Featured stories, UNC

Coach Williams gets his urgency but shouldn’t handcuff his walk-on players

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Roy Williams.
Roy Williams.
Who knows what spurs on that sense of urgency that UNC coach Roy Williams talks about. The Tar Heels had it in wins over Michigan State and Louisville, for instance, but haven’t had it in ACC matchups – until Carolina blew out Clemson (at home for the 57th straight time) by an 80-61 score.

Perhaps this edition of the Tar Heels didn’t want to be remembered as the team that lost at home to Clemson. Or maybe the team has turned the corner and will play with passion the rest of the season.

Coach Williams said that McAdoo set the tone that saw the entire team play with that sense of urgency. But he said he felt bad congratulating his team about that because that’s the way you should always play the game.

Can’t argue with that. The only thing I argue with Coach Williams about and something that really ticks me off is how he handcuffs his little-used players at the end of games.

For instance, James Manor, who is a walk-on senior that hardly ever gets to play, was on a roll sinking two three pointers. Yet he called off Manor, who was open for a three in the closing seconds of the game.

The game should be played from opening tip to the final buzzer, regardless of the score. There should not be kneel downs in basketball. If you are winning by a lot of points, you should put in guys who don’t get a chance to play often and let them play to the best of their abilities. Don’t tell a senior walk on that he can’t try to score.

Coach, if you aren’t going to let the walk-ons play, just leave the starters in and go to the Four Corners.

To read more about the Clemson game, please click here.

Duke, Featured stories, N.C. State, UNC

ACC releases football schedules which include tough non-conference opponents

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accfootballThe 2014 Atlantic Coast Conference football schedule released Wednesday by Commissioner John Swofford once again is one of the most difficult nonconference slates among the Power Five Conferences.

ACC teams will play more nonconference games against teams in ESPN’s “Way Too Early Top 25” rankings for 2014 (12) and more games against teams in the final AP Top 25 (9) than any of the other Power Five Conferences and will play 24 nonconference games against teams that participated in bowl games in 2013, which tied the Big Ten for most of any Power Five Conference.

None of the other Power Five Conferences will play more than seven nonconference games against teams in ESPN’s Way Too Early Top 25 for 2014 and no more than eight games against teams in the final 2013 AP Poll.

“This is an exciting time in ACC Football, and as we look ahead to the 2014 season, it’s clear that our teams have once again combined for a strong lineup of nonconference opponents, along with our competitive league schedule,” said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. “In addition to the overall schedule and season, we look forward to welcoming Louisville into the ACC and beginning our annual scheduling agreement with Notre Dame.”

In all, the schedule is composed of 113 games, including 56 conference contests over a span of 15 weeks culminating in the 10th Annual Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game, which will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Among the nonconference foes this year is Notre Dame, which begins its scheduling with the ACC this fall with four games, including against Syracuse at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J. (Sept. 27), home games in South Bend, Ind., against North Carolina (Oct. 11) and Louisville (Nov. 22) and at Florida State in Tallahassee, Fla. (Oct. 18).

Louisville officially joins the ACC on July 1 and will compete in the Atlantic Division with defending champion Florida State, Boston College, Clemson, NC State, Syracuse and Wake Forest. The Coastal Division remains as it was in 2013 with champion Duke followed by Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina, Pitt, Virginia and Virginia Tech.

On the opening weekend of the season (Aug. 30), defending National Champion Florida State takes its nation’s best 16-game winning streak to Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where the Seminoles will face Oklahoma State in the sixth annual Cowboys Classic. The Classic will mark the fifth meeting between the Seminoles and Cowboys and first since the 1985 Gator Bowl, won by Florida State 34-23.

The ACC will continue its tradition of national exposure on Labor Day Monday, as Louisville makes its league debut, hosting Miami in its first ACC football game at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium in Louisville on Monday, Sept. 1. The game will be nationally televised by ESPN with an 8 p.m. kickoff.

The Hurricanes, who hold a 9-2-1 advantage in their series with the Cardinals, will be making their first appearance in Louisville since a 31-7 Cardinals victory in 2006. The game will mark the 10th appearance in 11 years by an ACC team on Labor Day Monday Night since the telecasts began in 2004. It will also mark Miami’s sixth appearance on Labor Day Monday.

Two other games featuring nationally ranked teams dot the opening weekend when Clemson, which finished 2013 ranked 8th in the AP final poll, travels to Athens, Ga., to face Georgia, ranked 11th in ESPN’s Too Early Top 25; and when Virginia hosts UCLA, which is ranked 7th in ESPN’s Too Early Top 25. Both games will be on Saturday, Aug. 30.

