UNC vs. UCSB Live Blog

Today the Tar Heels hope to rebound against UC-Santa Barbara after a somewhat disappointing performance against Nicholls State. Today’s game against the Gauchos won’t be any easier. UCSB is 10-1 this year including 3-1 on the road, with their biggest win over UNLV and their only loss at Stanford. Marcus Ginyard and Danny Green will be kept very busy today defending 6’6″ guard Alex Harris, who has averaged 23.4 points per game this season.

1:07 pm: 2-0, UNC. Within 18 seconds, Marcus Ginyard gets an easy layup and UCSB turns the ball over. Turnovers, along with a lack of size, are likely to be the Gauchos’ biggest weakness.

1:08 pm: 4-0 UNC. Lawson gets the steal, and easily outruns everyone to the basket.

1:10 pm: UCSB is trying to drive inside, but UNC simply has too much size in the paint.

1:11 pm: 6-2, UNC. James Powell hits an outside shot to put the Gauchos on the board, but Deon Thompson responds immediately.

1:12 pm: 8-2 UNC. Ohhhhhhh! a steal in the open court by Hansbrough, and buries a 360-degree dunk. First TV timeout.

1:16 pm: 13-4, UNC. The Tar heels score four points within 5 seconds, the second basket off of a steal by Lawson. 10 of UNC’s 13 points are in transition.

1:17 pm: 13-6, UNC. Alex Harris finally gets on the board with a layup.

1:18 pm: 15-6, UNC. The Tar Heels are playing full court pressure on defense.

1;19 pm: 17-8, UNC. Every Gaucho on the court focused on Hansbrough, and Deon Thompson made them pay.

1:20 pm: at some point, Tyler has to learn to pass the ball back outside if he’s double or triple teamed.

1:27 pm: 21-14, UNC. The Gauchos hits two threes on two straight possessions.

1;28 pm: 27-14, UNC. UCSB has absolutely no answer for UNC’s speed. First, another easy steal and layup by Lawson, and then Hansbrough grabs the steal before dishing the assist to Danny Green.

1;33 pm: 29-19, UNC. Another three for UCSB brings them back within 10. Considering how well the heels have played, it’s surprising that this game is still close.

1;36 pm: 32-19, UNC. What a shot by Ellington, a mid-range jumper in traffic.

1;38 pm: 34-22, UNC. The good news: the heels defense is all over Alex Harris. The bad news: James Powell is getting open looks as a result.

1:40 pm: 36-26, UNC. An unbelievable shot by Powell, a reverse layup. Powell has 14 of the Gauchos’ 26 points.

1:42 pm: 42-26, UNC. The Heels are getting a significant amount of their points from the free throw line in the first half.

1:48 pm: 44-28, UNC. Marcus Ginyard is having a huge game today on both sides of the court. He has 9 points, and has mostly shut down Alex Harris.

1:50 pm: 52-30, UNC. Deon Thompson, Bobby Frasor, and Ty Lawson each score baskets in transition within a 30-45 second span near the end of tha half. This last run may very well have put this game out of reach before halftime.

1:52 pm: We’re at halftime, and the Tar Heels lead 52-32 after a playing a great first half in almost every way. I may not have seen Carolina run the transition game better this season that they have so far today.

2:07 pm: Top 25 Alert: #2 Memphis gets an impressive win over #4 Georgetown, 85-71.

2:09 pm: 57-32, UNC. Hansbrough hits a relatively easy shot to start the second half, and then Ellington gets three the hard way.

An interesting statistic: The Tar heels have accrued a 25 point lead without making a 3-point field goal.

2:11 pm: 61-32, UNC. Either UCSB has come out of the locker room flat-footed, or UNC is playing even faster in the second half than they did in the first half. Whichever is the case, it’s looking like a very long day for the Gauchos.

2:17 pm: 71-37, UNC. Nineteen points in under four and a half minutes. The Gauchos have absolutely no answer for the transition game. today.

2:23 pm: 71-45, UNC. Harris goes into double figures with two consecutive three pointers, but it seems too little, too late. Give the Gauchos credit; they haven’t thrown in the towel just yet.

2:25 pm: 76-45, UNC. Marcus Ginyard hits the inside shot and the foul. He misses the free throw, but Carolina gets the rebound, and Bobby Frasor hits UNC’s first three of the game. Carolina converts the rare five point play.

2;27 pm: 80-50, UNC. The smell of biscuits is palpable now.

2:32 pm: 83-50, UNC. Deon Thompson shooting free throws is painful to watch. Ty Lawson’s three point shooting is substantially less painful.

2:37 pm: 85-54, UNC. Deon Thompson is a good player…but there is no excuse for shooting 3-16 from the free throw line on the season. Ugh.

2:39 pm: 87-54, UNC. Tyler Hansbrough with another great shot inside. he now has 21.

2:42 pm: 93-56, UNC. Marcus Ginayrd hits Carolina’s last three baskets, and he now has a career high of 17 points.

2;44 pm: 95-63, UNC. Bring on the benchwarmers!

2:48 pm: 97-63, UNC. Qyooooooooooooooo!!! hits a layup.

2:50 pm: 98-65, UNC. WE-WANT BIS-CUITS! (clap-clap-clapclapclap)

2:52 pm: 101-70, UNC. BISCUITS!!! …Courtesy of Greg Little. Yes, that Greg Little.

2:55 pm: The game is over, as The Tar Heels win, 105-70 in their best overall performance of the season.