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
Dean Smith, The King Of Carolina Basketball
For Dean Smith, winning was a matter of keeping things basic. And when the legendary University of North Carolina basketball coach retired in 1997, his 879 wins were an NCAA Division I record. He also owned two national titles and a gold medal from coaching the U.S. team at the 1976 Olympics. (Investor’s Business Daily)
Phil Ford: Coaching, Tradition Helped Heels Rebound
I know our fans were disappointed, as was I, with the loss at State. But we can’t lose sight of who we were playing against. That’s a veteran team with two seniors and two juniors and two really good freshmen. You know, most of their lineup will probably be in the NBA next season. And here we are — a very young team in a hostile environment. Plus, they don’t like us very much. I wouldn’t like a rival school either if we hadn’t beaten them in six years. (Chapelboro.com)
College Basketball’s Greatest Villains
Ole Miss’ Marshall Henderson’s sharp-shooting, jersey-popping emergence this season baited us into asking who are college basketball’s best villains in the last few decades. 1. Christian Laettner, Duke; 2. J.J. Redick, Duke; 6. The Fab Five, Michigan; 8. Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina; 9. Steve Wojchiechowski, Duke. (Athlon Sports)
ACC Basketball Power Rankings, Feb. 1
5. North Carolina (13-6, 4-3, No. 32 RPI) Just when I think P.J. Hairston was making his most compelling argument for more playing time (14 points in just 12 minutes at Boston College) he gets clocked by his own teammate, Dexter Strickland, and knocked out of the game. No I don’t think Hairston will play against Virginia Tech. And no, I don’t think it will matter. (ACC Sports Journal)
UNC students create software to sync radio-TV broadcasts
Thanks to three UNC students, when basketball commentator Dick Vitale’s enthusiasm becomes too much to bear, basketball fans can now replace television audio with a radio broadcast. Sportsync — a free computer application designed by UNC students — tunes into the radio to synchronize a user’s chosen audio broadcast with the video of a television broadcast. (Daily Tar Heel)
Sylvia Hatchell Goes For 900th Win
This could be a huge weekend for UNC’s Sylvia Hatchell. A victory over rival Duke Sunday would make it 900 career wins for the veteran Tar Heels coach. Hatchell said Friday that “I’d be lying if I said it didn’t matter” that the milestone victory could come against the fifth-ranked Blue Devils. “It’s really not about me winning 900 games against Duke,” she added. “It’s about the experience those kids have playing this game.” (Inside Carolina)
Virginia Tech’s quick pace will be challenged by faster North Carolina
Even in what has been a down year to this point by North Carolina standards, there’s still a difference in Virginia Tech’s brand of fast-paced play and UNC’s shot-out-of-a-cannon variety of basketball. Tech coach James Johnson knows it. If all goes well Saturday in Chapel Hill, N.C., Johnson won’t have his players test UNC’s team speed. (Daily Press)
Options coming and going for UNC ahead of Hokies test
The options are coming and going for North Carolina’s basketball team. With swingman P.J. Hairston suffering a concussion early in the week, there’s a possible roster reduction. But with Leslie McDonald back in the mix for Saturday’s game against Virginia Tech, the Tar Heels hope that balances things out. (Shelby Star)
Football Recruiting: WR Johnathan Alston Commits To NC State Over UNC
Three star Wide Receiver Johnathan Alston of Bunn, NC has signed his letter of intent to play college football for the North Carolina State Wolfpack over UNC. (Keeping It Heel)
UNC Basketball: Reggie Bullock Needs To Assert Himself
North Carolina junior guard Reggie Bullock is in a bit of a slump the last couple games and the only way he’s going to get out of it is if he asserts himself more offensively. (Keeping It Heel)