Star to Return

James Mcadoo recently made public his intentions of returning for his Sophomore season at Chapel Hill, stating the he was "Enjoying his time in Chapel Hill".  This is welcome news for the Tar Heels who will be losing 4 of their top 5 players from last year's squad.

James Mcadoo

Courtesy NBDdraft.net

The Carolina basketball world is slowly revolving around 6'9" forward James Michael Mcadoo as everyone awaits his decision on this summer's NBA Draft.  Jame's father has said he has talked to his son and said that he wants him to return for a second year at North Carolina because he thinks he needs it, but also stated that it is ultimately his son's decision.  Tar Heel Nation should have an answer by the end of the week.

Barnes,Henson, and Marshall All Draft Bound

Recently Harrison Barnes, John Henson, and Kendall Marshall all acknowledged that the were going to enter the upcoming NBA draft. These departures along with those of Zeller, Watts, and White (2 year Mormon Mission) leave 6 fairly productive spots that need to be filled by Roy Williams, who already has 4 top 100 commits for next year.  This is expected news from Barnes and Henson, but the news from Marshall was not so expected from the Carolina faithful.  Although Carolina fans held out hope that he would return to run the show next season in Chapel Hill it really is no surprise he has decided to enter his name as his draft stock may never be higher according to many people.  he is projected to be a top 20 pick and possibly the first point guard taken in this summer's draft.  But I do think had he returned the Tar Heels would have been a top 5 team again with newcomers and the players returning from injury.  Marshall would have been first team all-american and possibly averaged a double-double or close to it with his new found scoring ability, I believe his numbers could be close to 15 points and 10 assists a game which would put him easily in the top 10 of next year's draft.  Unfortunately for college basketball fans everywhere who loved Marshall's old school style of play being a TRUE point guard will miss him and certainly his replacement incoming Freshmen Marcus Paige will have big shoes to fill and will hopefully continue where Marshall left off with his Pass first mentality and score when it is needed.

Together We Are Carolina

     Ask any college basketball fan, any Carolina fan and surely they will say that 2012 will forever be remembered as a year of "What ifs".  But to me this year is about something else, about much more than just what could have been had we not been so unlucky on the injury front.  2012 for me will be about the heart and spirit of a team that received blow after blow, was counted out over and over again but refused to quit and no matter what continued to get up after every hit.  This team battled through as much adversity than any team I have personally ever seen and to have a chance with 4:00 minutes on the clock in the Elite 8 against Kansas is more than we could have realistically asked for from these kids. 
     When you look at the group of Tar Heels that played most of the minutes against Kansas on Sunday you see a group that is basically consisting of  4th and 5th point guards running the show in White and Watts a 2nd/3rd string shooting guard in Bullock and a 2nd string power forward who had to play extended minutes after Henson rolled his ankle.  Think about that; what other team in the country could compete in an Elite 8 game against Kansas with that type of line up?  In my opinion their is no other team in the country that could have accomplished what this team did with the situation they were given and they as well as Roy Williams should be commended for a job well done this season. 
     This team had a good run and when Marshall went down against Creighton and after seeing how this team played against Ohio without him the Carolina faithful expected to lose against Kansas while hoping to keep it respectable, for all intensive purposes Carolina's season was over after this game without Marshall and everyone knew and expected nothing else.  But something amazing happened on Sunday afternoon in St. Louis, a group of kids that had once again been counted out rose to the challenge of a juggernaut. The Tar Heels came out and went blow for blow with a powerful Kansas team that boasts potential Player of the Year Thomas Robinson. And all of a sudden unknown Stilman White became a household name.  He and this team had every Carolina fan questioning their previous thoughts on the game.  They found themselves starting to believe, actually thinking that this kid could lead us to the Final Four.  At halftime the Tar Heels found themselves tied at 47 with the Jayhawks and from where I was from you could certainly see a change in the face of every fan, going from no chance to believing. 
     The Tar Heels continued to battle throughout the second half and with around 4 minutes left had a chance to take the lead trailing 67-68 but and arrant pass from Reggie Bullock that resulted in a fast break basket was the beginning of the end for Carolina.  It kicked off the final run that Kansas would need to put Carolina away.  This is why this loss still hurts so much.  Had Kansas been in control form the outset like many Carolina fans expected it would be easier to swallow, but the fact that the Heels almost did the impossible and gave hope to all of Carolina Nation for 36 minutes makes this a tough pill to swallow.

