-10)

RESUME BUILDING

Wins against No. 1 North Carolina at the Smith Center and No. 6 Duke at home are the biggest plugs for the Eagles and could be enough to get them through. A loss to Harvard in the game following their UNC rout, though, doesn’t look quite as good, and BC still is only 3-4 against ranked teams (and was ranked only once itself ).

(6-9, 17-11)

ALMOST there

(3-12, 9-17)

If freshman Sylvan Landesberg could have carried the team himself, he would have. He’s tied for the third most ACC Rookie of the Year awards in conference history with six this season. He’s also the only freshman with more than 11 20-point games (Landesberg had 12). Next year, he could do big things for the Cavaliers if he gets some help.

(10-5, 23-5)

REDEMPTION

No. 9

JUST NOT ENOUGH

He deserves better

Virginia

N.C. State

IN THE THICK OF IT

No. 11

OUT OF IT

Support the Heels with the Great Deals at

(9-6, 22-8)

No. 8

(6-9, 16-12)

It never really seemed possible for the Wolfpack. They lost to every ranked team they played except — you guessed it — Wake Forest and barely beat many of their other ACC opponents. Good news is, many of the ‘Pack are young and sophomore Tracy Smith is averaging 15.5 points in his past six games, including two double-doubles.

Duke has struggled against some of its more formidable opponents, including UNC and Wake Forest. But the emergence of Elliot Williams as a starter has been key for the Devils going into the postseason with momentum for the first time in years. And since the Blue Devils got a win against WFU at home, Duke would win a potential tie-breaker if Wake stays in third.

No. 5

Florida State

Clemson

MAKING A CASE

No. 7

Duke

(9-6, 23-6)

Virginia Tech

No. 4

Maryland

SNEAKING UP

Heels in control

Despite opening the season 0-2 in the conference, the Tar Heels are guaranteed at least a share in this year’s conference title after Wednesday’s win at Virginia Tech. Sunday’s match-up with Duke at the Smith Center will be for all the marbles, but it’s largely assumed UNC will get a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament regardless.

(11-4 ACC, 25-5)

No. 2

Boston College

(12-3, 26-3)

Miami

No. 1

The Daily Tar Heel

The ’Canes beat Wake Forest, but by the time they did, it seemed as though everyone else had, too. An overtime loss to Duke and a four-point loss against North Carolina both probably sealed the deal for Miami. The Hurricanes started the season ranked in the Top 20, but that was over by mid-December and Miami hasn’t been back since.

No. 12

Georgia Tech

friday, march 6, 2009

North Carolina

(2-13, 11-17)

CELLAR DWELLeRS

Before we knew anything else about a crazy ACC season, we knew this: Georgia Tech had a lock on last place in the conference. A win against Wake Forest was the Yellow Jackets’ only conference victory until they managed another against Miami on Wednesday. But sophomore Gani Lawal generally balled out for the Jackets — he had more doubledoubles than any other ACC player with 14.

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ACC Preview

The Daily Tar Heel

March 12

March 13

March 14

friday, march 6, 2009

March 15

champion

Game 5, noon Game 1, noon

Game 9, 1:30 p.m.

No. 1

winner of game 5

Vs.

No. 8

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winner of game 1

Vs. No. 9

Game 6, 2:30 p.m. Game 2, 2:30 p.m.

winner of game 9

Vs.

No. 4

No. 5

winner of game 6

Vs. winner of game 2

Vs.

No. 12

Game 7, 7 p.m. Game 3, 7 p.m.

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Game 10, 4 p.m.

No. 2 winner of game 7

Vs.

