Morning Heel: UNC Tar Heels Daily News Links
By Matt Hamm
Welcome to another edition of the Morning Heel, a daily feature here at Keeping It Heel. Along with The Hub we want to bring you not only our original content but a collection of all the best UNC news. Have a link to suggest? Senditkeepingitheel@gmail.com
ACC Basketball Power Rankings, Jan. 22
4. North Carolina (12-5, 2-2, No. 35 RPI) UNC notched another key win last Saturday, over Maryland in Chapel Hill, but looked so Jekyll and Hyde from the first half to the second that I’m still not sure what to make of this team. I’m starting to think I never will this season. (ACC Sports Journal)
UNC championship claim isn’t a big deal, unless others go Coastal over it
Larry Fedora grabbed a microphone, led a group of his players onto the floor and with the delivery of a charismatic televangelist hyped up on Red Bull, whipped his 19,000-plus followers into a frenzy by proclaiming UNC as the ACC’s Coastal Division champions. It was a statement that wasn’t received quite as enthusiastically in other areas of the league’s geographic footprint. (Wilmington Star News)
UNC’s “Nike Hyper Elite” Uniform Photos Reportedly Leaked
Anyone who cringed at the sight of the alternate jerseys Gonzaga debuted Saturday at Butler probably isn’t going to like this news. You’re going to be seeing a lot more of them the next few weeks. Although Nike has yet to release images of any of the designs besides Gonzaga’s, a poster on a Michigan State message board appears to have uncovered photos of the rest of the jerseys select programs will be wearing. (Yahoo! Sports)
UNC Baseball Ranked #1 In Perfect Game Preseason Poll
The North Carolina baseball squad will open the 2013 season as the No. 1 team in the country according to Perfect Game’s Preseason Poll released Tuesday. The Tar Heels return 22 letterwinners from a year ago, including preseason All-Americas 3B Colin Moran and SP Kent Emanuel. Carolina also welcomes back its entire starting rotation from a year ago. (GoHeels.com)
Roy Williams radio show notes: Father and son
North Carolina assistant coach Steve Robinson filled in for Roy Williams on the head coach’s radio show Monday night, as Williams was out recruiting. A few notes: After spending the past two seasons on the junior varsity team, Robinson’s youngest son — Denzel — made the varsity team this season as a walk-on, to the delight of his dad. (ESPN.com)
Rebuttal: Chad Ford on UNC
In a recent ESPN.com story, noted NBA draft expert Chad Ford delivered his thoughts on Carolina as a producer of NBA talent. Because the story contains insight from experts such as noted NBA draft expert Chad Ford, it is hidden behind a pay wall, but in the interest of fair use, we wanted to parse Ford’s comments on the Tar Heels. (Tar Heel Monthly)
Wayne Ellington Traded to Cleveland Cavaliers
The Memphis Grizzlies have agreed to a multiplayer trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers, slicing more than $6 million off their payroll to get under the luxury tax threshold, league sources told ESPN.com. The Grizzlies would send big man Marreese Speights, guard Wayne Ellington and guard Josh Selby to the Cavs for big man Jon Leuer. Cleveland would also receive a future first-round draft pick in the deal. (ESPN.com)
Isaiah Hicks silences doubters at MLK Day Classic
“Isaiah ain’t nothing.” That’s all Oxford Webb senior — and North Carolina signee — Isaiah Hicks needed to hear before the Warriors’ game against Mount Tabor on Monday at the Greensboro Coliseum. He wasn’t sure who said it — someone else on the Spartan bench — but he had found all the motivation he needed. Hicks scored 16 of his 18 points in the first half and blocked 11 shots, and Webb handed Mount Tabor its first loss of the season, 64-63. (Greensboro News & Record)
Joel Berry is a “perfect fit” for UNC’s offense
Joel Berry, a 6-foot standout from Lakeland Highland (Fla.) Prep, is the first member of the 2014 class to commit to UNC. According to ESPN’s Davel Telep, “Joel Berry is a combination of scoring, leadership and speed. With the ability to get into the lane, he is projected as a perfect fit for North Carolina’s up-tempo, transition offense. He’ll allow Roy Williams to play at the speed he wishes alongside lefty point guard Marcus Paige.” (ESPN.com)