Morning Heel: UNC Tar Heels Daily News Links

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.


Bridging the Offensive Gaps
North Carolina only needed two quarters – the first and fourth – to score its most points (43) against N.C. State in 16 years last Saturday. The Tar Heels failed to score in the other two quarters, highlighting both the explosiveness and inconsistency attached to this first-year spread offense. (Inside Carolina)

Jazz’s Marvin Williams scores high on likability
I don’t know how Marvin Williams will do in the long term for the Jazz, or how accommodating he’ll be on nights he doesn’t score 21 points, but I find myself thinking he deserves a successful career. On first impression, he does deserve an A in the area of civility and politeness. That counts a lot when you’re selling tickets to a community looking for a new star to cheer. (Deseret News)

Best of the Best: Most Important Players
10. James Michael McAdoo, UNC: McAdoo has a ton riding on him in 2012-13. He was a highly touted recruit who probably could have been a lottery pick last season, but he chose to avoid that route. McAdoo will be in charge of the low block. If he lives up to his heady NBA potential, look out. If not, UNC will labor. It’s that simple. (ESPN.com)

Weekend Watch: November 2-4
Men’s Tennis plays in the “Big Jim” Russell Invitational in Chapel Hill all weekend. Carolina field hockey continues play in the ACC Tournament Friday, with the championship set for Sunday at Henry Stadium. Volleyball hosts Miami Friday at 7 and Florida State Saturday at 5. Cross country is in Raleigh for the Three Stripe Invitational on Saturday. Wrestling is at the Hokie Open in Roanoke, Va. on Sunday as well. (Tar Heel Monthly)

Warning: Reconstruction zone ahead for UNC basketball
The comparisons among this UNC team and the 2005-06 and 2009-10 teams come naturally. Like those teams, this one will attempt to rebound from the losses of four star players. Like those teams, this one will begin a season surrounded by questions. Raleigh News & Observer

Joel James: Big opportunity for UNC’s big man
At 6-foot-10 and about 270 pounds, Joel James, whose first name is pronounced “Joe-el,” is indeed big. But so, too, is the void in the Tar Heels’ frontcourt left by Tyler Zeller and John Henson. James didn’t start playing organized basketball until his sophomore year at Dwyer High in West Palm Beach, Fla. Raleigh News & Observer

Tar Heel basketball tidbits
Go-to guy: Reggie Bullock. James Michael McAdoo will need to be a reliable, go-to player as well, but Bullock has been waiting two years for this – to be the focal point of the Heels’ fast-paced offense. Raleigh News & Observer

UNC Football: Gio Bernard Should Go Pro
Gio Bernard is probably the best running back prospect in college football right now. Bernard leads the country in all-purpose yards, touchdowns and punt return average and is third in rushing yards. As a top rated back he doesn’t have much to gain from coming back to school for another year, but he has plenty to lose. KIH

UNC Football: Does Gio Bernard Deserve to be in the Heisman Conversation?
In seven games, we’ve seen 930 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, 319 receiving yards and three touchdowns and a punt return that will go down as one of the greatest moments in North Carolina football…KIH