from newsobserver.com

     Stilman White is what I believe made all of this possible, he came in and played better than anyone could have dreamed.  But does he take comfort in knowing that this loss was not his fault, simply put no.  Stilman White still believes he failed his team.  After the game White said "My only job was to win and get us to the Final Four and we didn't accomplish it."  I know it hurts now for Stilman but as he goes on and looks back at his experience he will understand that he did everything he could.  This pure emotion and love for his team in the pursuit of a common goal is why this year will not be about the injuries for me it will be about the heart of a group of kids that came together, captivated the Tar Heel nation and almost did what couldn't be done.  Well done Carolina

Breaking News: K. Marshall will not play vs. Ohio

     Breaking news is that Carolina will be without PG K. Marshall tonight when the Heels take on Ohio U. in the Sweet 16.  Marshall who had surgery on his fractured right wrist on Monday was questionable for today's game for most of the week, but again has just been declared out for tonight's game.  Kendall's replacement is likely to be 6'0" Freshmen Stilman White.

Harrison Barnes: Ready for Greatness

     If you ask me Harrison Barnes may be the most overlooked star in college basketball.  He may also be the most talented, their are few players who have shown the ability to take over games the way he has been able to in his two years in Chapel Hill.  He has also shown the confidence and ability to take the last shot and convert in games that have come down to the wire.  But on the other side, there is the Harrison Barnes that disappears for nearly two thirds of a game and if Carolina is to go on to the Final Four this year in New Orleans they are going to need the former from Barnes the rest of the way.
     Barnes was recently selected as a 2nd team NABC All-American which qualifies him to have his jersey immortalized with the rest of the Carolina greats in the rafters of the Dean Dome.  Barnes certainly wants to see his jersey recognized, it is surely one of the reasons he returned to Chapel Hill for his sophomore season.  If asked I'm almost certain Barnes would say, as well as most fans, that he does not deserve a spot in the rafters if he does not bring home this years national title.  This is why I see the rest of this tournament becoming his personal climb to the top of the college basketball world and the only way to do this is to step up and carry his team to New Orleans.  No doubt the most important thing for the humble forward from Ames, Iowa is that he brings another national title back to Chapel Hill, then and only then will he feel as if he has earned the right to be remembered with the rest of the Carolina legends hanging from the rafters in the Dean Dome.

Marshall Wrist Update

From Sportsoverdose.com

     Kendall Marshall who had surgery to have a screw inserted into his fractured right wrist on Monday morning had the cast removed and the wrist is now in a removable splint.  Marshall said to Insidecarolina.com he is getting better everyday and is day to day, but if the jump ball was right now he would not play. Marshall also said that the main factors in him playing will be pain and range of motion. Roy Williams has said several times since the injury that he does not expect Marshall to play and is preparing accordingly.  It seems that Ohio head coach John Groce is taking a different approach and says his team is preparing for Carolina as if Marshall were playing and he has a contingency plan if Marshall does not suit up for the Sweet 16 match up on Friday night in St. Louis.  Regardless of who is starting for the Tar Heels on Friday their is no doubt that the health of Kendall Marshall will be a top story as well as how the Heels will handle the pressure of the Ohio guards without him on the floor should he not play.  But if you ask me, do not be surprised to see a more focused and defensively intense Carolina squad tomorrow night than we have seen all season.  Either way a this should be another fun weekend of NCAA Tournament basketball.

Marshall gets cast removed

Photo from sportridge.com

     Here is a quick update on Kendall Marshall's status.  This morning around 9:30 Marshall tweeted "Cast Off."  He is now in a removable splint, this is no doubt a good sign for the Tar Heel faithful as it has only been two full days since the surgery on Monday morning.  But there is still no update or change in his playing status for the time being.  As of now it is safe to say the Tar Heels are still preparing to play without Marshall as Roy Williams stated in his press conference yesterday.   You can follow Kendall Marshall on Twitter @Kbutter5.