The league will also have five games nationally-televised by ESPN on Thursday nights beginning with Virginia Tech traveling to Pitt on Oct. 16 which begins a string of four straight Thursday night appearances for the ACC, including Miami at Virginia Tech (Oct. 23), Florida State at Louisville (Oct. 30) and Clemson at Wake Forest (Nov. 6). The final 2014 ACC Thursday night contest on ESPN will see North Carolina traveling to Duke on Nov. 20 for the Blue Devils’ first appearance on the ESPN Thursday night package since 1996 and their first home appearance since 1994. Duke finished the 2013 season ranked 23rd in the final AP poll, while North Carolina is rated 17th in the “Way Too Early ESPN Top 25” for 2014.

For the second year, the ACC will also play three nationally televised games on Friday, beginning with Boston College hosting Pitt (ESPN, or ESPN2) on Sept. 5; followed by Louisville at Syracuse (ESPN or ESPN2) on Oct. 3 and finally, Virginia Tech hosting Virginia on Thanksgiving Friday, Nov. 28. The Hokies and Cavaliers previously played on Thanksgiving Friday in 1996.

With the ACC sending an NCAA-record 11 teams to bowl games in 2013, no ACC team will face fewer than six opponents that participated in bowl games last year, while 11 of the 14 ACC teams will play at least eight bowl teams from 2013 with both Miami and Virginia each facing 10 teams that were in postseason play a year ago.

ACC teams will play nine games against teams from the final 2014 Associated Press poll including games against 4th-ranked South Carolina (Clemson), 12th-ranked Ohio State (Virginia Tech), 16th-ranked UCLA (Virginia), 17th-ranked Oklahoma State (Florida State), 19th-ranked Southern California (Boston College) and 20th-ranked Notre Dame (Florida State, Louisville, North Carolina, Syracuse).

Conference teams will play 12 games against teams that were ranked in ESPN’s Too Early Top 25 including 7th-ranked UCLA (Virginia), 9th-ranked Ohio State (Virginia Tech), 11th-ranked Georgia (Clemson, Georgia Tech), 13th-ranked South Carolina (Clemson), 14th-ranked Southern California (Boston College), 21st-ranked Iowa (Pitt), 23rd-ranked Notre Dame (Florida State, Louisville, North Carolina, Syracuse) and 25th-ranked Florida (Florida State).

ACC teams will play 24 games against nonconference teams that earned bowl bids in 2013, including Southern California and Colorado State (Boston College); Georgia and South Carolina (Clemson); Tulane (Duke); Oklahoma State and Notre Dame (Florida State); Tulane and Georgia (Georgia Tech); Notre Dame (Louisville); Arkansas State, Nebraska and Cincinnati (Miami); San Diego State, East Carolina and Notre Dame (North Carolina); Iowa (Pitt); Maryland and Notre Dame (Syracuse); UCLA and BYU (Virginia); Ohio State and East Carolina (Virginia Tech) and Utah State (Wake Forest).

In all, the league’s FBS nonconference opponents posted a .532 winning percentage in 2013, second highest among the Power Five Conferences.

Team-by-team ACC schedules

Duke, Featured stories, UNC

Duke, Carolina tennis players honored by the ACC

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Ester Goldfeld.
Ester Goldfeld.
Duke’s Ester Goldfeld and North Carolina’s Brayden Schnur have been named this week’s Atlantic Coast Conference Tennis Players of the Week.

Goldfeld posted a 3-1 singles ledger while facing stout competition in the Freeman Memorial Championship in Las Vegas, Nev. The tournament boasted 12 singles competitors that ranked in the top 50 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association and two doubles teams that ranked in the top three in the nation.

The Brooklyn, N.Y., native upset two top 40 opponents in convincing fashion, including Florida’s No. 27 Sofie Oyen (6-2, 6-0) and UCLA’s No. 37 Kyle McPhillips (6-2, 6-0). Goldfeld opened the competition with a 6-0, 6-2 defeat of UNLV’s Paola Artiga. In doubles action, Goldfeld pair with Annie Mulholland to record a 1-1 mark, picking up a decisive victory against UNVL’s team of Alexis Garrett and Anett Ferenczi-Bako, 6-1.

Schnur, a freshman from Pickering, Ontario, opened his college career with a 4-0 week, as the Tar Heels shut out both East Carolina and Wofford, 7-0. Schnur combined with sophomore Brett Clark to post a pair of decisive No. 1 doubles wins, 6-2. In the opening singles match of the day, Schnur scored a decisive win over 23rd-ranked Joran Vliegen of East Carolina 6-3, 6-0.

Vliegen had won the ITA Carolinas Regional singles title last October and played in the ITA Indoor National Championships in November. Later in the day, Schnur finished off his day with a straight set win over Rob Galloway of Wofford.