No. 7

winner of game 3

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ACC Preview

friday, march 6, 2009

The Daily Tar Heel

the curious case of jessica breland

Forward’s complex psyche makes her a complex player by DANIEL PRICE

ACC Tournament schedule

senior writer

Growing up, North Carolina junior forward Jessica Breland was the baby. While her three older sisters were going on dates and hanging out with friends, Breland was left out. “They never wanted to play with me,” Breland said. “So it was kind of lonely.” But her time alone soon turned into hours of hoopin’ it up outside with the neighborhood boys, developing the skill set that eventually put her on the path to Chapel Hill. Now the “big sister” at 6 feet, 3 inches, Breland is well documented as a stalwart in the paint, having blocked 217 shots in her UNC career, good for third in North Carolina history. “She’s an intimidating factor in there,” UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell said. “I don’t know anybody who’s more intimidating than she has been.” But UNC’s stopper in the post is no one-trick pony. In addition to the swats, she averaged 13.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game rhis season in ACC play. Those numbers landed her on the all-conference second team. And while solving her on the court hasn’t been easy for anyone, the task of deciphering her psyche is another ordeal altogether. She is — simply put — a contradiction. The light-stepping, shot-blocking, soft-spoken, rebound-hoarding junior is almost as difficult to make sense of as she is to score on, as unassuming at one moment as she is dominant the next. When Breland’s submissive nature comes out on the court (not a rare occurrence) it looks as though she doesn’t care. Then the ball gets within reach, and all bets are off. But instead of bothering oneself with the puzzle that is Jessica Breland, it’s easiest — and probably most effective — to go the route taken by North Carolina point

Semifinals Saturday

Quarterfinals Today

UNC/Clemson v. Maryland/NCSU 1 p.m. FSU/BC/Miami v. Duke/UVa./VT 3 p.m.

No. 4 North Carolina v. Clemson 11 a.m. No. 1 Maryland v. N.C. State/WFU 3 p.m. No. 2 Florida State v. BC/Miami 6 p.m. No. 3 Duke v. UVa./Virginia Tech 8 p.m.

Championship game Sunday Winner of semifinal No. 1 v. Winner of semifinal No. 2 1 p.m.

guard Cetera DeGraffenreid. Acceptance. “That’s just her personality,” DeGraffenreid said of Breland’s paradoxical personas. “That’s how Jess is.” Breland impressed that fact upon then-sophomore Martina Wood at a practice last season. During a rebounding drill, Wood failed to box out. But there was no ensuing tonuge-lashing from Hatchell — Breland reacted too quickly. “She really got in my face and said a few words to me. And I really took it personal,” Wood said. “After practice, I had to come to her and say, ‘Is everything alright?’ And she’s like, ‘Yeah. We’re cool. We’re cool.’ “She’s very tenacious on the court. Then you go off the court, and she’s very laid back.” Despite Breland’s gaudy numbers and albatross-like frame, her meek, almost lethargic demeanor still is able to lull opponents to sleep and entice them into the seemingly opportunistic paint. And Hatchell can’t help but be humored when teams play right into Breland’s trap. “Instead of denying the ball and knocking it away, she’ll let ‘em catch it sometimes just so she can block the shot,” Hatchell said. “I get on her about that sometimes.” And though it works out often enough, Breland is trying to heed

Hatchell’s advice and limit the time she spends in her self-described “chill mode.” “(Guards) just drive in and think, ‘Oh, she’s not going to do anything.’” Breland said. “Then all of a sudden I come over (and block the shot). It helps me, but it doesn’t help me because I don’t need to be in that mode.” One guard not fooled by this unintentional trickery is DeGraffenreid, who, when asked to give an estimate on the number of times Breland has rejected her, said with tongue firmly in cheek: “Probably a few.” “She’s just standing there,” DeGraffenreid added. “But you know she’s just waiting for you to come down the lane because she knows that she can get a piece of it. “So I’m just like, ‘Eh, I’m just going to back it out.’” Probably the right decision. It doesn’t often work out well when someone challenges Breland — especially a player listed at 5 feet, 6 inches. So for those keeping track, Jessica Breland is laid back. She’s intimidating. She’s chill. She’s tenacious. But most pertinently, she’s a two-time ACC Tournament champion preparing to make her run at a third — UNC’s fifth — in a row. Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.

dth file/Lisa pepin

North Carolina forward Jessica Breland goes up for a rebound against Miami in UNC’s Senior Night game. Breland, a junior, leads the Tar Heels in rebounds and blocks and was named to the All-ACC Defensive Team.

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