CB3 Media Heel Prints

About CB3

Awards

Work Examples

Check back prior to the 2008 season for a preview and a program outlook.

Click here for Carolina baseball analysis.

Off the cuff:

This is a crucial stretch of Carolina's season and so far the Tar Heels are doing what they should do and need to do - winning as favorites.

Beating Cal handily for the Tar Heels' fourth straight win has to give the team some confidence.

Jalen Washington has looked more confident the last two or three games. And Washington got some inside help from Ven-Allen Lubin who picked up a team-high eight rebounds in only 15 minutes of playing time. He also scored seven points, going three-for-three from the floor, and blocking three shots.

Ian Jackson just keeps getting more and more confident, once again leading the team in points and playing time. Eliot Cadeau, who Cal seemed to bait into shooting, did well hitting seven of 15 shots for 15 points.

Coach Davis said Cadeau was in control the whole game and was patient on the offensive end.

Coach Davis says the team's resurgence is due to communicating better, protecting the paint better and getting high level play from players like Washington and Jackson.

RJ Davis is certainly a respected team leader but his shooting is still poor as he hit only two of nine shots. Even to have a respectable competitive season down the stretch, Carolina is going to have to have more contributions from Davis. Originally teams focused on him and that was the supposed reason why he was struggling.

Now, with Jackson and Cadeau scoring, Davis is getting open shots and missing them badly. That slump must end but overall Carolina has to be be pleased with the solid play against Cal.

Carolina 79, Cal 53
Heels look solid all around, handle Cal

(Photo by UNC Sports Information)

North Carolina held down one of the ACC's best scorers defensively and got up and down the court offensively to defeat Cal 79-53 at home. (1/15)

The solid effort from the Tar Heels started early as they took the lead at 5-4 on a three by freshman Ian Jackson from the left side and they never trailed again.

"We put a big emphasis on defense and tonight it showed," Jackson said. Andrej Stojakovic, who averages more than 20 points a game including 24 points a game in ACC contests, was held to just six points as he was hounded by Tar Heel defenders all night.

"We were locked in defensively on Stojakovic," UNC coach Hubert Davis said. "He's so talented and can score and gets to the free throw line but we defended him without fouling."

In fact, Cal shot only five free throws all night as Carolina committed nine fouls before intentionally fouling to get substitutions in the game at the end.

Carolina, which led by as many as 11 in the first half, held a comfortable 39-29 advantage at the break and, after Cal closed to within six early in the second half, went on a 15-0 run to open it up.

Seth Trimble, who had his best game since coming back from a head injury, scored in transition to give Carolina a 65-41 lead with 6:55 to go. The largest lead of the game came late when Jackson scored on a fastbreak layup for a 77-50 lead.

"I was much more aggressive and assertive tongiht," said Trimble, who scored 12 points. "It was all rhythm for me so everything was back for me."

Jackson led Carolina with 20 points while Eliot Cadeau had 15.

Mady Sissoko was a bright spot for Cal as he led the team with 16 points, with most baskets coming after one of his eight rebounds. The Golden Bears fall to 8-9 overall and 1-5 in the ACC.

The Tar Heels, who host Stanford Saturday afternoon at 2:15 p.m., are now on a four-game win streak and improve to 12-6 overall and 5-1 in the conference.

Box score

Check out the other game articles.
Read my Tar Heels' season preview on by clicking here.