Duke, Featured stories

Duke’s Liston named ACC women’s basketball player of the week

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Tricia Liston.
Tricia Liston.
Duke senior guard Tricia Liston has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week as announced by the conference office and voted on by the Blue Ribbon Panel.

Liston earned her second career ACC Player of the Week honor after averaging 21.5 points, while shooting 66.7 percent from the floor and 70.0 percent from long range in a 2-0 week for the Blue Devils. She registered 21 points and career-high 12 rebounds to lead Duke to a 90-55 win over Virginia, and followed that performance up with 22 points and six rebounds in a 74-70 victory at Virginia Tech.

The River Forest, Ill., native has recorded nine games of 20-or-more points this season.

Featured stories, N.C. State

Turner covers for Warren as State beats Maryland in final ACC matchup

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Ralston Turner.
Ralston Turner.
In what could be the last time NC State faces Maryland in an ACC game, the Wolfpack’s Ralston Turner made up for the absence of injured scoring leader TJ Warren by scoring 23 points in a 65-56 win over the Terps.

It’s hard to believe it’s been 40 years since NC State defeated Maryland 103-100 in that classic ACC game and it’s hard to believe Maryland, a charter member of the ACC, won’t be in the league next season.

The Wolfpack faithful couldn’t resist chanting “A-C-C, A-C-C” in the last minute of the game, which saw State rally from nine down at the half and 11 down in the second half.

Warren, an All-America candidate, is the ACC’s leading scorer but couldn’t go because of an ankle injury. In steps Turner, an LSU transfer, who was hitting baskets all over the court, including from beyond the arc. Warren averages 22 points a game and Turner took over that scoring role, and then some, in a game that lifted State out of a last-place tie in the conference.

Featured stories, UNC

Open season on the Tar Heels as they fall to 1-4 in the ACC

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tarheelramOk, things aren’t going well for the North Carolina Tar Heels, despite the strong shooting anamoly against Boston College Saturday. On Monday, Carolina went right back to its poor shooting ways at Virginia – both from the field and the free throwing line. They shot 41 percent from each.

It seems to be open season on Carolina, whether it be jokes directed at them because of the academic scandal – one sign read “Are you smarter than a 5th grader” – or commentators putting the players down.

Jeff Van Gundy, who should stick to calling NBA games (boy was that announcing booth crowded with three guys talking), says the Tar Heels have no exuberance. True I suppose, but you’d look like an idiot being exuberant when you aren’t playing well. You have to play with intensity, yes, but the Tar Heels aren’t very good right now and have little to be exuberant about.

Color commentator Jay Bilas asked, “Was there a moment in the game where you thought the Tar Heels could win?” Well, yeah, the game was nip-and-tuck for the first 15 minutes. In fact, the Tar Heels had the lead several times in the first half and McAdoo was playing with “exuberance.”

After the game, former Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg piled on saying that Kansas and Kentucky were now getting the players that Carolina used to get. If Carolina has to have one-year rent-a-players destined for the NBA in order to compete, that’s sad.

Carolina has been hit hard by players going early and by players being sanctioned by the NCAA. The Tar Heels are young and have guys playing out of position. They have the talent and if they can get their shooting eye, the Tar Heels can be competitive down the stretch.

But it has to start against Clemson Sunday. If the Tar Heels lose at home to the Tigers, something never done before, UNC fans better just get used to hearing opposing fans yelling “N-I-T, N-I-T.”

For more on the loss to Virginia, please click here.

Featured stories, N.C. State

Russell Wilson now considered a big-time player

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Russell Wilson.
Russell Wilson.
Despite fumbling on the opening drive of the NFC championship game, Seattle’s Russell Wilson, the former NC State quarterback, became a big-time NFL player by outdueling another young gun QB to advance to the Super Bowl.

A perfectly thrown touchdown pass on fourth-and-7 from the San Francisco 35 put the Seahawks ahead for good in the fourth quarter.

As the classy Wilson does, he gave credit to his coaches and his receiver. “Jermaine Kearse came down with a big-time catch.”

As Nancy Armour of USA Today said, “Because that’s what big-time players do, and Wilson surely has to be considered one now.

“Regardless of the outcome against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos on Feb. 2, Wilson led his team to the Super Bowl in only his second season. He might have struggled this year – and in this game – but the Seahawks don’t make their second Super Bowl without him.”

Seattle coach Pete Carroll said, “Look what he’s done. Look what he did as quarterback of this club. We’ve all done (it), but he’s been in the middle of all of it.”

Featured stories, N.C. State

NCSU baseball coach to speak at RSC meeting

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Elliott Avent.
Elliott Avent.

