Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Monmouth vs. Tar Heels game preview

By Brandon Griffin

Nov 23, 2016; Lahaina, Maui, HI, USA; From left to right North Carolina Tar Heels forward Justin Jackson (44), guard Joel Berry II (2), and guard Kenny Williams (24) wait to check into the game against the Wisconsin Badgers in the Championship Game of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2016; Lahaina, Maui, HI, USA; From left to right North Carolina Tar Heels forward Justin Jackson (44), guard Joel Berry II (2), and guard Kenny Williams (24) wait to check into the game against the Wisconsin Badgers in the Championship Game of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Monmouth Hawks

Nov 18, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange guard Frank Howard (1) drives to the basket against the defense of Monmouth Hawks guard Justin Robinson (12) during the second half at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse defeated Monmouth 71-50. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange guard Frank Howard (1) drives to the basket against the defense of Monmouth Hawks guard Justin Robinson (12) during the second half at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse defeated Monmouth 71-50. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /

Head Coach: King Rice. Career Record: 89-87. This is Rice’s sixth season with the Hawks and his first head coaching stop. After winning only 33 games in his first three seasons, Monmouth won 46 the past two. Rice has never made the NCAA tournament with Monmouth, coming his closest last season.

Rice is best known as a former Tar Heels point guard under Dean Smith. For those of you out there over the age of 35 you might remember the former point guard leading Carolina to a final four in 1991.

Conference: The Hawks play in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Last season they went 17-3 and finished first in the conference. They were best known for their bench who did wild antics on the sideline during games. They lost in the MAAC championship game and were relegated to the NIT. There they lost to George Washington in the second round.

Best Former Player: Chuck Martin. Monmouth has had several distinguished alumni, just many of them did not play basketball for the Hawks. He previously was head coach at Marist where he led the Red Foxes to a 41-117 record in five seasons.

Martin is currently an assistant coach for Indiana. In his time as an assistant Martin has coached under Tom Crean, John Calipari, and Brusier Flint. Those three coaches are a combined 1304-692 for a winning percentage of .650. That’s not a bad resume for an assistant coach.

This Season: Currently this season the Hawks are 10-2. They are averaging over 80 points a game and have scored over 90 in three of their last six games. Monmouth is also 4-2 on the road this season. Though one of those losses was a 21 point blowout at fellow ACC opponent Syracuse.

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