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Off the cuff: It was nice to see Marcus Ginyard look so comfortable over the last couple of games. He scored in double figures for each of the last two games including a career-high 17 in this one. He says he had been putting pressure on himself to score. Now that he's not pressuring himself the points are coming more naturally.

Maybe Danny Green needs to take Deon Thompson under his wing to teach him free throw shooting. Green hits about 90 percent of his free throws, good enough for third in the ACC, while Thompson is just 3 of 16 on the season, including one of six in this game.

They keep stats on everything these days but this stat was particularly telling in this game. Fast break points is the category. Carolina scored 45 points on fast breaks while UCSB scored two. Not sure exactly how they judge what's a fast break because the Heels generally play at one speed - with the pedal to the metal.

Hansbrough who makes a lot of spectacular, if workmanlike, buckets made an out-of-character but enjoyable 360 degree dunk. Is there nothing he can't do? While Carolina fans certainly want to win a national championship, Hansbrough says he'll come back for his senior year unless Carolina wins the national championship this year.


Heels 105, Gauchos 70
Carolina rolls in what Coach calls "a good day"

It was "a good day" for the Tar Heels Coach Roy Williams said as UNC rolled over UC Santa Barbara 105-70. That's good news for the Carolina players who won't be as physically driven in their next practice. (12/22)

The No. 1 Tar Heels move to 11-0 but there is a question as to whether they'll stay tops in the nation after the less impressive victory over Nicholls State three days ago. But, unlike in football, that doesn't matter until the end of the year. UC Santa Barbara is the favorite in their conference and came into the game at 10-1.

After a tongue-lashing by Coach Williams following the Nicholls State game, the Tar Heels came out aggressive and sharp - moving out to a quick 13-2 lead after a steal and lay up by Ty Lawson.

The Tar Heels remained active but three-pointers by UCSB kept the lead from growing until the last five minutes of the half. A follow shot by Alex Stepheson and pairs of free throws by Wayne Ellington and Danny Green worked the advantage up to 16 at 42-26.

The largest lead of the half came on another steal and lay up by Lawson as the Heels took a 52-30 lead. Carolina led 52-32 at the half and came out after the half with a lot of intensity, scoring the first nine points of the second half.

A pair of impressive fast-break buckets upped the margin to 29 at 61-32 and forced UCSB to call an early timeout. The Tar Heels demonstrated crisp passing and quick outlet passes throughout the game but was no better than a fast break where four of the five players touched the ball and ended with an Ellington lay in to make it a 30-point lead at 67-37 just three minutes into the second half.

A dunk by Tyler Hansbrough, following a miss by Bobby Frasor, who had stolen the ball, put the Heels up 78-45. The lead got as big as 37 at 95-78. A three-pointer from the corner by Greg Little, who just joined the team after playing football, put the Tar Heels over the century mark.

Five UNC players scored in double figures. Hansbrough had another typical game as he led the way with 21 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Marcus Ginyard, scoring in double figures for only the second time, had a career-high 17 points. Ellington tallied 17 as well while Lawson, the TV broadcast's player of the game, had 15 and Green 11.

Carolina shot 57 percent for the game and held UCSB to 36 percent. The Tar Heels also outrebounded the Gauchos 57-30. Still, the Tar Heels are struggling from the foul line (only 14 of 24) and from the three-point arc (3 of 16).

The players took quick showers and hit the road to see their families for Christmas.


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