The Raleigh Sports Club will hear from guest speaker NCSU head baseball coach Elliott Avent at its Wednesday, Jan. 22 meeting. Coach Avent will discuss the Wolfpack’s upcoming baseball season. The Wolfpack is expected to contend for Atlantic Coast Conference and the NCAA championships this coming 2014 season.

The RSC will honor a local Wake county student athlete of the week for outstanding achievement in the classroom, community and on the field.

Meetings are held in Bradley Hall in Highland UMC, 1901 Ridge Road at the intersection of Lake Boone Trail, just inside the Raleigh Beltline. Buffet lines open at 11:30 a.m. and the meeting starts at 12 noon. See http://www.raleighsportsclub.org/ for details.

Featured stories, UNC

Heels avoid last place with win over BC

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Marcus Paige.
Marcus Paige.
North Carolina, just one loss away from its worst ever start to the ACC season, saw five players reach double figures in an 82-71 home victory over a Boston College team that falls into last place in the conference.

The Tar Heels got 21 points from Marcus Paige, 17 from James Michael McAdoo, 14 from JP Tokoto, 10 from Leslie McDonald and 10 from Kennedy Meeks to avoid a first-ever 0-4 ACC start.

Instead, Boston College falls into the ACC cellar at 1-4 while the win lifts the Tar Heels to 1-3 with a game looming Monday night at Virginia, in a game that should be a tougher challenge.

For more on the Boston College game, please click here.

Featured stories, The skinny, UNC

UNC fights back, questions claims in CNN report

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uncsystemlogo(NOTE: The University of North Carolina sent out the following release Thursday questioning claims of CNN with an analysis of its own.)

97% of UNC student-athletes meet CNN reading skills threshold:
8-year admissions analysis questions claims in network news story

Last week, CNN reported on reading skills of student-athletes at U.S. public universities including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The story used a CNN-defined threshold for student-athletes being “college-literate” based on results from SAT and ACT college entrance exam scores (400 on SAT Critical Reading or Writing; 16 on ACT). The network said it consulted with experts in different fields to develop the threshold.

CNN did not ask the University for SAT or ACT data, instead relying on observations provided by a UNC employee who did not represent the campus in its report.

An analysis conducted by the University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions found that all 154 special-talent student-athletes – 100 percent – who enrolled in fall 2013 met CNN’s reading skills threshold. That first-year class included 35 student-athletes recruited for football and men’s and women’s basketball. (CNN did not examine 2013 information.)

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions used CNN’s definition to analyze UNC’s own SAT and ACT data for special-talent student-athletes enrolled as first-year students through policies and procedures established by the UNC Board of Trustees, faculty and the admissions office.

That analysis found:

Between 2004 and 2012, the same time period examined by CNN, UNC-Chapel Hill enrolled 1,377 first-year student-athletes through the special-talent policies and procedures. More than 97 percent (1,338) of those students met the CNN threshold. Thirty-nine students (2.83 percent) did not meet the threshold.

Twenty-three of the 39 students (59 percent) who did not meet the CNN threshold have graduated from the University or remain enrolled and in good academic standing. Another 11 students (28 percent) left the University academically eligible to return. The other five students left the University and would have to restore their academic eligibility in order to return.
In summary, 34 of the 39 students (87 percent) who did not meet the CNN threshold either graduated from the University, remain enrolled and in good academic standing, or left the University academically eligible to return.

Of the student-athletes who enrolled between 2004 and 2012 under the special-talent policies, 341 were recruited for football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball. More than 90 percent (307) of these students met the CNN threshold. Thirty-four of these student-athletes (9.97 percent) did not meet the threshold.

Of the 34 students recruited for football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball who did not meet the threshold, 20 students (59 percent) either have graduated from the University or remain enrolled and in good academic standing. Another 10 students (29 percent) left the University academically eligible to return. The other four students left the University and would have to restore their academic eligibility in order to return.

In summary, 30 of these 34 students (88 percent) either graduated from the University, remain enrolled and in good academic standing, or left the University academically eligible to return.

“We evaluate every student as carefully as we know how,” said Stephen Farmer, vice provost for enrollment and undergraduate admissions. “The primary criterion for admission for all students, including student-athletes, is the student’s capacity to succeed academically at the University. We only admit students who we believe have the capacity to succeed.”

In keeping with University Board of Trustees policy, and guidance from the Faculty Advisory Committee on Undergraduate Admissions, Farmer said the Office of Undergraduate Admissions evaluates every candidate individually, comprehensively and holistically. These evaluations rely on quantitative and qualitative data and information. The quantitative measures include results from standardized tests (SAT or ACT with Writing).

“We pay careful attention to test results,” Farmer said. “But we do not make final admissions decisions based on test scores alone – not for any student, and not for any student-athlete.”

– News release