Carolina Press Conference

Here is a link to Tuesday's press conference with the Tar Heels and Coach Williams.

Courtesy triangle.news14.com

Tuesday's Carolina Press Conference

This Carolina "TEAM" is capable

     The Tar Heels are set to leave Chapel Hill on Wednesday evening to head to St. Louis, the site of Friday's Sweet Sixteen game against Ohio.  It still seems that they will be departing with the notion that Kendall Marshall will not be playing and that is how they have been preparing.  Marshall did not practice today and is still apparently in a cast and according to Williams he will be a game time decision.  The feeling in the Tar Heels locker seems to be one of capability as everyone has experienced the loss of several key players and the team has responded well each time and although this will be a much steeper mountain to climb everyone in and around the team has not let this injury lower the expectations of bringing a 2012 National Championship back home to Chapel Hill.

Courtesy of newsobserver.com

     Carolina will likely have to rely heavily on Freshmen point guard Stilman White and Senior utility man Justin Watts to fill in for Marshall, neither of whom have played extended minutes for the Tar Heels all season. it seems the Tar Heels aren't concerned with the lack of minutes with either of them as they have confidence in their abilities to get things done and to not do to much. Also, don't be surprised if you also see P.J. Hairston in the game at the point for a few minutes as well on The deck is surely stacked against this group of Heels but make no doubt about it they are ready to fight and everyone has discounted their chance at a national title this year may be in for a big surprise, as collectively this group has learned to overcome as Barnes said. “I think we play well when the cards are stacked against us. We have to continue to play hard and hopefully, with everyone counting us out, we can make a little run.”

Tar Heel Creativity

Courtesy of Pographics

Here is a great photo I ran across on the internet, not sure where it is from but it's great none the less and thought I would share it with the rest of Tar Heel Nation that haven't seen it already.  Love the thought of the screw in the Scaphoid bone that Kendall Marshall broke and the Championship Ring as well.

Barnes & Zeller earn right to be in rafters

photo from bleacherreport.com

     Insidecarolina.com reports that both Tyler Zeller and Harrison Barnes were selected as NABC 2nd team All-Americans which qualifies both of them for rafter duty when the careers at the University of North Carolina is over.  Zeller had already been qualified by winning the ACC Conference Player of the Year Award.  You can be sure that if they bring a 2012 National Championship back to Chapel Hill they will both see there jersey's up with the rest of the Carolina greats.  The only other ACC player to be named was Austin Rivers of Duke who was named to the NABC Third team and he becomes the first freshmen at Duke to earn All-American honors.  Here is a link to the NABC website with full lists of all three All-American teams.
2012 NABC All-American Teams

Roy Williams Radio Show

Photo courtesy of grantland.com

     Here is a link to insidecarolina.com radio show with Roy Williams where he discusses Kendall Marshall's injury and the UNC Tar Heels as they go forward in the Tournament.
http://northcarolina.scout.com

Successful Surgery for Marshall

Photo courtesy of nydailynews.com

     News is Marshall had a successful surgery that lasted about 30 minutes and went very well and people around Marshall are more optimistic about his return.  Even Marshall seems to be in good spirits as he was having a little humor after the surgery tweeting "Successful morning, I'm screwed"  Hopefully things will work out and Carolina can avoid having to use him on Friday and hopefully he can be ready for a game Sunday should the heels win Friday.

      The bone is on the inside of the right wrist where it connects to the thumb fracture was at the distal part of the bone meaning it was closer to the thumb than the wrist which is a good thing due to that part of the bone having a better blood supply than the proximal part and can heal rather quickly with an aggressive treatment.  I am involved in the medical field and focus mostly with athletic injuries, the best choice in my opinion and limited information on minor details of the injury, is that surgery was the best choice and would have the quickest recovery.  The only thing left for him to do now is to keep on with th icing to keep swelling down and do exercises to keep the mobility in that wrist, so it doesn't stiffen up.  The question with playing will mostly come down to how much pain can he handle and continue to be effective.  Hopefully he isn't needed Friday so he can rest for Sunday should that time come.